All posts by Seán Silke

Bram Stoker

Dublin Bus Ghost Tour

Dublin A to Z, Entertainment, Historical, Tours

Join the world’s first and most terrifying Ghostbus Tour and discover the darker side to Dublin City. The Ghostbus Tour brings to life the tales of horrors that shocked Dubliners back in the day.

Visit the scenes of these most horrendous acts and allow your storyteller to bring you these stories in sinister detail. Delve into the medieval vault at Dublin Castle and visit the most haunted vault in the city. Learn about the sinister Dublin surgeon Dr Clossey and explore the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s legendary character Dracula.

The Ghostbus Tour is a theatrical experience involving professional actors. The tour is ideal for anyone interested in Dublin’s dark history, ghost stories and having  a fun outing. The bus itself is an incredible venue with creepy maze like corridors and stairs below leading up to a stark Victorian theatre above.

Scheduling:
Operating days vary monthly, but usually does not run on Wednesdays or Sundays. Check the website for current schedule.
Tours depart at 7pm and 9.30pm from Dublin Bus, 59 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin. Arrive 15 minutes before the departure time.

Tour is part walking tour and runs under most weather conditions, appropriate attire is required.

The tour lasts two hours and is not suitable for children under 14 years, or people with a sensitive disposition.

Advance booking is recommended, especially during peak periods.

Contact & Pricing:
ghostbus.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 01 703 3028
Tickets: €35

Georgian Doors

Dublin Bus “Do Dublin” Sightseeing Tour

Dublin A to Z, Historical, Tours

The Dublin Bus “Do Dublin” Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour allows you to see the city’s essential attractions in a 105-minute tour with live commentary.

Scheduling:
Runs 7 days a week with the first bus starting at O’Connell Street at 9am.Last bus departs from Stop 1 (59 Upper O’Connell Street) at 5pm, or 7pm from May – Oct.
Buses run every 15 – 30 mins.

The full route takes approximately 105mins (depending on traffic congestion) and has 25 stops at the most popular tourist attractions in the city centre. Ticket holders can enter or exit any DoDublin Tour bus at any of the 25 stops for as long as their ticket is valid (24 or 48 hours from first use).

All buses have English speaking tour guides, as well as pre-recorded multilingual tours in 9 languages.

Please note, most buses are open top, so you may be exposed to the elements if the bus is near capacity.

Operated by Dublin Bus, a state-owned transport company. Tickets are not valid on regular Dublin Bus routes, or other similar “hop-on, hop-off” tour bus services.

Booking in advance online is highly recommended, as there are several ticket types and discounted packages, with special offers available, such as free museum or children’s bus tickets.

Contact & Pricing:
dublinsightseeing.ie/dublin-sightseeing-tour-bus/citytour
[email protected]
Tel: 01 844 4265
Dublin Bus Head Office, 59 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1
Adults from €32; concessions

Liffey Cruises

Dublin Discovered Boat Tours

Dublin A to Z, Tours

Cruise along the River Liffey with Dublin Discovered Boat Tours through the heart of Dublin. During a 45 minute tour, you sail under Dublin’s famous bridges and admire historic buildings from a unique vantage point, assisted by an expert guide. Your vessel is an all-weather purpose-built boat.

Scheduling:
May – Sept tours run 7 days a week with departures at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30am, 2.15pm,  3.15pm, and 4.15pm. Extra tours may be available outside of these times if there is sufficient demand.

Sailing times may vary depending on the tides. Check the exact sailing schedule on the website before booking.

Contact & Pricing:
dublindiscovered.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 01 473 0000
Sean O’ Casey Footbridge, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1
Adults €19.50; concessions

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Dublin A to Z, Entertainment, Historical, Tours

The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl brings the gossipy literary scene of Dublin to life. Of Dublin’s 850 licensed premises, its “literary pubs” have a special fame. Irish writers formerly patronised pubs like the Palace, McDaid’s, Mulligan’s and the Bailey to meet the journalists/literary editors of the Irish Times and the Irish Press. A team of actors leads you on a trail from bar to bar; no props, no lights, no make-up, just the voice and personality of the actor.

Scheduling:
Apr to Oct: 7.15pm, 7 days a week
Nov to Mar: 7.15pm, Thurs – Sun only
Tour lasts about 120 – 140mins and covers about 1km on foot.
A similar literary tour may be available on Mondays at 10.30am, but by request only.
Meet from 7pm upstairs in The Duke Pub. Food and drinks available in The Duke beforehand (not included in tour price).

Contact & Pricing:
dublinpubcrawl.com
[email protected]
Tel: 087 263 0270
9 Duke Street (off Grafton St), Dublin 2
Adults €18; concessions

Walks Miscellaneous

Free and Themed Walks

Dublin A to Z, Gardens, Historical, Tours

Self-guided and Community Walks:
Self-guided walking maps for various scenic areas in the south-east of the city are available to view or download from:
dublincity.ie/council/council-explained/your-area/south-east-area/south-east-area-walking-trails-maps-guides

Many local areas have regularly scheduled informal walking groups which are open to new members and guests.
To find a local community walking group visit:
getirelandwalking.ie/findgroup

Free Guided Walks in Phoenix Park:
There is a selection of free walking tours available in and around Phoenix Park.
Popular examples include the War Memorial Gardens and Grangegorman Military Cemetery (see below).
The scheduling of these tours is limited and subject to change.
Check the website below, or contact the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre for details and to confirm availability:
phoenixpark.ie/tours
[email protected]
Tel: 01 677 0095

Free Tours of War Memorial Gardens:
Free guided tours take place every Wednesday at 11am from 12th April to 25th October. No booking is necessary. The meeting point is inside the gates of the car park. Subject to change and weather permitting. For more information please contact the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre at [email protected] or on 01 677 0095.

Free Tours of Grangegorman Military Cemetery:
There are tours of Grangegorman Military Cemetery on Blackhorse Avenue (Dublin 7) from 13th April to 9th November on Thursdays at 11am. Walkers assemble inside the Cemetery Gates. Admission is free and all are welcome. Please wear suitable shoes and clothing. For further information, phone 01 677 0095.
comeheretome.com/grangegorman-military-cemetery

Themed Walking Tours:
Tasting, culinary, and food/fashion tours – fabfoodtrails.ie
Ghost walks and haunted history tours – hiddendublintours.com

About this site

Georgian Dublin Walking Tour

Dublin A to Z, Historical, Tours

The “Georgian Dublin Outdoor Walking Tour: Henrietta Street and Beyond” consists of a walk through Georgian Dublin, courtesy of the award-winning museum 14 Henrietta Street.

The tour begins on Henrietta Street, the first Georgian street in Dublin and the template from which all other Georgian streets followed. The tour charts the fortunes of the Gardiner Estate on Dublin’s Northside, stretching from Henrietta Street to Mountjoy Square, from its beginnings as the best address in town to its decline to tenement housing. It’s a story that mirrors the fortunes of Dublin City and many of its residents.

Visitors will learn about the man who built Henrietta Street, the ‘Jewel in the Georgian Crown’, the lavish lifestyles and social lives of families who lived there, including the Molesworths from number 14, and how one man’s vision and ingenuity created the world’s first maternity hospital.

2021 marked the 300 year anniversary of Henrietta Street, with the Gardiner family purchasing the land in 1721 and the development of the street starting soon after. The building of Henrietta Street marked the beginning of the golden age of Georgian Dublin when the cityscape was transformed into the one we see today. Taking visitors to some of Dublin’s most elite addresses and grand Georgian squares, the tour will explore the architectural and social history of the city and reveal the details of the lives lived behind the elegant red brick facades.

Scheduling:
Tours on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and 2pm.
The tour sets out from 14 Henrietta Street and ends at the top of O’Connell Street.

Operated by 14 Henrietta Street Museum. The museum tour is not included in the ticket price, but there is a discount if booking both tours together.

Contact & Pricing:
14henriettastreet.ie/whats-on/georgian-walking-tour
[email protected]
Tel: 01 524 0383
14 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1
Adults €10; concessions

St Stephens Green

Green Mile Walking Tour

Dublin A to Z, Gardens, Historical, Tours

The Green Mile walking tour of St Stephen’s Green is a venture by the Little Museum of Dublin. The Green Mile tour tells the story of a square which has been at the centre of Irish history for hundreds of years.

Every year 8.1 million people walk through St Stephen’s Green; the park has long served as a backdrop for public and private drama, as well as being the setting for many great love stories.

The tour begins with a short presentation at the Little Museum. Participants then embark on a 60-minute walk in the company of an expert local guide.

Scheduling:
Currently not running. New Tour run by their pop-up “Walk of Shame”.
Contact the Little Museum for more information.

Contact & Pricing:
littlemuseum.ie
[email protected]
Phone 01 661 1000
15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
Adults €13; concessions

HistoricalWalkingTour-SackvilleStreet

Historical Walking Tours of Dublin

Dublin A to Z, Historical, Tours

Historical Walking Tours of Dublin run the longest-established walking tour in the city. Historically themed tours are led by knowledgeable history graduates from Trinity College. The tours are highly rated by the Irish Times, the Sunday Times, Fodor, Frommers, etc. The standard tour covers Dublin’s development, the influence of American/French Revolutions, the Famine, the Great War/1916 Rising, the War of Independence, the Northern conflict and Ireland today.

The meeting point is the front gate of Trinity College. From there the tour visits Trinity College, Old Parliament House, Temple Bar, City Hall, Dublin Castle, Wood Quay, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Four Courts.

Also on offer is a range of specialised tours for private or group bookings: Revolutionary Dublin: 1913-23; Monks, Marauders and Merchants: A Walk through Medieval Dublin; and Dublin’s Architecture: Augustan Capital of a Gaelic Nation.

Scheduling:
May to Sept: 11am & 3pm, 7 days a week
April & Oct: 11am, 7 days a week
Nov to March: 11am, Fri to Sun only

Private or group tours with more specific themes may be available on request.
Visit website to book, or for more info.

Contact & Pricing:
historicaltours.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 087 6889412 / 087 8303523
Historical Insights Ireland Ltd, 6 Palmerston Place, Dublin 7
Adults €19; concessions

Howth Lighthouse

Howth Day Tour

Dublin A to Z, Historical, Tours

Embark on a half-day excursion to Howth, a pretty seaside village on the Howth peninsula, a short way out of Dublin City. Howth is home to ancient monuments, lighthouses, 18th Century coastal defences, Howth Castle, Howth Harbour, medieval ruins, dramatic scenery and wildlife.

Scheduling:
Ticket includes a return journey to Howth, a guided walk on the cliffs of Howth, and free time to explore the village.
Operated by Big Bus Dublin, this tour can be purchased on its own, or included in their 72hr Hop-on, Hop-off tour bus ticket. Tour departs from O’Connell Street.

Contact & Pricing:
bigbustours.com/en/dublin/coastal-tour
Tel: 01 531 1711
Big Bus Tours, 13 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1
Adults €38; concessions

Irish Rock’n’Roll Museum

Tours

COVID-19 advice: Please follow current government advice and check opening times before travel. Tour businesses have been adversely affected by the pandemic. 

The Irish Rock’n’Roll Museum is essentially a tour featuring some of Dublin’s best loved professional music facilities, including the Button Factory (a live music venue); Temple Lane Rehearsal Studios; and Temple Lane Recording Studio (where artists such as Rihanna, the Script and Kodaline have recorded).

The Thin Lizzy exhibition celebrates one of Ireland’s greatest bands, within the setting of Apollo Studio where Phil Lynott recorded his last songs before his untimely death. The exhibition is incorporated into a fully functioning studio and features memorabilia such as gold and platinum albums, set lists, some of Phil Lynotts’s costumes, and musical instruments.

The Wall of Fame as a symbol of Irish music royalty has been a fixture in Temple Bar since its unveiling in 2003, providing a focal point for many of Dublin’s walking tours and showcasing the music that is such an integral part of Irish culture. Recently, LED screens were added to the exhibit, allowing for new artists to be added to the exhibit more frequently.

Down through history, certain guitars and equipment have become as legendary as the musicians who play them. Gibson, Fender, Marshall, and Vox are companies that any musician or music enthusiast will know and love. On display in the museum is an extensive variety of vintage instruments and equipment.

Temple Lane Rehearsal Studios are the premiere rehearsal studios in Dublin. Many acts do pre-production for albums here, trying out new material and getting songs ready to record or perform. Now you can experience what it’s like to rehearse with your very own band.

Temple Lane Recording Studio has been at the centre of Irish music since 1984. Countless bands have recorded here, including Paolo Nutini, The Script, Rihanna and many more. Now, for the first time, explore and experience the iconic studios for yourself.

Open 7 days a week 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

www.irishrocknrollmuseum.com

Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Tel: 01-6777134 or  089-4490795 (weekends).

Adults €16.50; concessions.