Trinity College

Ireland's most prestigious university, retaining a tranquil collegiate atmosphere in the midst of the city.

TravelCurious Tip

Only a limited number of people are allowed inside the library at a given time, and this can lead to queues - try to head there early to beat the rush.

Walking through the grounds of Ireland’s oldest university, it is easy to forget that you are in the middle of a modern capital city. Spread out over almost 50 acres, its wide-open grassy spaces and ancient quads provide a welcome break from the bustle of central Dublin and manage to combine a friendly, student-driven atmosphere with a strong sense of history. Elizabeth I founded Trinity in 1592 as part of an effort to prevent promising young Dubliners heading to Europe to pursue a university education. Since then, it has developed into one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, and can boast alumni such as Oscar Wilde, Francis Bacon and Jonathon Swift. 


The Pages of History

Foremost among Trinity’s attractions is its library. A masterpiece of 17th century architecture, its original building would once have towered over the rest of the university. Even now, surrounded by building of comparable size, the old library dominates the view of the university from Nassau Street. Inside are housed no fewer five million books. The most famous of these is the Book of Kells, a 1200-year-old illuminated gospel manuscript widely regarded as one of Ireland’s finest historical artefacts. The old library also features the gorgeous Long Room, whose polished two-storey shelves stretch back a full 65m, interspersed with marble busts of historical figures associated with the university.


Bad luck of the Irish

Another of Trinity’s most important structures is the Campanile, a 30m belltower located in the centre of the university campus. Its size and form are impressive from any angle, but beware walking beneath it - legend has it that anyone passing under the tower when the bells begin to ring will be doomed to a lifetime of bad luck.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Dublin
Grafton Street
The most popular shopping street in Dublin!
Molly Malone Statue
Iconic black bronze statue of Molly and her cart of fish.
The Book of Kells
Ireland's most treasured medieval manuscript, dating back to the 9th century.
Trinity College Library
Wander through the endless rows of historical novels.
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!

Dublin in a Day: Book of Kells & Guinness Storehouse Private Tour

Explore the beautiful and historic city of Dublin, Ireland’s iconic capital situated on the sea and surrounded by mountains famous for its heritage, architecture and friendly atmosphere.

On your private full-day tour, you will:

  • Explore the highlights and lesser-known gems of Dublin, a UNESCO city of literature;
  • Admire the historic buildings and learn the stories and legends associated with them, including Christchurch the city’s impressive gothic cathedral and Dublin Castle dating back to the 13th century;
  • See the Temple Bar a famous buzzing neighbourhood and also one of Dublin’s most famous pubs established in 1840 - renowned for serving 450 varieties of whiskey;
  • Visit the picturesque 27-acre park St. Stephen's Green, formerly a marshy common used for grazing, witch burnings and public executions and now a popular place for Dubliners and visitors to relax from the hustle and bustle of city life;
  • Visit the historic Trinity College University grounds and see the famed Book of Kells and the magnificent Trinity College Library;
  • Learn about Dublin's rich and turbulent past, exemplified by the multitude of statues and architectural styles throughout the city;
  • Stop in at the National Gallery of Ireland to see the Museum's most famed artwork: The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio.
  • End your tour at the Guinness Storehouse, where black gold is created.


Enjoy a full-day tour of Dublin, Ireland’s beautiful capital city, famous for its warm and friendly welcome, situated on a beautiful bay at the edge of the River Liffey and surrounded by spectacular mountainous countryside.

Dublin’s picturesque cobbled streets are famed for their ‘craic’ (good fun) and are filled with vibrant art, markets, cafes and pubs, and historic buildings. Many famous historical figures have made Dublin their home, from beloved literary figures like W.B.Yeats, Oscar Wilde, (both of whom lived at Merrion Square,) Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett and James Joyce, to political and military figures like Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.

Dublin has a varied concoction of history – dating back over 1000 years. You’ll learn about the Viking and Norman influences and you see the medieval churches and 13th Century Dublin Castle. You’ll learn about the Christian takeover of Celtic traditions and spirituality. And hear all about the long struggle for Irish independence from the British as you stand outside the spectacular parliament buildings.

Enjoy strolling along the cobbled Temple Bar neighbourhood – with its lively atmosphere of live music and buskers – and stop inside the bar famous for serving over 450 types of whiskey!

A real highlight of your tour of Dublin is to visit Trinity College – Ireland’s historic elite university and considered equivalent to Oxford and Cambridge in England – and its great library, home of the Book of Kells – and exquisite set of Gospels dating to circa 800 C.E.

Your guide will also show you inside two of Dublin’s museums: the National Museum of Archaeology to see the famous Bog Man, a well-preserved Iron Age bog body found in June 2003, and the National Gallery to see Caravaggio’s painting The Taking of Christ.

You’ll take a taxi to the Guinness Storehouse where your guide will leave you to enjoy the self-guided tour of this iconic brewery, where you’ll learn all about Ireland’s most famous beer – and enjoy views over the city as you enjoy a well-earned pint of it at the end of this fascinating day!

Please note: external guides are not allowed to guide in Trinity College so you will join a shared guided tour at 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.

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