Trinity College, Dublin
The best Book of Kells tours
A walking tour with Book of Kells entry, a medieval old-town walk, a combo with St Patrick's and a private guide with fast-track Old Library entry. Here is which one fits, with honest advice on whether a tour is worth more than the plain ticket, the crowds in the Long Room and whether there is much to see.
See our 4 picks
The Book of Kells is on show in Trinity College's Old Library, and you need a timed ticket. Trinity's own ticket starts from €25 with an audio guide.
A guided walk starts from €22 on GetYourGuide. Its 3-hour option adds Book of Kells entry, plus Dublin Castle from outside and Christ Church.
Our 4 picks for the Book of Kells
All four show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Trinity's own tickets are non-refundable.
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from €22 per person Our top pick 2–3 hours 4.8 (1,860) reviews on GetYourGuide
Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church walk
A licensed guide walks you through the old town. The 3-hour option includes a timed Book of Kells ticket; the 2-hour option is outside only.
Best for Best value, first visit (up to 25 people)
Check availability: Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church walk on GetYourGuide -
from €119 per person 3.5–6 hours 4.7 (425) reviews on GetYourGuide
St Patrick's, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle tour
A local guide, a timed Book of Kells ticket and skip-the-line entry to St Patrick's Cathedral. Dublin Castle is seen from outside.
Best for People who want two entries included
Check availability: St Patrick's, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle tour on GetYourGuide -
from €125 per person 3 h 30 min 4.9 (50) reviews on GetYourGuide
Medieval walking tour with Book of Kells entry
A 3.5-hour guided walk with entry to the Book of Kells and the Long Room. It also passes St Patrick's Cathedral and the Molly Malone statue.
Best for History fans
Check availability: Medieval walking tour with Book of Kells entry on GetYourGuide -
from €209 per person 3 hours 5.0 (4) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private old-town tour with Old Library entry
A private licensed guide shows you the old town, then you visit the Old Library with a fast-track ticket and an audio guide. Pickup from a city-centre hotel is included.
Best for Couples or families who want a private guide
Check availability: Private old-town tour with Old Library entry on GetYourGuide
Book of Kells tours at a glance
| Tour | From | Duration | Book of Kells entry | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church walk | €22 per person | 2–3 hours | Yes, on the 3-hour option | Best value, first visit (up to 25 people) | The most-reviewed pick: 4.8 from 1,860 reviews, from €22. |
| St Patrick's, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle tour | €119 per person | 3.5–6 hours | Yes, timed ticket | People who want two entries included | Book of Kells and St Patrick's in one booking, with 4.7 from 425 reviews. |
| Medieval walking tour with Book of Kells entry | €125 per person | 3 h 30 min | Yes | History fans | The best-rated pick: 4.9 from 50 reviews. |
| Private old-town tour with Old Library entry | €209 per person | 3 hours | Yes, fast-track with audio guide | Couples or families who want a private guide | Few reviews so far (4), all 5 stars: the only private pick. |
Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church walk
€22 per person2–3 hours 4.8 (1,860)
Details
- Book of Kells entry
- Yes, on the 3-hour option
- Who it suits
- Best value, first visit (up to 25 people)
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed pick: 4.8 from 1,860 reviews, from €22.
St Patrick's, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle tour
€119 per person3.5–6 hours 4.7 (425)
Details
- Book of Kells entry
- Yes, timed ticket
- Who it suits
- People who want two entries included
- Why we picked it
- Book of Kells and St Patrick's in one booking, with 4.7 from 425 reviews.
Medieval walking tour with Book of Kells entry
€125 per person3 h 30 min 4.9 (50)
Details
- Book of Kells entry
- Yes
- Who it suits
- History fans
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated pick: 4.9 from 50 reviews.
Private old-town tour with Old Library entry
€209 per person3 hours 5.0 (4)
Details
- Book of Kells entry
- Yes, fast-track with audio guide
- Who it suits
- Couples or families who want a private guide
- Why we picked it
- Few reviews so far (4), all 5 stars: the only private pick.
- Only one listing states a size: up to 25 people.
- Only the private tour includes hotel pickup. The other three start at a meeting point.
- All 4 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are “from” prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Book of Kells tours compared
Every Book of Kells tour here includes entry, except the 2-hour option of the €22 walk. They differ in price, time and what else you see.
Book of Kells tour length: the visit itself takes about 90 minutes, Trinity says. Most of these tours also pass Dublin Castle, which is closed to visitors until January 2027.
| Tour | From | Time | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Kells, Castle and Christ Church walk | €22 | 2–3 hours | Old-town walk; entry on the 3-hour option |
| St Patrick's, Book of Kells and Castle | €119 | 3.5–6 hours | Skip-the-line St Patrick's |
| Medieval walk with Book of Kells | €125 | 3.5 hours | The Long Room and a medieval walk |
| Private tour with Old Library entry | €209 | 3 hours | A private guide and hotel pickup |
Book of Kells tour or self-guided ticket
A self-guided ticket is enough if you only want the Book of Kells. Trinity's site lists the Book of Kells Experience from €25 per person, with an audio guide in 13 languages.
Pick a tour if you also want the old town explained, or the cancellation that GetYourGuide shows. Trinity's own tickets cannot be refunded.
- Book of Kells & Old Library: from €19 on Trinity's site, without the digital exhibition.
- Book of Kells Experience: from €25, with the audio guide.
- Trinity Trails walk plus the Experience: from €37, with a 45-minute walk led by a student.
- Guided Old Library tour: from €65, for up to 16 people.
What you see: the Old Library and the Book of Kells
You see the Book of Kells itself in the Treasury, then the Long Room of the Old Library. Trinity turns the pages on show several times a year to protect the book.
When we checked, the pages on show came from the Gospel of Matthew. The Long Room is the long, book-lined hall in the photo at the top of this page.
The digital experience in the Red Pavilion
The full ticket includes a digital exhibition in the Red Pavilion. The cheaper €19 ticket leaves it out, so pick the €25 one if you want it.
Book of Kells images and photo rules
You may take photos without flash for your own use. You may not take any in the Treasury, where the Book of Kells is kept, and tripods are not allowed.
Opening hours and how long to allow
Allow about 90 minutes for the full visit. Trinity's page lists these opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 08:30–18:30
- Friday and Saturday: 08:30–19:00
- Sunday: 09:00–18:30
Before you book the Book of Kells
Entry is timed
Trinity strongly recommends booking online, and every ticket has an entry time. Book ahead for a busy day.
If your plans change
Trinity's own tickets are non-refundable once bought. The tours on this page show free cancellation on GetYourGuide; check the deadline on each listing.
Fast-track is not queue-free
The tour tickets skip the ticket office, not the entrance and security checks. Guides cannot talk inside the Old Library, so you go in with an audio guide.
Step-free access
The Old Library is fully wheelchair accessible, and staff take you up in the lift. The Pavilion is on one ground floor.
Add St Patrick's
One combo includes skip-the-line entry to St Patrick's. Our St Patrick's Cathedral guide compares its own tickets.
Real questions about the Book of Kells
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More Book of Kells tours, live
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Sources (1), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team.