Dame Street, Dublin 2
The best Dublin Castle tours
Dublin Castle is closed to visitors until January 2027, so here are the walking tours that still pass it, with the Book of Kells, Christ Church and St Patrick's, plus a chooser for Dublin's other sights. Here is what to book, with honest advice on what each tour really includes, whether the combos are worth the money and getting your money back if plans change.
See our 4 picks
Dublin Castle is closed to the public until January 2027, while it hosts Ireland's EU Presidency events. No exact reopening day is published, so check dublincastle.ie before you plan around it.
You can still see its outside on a walking tour that also covers the Book of Kells and the two cathedrals, from €22.
Our 4 picks for Dublin Castle and the old town
No tour goes inside Dublin Castle until it reopens. All four show free cancellation on GetYourGuide.
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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 past Dublin Castle, Christ Church and St Patrick's. The 3-hour option adds a timed Book of Kells ticket; the 2-hour one is outside only.
Best for A first visit on a budget (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 with skip-the-line entry to St Patrick's and a timed Book of Kells ticket. Dublin Castle is seen from outside. A 6-hour option adds the Guinness Storehouse.
Best for People who want the entry tickets 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 walk through medieval Dublin with entry to the Book of Kells and the Long Room. It also passes St Patrick's Cathedral and the castle area.
Best for History fans
Check availability: Medieval walking tour with Book of Kells entry on GetYourGuide -
from €20 per person 2 h 30 min 4.6 (20) reviews on GetYourGuide
Castle and cathedrals walk with a local expert
A guided walk past Dublin Castle, Christ Church and St Patrick's, with Molly Malone and Temple Bar. Entry fees are not included. Up to 20 guests.
Best for A cheap outside-only history walk
Check availability: Castle and cathedrals walk with a local expert on GetYourGuide
Dublin Castle tours at a glance
| Tour | From | Duration | Entry included | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church walk | €22 per person | 2–3 hours | Book of Kells on the 3-hour option | A first visit on a budget (up to 25 people) | The best value: 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 | St Patrick's and Book of Kells | People who want the entry tickets included | Two entries in one booking, with 4.7 from 425 reviews. |
| Medieval walking tour with Book of Kells entry | €125 per person | 3 h 30 min | Book of Kells and the Long Room | History fans | The best-rated pick here: 4.9 from 50 reviews. |
| Castle and cathedrals walk with a local expert | €20 per person | 2 h 30 min | None: outside only | A cheap outside-only history walk | The cheapest pick, from €20, with 4.6 from 20 reviews. |
Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church walk
€22 per person2–3 hours 4.8 (1,860)
Details
- Entry included
- Book of Kells on the 3-hour option
- Who it suits
- A first visit on a budget (up to 25 people)
- Why we picked it
- The best value: 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
- Entry included
- St Patrick's and Book of Kells
- Who it suits
- People who want the entry tickets included
- Why we picked it
- Two entries 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
- Entry included
- Book of Kells and the Long Room
- Who it suits
- History fans
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated pick here: 4.9 from 50 reviews.
Castle and cathedrals walk with a local expert
€20 per person2 h 30 min 4.6 (20)
Details
- Entry included
- None: outside only
- Who it suits
- A cheap outside-only history walk
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest pick, from €20, with 4.6 from 20 reviews.
- Only two listings state a size: up to 25 and up to 20 guests.
- None of the 4 includes hotel pickup: you go to the 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.
Dublin Castle tours and tickets compared
No guided tour of Dublin Castle goes inside until it reopens. Every Dublin Castle tour on this page walks past it and spends its time on the sights that are open.
| Tour | From | Time | Castle interior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle and cathedrals walk | €20 | 2.5 hours | Not during the closure |
| Book of Kells, Castle and Christ Church | €22 | 2–3 hours | Not during the closure |
| St Patrick's, Book of Kells and Castle | €119 | 3.5–6 hours | Not during the closure |
| Medieval walk with Book of Kells | €125 | 3.5 hours | Not during the closure |
How to choose between the Castle tours
Pick the €22 walk unless you want entry tickets included. Book its 3-hour option if you want the Book of Kells too.
- Cheapest, outside only: the castle and cathedrals walk, from €20.
- Best value with the Book of Kells: the 3-hour option of the €22 walk.
- Entry to two sights: the St Patrick's and Book of Kells tour, from €119.
- Most history: the medieval walk with Book of Kells entry, from €125.
Two listings still mention the castle grounds or gardens. During the closure, expect to see the Castle from the street, and check with the operator what the route covers.
Guides on Dublin sights
- Book of Kells and Trinity College tours
- Croke Park stadium tour
- Dublin Pass
- Dublin Zoo tickets
- EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum tickets
- Glasnevin Cemetery tours
- Little Museum of Dublin tour
- Museum of Illusion Dublin tickets
- St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church tickets
- Irish Rock 'n' Roll Museum: what the tour covers
- Kilmainham Gaol tickets: how to get one
- Free museums and galleries in Dublin
- Phoenix Park: what to see and how to get around it
Is Dublin Castle open? Closure until January 2027, opening hours and last entry
No. When we checked on 25 October 2026, the whole Dublin Castle campus was closed to the public until January 2027. It is the main State venue for more than 100 events during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The castle gives no exact reopening day. Check dublincastle.ie before you plan around it.
Before the closure, the castle's page listed daily hours of 09:45 to 17:45, with last admission at 17:15. It was closed from 25 to 27 December and on 1 January.
Dublin Castle tickets: prices, guided vs self-guided, and what is free
You cannot buy a ticket to go inside right now. The prices below are the pre-closure prices; 2027 prices are not announced.
- Adult, self-guided
- €8
- Adult, guided
- €12
- Child 12–17, self-guided
- €4
- Under 12
- Free
What you see inside: State Apartments, Chapel Royal, Viking excavations, gardens
Once it reopens, the visit covers the State Apartments, the Chapel Royal, the Viking Excavation, the Coach House Gallery and the Dubh Linn Gardens. The castle lists all of these on its site.
The State Apartments: step-free access
The State Apartments and the Chapel Royal are fully accessible. The Viking Excavation is reached by stairs only, and the upper courtyard has uneven ground.
Dublin Castle photos: what you can still see from outside
During the closure, the tours show you the castle from outside. The 3-hour Book of Kells walk says it adds a stop outside St Patrick's Cathedral instead of the courtyards.
Dublin Castle today: a working State venue
Dublin Castle is a State venue as well as a sight. That is why it is closed: it hosts the events of Ireland's EU Presidency.
Group tours for 2027 can be asked about by email at dublincastle@opw.ie.
Is Dublin Castle worth it? How long to allow and who it suits
Once it reopens, yes, if you like history and grand rooms. It is a short visit: about 30 minutes self-guided or 1 hour on a guided tour.
Until then, it is worth a look from outside on a walk that also takes in the cathedrals and the Book of Kells.
Which Dublin sights to pick: Castle, Book of Kells, cathedrals, museums, zoo and Kilmainham Gaol
With the castle shut, the Book of Kells and St Patrick's Cathedral are the easiest history picks. Here is the time and price for each, from their own sites.
- If you want a drink with your history, the Guinness Storehouse takes at least 90 minutes.
| Sight | Good to know | Adult price |
|---|---|---|
| Book of Kells (Trinity College) | About 90 minutes | From €25 |
| St Patrick's Cathedral | Free tours at 10:30 and 14:30 | €11.50 |
| Kilmainham Gaol | About 90 minutes | €8, book on its own site |
| EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum | Free return visit within 10 days | €22 online |
| Little Museum of Dublin | Guided tour only | €18 |
| Dublin Zoo | Open 09:30–17:30 | €22.50 online |
| Croke Park Stadium Tour | Includes the GAA Museum | €18 |
| Glasnevin Cemetery | Booking essential | Check its site |
Dublin Pass or single tickets: which saves money
It depends on how many paid sights you visit, and we could not check the pass prices. St Patrick's Cathedral's page says Dublin passes cover 40+ attractions in 1- to 5-day versions, from €69. Go City's own prices could not be read.
Add up the single prices in the table above for your plan, then compare. Our Dublin Pass guide, in the list of guides above, goes through it.
Free and cheap sights when you want to spend less
Several Dublin museums are free to enter, their pages say. Check each one's own page first, as hours change.
- National Museum of Ireland: summaries of its official pages say entry to all four sites is free.
- Chester Beatty: Dublin's city culture company lists it as free to enter, with a suggested donation.
- IMMA (Royal Hospital Kilmainham): its visit page says admission is free.
- St Patrick's Cathedral: entry is paid, but its guided tours are free, Monday to Saturday.
Getting to Dublin Castle and what is nearby
Dublin Castle is on Dame Street in Dublin 2, in the city centre. The Big Bus hop-on hop-off route lists it among its sights, and our hop-on hop-off bus guide compares the buses.
For buses, trams and the Leap card, see our Dublin getting-around guide. The castle walks on this page also pass Temple Bar; our Temple Bar guide has tours for the evening.
Before you book a Dublin Castle tour
No inside visits until January 2027
The castle gives no exact reopening day. If your trip is in early 2027, check dublincastle.ie before you count on going in.
If your plans change
All four tours here show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Check the deadline on each listing.
Read what is included
The €22 walk includes the Book of Kells only on its 3-hour option. The €20 walk includes no entry at all.
Wear good shoes
These are walking tours over cobbles and stairs. Most are not suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility.
Real questions about Dublin Castle
When does Dublin Castle reopen?
Is Dublin Castle worth visiting?
Is Dublin Castle free to visit?
Where is Dublin Castle?
How long does a Dublin Castle visit take?
More Dublin history tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (12), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team.