Very interesting and informative tour. I liked that it did not cost a lot and that I got to learn so much about its history. The grounds are scenic, but I do feel kind of distracted by all the city centre that has grown up around it. Lots of flat buildings in the background kind of took away from it, but that certainly cannot be helped now can it? The gift shop was a bit pricey for items if you wanted to get anything. I just looked inside instead of actually getting anything like I wanted to. You can buy anything out of that gift shop at your pharmacy. Save yourself some euros like I did. read more

See all

We paid for the self guided tour. It was a a short tour of just the upstairs area. Many of the rooms were empty and in the process of being fixed and painted so there were paint cans laying around and the rooms were bare. If I had known this ahead of time I would not have paid to go inside. read more

Dublin Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

Dublin Castle is a major Irish government complex, and conference centre. It was until 1922 the seat of the British government's administration in Ireland. Rebuilt in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Dublin Castle is now used for important State receptions and Presidential Inaugurations. read more

See all

Went during a Bram Stoker's festival in late October and the castle was "haunted". Free and really nice production quality decorations/costumes! They had a giant skeleton at the entrance and these weird little demon guys running around inside scaring people as well as some ghostly looking people acting out scenes in a loop. There isn't anywhere to go besides that plaza though so the whole haunted castle exploration took maybe 10 minutes. read more

See all

As far as castles go this was a rather mediocre experience. That being said, it is still a castle and even a mediocre experience is something to remember! The castle itself is rather impressive in size. It was hard to capture it with my camera even when using my wide angle lens! From certain angles it is a beautiful sight and yet from others it feels so...commercial. I almost felt like in was looking in a popup book about Ireland. It simply seemed to lack authenticity. I contribute this mostly to the modern setting we live in. A gorgeous castle alongside rows of cars and streetlights really does diminish your sense of immersement. Overall I would say that the castle is worth checking out. Try to get a tour if you can! We sadly were uninformed about the tours and were only in Dublin for the day. I am sure it would have been great! read more

Dublin Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

We really enjoyed touring the castle. It's heavy fortifications still show through the years. We opted for a guided tour and found it to be very informative. We learned much about the history of Dublin, Irish values and their history. For castle snobs you need to remember that this was a working palace. Don't expect Buckingham Palace. Be prepared for stairs and long hallways. Bring your camera! read more

See all

Dublin Castle is a significant location not only in Dublin, but in Ireland's history as it was the original seat of government when under British rule. It was built under a Viking settlement and served mainly as a defense for the city. It dates back to the THIRTEENTH century! For those who leave these negative reviews about preferring castles to be more ornate or "I've seen better," I sincerely request that a visitor put things into perspective. This isn't Disney and it's not fabricated. This is living history that dates back 800 plus years. The Viking settlement goes back thousands of years. This is massive. Open your mind and explore. Listen to the history and involve yourself in the location instead of picking it apart. Our guide, Laura, was THE best. Her accent was lovely and fluid and she was adorably funny and welcoming. Her vast knowledge of the property was impressive and she was great at not only leading us around but fielding the off-the-cuff questions. While we were there, they were doing renovations on the outside so it was difficult to get a really good picture. But, they are preserving an important part of history and it's good to know your entry fee goes to help with that preservation. You get to see the whole property. When you check in, there's an easy queue for tickets (we pre-bought for our group) and an area to check backpacks and large bags. The bathrooms are conveniently located at the start. You walk throughout and get to visit the banquet rooms and great halls the Irish government uses today for state events and inaugurations. There's also the drawing room, throne room, and the charming and beautifully designed chapel. A thoroughly enjoyable time, not boring at all. Soak up the experience. To the management: Laura was beyond fabulous and made the tour! Give her kudos for us, please! read more

Dublin Castle is the heart of historic Dublin and the helipad in Dublin Castle is actually on the old Dubh Linn or Black Pool that gave this city its name! The history of the castle is fascinating and goes a long way back! And the tales of lose and war and escapes and deaths are great and good to listen to! The castle itself is really cool on the inside and holds some lovely art pieces and great rooms like the ballroom! read more

Dublin Castle - Dublin Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

I'm not sure how I review something that is a historical site but this review is more for the tour than the Castle itself. The tour group was WAY too large and we could either barely hear the tour guide or felt like we were cramped half the time. But by the time we made it from the first half of the tour into the actual castle, we finally had more space but the bulk of it felt like too many people in one tour group. read more

Historic castle that is still in use. The rooms are well preserved and used for galleries now. The exterior is impressive as well. Chapel is closed for renovations right now and basement requires guided tour. U will c plenty in the castle itself to give u a feel of what it was like back then. Enjoy. read more

Dublin is one of my favorite places in Europe! I came to the Dublin Castle in 2009 and the art pieces made out of clay and sand were fabulous! I love looking are creative art pieces and I'm glad to have made it here for this exhibit. read more

See all

We were walking around the area and it started pouring rain. To stay dry we decided to take a tour of the Dublin Castle. I'm so glad we did because the castle was beautiful on the inside and held a lot of historical pieces. The garden was also very impressive. It didnt take us very long to complete the self -guided tour. Unfortunately we couldn't go outside because it was still raining so we hung out at the cafe for a little while to wait out the rain. The cafe was awesome because they served coffee/tea, salads, sandwiches and other hot meals. It also overlooked the garden. Its not expensive to take a tour here and I definitely recommend it. read more

Interesting place and tour. Inexpensive too. However, I find the no-photo policy to be absurd. (The rationale was that this was a government building, presumably implying some kind of protection from terrorism?) read more

Dublin Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

I fell in love with the city of Dublin in particular Dublin Castle. Tucked nicely away amongst the busy city streets, this 824 year old castle provides breathtaking history and architecture. The grand blue ballroom known as St. Patrick's Hall is a definite show stopper with it's painted ceilings of St. Patrick introducing Christianity to Ireland the coronation of King George III, and Henry II. Dublin Castle is definitely worth the stop for any history lover! read more

See all

If you like castles and the architecture surrounding it this is a great place to visit. It is spacious and beautiful and the huge courtyard allows for breathtaking panoramic photographs. There is a wonderful "Lady Justice" statue in the courtyard and I would walk entirely around the outside to get great shots of the Castle and the tower. Try the Chez Max restaurant outside the gate for a pastry. read more

See all

If you just want to have a nosy in the courtyard - you can wander about for free (plus in the summer months look out for the giant sand sculptures). However, (usually) If you want to look inside at the ancient foundations and the state rooms you'll have to pay. Worth a look to see the beautiful insides banqueting halls, shimmering chandeliers, and catch a glimpse of the ancient city walls. You also have the option to either wander round yourself (state rooms only) or get a guided tour (same price). As a bonus tip - first Wed of every month its free to visit! read more

See all

What an incredible place to see! Deeply disappointing that the surrounding setting has not been preserved to give Dublin Castle the respect it deserves. Who in Gods name allowed anyone to paint portions of exterior of this glorious building red, blue, yellow and green? What a crime! read more

See all

Visited April 2015: "More like a manor house then a Castle" While waiting in line (queue) we noticed the sign for the Heritage Pass which is good for all over the Republic of Ireland. We spoke to the cashier, and she provided us a map of which locations take the pass. It was also 25 Euros for about 100 places to see. We then ate lunch at the Tea Room since we both did not have breakfast. I got a Chicken Salad sandwich on brown bread and a slice of their carrot cake with lemon frosting. It was divine, the cake that is. I have to admit that I ate it all with no guilt. We then went to see the State Rooms which were built as the residential and public area of the Viceregal Court. They are currently using it to inaugurate the President of Ireland and other state needs. It was really cool to see that not only has Ireland had a Women president, but 2 and one was reelected for a second term. Again, I have to admit that I was photo crazy. read more

See all

Easy to access, easy to find, and free to walk around. The garden was really pretty, especially if you walk around the side paths. You can bring a book and sit and read along the benches. It's nice and quiet here. read more

Dublin Castle - The garden in the back is peaceful and beautiful - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

The Castle is without a doubt beautiful! It was €7 to go in with the self guided tour. With the Castle being so big, I actually expected the tour to be bigger. There wad about maybe 3 or 4 bigger rooms with a bunch of little rooms you could see. I was really looking forward to getting the chance to explore an actual Castle. It just sucked that we couldn't have seen more of the grounds. From the windows you could see a beautiful garden, however that is the only place where you can see it. Maybe, it's just this castle that was limiting. I don't regret coming here, it was nice to learn the history. I just wish I could have seen more. read more

See all

If you only go on one tour or visit one place when you are in Dublin, make it the Dublin Castle. It is beautiful. and so full of history. We opted to take the tour. Our tour guide was so good. She was so informative ,lots of great information. This is the sight of Ireland's freedom from England. Michael Collins and all. Strangely that night we even saw the movie on the telly which was filmed right there at the Castle. It is not much of a charge to visit the Castle. You learn a lot about the Art work and why the rooms are decorated the was they are. You get to tour the original area that is still there from the Viking Days. There is a fantastic Chapel there as well ,which is used in the filming of The Tudors. Love It. read more

The castle is a significant part of the history of ancient Dublin. The garden from where I snapped my photo, I discovered, was a river pool. The first pool spotted by the Vikings that made them decide to plant a settlement. There's a tour of the inside of the castle, it's a small museum with a few rooms, a worthwhile respite from the sideways rain that drops from the unpredictable Irish sky every 15 minutes or so. read more

Dublin Castle - From the gardens - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

Beautiful and historic, the castle should be near the top of anyone's list for touring Dublin city. The architecture is astounding and very imposing. Make sure to explore the courtyard for more modern architecture that feels a bit more like a palace. There are also two museums here as well as a cafe. Now the Irish government owns the building and uses it for some meetings and visits still. read more

See all

We stumbled upon Dublin Castle on accident just wandering the streets of Dublin. Of course it was on our agenda at some point, but sometimes Dublin just leads you places. Unfortunately Dublin only led us through half of the castle the first day we viewed it. We didn't follow around to the back where the beautiful celtic knot is landscaped into the green. Luckily, we found that another day :) Dublin Castle is a free stop (unless viewing the Staterooms) and between the roads (cobblestones) and the astounding windows, it makes you long for an older time. America is just a babe in comparison to the old world of Europe and the feeling of history you get in these buildings is indescribable. Side Note: at times there are "actors" outside the entrance handing out coupons for other attractions. We scored 10% off at the wax museum! read more

I went here when I first arrived in Dublin and was unimpressed with the guided tour (the best part was that our tour guide had gold shoes). It is a really nice old building with a lot of history though, so I do suggest going, just not on the tour. Whenever I have had someone visit they ALWAYS really want to go--I mean, it IS a castle--so I take them and tell them what I remember from the tour and point them to google for the rest. I still find the statue of justice that is there amusing though (not facing the people, not blindfolded, and the scales used to fill up with water making them uneven). Some rooms are off limits as well because it is still used for some government functions. read more

This place was a real surprise visit and we were so pleased we made the decision to go. So we rocked up to Dublin Castle and went to purchase our tickets - only 4.50 euros which was a real bargain for Dublin tourist attractions - and the lady asked us if we wanted to join the guided tour (for no extra cost) which would take us under the castle to the original foundations. Now normally we don't do guided tours but as it was only starting in 5 minutes we thought we would have a go and it was superb. Our tour guide was funny, very Irish and played up the Irish being the poor cousin in a very funny way. Her talk was informative and led us all round the castle with loads more info than we would have got on our own. In fact I think we would not have got any info at all as there was a distinct lack of plaques telling you stuff about each room. She was more than willing to take questions too. The underground foundations were really interesting and to be able to wander down there and see such history was great. All in all I would put Dublin Castle up there as a must do in Dublin and make sure you go on the Tour with the guides at the Castle itself. You will not regret it. xyz read more

This was definitely one of my favorite tours during our two weeks in London, Dublin and Edinburgh. The docent that led our tour of Dublin Castle was outstanding. She was incredibly personable, retold Ireland's (comparatively young) history like a good story and was very thorough and gracious in her retelling of both historical fact and antecedents. The docent intertwined US history, Irish history and current events in the Middle East to tell of Ireland's legendary, yet bloody, past. She made Ireland's history relevant and interesting to everybody in the room and she aptly captured the attention of everybody on the tour, young and old. Not a single gaze wandered or bored sign was heard. I whole heartedly recommend that you pay the 5 Euro and enjoy the tour of Dublin Castle. It was an outstanding history lesson and wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Dublin. You can easily access the tour from one of the Dublin Bus tours or it's a short cab ride from the down town shopping area. It was a bit heard to find because you are looking for a Medieval "Castle" but think more modern, almost office building-ish, kind of churchy, and you'll find it right off the main road where the bus tours stop. Enjoy! read more

It's not quite the medieval castle that you imagine seeing when you are in Ireland, but still very beautiful and lovely. We did not opt for the guided tour, and appreciated the viewing on our own. I was glad to be able to see it, and I just wonder if the experience might have been a little different had it not been so close to the holidays. I think it just happened to be the day where they were setting up Christmas decorations and getting professional photos done. It is so intriguing to think of how all the rooms were used. I do think it was a worthwhile visit. read more

My Ratings: Quantity: 4 - Good Quality: 4 - Beautiful place Price: 5 - Free to view the outside Location: 4 - Nice Overall: Plenty to see, lots of photo ops, a very beautiful and well kept place. My Opinion/Story: One of the things I HAD to see while in Ireland was a real castle. My wish came true when my friends took me to Dublin Castle. Although the castle is small compared to the ones I saw online, but it's a castle nonetheless. I love how old this structure is. I love that they maintained everything about it and that they kept it well. It's amazing how there's a castle in the smack middle of the city. Dublin is definitely an odd tourist location where you have so much history in a small space. Sorta like Las Vegas with all the different attractions into one small town. read more

It's completely worth the €13 for the guided tour, They take you everywhere and give you a brief but elucidating explanation on everything, and they are quite engaging and enthusiastic. read more

This is the second time visiting the Dublin Castle, but my parents wanted to see it so off I went for the second time. You pay for entrance and can either self-guide through the main part of the castle and go with the guide underneath the castle. Or you can wait for the guide. I recommend waiting for the guide or you aren't going to know what exactly you are looking at honestly. There's a lot of history that went on right in this very place and it is still used for state events. The ballroom with the portraits was probably my favorite room, I really liked hearing about them. You get to go underneath where the old wall was as well although it takes some imagination to figure out what it would have looked like when it wasn't underground. Sure, it isn't a castle per se anymore, but it is historically significant and teaches you a bit about Irish history. Give it a visit when you are in Dublin and learn some history before hitting up the pubs. read more

As an American I wish we had something that would compare with Dublin Castle in Boston. Our two countries share in the revolutionary spirit. This is the physical embodiment of 700 years of British subjugation of the Irish people and proves to be a powerful reminder to those who see it about the not-so-distant past, and their hard won freedom. We have nothing as iconic on this side of the pond to represent the imposing nature of the Empire we separated from. To me the message was best exemplified by the permanently vacant throne in Dublin Castle. Not too far away is a large painting of the Marquess Cornwallis the General who surrendered to the American and French forces at York town, only to become the Viceroy of Ireland. I know it's hard to imagine Rapunzel in the tower, or the trebuchets outside the gates laying siege but this is the last remnant of British Imperialism in a country that has successfully fought and won it's independence. A visit to Dublin Castle will take you from the Vikings, to the Knights of St. Patrick, the Victorian period and Irish Independence. Powerful and moving. read more

I'm a big history nerd, so I was completely enamored with Dublin Castle. It is still amazing to me how a giant castle can just rise in the middle of a modern day city. For €4 you can tour the castle at your own leisure, or enlist the help of a tour guide. Since I didn't have time to wait till the next tour,I chose the self-guided option. The wonderful pamphlet given out with the ticket was very helpful in understanding the different areas of the castle and putting it into historical context. As beautiful as the outside is, the inside of the castle is even more magnificent. The artwork alone is worth the price of admission. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Dublin. read more

The main grounds are currently closed for EU meetings. However, you can still wander around and into the back where there is a stunning circular-shaped lawn with Celtic patterns, completely peaceful and hidden away! Its a real gem. read more

Dublin Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

I went here on my second in Dublin. I went on the guided tour. It is a nice old building. The garden in the back is even nicer. The best part was at the end of the tour where they take you to the original/oldest part of the castle. It is something to do if you never been to Dublin. read more

A family of 5 enjoyed the self tour. Wonderful guide book given to us when we purchased tickets. Added bonus was were where in the room where they inaugurated many past presidents and a tour guide was finishing up his tour, so we learned a few fun facts! Cafe downstairs had delicious pancakes and we received a 5% discount with our tickets from the tour. read more

I couldnt leave Dublin without stopping by its famous castle. There was a tour at set times or self guided tours. We did the self guided due to our schedule, but quickly discovered that was a great idea. We walked through and saw everything, all the beautiful paintings, and furniture. read more

There's a tour, or it's free to have a wander round the outside of the buildings and the courtyard. Sometimes there's a bit of added interest in the courtyard - when I visited last year there was a sand sculpture exhibition, on my most recent trip there was a food market setting up for the weekend. There are a few other places of interest in the immediate vicinity (the Dubh Linn Gardens to the rear of the castle buildings, and the Chester Beatty Library) that make this worth spending a couple of hours in the area. read more

Dublin Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Dublin, D

Rick Steve's guidebook is usually on point, however I think they were pretty off base on this one! They stated it was a boring tour, and I couldn't disagree more! The tour last a little over an hour and gives a brief highlight of Irish history from medieval times to present day. Lots of interesting information while seeing some pretty beautiful spaces. read more

See all

It's well worth a visit and it's one of the cheapest attractions in the City. Take the guided tour, it will be fun and informative as the guides have a great sense of humor and will try their best to answer all the questions you may have after they've spunned a long web of tales regarding the Castle and the City. You'll understand a bit better the history and evolution of the Irish politics, see the beautiful rooms where balls and levies had place and visit parts of the towers and wall now hidden under the more recent buildings. Some of the rooms are even more stunning now, after the EU Presidency, because they were renovated. Don't forget to visit the garden! read more