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Dublin Castle, Dublin

3.7
#5 of 35 in Historic Sites in Dublin
Architectural Building Castle
A taste of medieval times in the middle of a modern downtown, Dublin Castle served as the seat of British rule in Ireland for over seven centuries. Although it remains part of a major government complex, the castle now mostly serves as a venue for ceremonial events, such as the inauguration of the country's president. Transformed over the ages from a medieval fortress to a Georgian palace, the castle complex contains an 800-year-old tower, the sole survivor of the original fortifications built on this spot in the early 13th century. Take a guided tour to see the gardens built over a site once occupied by a black pool, the "dubh inn" from which the city of Dublin got its name. Make Dublin Castle a centerpiece of your Dublin vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Dublin vacation planner.
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Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
3,524 reviews
Google
4.2
TripAdvisor
  • When you 1st arrive and pay you are given a choice to do a self-guided tour (which I did) or wait for the next available time a tour guide can show you around for a higher price than the self-guided o...  more »
  • Guided tours take visitors into the Undercroft and the Chapel as well as the State Apartments. Not expensive and well worth the money. Beautiful apartments, and the history of the buildings and town i...  more »
  • This is part of the historic sites of the country, it is good to know when we go to the discovery!
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  • Beautiful castle, but the historical pieces are limited to a short part of a guided tour underground. You cannot access the oldest parts alone (self-guided). Our tour guide was anything but motivated by her job, but still, the history lesson was wonderful and rich.
  • The tour that goes to the underground area too is very nice, they have some art works at the patio sometimes. The coffee shop is very good and clean although it closes quite early. The chapel is very nice and gardens at the back are beautiful all year round.
  • Historic, beautifully maintained. Attended conference there which was very well serviced at Dublin Castle. Lunch was universally praised. Plenty of information inside and out on its origins and history. Well worth a visit.
  • Fantastic setting to explore. Pay for the fully guided tour, lots of information plus you get to see the underground ruins and get all the background information. The private cathedral is very ornate and detailed.
  • I believe you can get enough of this the free way--outdoor walk around. You can go in for free on certain days too! It's really cool and a beautiful space. I recommend seeing it at night as well.
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Where to stay in Dublin

Dublin offers everything from luxury hotels to eclectic guesthouses. Explore over 1,000 years of history in the city on foot by staying at one of the hotels or hostels in the city center. The south side of the river has always been a popular place to stay, particularly near Temple University or the tourist nightlife center Temple Bar, but a new crop of attractive options has popped up on the north side as well. For more affordable accommodations, try a hostel or make your way toward St. Stephen's Green for a more comfortable stay at a mid-range hotel. If the artistic spirit of Dublin is what beckoned you, spend your holiday in a guesthouse near the creative Lower Gardiner Street.
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16 days in Paris, Dublin & United Kingdom BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES November, culture, romantic, historic sites, hidden gems PREFERENCES: November, culture, romantic, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 4 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES August, popular PREFERENCES: August ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 9 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 16 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES July, teens, kids, culture, romantic, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: July, teens, kids, culture, romantic, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 3 days in Dublin BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES September, popular PREFERENCES: September ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 3 days in Dublin BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM August, popular PREFERENCES: August ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 3 days in Dublin BY A USER FROM IRELAND October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 14 days in Ireland & Northern Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 21 days in Ireland, Scotland & Belgium BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 31 days in Western Europe BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM August, popular PREFERENCES: August ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 8 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES March, culture, relaxing, beaches, museums, shopping, slow & easy, popular PREFERENCES: March, culture, relaxing, beaches, museums, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Slow & easy 4 days in Tours & Dublin BY A USER FROM CANADA June, popular PREFERENCES: June ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium
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