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(4,181)
Learn some Dublin history from a fantastic guide, see the Book of Kells. Minimal walking. We went back to a few sights that our guide, Rory, recommended
Mr. Richard was the most amazing tour guide!! He was super knowledgeable, fun, and had great dad jokes! We could not recommend Richard and this tour enough!
Simon was full of knowledge. Super fun and informative tour
It was amazing, very funny and nice tour guide. I loved it and I can only recommend it!
Colm was a great guide. We learnt a lot of him that we would not have learnt had we done this on our own. He is also a local Dubliner, which was a great plus. Note that the library currently housing the Book of Kells will be closed at the end of the year to install a fire suppression system for 5 years so get there soon!
Deb, having a local Dubliner like Colm guide you through the Book of Kells & Dublin Castle makes all the difference—he brings the kind of lived experience and insider perspective that you simply can't get from a guidebook. Thanks for that heads-up about the library closure; we'll make sure our guests know to book soon. That's the real-world knowledge our community thrives on. Thank you for choosing LetzGo City Tours!
Samantha Rose was fantastic. She went over time to show us Trinity University, the book for cells, and many other surrounding sites. She fielded questions from everyone and allowed us to roam freely. She displayed encyclopedic knowledge of relevant trip information and included a few stories about famous Trinity alums, including Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde. Strongly recommend!
Peter, Samantha's approach to the Book of Kells & Dublin Castle tour perfectly captures what LetzGo City Tours is about—going beyond the sites themselves to tell the stories behind them. Her willingness to extend the tour to show Trinity University and weave in those Trinity alumni tales about Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde transforms a walking tour into a genuine journey through Dublin's literary and cultural heart. That balance of encyclopedic knowledge with the freedom to explore is exactly what our guides are trained to deliver. Thank you for choosing LetzGo City Tours!
Our tour guide Niall was amazing and made the tour what it was! He made sure to tell us about everything we saw in ways that were interesting, informative and not to detailed that he lost us! Would recommend this tour…with Niall!
Niall reads the room and adjusts his storytelling in real time, which is exactly what transforms a tour into something truly memorable. Your point about hitting that sweet spot between interesting and digestible is music to our ears; it's the mark of a guide who genuinely cares about his audience. We're thrilled you'd recommend the Book of Kells & Dublin Castle tour with Niall, and we're grateful you chose LetzGo City Tours!
Richard was amazing! He was not only knowledgeable about Ireland’s history but the activities we did and the city itself. He was a pleasure to conversations with and very entertaining!
Richard's gift for weaving together Ireland's rich history with the immediacy of Dublin itself—from the Book of Kells to the streets you were walking—is exactly what transforms a guided tour into a genuine experience. His warmth and knowledge in conversation made the whole day feel less like sightseeing and more like exploring with a knowledgeable friend. Thank you for choosing LetzGo City Tours!
Our guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. He gave details you wouldn’t learn without a guide.
The Book of Kells and Dublin Castle hold centuries of stories, and the kind of detail your guide shared is what separates a guided experience from simply walking past. Thank you for choosing LetzGo City Tours!
Richard was great! Very informative.
We're glad to know Richard's knowledge made your tour such a great one! Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing LetzGo City Tours. We hope to welcome you on another Dublin experience in the future.
