The Best Dublin Museums
What to do on a rainy day in Dublin? Why, go to one of our museums. I've been to them all and share my thoughts here to help you pick the best ones for you.
Dublin was founded in 988. Has seen Viking invasions, British occupations, rebellions, famines, emigration, sports. And we have museums for all of them
Here are my reviews of the best of these museums. I personally visited them and took all these photos. Accurate information by a Dublin local tour guide.
The best museum of all is Dublin itself so come on my Dublin walking tour and I'll tell you the history and stories live on the streets of Dublin.
Save with the Dublin Pass
The Dublin Pass gets you into Dublin's top 40 museums and attractions for one flat fee. It pays for itself after the three big ones that everyone does: the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, and the Hop-on Bus. Everything after that is free, EPIC, Christchurch, plus three of my own favourites the Little Museum of Dublin, the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship and Teeling Distillery.
👉Buy the Dublin Pass here.
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
Score: 9/10
This is unmissable, if you can get a ticket though. That's the hard part. A haunting walk through an old prison that was the site of the executions that changed Irish history. I go every year to remind myself of how our country got its independence. Read my Kilmainham Gaol review
National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology
Score: 9/10
After your visit to the Book Of Kells, walk 5 minutes here and spend an hour walking around Ireland's greatest archeological discoveries. It's stunning, no other words for it. And it's my favourite price, free! Read my Archaeology Museum review
The Afternoon Tea Bus leaves from right around the corner from the museum and is one of the very best things to do in Dublin. Read their reviews to see why!
Newgrange - A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Book this immediately, don't even hesitate. Newgrange is a prehistory burial tomb that is older than the Pyramids in Egypt! Ireland only has 4 UNESCO World heritage sites and this is one of them. On the winter solstice, at sunrise, the dawn lights enters the tomb through a small opening. How did people do this 5,000 years ago? Because the tomb is so small, tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale. But tickets are included on this tour! And you get to see some beautiful Irish countryside. Read my Newgrange review
The Little Museum Of Dublin
Score: 9/10
Is it a museum, or a play, or a comedy, or a library, or an exhibition? I can't make up my mind but I loved it. If you're not really a museum person but still want to learn about Dublin's history, you can do it here in their "29 Minute Tour". Superb. Read my Little Museum of Dublin review
Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship
Score: 8/10
This is an essential visit for anyone of Irish descent. Board this replica of a ship that brought Irish people to the US & Canada during the Famine. You'll have a new appreciation for what they went through when you are down below the deck in the living area. Jeanie is docked outside the EPIC museum, do them both together. Read my Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship review
Epic The Irish Emigration Museum
Score: 8/10
This is a superbly executed exhibition. It's fully digital, no dusty signs to read here. Kids will love the interactive nature of it. Be sure to combine with the Jeannie Johnston Famine Ship tour that is docked just outside. Your visit to the ship will stay with you long after you go home. Get a quick and tasty lunch at TÃr afterwards. Delicious. Read my Epic The Irish Emigration Museum review
The Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College
Score 8/10
The big one. The Book of Kells is of one of the most important manuscripts of its time, but the big attraction is The Old Library. This is perhaps most beautiful interior of any building in Dublin. Book ahead, more than one million visitors come here every year. Read my Book of Kells Experience Review
Dublin History Walking Tours
Learn as you walk around Dublin. These two very highly rated tours are group tours. If you prefer a private tour, I'll personally tell you Dublin's history on my private Dublin Walking Tour.
Hill of Tara
Tara was the seat of the high kings of Ireland. It was the political and spiritual centre of Celtic Ireland. St Patrick came here to start his mission to convert Ireland to Christianity. I just reread my own review of the Hill of Tara and I must have been in a bad mood that day 😄. I arrived unplanned, and more importantly, without a guide, so I was just wandering around a field. Don't make my mistake. Go with this group and you'll have a much better experience than I did.
The Irish Whiskey Museum
Score 8/10
Ok, this might be a bit cheeky to include but it has museum in its name, so I can include it here. It's very central, so a good alternative to the Dublin whiskey distilleries which are all a good 30 minute from central Dublin.
You will learn how whiskey came to Ireland, who learned it, and its place in Irish society. But in a fun way. And you get to taste whiskeys from more than one distillery.
Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
Score: 8/10
If you like to go to less visited place, away from the tourist trail, take the train 30 minutes to the village of Dalkey. It's home to this 14th century castle. Make a day of it out here in the gorgeous part of Dublin and come on my Vista walking tour of the most scenic walk in Dublin. Read my Dalkey Castle review
Christchurch Cathedral
Score 7/10
I'm not big on churches, I'd rather walk around and see the city than another church, but I do like Christchurch because there's so much Dublin history in it. Try to get Tom from Cork as your guide. He's excellent. Read my Christchurch Cathedral review
Dublinia Viking & Medieval Museum
Score 7/10
Dublinia has been around since I was a kid which is a long time ago. It's a little dated, but you can't argue with the information on display. There's nearly too much! Vikings are so important in Irish history that this makes a good rainy day visit. Read my Dublinia Viking Museum review
Irish Famine Exhibition Dublin
Score: 7/10 If you are of Irish descent, you owe it to your ancestors to spend 45 minutes walking around this modest museum and learn what they went through. Why they made that decision to leave their home. It might also give you a bit more compassion for people who still have to leave their homes today. Read my Irish Famine Exhibition review
Glasnevin Cemetery
Score: 7/10
There are more dead Dubliners in Glasnevin than they are live ones living in Dublin today. It's our national cemetery and many our heroes are buried here. You can do the tour and then go to Gravediggers after for a drink.
Read my Glasnevin Cemetery review | Buy Glasnevin Cemetery tickets.
Dublin Castle
Score 6/10
I found the tour of the castle, and more accurately, its state rooms, quite boring. Lots of portraits of old men and furniture. Don't come expecting a big Braveheart castle. But its grounds are worth walking around for free and don't miss the Dubh Linn Gardens behind the castle. They are the best part and they're not part of the official castle tour. Read my Dublin Castle tour review
St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin
Score 6/10
The grounds of St Patrick's Cathedral are beautiful and free, so walk around it, get your photos, but it feels more like a British war museum than a church on the inside to me. A skip for me.
Irish History
If you want to learn more about Irish history before your trip, here are the books that I recommend.
Dublin Walking Tours
I lead private walking tours in Dublin City. Have a local Dubliner show you around the city and bring the streets to life with stories and history.
Score: 10/10 😄
