Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour
Description
Enjoy ease of access with online fast-track ticket entry to the Book of Kells. Discover one of the most important highlights of Irish heritage on this early access fully guided tour. You will explore the 9th Book of Kells' rich ornamentation, multi-layered symbolism and meaning. It is known for its world-renowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the 800 AD. This timed access tour offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to enjoy the exhibition experience without the hustle and bustle of large crowds. Next, continue on this fascinating walking tour to explore the 13th century Dublin Castle and Gardens along medieval streets located within the original city walls of Dublin. Enjoy the history of Ireland and Dublin dramatized in extraordinary stories narrated by expert english speaking local guides. From Autumn/Fall 2023 the Library at Trinity College will be closed for renovations. The 9th century Book of Kells will still be on display.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit the 9th century Book of Kells, described in the 1007 Historical records off Ulster as 'the most precious object in the western world'. The cultural and historical value of the Book of Kells has only increased in the millennium since - this exquisite work of art has stood for 1,200 years as the greatest example of medieval illumination. This tour starts by delving into its rich ornamentation and explores its dense symbolism and meaning and its merit as an artistic masterpiece.
After your visit to the Book of Kells and Library enjoy 10 minutes at the venues souvenir shop.
Continue on this fascinating fully guided tour to Dublin Castle, the heart of historic Dublin. Originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings it functioned as a military fortress, a prison, treasury, courts of law and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for 700 years. On this fully guided exterior tour, see the original 13th century Record & Octagonal Towers, the Upper & Lower State Yards and their architectural highlights. Led by an expert local English-speaking guide who will unveil incredible secrets including tales of intrigue and mystery, this tour is a "must do" for anyone interested in the history of Ireland. Enjoy and added bonus on this magnificent tour of the 13th century Castle to visit the Castle Gardens, which is the very location where the first Vikings landed in Dublin in 795 AD. Today it is a magnificent Celtic inspired landscaped lawn. (This tour does not visit the Castle Apartments)
Visit the Statue of Molly Malone and join your guide and tour group for a few lines of good Irish cheer as you sing "Cockles & Mussels" alive alive oh"s well as being known and sung internationally, the popular song 'Cockles and Mussels' has become a sort of unofficial anthem of Dublin city. The song's tragic heroine Molly Malone and her barrow have come to stand as one of the most familiar symbols of the capital.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please wear comfortable shoes as this tour involves a fair amount of walking, including over uneven surfaces, cobblestones, hills, inclines, declines and stairs.
- Participants should be in good health - consult first with your doctor if you have any medical condition or are not used to regular exercise.
- Wheelchairs, motorised scooters or any other device to assist mobility are not recommended, as we cannot guarantee: that all footpaths/sidewalks/curbs will have suitable ramps.
- Anybody under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by somebody aged 18 years or older.
- Not recommended for travellers with limited mobility
Reviews(4,069)
A wonderful tour and our guide Coln) was excellent and very informative. We felt we knew Ireland by the time we finished. Thanks!
Tour guide Anna was super! The tour itself was also very good, but we would have liked to walk a bit closer araound the castle grounds.
Samantha was a lovely guide, but the overall tour was a waste of money. We could have walked to the Dublin Castle to stand on the street ourselves, and paid the entrance fee to the Long Room. Also would have been nice to know ahead of time that we wouldn't have access to the castle.
Our guide Roger was both clever and funny as well as knowledgable on topic. Right now the university is in the midst of making the Trinity library fire resistant and part of the project is to take every book off the shelve to apply restorative help. All this activity does not hurt the visiting experience but makes going there right now very interesting.
Great experience. Colm was great as a guide! He was so knowledgeable about the area and history. Wear comfy shoes you will be walking in Dublin! The book of Kells and the Long room was amazing!
Cathy, thank you so much for your wonderful five-star review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a great experience exploring Dublin with Colm. He is incredibly passionate about Ireland's history and loves bringing the city's stories to life, so we're thrilled that his knowledge and enthusiasm made your tour so memorable. We also appreciate your helpful advice to future visitors about wearing comfortable shoes. Dublin is a city best explored on foot, and our walking tours are designed to uncover hidden streets, fascinating landmarks, and centuries of history that you simply can't experience from a coach. We're especially pleased that you enjoyed seeing the magnificent Book of Kells and the breathtaking Long Room at Trinity College. These are two of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures, and it's always rewarding to hear that they lived up to expectations. Thank you again for choosing LetzGo City Tours. It was our pleasure to share Dublin with you, and we hope to welcome you back again soon to experience more of our tours in Ireland and across Europe.
The Book of Kells and the Trinity College Library were absolutely worth seeing and were the highlight of this experience. The manuscript is remarkable, and the library itself is truly impressive. Our guide, Mario, was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about the Book of Kells and Irish history. He was an engaging storyteller, but unfortunately we found him very difficult to understand because of his strong accent. That made it challenging to follow much of the information, which took away from the overall experience. We have taken many walking tours around the world, and this one simply wasn’t one of our favorites. After visiting the Book of Kells, we decided to leave before the Dublin Castle portion of the tour, so we can’t fairly comment on the remainder of the experience. Looking back, we would have preferred to purchase admission to the Book of Kells on its own and explore at our own pace rather than as part of a guided tour. If you’re primarily interested in seeing the Book of Kells, that’s the option we would recommend.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for joining us on our Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour. We are pleased to hear that you found the Book of Kells and the magnificent Long Room Library to be highlights of your visit, and we appreciate your kind comments about Mario's knowledge, passion, and storytelling. We were naturally disappointed to read your overall assessment, particularly as several other guests who joined the very same tour with Mario on the same day took the time to leave 5-star reviews, praising both his guiding and the overall experience. We fully recognise, however, that every guest experiences a tour differently, and we respect that personal preferences—particularly regarding accents and presentation styles—can vary. We would also note that, as mentioned in your review, you chose to leave the tour after visiting the Book of Kells and before the Dublin Castle portion of the experience. As a result, you unfortunately missed a significant part of the tour, including the fascinating historical narrative surrounding the Dublin Castle District, over 800 years of English administration in Ireland, the unique Lady Justice statue, the Castle precincts, and the stories that connect these landmarks to Ireland's journey to independence. You also missed the remainder of the guided walk through historic Dublin, which forms an important part of the overall experience. While purchasing admission to the Book of Kells independently may suit visitors wishing simply to view the exhibition, our tour is designed for guests who want a much deeper understanding of Dublin's history, culture, and heritage. The expert commentary provided throughout the experience is intended to bring these remarkable sites to life in a way that a self-guided visit cannot. Thank you again for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your comments and hope you left Dublin with many wonderful memories of this remarkable city.
Jimmy is a fountain of knowledge about Trinity College, The Book of Kells, and The Molly Malone Statue also Dublin Castle . He went above and beyond and stuck with us past the end to show us the oldest little coffe bar dating back to the 1600's. Loved every single minute
Thank you so much for your fantastic five-star review, Jamie! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you loved every minute of your time exploring Dublin with Jimmy. He is incredibly passionate about Irish history and storytelling, and it's wonderful to know that his knowledge of Trinity College, the world-famous Book of Kells, Molly Malone, and Dublin Castle helped make your experience so memorable. We're especially pleased that you mentioned how Jimmy went above and beyond by taking the time to show you one of Dublin's hidden gems after the tour had officially ended. Our guides love sharing the city's lesser-known treasures, local recommendations, and fascinating stories that many visitors would otherwise miss, and it's these personal touches that help make each tour truly special. Our goal is to provide much more than a sightseeing tour—we want every guest to leave with a genuine understanding of Dublin's rich history, culture, and character, and we're delighted that Jimmy delivered that experience for you. Thank you once again for your wonderful review and for choosing LetzGo City Tours. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Dublin—or on another of our tours across Ireland and Europe—in the near future. Warm regards, The LetzGo City Tours Team
Excellent and informative walking tour with stops. Really enjoyed the Book of Kells experience. Our guide Ciara was really fun and knowledgeable!
Thank you so much for your wonderful five-star review, Kristin! We are delighted to hear that you had such a pleasant experience exploring Dublin with Ciara. She is a fantastic guide who loves sharing Ireland's rich history and culture, so we're thrilled that her knowledge, enthusiasm, and fun personality helped make your day so enjoyable. It's wonderful to know that you found the walking tour both informative and engaging. We carefully designed this experience to combine Dublin's most iconic landmarks with fascinating stories that bring the city's history to life, while allowing plenty of opportunities to pause, ask questions, and fully appreciate each location. We're especially pleased that you enjoyed visiting the world-famous Book of Kells and the breathtaking Long Room at Trinity College. These are among Ireland's greatest cultural treasures, and they provide an unforgettable glimpse into the country's extraordinary artistic, religious, and literary heritage. Thank you again for choosing LetzGo City Tours. We truly appreciate your kind recommendation and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Dublin—or on another of our tours across Ireland and Europe—in the future. Warm regards, Ciaran Guest Relations Manager LetzGo City Tours
Our tour was wonderful. We did it on the second day of our trip and it really helped us acclimate to the city, and learn about the culture of Ireland. Anna, our guide, was absolutely lovely and very knowledgeable! Dublin castle is currently closed for special EU business, but Anna made us feel like we didn’t miss a thing. There was so much more to see and learn about around the area. I thought the level of walking was completely normal and pleasant. It was a small group and we got to know a few people who were with us. Overall, a great experience!
Dear Serina, Thank you so much for your wonderful five-star review! We are delighted to hear that your tour was such a positive experience and that it helped you settle into Dublin so early in your visit. Many guests tell us that taking one of our walking tours at the beginning of their trip gives them a much deeper understanding of the city's history, culture, and layout, making the rest of their stay even more enjoyable. We're especially pleased to hear your kind words about Anna. She is a fantastic guide whose warmth, enthusiasm, and extensive knowledge consistently create memorable experiences for our guests. We will be sure to share your lovely comments with her. Thank you also for your understanding regarding Dublin Castle. As you mentioned, access was temporarily restricted due to official European Union Presidency business—something that is unfortunately beyond our control. We're delighted that Anna was able to bring the Castle District to life through her storytelling, ensuring you still gained a comprehensive understanding of its fascinating history and its central role in Ireland's story. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the relaxed walking pace, the small-group atmosphere, and the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers along the way. These are all important parts of the experience we strive to create, allowing guests to explore Dublin in a comfortable, engaging, and personal way. Thank you once again for choosing LetzGo City Tours. We truly appreciate your thoughtful review and hope to welcome you back to Dublin—or on another of our tours across Ireland and Europe—in the future. Warm regards, Ciaran Guest Relations Manager LetzGo City Tours
Fergus was very informative and fun to listen to. He answered questions and explained the history of Ireland
Thank you so much for your wonderful five-star review, Paula! We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience exploring Dublin with Fergus. He is an exceptional guide whose passion for Irish history, engaging storytelling, and friendly personality consistently create memorable experiences for our guests. It's wonderful to know that you found Fergus both informative and enjoyable to listen to, and that he took the time to answer your questions while bringing Ireland's fascinating history to life. We believe that the best tours are interactive, allowing guests to engage with their guide and gain a deeper understanding of the people, events, and stories that have shaped our country. We're also delighted that you enjoyed visiting some of Dublin's most iconic landmarks, including the world-famous Book of Kells, the breathtaking Long Room at Trinity College, the Molly Malone Statue, and the historic Dublin Castle District. Thank you once again for choosing LetzGo City Tours. We truly appreciate your kind feedback and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Dublin—or on another of our tours across Ireland and Europe—in the future. Warm regards, Ciaran Guest Relations Manager LetzGo City Tours
