This tour combines Dublin’s three most historically significant landmarks in a single guided experience. You’ll visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s largest church, founded in 1191, followed by skip-the-line access to the Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College, where Ireland’s greatest medieval treasure is displayed alongside the breathtaking Long Room Library. The tour concludes outside Dublin Castle, the former seat of British rule in Ireland for 700 years, where you’ll explore the castle grounds and gardens while uncovering the stories behind its Viking roots, political history, and ceremonial significance.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour
Experience three must-see Dublin landmarks in one exclusive tour, including Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Tour Overview
Begin your journey with a visit to the must-see St Patrick’s Cathedral and Garden Park. Learn about Ireland’s patron saint and his incredible life story while your expert guide offers a tour of this top Dublin landmark.
Continue to Trinity College, established in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Enjoy priority timed-ticket entry to the Book of Kells to discover one of the most important highlights of Irish heritage and Celtic culture. Discover its many hidden secrets and mysteries, dating back to 800 AD.
Your expert local guide will help you understand the books origin when in the Exhibition “Turning Darkness into Light” where you will learn and explore its rich ornamentation, intricate symbolism and how the book was beautifully and meticulously illustrated using a special painting technique. Your guide will also explain its meaning and merit as an artistic masterpiece.
From here you will visit The Old Library at Trinity College with its world-renowned, vaulted Long Room holding 200,000 of its oldest books, many of these historic treasures. In addition, see the 15th century “Brian Boru Harp”, named after Ireland’s famous 11th King and Warrior who serenaded his troops into battle with his musical talents as well as see an original copy of the Declaration of Irish Independence read out at the beginning of the 1916 Uprising.
Next, explore the exterior of the 13th-century Dublin Castle and Gardens and see why this Dublin landmark holds over 700 years of history that forever changed the course of Ireland. Originally built in the 13th century – on a site previously settled by the Vikings – it has been a military fortress, prison, treasury, court of law and was the seat of English power in Ireland for 700 years! Rebuilt in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Dublin Castle enthralls all who enter her gates. On this fully guided exterior tour, you will stroll through the gardens viewing the original Record Octagonal Towers as well as the Upper Lower State Yards with their many architectural highlights. Along the way, your engaging guide will share vivid tales of intrigue and mystery that make the Castle’s history come alive.
What's Included
- Entry to the College Treasury to view the 9th Century Book of Kells
- Entry to "Turning Darkness into Light" Exhibition
- Entry to the Oldest Vaulted Library in Europe
- Entry to St Patrick's Cathedral
- Upgrade to include admission to Guinness Storehouse
Highlights
- Visit to the 16th Century Trinity College campus
- Exterior tour of the 13th Century Dublin Castle
- Visit to the Dublin Castle Victorian Gardens
- Visit the first 9th century Viking landing spot in Dublin
- Visit Dublin's 'Molly Malone Statue'
Languages
- English
