Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour

Recommended by 90% of travelersBadge of ExcellenceDublin, Ireland
Early Access Book of Kells Including Exterior Tour of Dublin Castle
Special Offer

From $66.90

per person

$76.22 Save $9.32

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Avoid the crowds and explore Irish history in peace on this Book of Kells and Dublin Castle exterior tour. Visit the Trinity College Library, home to the famous Book of Kells—widely considered among the most important of all Ireland’s ancient treasures. Listen as your guide brings medieval Ireland to life, shedding light on the Book of Kells’ profound historical significance. Afterward, enjoy a guided walking tour around Dublin Castle’s mighty exterior. Visit the gardens and yards, and learn of the castle’s role as court, fortress, treasury, and jail.
  • Book of Kells and Dublin Castle exterior tour
  • Enjoy timed access to Trinity College Library and see the Book of Kells without the crowds
  • Learn about the artistry, meaning, and symbolism of this revered illuminated manuscript from an expert guide
  • Tour the grounds of Dublin Castle, hearing fascinating stories of its years as a prison, military fortress, and the seat of English Administration in Ireland

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

See the Book of Kells without the crowds with early-access admission to the Trinity College Library.

What's Included

  • Tour is led by an expert english speaking local guide
  • Entry to the College Treasury to view the 9th Century Book of Kells
  • Visit to the 16th Century Trinity College campus
  • Exterior tour of the13th Century Dublin Castle
  • Book of Kells 360 & Long Room reimagined Experience & Gaia - The illuminated sculpture of Earth
  • Interior visit to Dublin Castle
  • Hotel Pick Up & Drop Off / Transportation / Food and Drink / Gratitude

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Edmund Burke Statue
    Trinity College Dublin, College St, Dublin, 2, Ireland

    Meeting Time: 15 minutes before the scheduled start time Meeting Place: Edmund Burke Statue, Trinity College, Dublin 2, D02 E620 Meeting Point: Meet your guide at the Main Front Entrance of Trinity College, facing on to College Green, between the big wooden doors, and iron railings.

End point

  • Dublin Castle
    Dame St, Dublin 2, Co. Dublin, Ireland

What To Expect

Start your Book of Kells and Dublin Castle fast-track, early-access tour at the Trinity College Library in Dublin.

Beat the crowds of the day as you head inside with a guide who first takes you through the library and then on to the main attraction—the Book of Kells. See one of Ireland’s most important artifacts as your guide tells you about its history and significance to Irish heritage. You can look at the book’s pages, which are on display, as long as you like before moving on.

Next, your guide leads your group to Dublin Castle to see its lovely exterior as you walk around its grounds to see its gardens and other areas. Hear about the castle’s history as you stroll.

Your tour ends as Dublin Castle and leaves you with the rest of the day to explore Ireland’s capital city as you wish.

The Book of Kells Experience

40 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Trinity College Dublin

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Dublin Castle

50 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Molly Malone Statue

5 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Please wear comfortable shoes as this tour involves a fair amount of walking, including over uneven surfaces, cobblestones, hills, inclines, declines and stairs.
  • Participants should be in good health - consult first with your doctor if you have any medical condition or are not used to regular exercise.
  • Wheelchairs, motorised scooters or any other device to assist mobility are not recommended, as we cannot guarantee: that all footpaths/sidewalks/curbs will have suitable ramps.
  • Anybody under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by somebody aged 18 years or older.
  • Not recommended for travellers with limited mobility
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

See more

Reviews

4.6
3,127 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 3,127 reviews
Sav Mom in Dublin
Valerie_F, Jan 2025
Richard was an amazing tour guide, informative on the local community vibe, the history of Dublin, The Book of Kells, Trinity College and other Dublin lore. We had plenty of photo ops and great tips on local food and fun. I highly recommend this fabulous tour.
Great time!
SergioEdgardo_E, Jan 2025
Richard was very friendly and knowledgeable, the best guide in the city!!! He made great remarks of the places we visited!
Very informative. Book of...
Dragana_S, Jan 2025
Very informative. Book of Kells was really great but the library was the absolute best. Our guide was fun.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hello and Thanks for the wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed the Book of Kells, and it's no surprise that the library stole the show—it’s truly magical, isn’t it? We're also glad your guide added some fun to the experience; our team prides itself on bringing history to life! When you are up for more adventures, we’ve got fantastic tours in Dublin and beyond. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again! 📚✨
Fantastic guide, very...
Dori_R, Jan 2025
Fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and charismatic. I was fascinated by the making of ink and the skins they were written on. Guide also gave a tour of surrounding neighborhoods and provided recommendationa
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and found the guide so knowledgeable and charismatic. The making of ink and the unique materials it was written on is such a fascinating part of history, and we're thrilled it piqued your interest! We’re also glad you appreciated the extra neighborhood tour and recommendations—those little touches make all the difference. If you’re traveling to another city, be sure to check out our other tours across Europe and the USA for more incredible experiences. We’d love to welcome you again
Great experience. Would recommend
nikki211, Jan 2025
Alan with the yellow hat was most informative and did a really good job. The whole experience was educational in a fun way and we all learnt lots about the history of all of the things mentioned in the tour title as well as more besides
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Nikki, Thank you for your wonderful review! Alan and his iconic yellow hat are a true highlight of our team, and we’re so glad to hear he made your tour both educational and fun. It’s great that you enjoyed learning not just about the tour’s main highlights but even more fascinating history along the way. At LetzGo City Tours, we offer a huge variety of group and private tours throughout Europe and the USA. We’d love to have you join us for another adventure whenever the travel bug bites. Sláinte! 🍀🎩
Sean was a fantastic tour...
Hayley_L, Jan 2025
Sean was a fantastic tour guide. Very knowledgeable and engaging. Well worth the time and money for this tour!
This was our first walk...
Dale_M, Dec 2024
This was our first walk around Dublin. Fergus was awesome: very attentive to every member of the group, told great stories
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Dale, your first stroll through Dublin, guided by none other than Fergus the Fantastic! 🌟 It sounds like he made sure everyone felt like a VIP while sprinkling the journey with his signature storytelling magic. Here’s to great walks, even better stories, and Fergus making first impressions of Dublin absolutely unforgettable! Sláinte
Informative and fun tour with Miriam!
James_K, Dec 2024
Miriam was a fantastic tour guide! We were so impressed with the amount of information she was able to share with us throughout the tour: from the initial tour of Trinity College and the Book of Kells to the history of the castle. At the same time, she had an effortless sense of humor that kept the tour really interesting and engaging. Would absolutely recommend friends to book this tour experience!
Exceptional experience
Heather_W, Dec 2024
Tour with Miriam was more than I could have hoped for. She is very knowledgeable and fun. I don’t have the words to explain how beautiful this experience was. Amazing piece of history
Neve was an excellent...
Jennifer_K, Dec 2024
Neve was an excellent tour guide! Very informative and kept it interesting. I did lose a diamond earring on the tour so if it’s possible to check the list and found at Trinity I’d appreciate it! We were on Neve’s last tour of the year. Thanks again for a great trip!!
Definitely book this tour.
Diana_B, Dec 2024
Our tour guide Richard was a wealth of knowledge when he finally arrived. Viator did not communicate very well with our group to let us know what was happening. You take a side guided tour of the Book of Kells and the Library. Outstanding the history. Our walking tour was amazing. Thanks Richard.
Fantastic Half-Day Tour of Book of Kells and Trinity College with Miriam!
Riley_N, Dec 2024
Miriam was lovely! The tour was great for a half day of sightseeing in Dublin. I had no idea what to expect of the Book of Kells but it was pretty incredible. Grateful also that the Trinity Library was open, it was very cool! With the tour being only a few hours, it gave me plenty of time later in the day to visit some of the museums I was hoping to explore in Dublin!
Super fun!! Richard, our...
Julia_W, Dec 2024
Super fun!! Richard, our guide, was awesome. He was super passionate and gave us a very rich history of the places we went. Just make sure to have comfy walking shoes!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Julia, Thank you for the fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had a blast with Richard—his passion is infectious, isn’t it? 🎉 He’s basically a walking history book, but way more fun and with better jokes. 📚😄 Great tip about the comfy shoes! Richard’s tours might not be a marathon, but they’re definitely a history stroll worth every step. 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you again for another adventure (and maybe a few more steps)!" 🏰👟
Dreamlike library and university
Stella_Y, Dec 2024
It was like a dream. Beautiful library and university grounds. We loved every minute of our tour. Thank you!!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Stella, "Thank you for the dreamy review! 🌟 We’re so glad you enjoyed the stunning library and university grounds—it’s like stepping straight into a storybook, isn’t it? 📚✨ We’re thrilled you loved every minute of the tour; moments like these are why we do what we do. Come back and see us anytime—there’s always more magic to discover!" 🏰🌳 Best Regards,
Our tour guide, Miriam,...
Todd_H, Dec 2024
Our tour guide, Miriam, was wonderful! She was very knowledgeable about the history of the Book of Kells and the college, and make it very engaging. Would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Todd, Thank you so much for the glowing review! Miriam will be delighted to hear she made your experience engaging and enjoyable—she has a true gift for bringing history to life. 📖✨ We’re so glad you’d recommend the tour, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure soon!" 🏰😊 Best Regards, From all the team
Great tour and guide
georgia_o, Dec 2024
Richard was incredibly knowledgeable and obviously has a passion for what he does. It was a great, well worth it.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Georgia, Thank you for the kind words! Richard’s passion and knowledge are a winning combination, aren’t they? He’s like a walking treasure chest of history—except way more approachable and without the pirate accent. 🏴‍☠️📚 We’re thrilled you found the tour well worth it and hope you’ll join us again for another adventure filled with Richard’s fun and fascinating stories!" 🎉👏 Best Regards,
Richard is fantastic!...
Janice_C, Dec 2024
Richard is fantastic! Very informative and fun and passionate. The library is beautiful and the Experience is well done. Enjoy the tour very much!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Janice, Thank you for the fantastic review! Richard will be thrilled to hear he made your tour both informative and fun—he’s got that perfect blend of passion and charm, doesn’t he? 📚✨ We’re so glad you enjoyed the beautiful library and the overall experience. It’s always a treat to share such special places with wonderful guests like you. Come back anytime for more stories and smiles!" 😊🎉 Best Regards, Ciaran
Fun morning learning about Irish history with knowledgeable guide
Marie_K, Dec 2024
Really wonderful. Antonio is very personable and extremely knowledgeable of Irish history. We learned so much and I truly enjoyed the book of Kells visit and The Long Hall. The Dublin Castle was nice as well.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Marie, Thank you for the wonderful review! Antonio will be so happy to hear you had such a great time. His passion for Irish history really shines through, and it’s fantastic to know you enjoyed the Book of Kells, The Long Hall, and Dublin Castle. 📚🏰 Best Regards We’re so glad you learned a lot and had a memorable experience. We hope to see you on another tour soon for more Irish history and fun!" 😊🎉 Best regards from ll the team
Great walking tour
Cameron_R, Dec 2024
Antonio is a very enthusiastic, knowledge guide. Highly recommended. His tips and insight into Dublin's past are second to none!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi and Thank you for the wonderful review! Antonio will be thrilled to know you found his enthusiasm and insights into Dublin’s past so valuable. His passion for the city really makes the experience special, doesn’t it? 😊 We appreciate the high recommendation and hope you’ll join us again soon for more adventures in Dublin’s rich history! 🏰📚 Best Regards,
Antonio is magnificent
David_F, Dec 2024
Knowledgeable, interesting, pleasant, informative best describes Antonio. Antonio provided the best Dublin tour we experienced during our stay.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
David, Thank you so much for the kind words! Antonio will be thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time with him. 😊 His mix of knowledge, charm, and passion really does make for a memorable experience, doesn’t it? We’re so happy to have been part of your Dublin adventure and hope to welcome you back for more amazing tours soon! 🎉🍀 Best Regards, From all the team
...

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
Special Offer
Early Access Book of Kells Including Exterior Tour of Dublin Castle
Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour

3,127

2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$76.22
$66.90
Guided Walking Tour in Dublin
Guided Walking Tour in Dublin

6

3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$32.53

Explore Similar Things to Do