The Best Dublin Museums
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 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
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.
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
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.
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
Dublin Castle
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 😄
