Book of Kells. Medieval Dublin Castle. 5* History & Heritage Tour
Description
-Smaller group -Exclusive Tour for the more discerning traveller -All Experienced/Official Qualified Guides -All entry fees covered -Skip the line & fast access -Fully wireless audio earpieces(if requested) -FAMILY groups welcome -Visit Molly Malone statue Ireland offers a unique experience. Dublin's bustling hub with centuries of rich history seamlessly merging with contemporary life. Medieval streets adorned with classical architecture, the city tells the story of a nation’s evolution from conquest to rebellion. This tour has something for everyone. History & Heritage. Trinity College & library, Book of Kells, visit Dublin Castle exterior-walk along its walls and hear many darker stories (we don’t enter the castle or grounds as it’s presently closed) Join our award winning guides on our specialist cultural journey in the heart of Dublin—a city that invites exploration, celebrates its past, and embraces its future, all while offering the charm of a welcoming, walkable metropolis.
Tour Options
Itinerary
With our experienced and licensed tour guide we start with a brief introductory talk about Trinity College and its history from 1592 onwards....then head into the University campus.
At Trinity College we visit The Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript Gospel book that originated in the ninth century. It is considered one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures and is widely regarded as an example of Insular art. The book is a masterpiece of medieval bookmaking and contains intricate designs, elaborate lettering, and colorful illustrations. It is composed of four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and is written in Latin. The Book of Kells is housed at Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland, where it is seen by millions of visitors each year.
We stand outside and pass the Bank of Ireland on College Green for an earlier and perhaps more noble example of repurposing in the city building. Standing on the traffic island on College Green and looking up, it’s difficult not to be impressed. Surely this is the grandest bank you’ve ever seen. There’s a royal coat of arms. Statues of Hibernia (the Latin name for Ireland), Fidelity and Commerce. And at ground level, a couple of cannons. Oh, and a sentry box. They’re all clues to this building’s former role because, for the first 61 years of its life, it was home to the Irish Houses of Parliament. In 1800, however, the Irish parliament voted itself out of existence, and its former premises became the Bank of Ireland’s flagship branch in 1803. It had an amazing history during those times of colonization and rebellion. The building was the first purpose-built bicameral houses of parliament in Europe (‘bicameral’ meaning it had two ‘chambers’: a House of Commons and a House of Lords.)
A final history talk of Dublin - 'Through The Ages' to The Molly Malone statue is located a short distance from where you started at College Green and Trinity College. Molly Malone was a semi historical, semi-legendary figure who was commemorated in the song 'Cockles and Mussels', a Dublin anthem. A great opportunity for photos of your visit.
Discover the captivating story of Dublin Castle, a must-see destination in the heart of Ireland’s capital. Once the center of British rule in Ireland for over 700 years, the castle has transformed into a vibrant cultural and historical site that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. The interior of the Castle & grounds are closed presently, the tour will go around the exterior and talk about its hidden secrets and stories of the past. Whether you're a history lover, architecture enthusiast, or simply exploring the exterior of Dublin. (This tour does not visit the interior of the Castle buildings & grounds, as its closed presently to all)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Strictly Not Suitable for wheelchair users or walkers and those with limited mobility issues.
Reviews(109)
Sites were incredible, but Noel the tour guide made it even more so. His knowledge of history combined with a fantastic sense of humor was the perfect welcome to Ireland. Highly recommend.
Noel was a great guide. Very personable and funny. I had relatively low expectations for the Book of Kells, thinking “it’s just an old book”, but the entire exhibit and structure of everything really brought home why it’s such a treasured artifact. We got lots of info on the battle for Irish independence, some great pub and restaurant recommendations and the Long Room at Trinity was a real treat.
Marty was awesome! Tons of knowledge about the history of Ireland and great recommendations for food
Our guide was very kind. We knew it was all walking, and my husband can handle that but we stopped for long periods and just stood at most places, with no where to sit or move much. My husband made it but had we been able to sit anywhere at the talking points it would have been so much easier. No regrets we went. We did see and learn lots, but with my husband's back we just could have used more places to sit as we listened. With those without those limitations we certainly recommend this tour.
Excellent tour with Seamus. He was extremely knowledgeable in all the history and sites that we visited.
We're delighted to hear you had an excellent tour with Seamus. His passion for Dublin's history and his enthusiasm for bringing each site to life make every tour a memorable experience. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to him. We really appreciate your 5*recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another experience with us soon! ⭐️🍀
Good, comprehensive tour of the Book of Kells and Trinity College. Excellent, informed and personable tour kids with a keen knowledge of the history of the events associated with the tour and an ability to convey them interestingly and with humor when appropriate.
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5*review. We're delighted you enjoyed your visit to the Book of Kells and Trinity College. It's especially pleasing to hear that your guide's knowledge, enthusiasm and sense of humour helped bring the history to life. We believe the stories behind these remarkable places are just as important as the sites themselves, so it's fantastic to know that came across during your tour. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you back on another City Heritage Tours adventure in the future.
Seamus was an excellent tour guide! He took the time to learn about our interests and tailored the tour to make it feel more personal. He was energetic, patient, and took great photos for us. He even showed us a few extra sights and recommended fantastic food and drink spots for our stay in Dublin. Highly recommend 11/10! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much for your fantastic super review! ⭐️☘️ We're delighted to hear you had such a memorable experience with Seamus. He has a real talent for bringing Dublin's history to life while making every tour feel personal and engaging. It's wonderful that he took the time to tailor the experience to your interests, shared some extra hidden gems, captured great photos, and pointed you towards some of Dublin's best food and drink spots. Your "11/10" ! recommendation truly means the world to us! Thank you for choosing City Heritage Tours for youe Dublin experience. ⭐️🍀
A fun learning experience. Our guide was fantastic. Highly recommended.
Thank you so much — really appreciate that! Fun and learning in the same breath — that's exactly what we aim for every single day. Dublin has no shortage of either!...thanks for the 5* and recommendation. It means the world to us. Hope to see you back again someday! 🇮🇪🙏
We went on a tour with Noel and had an excellent experience. Noel was kind, knowledgeable, and funny! He made the entire experience enjoyable, included everyone in our group (we had 3 separate groups of tourists) and provided us all with a great summary of Dublin's history and key sites. The tour was a bit longer than we anticipated, so bring water, but it was well worth it. We would recommend Noel's tour group to anyone.
Marty our guide was amazing!!! It was a very small group, 4 of us total and that’s what he specializes in! We felt like family he was taking to tour his home town. So very knowledgeable and enthusiastic it made our day so fun! My mom of 81 was with us and he was very aware of walking speeds. Such a great time I would recommend this tour versus the larger group tours. 10 out of 10!!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5*review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with Marty. He has a real passion for sharing Dublin's history and stories and it's fantastic to know that his enthusiasm and local knowledge helped make the day so memorable for you. Small groups allow for a more personal experience, and we're pleased that it felt like exploring the city with a friend. We're especially happy to hear that your elderly mother was comfortable throughout the tour. Marty, (himself a grandpa) always strives to ensure that guests of all ages can enjoy the experience at a relaxed and enjoyable pace. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you and your family back to Dublin again in the future!
