Review: Dublinia

What Is Dublinia?

Dublinia is Dublin's medieval museum. It tells the story of how modern Dublin came to be. It covers Dublin's journey from Viking settlement to medieval city, with our good friends the English playing their usual role.

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The Experience

Dublinia has been around for years. Every school kid in Dublin was brought there to learn our history. I hadn't been there for 30+ years and to be honest, I didn't have high hopes for it, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Maybe it's a reflection on me being older and having the classic middle age symptom of being very interested in history and being a walking tour guide, it's my job to know it too, but I really did enjoy it.

Dublinia does an excellent job of telling the story of how Dublin went from a backwater to a major city.

The exhibit has stood up well over time. You can self guide but try to get a tour with a guide. They are dressed in clothing of the time and will give you a much better insight than just reading the signs.

There's a mix of signs on the walls, audio visual and realistic rooms where our ancestors lived. I actually ended taking lots of photos of the information because it was just too much to absorb in one go.

You'll find reconstructed scenes with mannequins dressed as Vikings, complete with ships, barrels, and all the gear they would have used.

There's even a full skeleton and the hilarious man on the toilet!

Yeah, I went there preparing to be underwhelmed, but ended up staying much longer than expected.

The Building

Dublinia is located in a building that feels perfectly medieval with its stone buttresses, circular turrets, and Gothic windows.You can go up to St. Michael's Tower for views over Dublin. Not many walked up its 96 steps though. I was on my own up there.

The tour ends crossing a stone bridge that to Christchurch Cathedral. You can stick your head in and take a sneaky look inside Christchurch before they spot you. Save the entrance fee!

The Good

• I'm a Dubliner and I learned a lot
• There's a good mix of exhibits so it doesn't get boring
• Kids seemed to love the Vikings and Knights
• It's right in the heart of medieval Dublin, walking distance from all the main hotels

 Speaking of hotels, here are my recommendations for the best hotels in Dublin for every type of trip.

Dublin Hotels For Every Type of Trip. Picked By A Local

Dublin hotel recommendations categorized by luxury, budget, business, and 8 more categories. All handpicked by a Dubliner who knows the hotels well.

Ireland By LocalsDarragh

The Not So Good

• This is more of a compliment but there's too much information!

Plan Your Visit To Dublinia

Dublinia's website says "Dublinia is open daily, Monday to Sunday, from 10.00am until 5.00pm from October to March". I'm quite sure that's a typo and it should say March to October!

• Buy your tickets at the entrance
• Save money with the Dublin Pass that gives entry to 40 attractions in Dublin including Dublinia & Guinness. 👉Buy the Dublin Pass.

The Verdict

7/10. A very well done museum that surprised me in how good it was.

Save It For A Rainy Day

Museums are fine, but when you're in Dublin, go see actual Dublin! I was in Dublinia on a rare sunny day wanting to yell at visitors to get out to Howth or Dalkey instead.

The only Must-See in Dublin is Dublin itself.

Our coastal villages are 20 minutes away by train and infinitely more beautiful than any museum. Here are 5 walks that show you the real Dublin and I lead walking tours of all of them!

What To Do in Dublin: 5 Walks by a Local Who Lives Here

Looking for things to do in Dublin? These 5 walks skip the tourist traps and show you the real city, from villages to cliffs.

Ireland By LocalsDarragh