Dame Route: A Walk from Trinity College to Guinness Storehouse
The Dame route follows Dame Street and takes in a lot of the most popular sites in the city. Trinity, Books of Kells, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Christchurch, the Liberties and Guinness.
The Problem With Dublin
is that it is a 1000 year old city and we don't have Manhattan-like grid systems. Our streets are asphalt spaghetti. Visitors spend more time staring at their phones than seeing the city.
Until now......the solution is Routes.
How Our Routes Works
- Each route follows one main street - Think of it like a walking subway line with stops along the way
- Attractions are either on the main street or a short walk off it - I'll tell you which ones require a small detour
- You can explore freely without getting lost - Wander down interesting lanes knowing you can always return to your main route
- No complicated maps needed - Just remember your route's name and main street
These routes make Dublin winding & easy to navigate while still giving you the freedom to discover the city's hidden corners. Perfect for first-time visitors who want to see the city like a local.
Dame Route
We’ll start with the Dame Route. This follows Dame Street. Once you're past Christchurch, it becomes Thomas Street. Just remember those two streets and you won't get lost !
1.Trinity College Dublin
Trinity is a 432 year old university in the heart of Dublin City. It is free to walk through its historic grounds.
Be sure to explore more than just Parliament Square. This is a big campus fulling of fabulous old building. It takes 12 minutes to walk from the front entrance to the back. I know this because I studied here for four years and my engineering school was at the very end of Trinity. I had it nailed down to the minute how long it took me to slid into my seat just as the lecturer walked in the door for my first morning class.
Trinity students do a 45 minute tour of the Trinity College campus which is excellent because you're hearing directly about the history and life from them.
2.The Book Of Kells
1 million people a year come to see this little old book. The Book of Kells is a 1,200-year old manuscript of the four Gospels. Yes, it's historically significant, but you'll spend most of your visit queuing to glimpse four pages under glass for about 30 seconds.
More impressive to me is the 300 year old Old Library's Long Room. Think the kind of ancient library that Harry Potter would whizz around on. It usually holds about 200,000 books, but today there's only 20,000 because they are fireproofing the 300 year old building.
They've added the Red Pavillion, a red modern monstrosity in the midst of the old buildings. While they'll tell you it was built for a digital experience of the Book of Kells, it was really built to expand the souvenir shop. It should be called the Red Ikea.
We walk through the Trinity Campus on my Dublin walking tour, but we don't go into the Book of Kells exhibition itself. I stick to what I'm good at, sharing Dublin's stories and streets.
These guys do know what they're talking about though and they have a fast pass to skip the long line.
3.Temple Bar
From Trinity, as you walk along Dame Street, take any street on the right. It'll probably have cobblestones. You are now in Temple Bar.
I'm going to be careful because I'm not a big fan of Temple Bar and I've written quite negatively about it. So let me say something positive.
During the day it is nice. It was originally designed to turn dilapidated old buildings into an artistic studio. There are still studios, galleries & vintage stores here that make it interesting to walk through during the day. The Irish Rock & Roll Museum is here and is excellent if you're a music person.
Just don't spend all your time here and definitely none of your nights here.
Keep walking along the cobblestones until you hit Parliament Street. Then turn left back to Dame Street
4.Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle is underwhelming for me. This isn't a big hilltop castle like Edinburgh. The castle was built in 1204 and was probably impressive then. But it burned down in 1684.
So today all you see is 18th century office building with a bit of the old castle looking like an odd addition at the end.
You can pay to tour the buildings but it's mostly old furniture and paintings of self important old men. I wouldn't bother.
Book A Private Walking Tour of the Dame Route with Me
- We'll walk all the stops on this page from Trinity College to Guinness
- Hear local stories & history from a Dubliner
- €100 for a 2 hour private tour
5 Dubh Linn Gardens
The best part of the castle is its gardens. And no one even knows it is there. It's a nice place for some peace in the city.
6.Chester Beatty Library
Old Chester (1875-1968) was a rich American miner with a lung infection. He lived in Ireland but found that Egypt's dry air was good for his health. He bought old stuff there. And that's why there's a highly rates museum of Islamic artifacts in Dublin Castle.
But I go mostly for the amazing food in its Silk Road Cafe.
7.Christchurch Cathedral
Vikings used to go to this 1000 year old church. It's still an active Anglican Church and if you stay in a hotel near by, you'll get to know its bells. I actually rang the bells at Christchurch last year during Dublin Heritage Week. This is an excellent week to come to Dublin because they open up many unique things like this that aren't normally open to the public. And they're free too.
I digress, back to Christchurch. You can do a tour of it if you like old churches. The crypt below was the most interesting for me. Not for religious reasons but to see the real cool mummified remains of Tom & Jerry, a cat and rat who got stuck in an organ pipe.
I could give it a skip though and instead use the money for a pint across the road at the Lord Edward, my favorite pub in town. But 736 people on GetYourGuide disagree with me and give the Christchurch tour 4.6/5 ratings. You can read what they like about it here. Maybe it's just me!
8.Dublinia
Thank God for Netflix. I used to have to explain who The Vikings were but Netflix has educated people now and it's make my job easier. Anyway, they came to Dublin around 850. Not so much to pillage and other bad things, but more to trade (and with no tariffs). They even gave Dublin its name. They call it "Dubh Linn" meaning "Black Pool".
Dublinia is a museum about Vikings and the medieval history of Dublin. It uses guides dressed as vikings to tell the story. I suppose it's more interesting than reading a sign, but there is a bit of cringe too. Every school kid in Dublin was brought here as a kid and kids seem to like it. Good views from the tower.
9.The Liberties
The road curves a little and now you're on Thomas Street. This is the Liberties area of Dublin. It's called the Liberties because it used to be outside the city walls, so the people living here had more freedom than those within. It still has a rebellious, independent feel today. I love this part of town.
Gentrifying fast, but it’s still full of character. Here, old school Dublin street traders still sell toilet roll on the streets in front of an Argentinian bakery (which is delicioso!).
Take a wander down Francis Street for antique shops. My favorite plant shop, Hopeless Botanics is at the end. They are so clever in their branding. I have one of their 'impossible to kill' plants slowing dying next me right now.
Meath Street for the aforementioned street traders. Vicar Street is one of Dublin's best music venues, check their schedule to see who is playing.
It seems that every second door is a bar around here, which makes sense since Guinness Brewery is a few feet away & a lot of the Guinness staff used to live here. Some bars are very much for the locals, but they’re well used to tourists passing on their way to Guinness.
10.Teeling Distillery
This is Ireland, so of course there's lots of whiskey. In Dublin we have Jameson, Roe & Co but I really like Teeling. It's smaller and more personal. They are a perfect example of the regeneration in the Liberties and are a big success story.
I prefer Teeling Distillery over the nearby Roe & Coe, who are Diageo/Guinness own. If you're prefer more local experiences, you can book Teeling tickets here.
11.Guinness Storehouse
It's Guinness. There's nothing more I can add. Go, everyone goes.
Ok, there are a few things that I can. 1.7 million people do this tour every year. Our population is only 5 million! So it's get very busy. But I'm going to tell you the best ways to visit.
Guinness Storehouse Experience
This is the basic entry. It's a self guided tour through an exhibition. You don't actually tour the brewery. But it is superbly done.
You work your way to the top floor where there is the Gravity Bar and you get one pint of delicious Guinness that is included in admission. And you can't buy more in the Gravity Bar. They want you to drink your pint and leave 1.69 million behind you can a drink.
You can buy drinks in other areas of the Storehouse though. And not just Guinness. For the non-drinkers, the new Guinness 0.0 is just like the real thing. I drink more of that now than the alcohol version!
Definitely book ahead of time
The Connoisseur Tour
Think of this as the business class of Guinness tours. Visiting Guinness is something you'll do once in your life. So do it properly. If it is within your means, do the Connoisseur Tour.
I was trying to think of how to describe it when I saw this online. It's so full of passion, I loved it!
The connoisseur experience was 100% worth it. It was our first day after an overnight flight so sitting and listening to history, storytelling (& a bit of traditional irish music peppered in from a speaker at the bartender’s leisure from time to time), inside a really nice bar amid a small group was perfect. We also skipped a SUPER long line that stretched back and forth outside while it was pouring rain. They lifted a velvet rope and we were seated 2-3 mins later upstairs. It’s a flight of pints, so a lot of beer— at least 5. You learn to pour the last one yourself & they give you a certificate. 10/10 worth it over a “self tour” which is just walking around and reading things (you can still do this after the connoisseurs experience if you want to)
The main advantages of the Connoisseur Experience:
- Guided by an officially trained Guinness Connoisseur
- Private tasting in an exclusive, quiet bar setting
- Sample four different Guinness brews with stories behind each
- Learn to pour the perfect pint (and receive a certificate)
- 90-minute immersive experience
- Still includes everything from the basic tour, including Gravity Bar pint
- Skip-the-line privileges (especially valuable during busy periods)
And you skip the line.
12.Pearse Lyons Distillery
Writing about Teeling reminds me of another fabulous distillery and this one is in an old church. "Honey, I'm just off to church for a few hours"
It gets more interesting because the founder was an Irishman who is in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame! Another smaller and more unique distillery for you to visit. Here's where to get your tickets
Hotels On The Dame Route
Stay on this route if you want feel like you're living in Dublin, not just visiting. And because parts of it are outside the main tourist area, prices are lower.
Walk some steps to save some money. Win Win.
There may be some affiliate links in this page. We earn a (tiny) commission at no cost to you
Route Details
- 4kms
- You can walk it in one hour, but it'll take you at least 2 with stops. More if you go into any of the attractions.
- It is all paved and is mostly very flat.
- There are lots of cafes, pubs, restaurants on the way.
- Taxis and a multitude of buses run along the route to bring you home.
- Here is the Google Maps Route but follow my Routes system and you won't need it.
The Final Word on the Dame Route
The Dame Route is just over 2km from Trinity to Guinness, so it's easily walkable for most people. Take your time, wander down interesting side streets when they catch your eye, and remember that Dame Street will always be there to guide you back.
This route hits many of Dublin's must-see attractions, but without the usual tourist confusion. You now know which parts to linger in and which to breeze through
More Routes To Come
I am working on more of these routes within the city. This is my first one and it takes a lot of time! Follow to be updated when I publish more.
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Book A Private Walking Tour of the Dame Route with Me
- We'll walk all the stops on this page from Trinity College to Guinness
- Hear local stories & history from a Dubliner
- €100 for a 2 hour private tour
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Darragh
