Ha’penny Bridge

An elegant icon of Dublin, the first pedestrian bridge to cross the Liffey.

TravelCurious Tip

The best time to visit is often at night, when the illuminated bridge can be seen reflected in the river, especially on a still evening.

2016 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of the pretty Ha’penny bridge, which is arguably Dublin’s most photographed structure. Without doubt it is the most popular of the River Liffey’s 20 bridges, with an average of 30,000 pairs of feet crossing it each day – compared with just 450 when it first opened.


From Boats to Bridges

In the early 1800s the only way to cross the river was by using one of seven ferries, which were dilapidated and often dangerous. The city gave the ferry operator, William Walsh, an ultimatum: either fix the ferries, or build a bridge. He chose the latter option, and was given the right to charge a halfpenny toll to each person who crossed it, from which the bridge takes its name. Officially called the Liffey bridge, it was the only pedestrian bridge to span the river until the opening of the Millenium Bridge in 1999.

These days, the bridge has come a long way from its businesslike origins. The toll was scrapped in 1919, and in its place has grown an irresistible romanticism that has won the affection of an entire city. Buskers strum hopefully for the passersby, young couples stroll along hand in hand and pretty period lanterns gently illuminate the scene as dusk falls. In fact, the bridge’s romantic air became rather too much for it in 2013, when the city council was forced to remove over 300kg of “love locks” – padlocks bearing a couple’s names and attached to the bridge – citing a risk of structural failure.


Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Dublin
General Post Office
The capital's last great Georgian public building, and the headquarters of the Easter Rising in 1916.
Temple Bar
A lively cultural and creative quarter on the south bank of the River Liffey.
Dame Street
Located on the eastern edge of the medieval city, this busy street takes its name from a large dam that was constructed here in the medieval period.
Molly Malone Statue
Iconic black bronze statue of Molly and her cart of fish.
Irish Houses of Parliament
Today a branch of the Bank of Ireland, the old Irish Parliament buildings were a radical Neoclassical creation.
O'Connell Monument
A memorial to the 19th-century nationalist leader located in the heart of Dublin city.

Related Tours

The Best of Dublin including Trinity College: Private Tour

Discover the culture and vibrancy of Ireland between the rolling landscapes and foggy skyline and see the best of Dublin and its historical highlights on this half-day tour with your knowledgeable tour guide and Dubliner.


On your private tour, you will:

  • Explore the best of Dublin and see its most popular highlight with a private guide;
  • Relive the history of the city, and even see a historic Viking home;
  • See Christ Church Cathedral in the heart of Dublin founded in 1030 by Sitric, King of the Dublin Norsemen;
  • Walk through the Dubh Linn Garden of Dublin Castle, with over 800 years of history;
  • Enjoy the various architectural styles present throughout the city like the City Hall, each speaking to one of the different eras of Dublin;
  • Stroll through several of the city’s famed sites, including Grafton Street and Temple Bar;
  • Pass by the famous Ha’penny Bridge and O'Connell Bridge;
  • See the statue of Molly Malone and learn the story of this fictional girl who was a fishmonger and the star of a well-known Irish song; 
  • Visit Dublin's famed university Trinity College and the famous people who studied here, from Oscar Wilde to Bram Stoker and Samuel Beckett;
  • See the acclaimed Book of Kells, the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts housed in the Old Library.


Dublin has a rich 2,000-year-old history, spanning from the Celts to the modern-day; this curated walking tour will bring that history alive. On your tour, you will explore the castle’s 800-year history. Near old Christ Church Cathedral, you will learn about the area's history as a Viking settlement, and view the site of the world’s first performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Continue your turn about the city with a dive into some of Dublin's most famous architectural buildings, including the Neoclassical 18th-century former House of Parliament and the Georgian-style City Hall. You will also visit the famous Temple Bar, Dublin’s cultural and entertainment quarter and one of the liveliest nightlife areas that preserve its medieval street pattern, with many narrow, cobbled streets.

Visit the famed O’Connell Street, where you will see The Spire, Daniel O'Connell and James Joyce statues and the General Post Office. This is the very spot where the crowds gathered for the Declaration of Irish Independence and which became the inspiration for poetry and literature of the era. You will hear all about the many writers and rebels from your knowledgeable local guide.

Stepping on the Ha’penny Bridge, a beautiful pedestrian bridge that once charged the eponymous half penny to cross, we will cross the River Liffey to learn all about the famed Trinity College, Ireland’s first and most acclaimed university.

You will hear about the college’s numerous treasures and tales of renowned past students, including Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker as well as visit its campus and see the famous Book of Kells, the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Your tour will leave you not only full of the local history of the capital city but also with a great foundation to explore the city at your leisure.

Please note: external guides are not allowed in Trinity College so you will be parting ways with your guide at the entrance where you will join a small guided tour the visit to the Trinity College Campus, Old Library and the Book of Kells.

All books from the Long Room have been removed as part of the historic Old Library Redevelopment Project, except the first four bays as you enter the space. In the meanwhile your visitor experience will include a digital journey through the Old Library’s precious collections.

Welcome to Dublin: Private 2.5-hour Introductory Walking Tour

Explore the highlights of central Dublin on this fascinating private welcome tour of Ireland's vibrant capital city. Situated on the Liffey River and the Irish Sea, surrounded by mountainous countryside, Dublin has a history spanning over a thousand years. The city has so much to offer from its beautiful architecture and famous literary heritage to historic tales of the Vikings and Normans, the long fight for independence from the British, and its modern contemporary culture with picturesque cobbled streets, cafes, pubs, and general 'good craic!'

On your private walking tour, you will:

  • Meet your guide by the James Joyce Statue, a bronze statue in tribute to the Irish novelist;
  • Pass by the General Post Office - one of Dublin's grandest Georgian buildings that served as the Headquarters of the Easter Rising of 1916; 
  • Walk down the historic O'Connell's Street, the major thoroughfare of the city - renamed in 1924 after the Nationalist leader Daniel O'Connell whose statue stands proudly at the end of the street;
  • Stroll along the banks of the Liffey, crossing over the Ha'Penny Bridge, a pedestrian cast iron bridge built in 1816, with wonderful views; 
  • Stop inside the famous Temple Bar - popular with artists and poets, established in 1840 it is famous for its collection of 450 different types of whisky;  
  • Wander down Parliament Street, and stop to admire the magnificent Georgian architecture of City Hall built in the 1760s - a popular wedding venue and working civic centre;
  • Arrive outside the impressive Dublin Castle in the historic heart of the city - one of the most important buildings in Irish history built in the 13th century; 
  • Pass the famously buxom bronze statue of Molly Malone, the fictional star of a popular Irish song; 
  • Enter the grounds of the historic and awe-inspiring Trinity College complex where you'll learn all about this prestigious university, see the Parliament Square with the famous Campanile (the bell tower), admire the old library - famous for housing the 9th century Book of Kells and the Sphere within a Sphere sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro; 
  • Walk past other historic buildings to St. Stephen's Green, a historic tranquil and picturesque park in the centre of Dublin, famous for its role in the Easter Rising, and your tour in the historic centre of Dublin, at a local pub with a pint of Guinness or hot beverage of your choice on us! 


Enjoy this welcome to Dublin private tour with an expert local guide, the perfect way to get your bearings and to get to know the historic heart of Ireland's vibrant capital city. You'll visit all the highlights of the city including the General Post Office on O'Connell's Street, the lively Temple Bar, Parliament Street, City Hall, historic Dublin Castle and Trinity College, and St Stephen's Green.

You'll learn all about daily life in modern-day Dublin, as well as its long history dating back over 1000 years, as you walk along its quaint cobbled streets, passing beautiful, grand Georgian buildings, crossing the Liffey River into the fun, artsy and bohemian district of Temple Bar.

At Dublin Castle, the historic heart of the city and still a working governmental complex today, you'll hear about the Vikings, and Normans, and the country's long struggle for independence from the English. One of the most important buildings in Irish history, you'll be able to admire its 13th-century tower and surviving medieval structures.

Dublin has witnessed everything from the Great Famine to the fight for Irish Freedom; today it's a leading country in the European Union, a thriving modern city with the annual St Patrick's Day Parade that attracts millions of revellers to the city to enjoy Irish folk songs, pints of Guinness and traditional Cèilidh dancing!

On this tour, you'll also visit the prestigious Trinity College - and hear about the academic excellence, and poetic and literary appeal of the city - which was the home of many luminaries like James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and Oscar Wilde.

After a pretty stroll through St Stephen's Park, a popular green space in the city centre - with lots of history, your tour ends with a drink in a local pub on us, where you can ask your local guide anything about the city over a pint of Guinness or any drink of your choosing!

Slàinte!

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