The Dublinia is a historical re-creation museum focusing on Medieval and Viking history and is connected to Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral. One of the most notable landmark buildings in the oldest part of the city, alongside and connected by a magnificent bridge to Christchurch Cathedral. There are 3 main exhibits in Dublinia which looks at the Viking and medieval history of the city of Dublin. The whole museum is very interactive and a lot of fun for kids The Viking section has recreations of a long ship and a home. There are Viking outfits to try on as well as lots of cool information that's presented in a fun way. The second exhibition is looks at medieval Dublin up to the 16th century with sets showing a rich merchant's house, a medieval street and a medieval faire. Fun fact: it was once a nightclub. Yes, Dublinia/The Synod Hall was once a nightclub, and one of the best in Dublin apparently read more

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Learn about rich Irish history! Admittedly, the Dublinia caught my eye because of the look of the building. The structure and architecture are pretty great. I could tell the building was old and wanted to know more! When you step foot inside, you learn so much about Irish history. I'm Irish and didn't know some of what was depicted. It starts with the history of the Vikings and goes from there. So interesting and definitely worth your time! If you like history, this is for you! read more

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I went here with a group of friends, all adults, today. We were looking forward to it because two of our group had Nordic heritage and they wanted to learn more about their history. We were warned by a local a couple of days ago that it wasn't great and it was outdated so we were a little wary of it. We arrived on time and had our tickets scanned immediately. The ground floor has older history and it moves up in time as you move up. The top floor has the gift shop and the tower that you can climb to see Dublin a little better. The exhibits here are alright and haven't been updated in a while it seems. They are definitely targeted more towards kids than adults, so if you're just an adult going on your own or with other adults then this may not be for you. If you have kids who like touching things and playing with things then it may be for them. The website says that visits are about an hour and a half - ours was less than an hour. read more

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Dublinia is a great space in the heart of Dublin to catch up on irelands history. It takes you to the beginning when Vikings settled, through the medieval times & hardship that Ireland had to go through then to present day. The museum was great, it had a lot of visuals & would be fun for kids. The outside is amazing with beautiful architecture! read more

Dublinia - Museums Near Me - Dublin, D

It is a great place to visit the church is brilliant the museum is great the old picture in the church are great

Ok this was a great interactive Viking history museum for adults and family's with kids. It was informational and fun. read more

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Story.. 10/10 Exhibits... 10/10 Price... 10/10 - Make sure to get it as part of a Go City Pass! This museum is the best way to experience medieval Dublin. The museum offers a very immersive experience into what life in the ancient city looked like. Give yourself an hour if you're a speed reader or an hour and a half if you want to fully enjoy it. The exhibits are interactive and visual, providing every learner with the the tools they need to experience medieval Dublin. read more

Fascinating history made life-like. Suitable for all ages. Gave us a glimpse of life in Ireland from the Viking ages. Highly recommend

Thoroughly enjoyed the Viking and Irish history. I didn't realize how cool this place was going to be, but I am happy that I visited. I would suggest taking the young ones for a small history lesson and then the majority of adults would enjoy the knowledge. I also did the Christ Church combo ticket and for a family of four it was less than €40. I definitely would suggest visiting while in Ireland and if not for the Viking history, see the gorgeous church and the views! read more

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Very cool place! Never released how savage vikings were. Great spot. Great photo ops! Was worth the money read more

Dublinia - Museums Near Me - Dublin, D

Dublinia seems a worthwhile museum to visit if you want an overview of the history of the Dublin. The ground floor is dedicated to the city's Viking history, and the first floor is focused on its medieval period. The displays imparted some knowledge, but it seemed the target audience was more kids than adults. I might've considered four stars, but during the pandemic (and in a period with Ireland's cases spiking in what is now its second-worst surge of the pandemic), I didn't feel safe. I felt the staff allowed too many people into the museum, and it didn't feel as if the building offered much by way of ventilation. I would've preferred a warning at the door so we could decide to return another time over the experience we had. This isn't a spacious museum where you can stroll around and make space if you care to do so. Instead, it's one winding and tight path through the place. People were often close together, and kids (without masks, likely unvaccinated, and probably in school the day before) were rambunctious and difficult to control, so they often skipped ahead and stood next to strangers, despite the museum's attempts to mark standing spaces to maintain distances. We finally ducked out partway through the first floor and opted for a quicker exit. Today, I'm sick for the first time after 20 months of caution, but that could just be a coincidence. Bottom line: Unless the place is empty, I wouldn't recommend a visit during the pandemic unless you're much less cautious than we are. read more

Unless you're under twelve years of age or really into that strange "Twilight Zone" episode where the mannequins come to life or maybe you're just into mannequins with crooked Whitney-style wigs, unless you fit into any of those categories, you're probably going to have as much fun as I did at Dublinia - which is practically nil. Late into the afternoon before going back to the states, I must have been really bored to have considered coming here for the absurdly high admission price of € 7.50, and shame on me for not remembering how I was equally bored at the nearly identical Jorvik Viking Centre in York, England, two decades earlier. I'm probably doomed to repeat this same mistake twenty years from now. So why was I so bored? Dublinia is one of those "living" museums where you follow a narrow series of darkened hallways "inhabited" by mannequins costumed as Vikings and put-upon medieval figures as they lived in Dublin eons ago. Not animatronic figures like the Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland, they are simple dummies placed in typical scenes of daily life back in the days of yore - including, believe it or not, a pained-looking man sitting on top of a wooden toilet making familiar noises through an audio-recorded voiceover. We've all been there. Yes, the sound effects are omnipresent and meant to evoke the period with contrived authenticity. For a child, maybe the concept works. For me, I just kept sprinting by youngsters who looked surprisingly interested in the unresponsive figures. No, I don't mean the parents. The end of the self-guided tour covers the boring details of the archaeological dig that led to the museum. The one high point - literally - is walking up to the third floor of St. Michael's Tower to get a panoramic view of the city that's frankly better than the one you get from the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse (see photo). By the way, if you're interested in crossing the enclosed bridge to explore Christchurch Cathedral (see photo), make sure to buy the combined ticket upfront at the Dublinia ticket office. Otherwise you will be rejected at the entry point and led to the gallows to be flogged like I was. read more

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I did not appreciate the farting Viking. I really, really did not. Stunts like that push this attraction to the edge of cartoonish. However, I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt for three reasons. First, it isn't easy to create a true museum devoted to a particular time and place when there are so few extant artifacts. Secondly, it's attached to Christ Church Cathedral, which lends some contrapuntal gravitas. And finally, while families would do very well here, I cannot say that the place is just for kids. The medieval period interests me most of all, and I found tons of intriguing information on the Viking and Anglo-Norman eras of Dublin's history. This exhibit has come a long way since 2004 when I breezed through it in twenty minutes (and when it was a lot cheaper). You could spend a couple of hours absorbing all the fascinating details portrayed in the displays and dioramas. And there are some fun interactive elements, too (try on a Viking helmet! lie down in a Viking bed!), so there truly is something for everyone. The 3-D map/scale model of medieval Dublin is still a highlight for me. read more

Dublinia is the kind of attraction that aims to package history in an 'accessible' format so that it will 'come alive' for the visitors. It's an interactive walk down the memory lane of medieval Dublin, with a peek into the lifestyle of those pesky Vikings. As is often the case with this style of exhibition, it won't appeal to those seeking a serious history lesson. With Dublinia, there is a sense that making history appeal to the masses lends the experience a farcical quality, "take a photo of me with my head in the stocks", kind of thing. But if I dismount from my high-brow-historical-high-horse and leave cynicism at the door, it has some interesting 'how people lived' type information and the tour is a bit of fun. I recently visited with some children who really enjoyed the life-size models, smells and sounds. It's quite reasonably priced, especially for kids and there are discounts for Christ Church Cathedral next door with your ticket. read more

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This is a GREAT attraction for a reasonable price. They have a lot of attractions that kids would really like. There is a church connected to the museum, but there is an additional fee. read more

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I remember going to Dublinia when it had first opened - I remember one of the main hooks being that you got to smell what old Viking and medieval Dublin courtesy of some suitably configured smell emitting machine. It was horrible and mana for a boy from 6 to 13. That was many years ago - nearly 30 I suspect but I don't know for sure. There is no smell now, just a fairly low-tech but interesting exhibition on Viking & Medieval Dublin, a display dedicated to the science and archaeology behind the finds, a cafe, gift-shop and for a final flourish a quick trip up St. Michaels Tower which offers some nice (but restricted) views of the city. I went in with Junior - his first visit and he loved it. It had it all: everything from a crapping Viking to an area where you get to try on chain-mail (bloody heavy!). It is a worthwhile trip and not expensive - which is a huge bonus. read more

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I love the fact that this popular tourist attraction is right in the heart of Medieval Dublin and that all the actors really love what they are doing and know a lot of stuff about this period of time and history of Dublin. I went to this exhibit is because my mate is in it so I think that heightened my experience and enjoyment. The Dublinia exhibition covers the period of Dublin's history from the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1170 to the closure of the monasteries in the 1540s. There are many exhibits here which include videos, models and reconstructions. The ground floor houses a large scale model of Dublin around 1500, a display of artifacts from Wood Quay, and reconstructions. Location: St Michael's Hill, Dublin 8. Opposite Christ Church. Opening Hours: April-September: 10am-5pm daily; October-March: Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-4:30pm. read more

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One of the better museums we have seen in Dublin and the most kid friendly. It was really interesting to track the Viking heritage of Ireland through the years and there were several hands on stations that were handy for the under 12 set. Well and also for the adults. I personally learn best by doing instead of just reading. The kids also liked getting to dress like archaeologists so they can be the next Indiana Jones. read more

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Dublinia is a small museum outlining the history of Dublin. This would be a good place to bring your kids as there are lots of opportunities for hands on activities, games, and dress up. However, for adults, it was quite cheesy. If you are short on time, just hit Christ Church Cathedral next door and skip Dublinia. read more

Best museum we hit in Ireland by FAR! It was so informative and fun and I loved that there were interactive parts as well. Pretty cheap ticket and you can add in a visit to Christ Church Cathedral as well. Loved it! Took off one star because it was SO COLD IN THERE !!!!! read more

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Totally cool and unique, if you are visiting. A lot of interaction that kids can do. They really do a good job with the displays. Those travelling with kids, do yourself a favor and purchase a family pass at Christ Church Cathedral and you get Dublinia included. I paid around $47 (US dollars). read more

This museum was really neat. Mine and my dad's favorite part was the beginning with the viking information. I can see how this museum would be great for kids, there's alot of hands on stuff for them. We were there at the same time as a school so there were tons of kids. It got a bit loud for us but it was still a good experience. I would definitely recommend. Lots of great info! We took a ton of pictures too. The staff was really friendly and the price wasn't too much either. You definitely get your money's worth. We're glad we visited! read more

With the exception of the archaeology section, this tour and excuse for a history lesson is quite disappointing and, in the words of another reviewer, 'embarrassing'. I wouldn't pay more than five Euro for a tour like this; but, I did. And, that is a crying shame. Poorly-costumed mannequins with bad wigs popped up everywhere, including one seated in an outhouse complete with sound effects! This was the low point of the tour I might add. (Seriously, DON'T go there...) This is not for adults unless you're interested in paying the equivalent of two pints for a history lesson you could easily pull up on Wikipedia. It is for kids, at best, and easily amused teens. Additionally, it does not qualify as a 'must visit'. Unless the cost of entry is lowered, I suggest you pass it up on your way to someplace with a proper presentation of history (like Christchurch) and save your Euros for a pint or two at the Lord Edward. (It's up the street and appears to offer more history just on appearance alone.) Dublinia's Viking World appears to be a thrown together 'attraction' that has possibility if someone would get a clue and do something about it. The Viking/Norman history is rich here so the presentations of it should do it justice and -without- the sound effects of one 'taking care of business' in an outhouse... read more

This was an interesting visit - It's something I think everyone who visits Dublin should do. The staff are dressed up as vikings, there's a lot of history and information. Things I never would have known. It gives a great insight into how Vikings lived. It's definitely worth your time and money! read more

I like this attraction because I'm a fan of history and archeology. It isn't the type of museum to give you an in depth lesson on history, but not being from Dublin I was impressed to see how the land and it's occupants changed over time. There were bones from recent excavations and historical documents relating to the demolition of what was and now is Dublinia. The one thing I didn't like was that there was a group of school kids in front of us that we finally got around, but the narrow aisles in the viking exhibit didn't make that easy! But there was no dress up, no plague hitting rat games or silly jesters. The tickets for students were 5.25 euro and the gift shop at the end is OK. There were some stupid gifts like a necklace with a T-Rex charm on it... what does that have to do with the vikings or Henry VIII? I did buy a video/DVD ROM for 10 euro that animates the landscape and the town of Dublin from the viking, medieval and Tudor period. I think that is the best souvenir. read more

this place is worth a visit; once. it has some interesting displays and recreations such as the inside of a viking hut with authentic furs and real stuffed hens and seagulls as well as chainmail you can try on. i asked at the desk if there is a tour guide which i think would have been more useful than trying to stop to read all the information on the walls. for me this way was ok but tough to keep 2 kids interested in meaningless words who just wanted to move on to things they could see. this place was very interesting to us even as native dubs and i really enjoyed the display and video about how dublin has physically changed and i never knew there was a hidden chapel in and around mary street which is underground somewhere and is now my destiny to find! also south great georges street is a treasure trove of medievel and viking archaeology! if you know where to look! read more

Dublinia - Museums Near Me - Dublin, D

This is what Dublin has to offer tourists? I took my cousin as he has an interest in History and is always raving on about England so I thought I would get my own back with a place which would have more information that I could deliver as I am not a historian. We decided to take the guided tour and we were the only ones on the tour even though there was no additional charge. I feel sure people were scared to do the tour in case they had to pay more and it is not cheap to enter. Lovely girl and dressed in the presumed Medieval costume ...but with out the smell....and I would love to say she was Irish and knew her history but I can't as we were asking questions she had to keep trotting off to find out the answers. Why on earth they could not employ some history students for the summer and dress them up in the gear. We would have happily have tipped the girl because she was nice but being nice does not warrant a tip. We went to the coffee shop at about 11am and we had to wait for the guy to sort out the coffee machine or till or whatever he was a nice guy but really bad service! The shop was full of tat! I am struggling very hard to think of anything good to say. Dreadful, Disappointing and Embarrassing are the main words which spring to mind. Wait - I just thought - there was a lift which was useful with a cousin who suffers from dodgy knees. There was sections like the archaeology bit which I gave a miss as I think I would have cried. They could do a lot better! read more

This is a wonderful museum for the kids, as well as your inner child. It tells of the history of Dublin, with an emphasis on the initial Viking settlements. There's this really cool map of the reconstructed medieval old town in the second floor as well as lovely exhibits of the plague with such charming mannequins of dead villagers on carts. Very quaint. read more

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Between three floors, Dublinia brings you their rendition of Viking times and allows you to immerse yourself in early Viking Dublin. The ground floor provides the viewer with detailed history and viking culture. This prompts you to delve into understanding the culture and functions as a prelude to the floor above. Upon entering the next floor, you're found in Viking Dublin as you begin interacting with the exhibit and imagining life in that period. From The Plague to viking shoes and board games, the museum shows you how Vikings once lived and acquaints you with their customs. All the while, you are able to learn about Dublin's history and new facts. The phrase "three square meals" originates from Merchant's apprentices who ate off of square wooden plates. As has been said, it is a wonderful exhibit for children to interact with. However, it reaches mature audiences through its in depth facts and its top floor. The top floor features all the process of archaeological work behind the discovering of Viking artifacts. With the tools and artifacts to show, It captures the interest of a keen eye read more

I very much enjoyed my tour here and felt it was full of interesting well put together facts about the vikings and viking life in dublin. It did have a particular slant for kinds in many cases but to me that was not inherently a negative There was a top floor though done up like a modern building site which i felt was pretty pointless for a museum, you dont have to go far to see building work all over dublin at the moment. read more

My partner and I went to the Dublinia museum as part of our Dublin Pass. I don't think we would have gone if we didn't have the pass, and this is the one part of our trip that I didn't particularly enjoy. The museum felt like it would be better for children. I wouldn't recommend going to this museum without children, unless Viking and Medieval times is a passion of yours. My partner does have some interest in the topic, but he wasn't very impressed with the museum either. read more

This is an interesting museum with a lot of activities. Especially recommended for children. There are a lot of texts that tells about the Vikings' life and archeological things. The price is good: 25€ for 5 people! (3 kids). read more

Dublin seems very similar to York after being here, enjoyable couple of hrs, would recommend. read more

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This place is great - you'll definitely want to read the newer reviews on this place more than the older ones since they've updated some stuff. Bottom floor is Vikings, middle is medieval Dublin, top floor is about how archeology works. The top floor in particular appears to be all new, with lots of the latest electronic exhibits and all that. The middle one has a ton of hands on things for the kids - dress up, see how much the chain mail weighs, open the drawer to see the cure for this disease, that sort of thing. The Viking floor is more big signs about aspects of Viking life and mannequins, but it's all interesting. You can also climb the old tower for some decent city views. Definitely we learned stuff, and the 7 and 12 year old were super happy. Do get the combo ticket with Christ Church and buy it here, just because of the logistics, you can then cross directly across a stone bridge into the church, where they'll check your ticket and you pop right into the back of the church. The way it works right now you can cross the bridge without a combo ticket but you'll end up in the church courtyard where you would then get into a potentially long ticket line to get into the church. read more

Dublinia is a fantastic exhibition, spread out over three floors. It gave a great insight into Viking Dublin, and was both informative and interactive. Visually, the exhibits were laid out perfect and eve on a busy weekend with quite a lot of people, the flow of the museum worked really well with nobody in each others way. I'd recommend this for children especially, as there is loads of interactive exhibits to both educate and entertain. There is also the walk up to the tower at the top for some panoramic views of Dublin: these aren't spectacular (not near as good as the view from the Guinness Storehouse for example) but still a nice touch to be able to walk up the staircase surrounded by stone walls. I would definitely recommend Dublinia for families and adults alike, a lovely way to spend an afternoon in Dublin read more

It's fun so take your time and enjoy various scenes from viking lifestyle with their real sized figures - you can take many photos interacting with it. Although you may say: "But despite the fun, can I really to know about vikings and medieval Dublin on a deeper way?" Well, I don't think so. If you are a standard visitor who never cared about medieval studies, you'll learn the basics, but for enthusiastic students there's little new. Maybe medieval maps of Dublin can help a little bit, but it's not sufficient and I can say that because I'm history teacher. Despite all those facts, I enjoyed because it's beautiful inside and I was in "fun mood". You should go with this expectation and if you can, bring your family, mainly the kids, and will be a fun afternoon! read more

This is definitely a must-visit if your in Dublin for the first time or even the 22nd time. It mix's two things which are usually impossible to mix: fun and history. You take a tour through the old historic castle, through all the rooms, filled with models, sets and information. Photograph oppurtinies are everywhere, which make a nice keepsakes of the visit. The entrance fee is average, they also do family price packages. When your done, you go to the top floor, to the gift shop. There you can browse( pretending to have spare cash on me) or buy some souvenirs and post cards. It's great for kids, but if they get too carried away you can simply buy a sword souvenir and deal with them! read more

This is a heritage centre right in the old part of Dublin. There are three levels which give you some insight into how Dublin looked like and what life was like here through the ages. Even though I've only given it two stars, Dublinia isn't a total loss. Some of the information is pretty interesting, and it's all accessible and easily digestible. The Viking World, in particular, has some tasty little facts and some intriguing things to look at including a traditional boat (replica) and some great weapons. Vicious folk, those Vikings. Unfortunately, a lot of the stuff is a real touristy cheese-fest (dress up like a jester, put your head in the stocks, hit the Plague carrying rat with a hammer etc). The audio is terrible, repetitive, and the sound proofing isn't good enough so noise from one display interferes with another. Plus, since Dublinia opened in the '90's and the traffic level is high a lot of it is looking pretty shabby and tired. But tickets are only 6 or 7 quid and the shop upstairs is quite good - some good gifty gear that's a bit more inventive than the usual shamrockery shams. According to the website the whole show is being updated over 2009 so 2010 could be the year to visit! read more

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This tourist stop has good exhibits with well-done audio-visual support. There is a nice flow to the layout. The archeologist level at the top could be better, but overall it was a very nice way to spend and hour-and-a-half with the family. read more

This is a great museum that covers Dublin's early history, which is great because most of the other museums we went to glazed over the medieval period. This museum is really filling a unique niche. The museum is structured to progress from the settlement of Dublin, through to the late medieval era as it developed into a major city, and then into the modern investigations which informed our knowledge of these periods. Each segment is filled with great exhibits and interactive installations. The first floor had a re-enactor making coins and small pieces of jewelry who we stopped and talked to for easily 20 minutes. On the second floor, there's a point where you step out of a reconstruction of a medieval house and into a street, with figures going about their daily lives and it creates a great moment of immersion. The standout exhibit of the third floor were two skeletons, with archaeological clues pointed out on them and explanations of what we learn about the individuals and what life was like for them. Going up the tower provides great views of the city of Dublin, and the tour exits across the bridge in Christchurch. read more