Dublin Discovery: Full-Day Private Tour

About This Tour

Eight hours, just your group, a professional local guide, and private transport - this tour gives you a proper look at Dublin and the countryside around it without any of the compromises that come with a group tour. Your guide picks you up from your hotel, port or airport, and brings you back at the end of the day.

The route covers Dublin’s southern coastline, the Wicklow Mountains, and a handful of the city’s most significant landmarks. It’s built to be flexible, though. If you’d rather spend more time in the Wicklow countryside and less in the city - or the other way around - your guide can adjust the balance to suit your group.

It’s a long day in the best possible way.

What’s Included

• Professional local tour guide
• Modern, air-conditioned private transportation
• Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, port or airport
• All fees and taxes

What’s Not Included

• Entry fees (Powerscourt Gardens €7 per person; Malahide Castle €12 per person)
• Lunch, meals or drinks

Itinerary

1. Dublin’s southern coastline - Travel along the coast with views of Dun Laoghaire, Killiney and Dalkey - a lovely mix of natural beauty and seaside village atmosphere. (60 min)
2. Powerscourt Estate - One of Ireland’s most photographed destinations, with sweeping formal gardens set against the backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains. Entry fee €7 per person, not included. (60 min)
3. Johnny Fox’s Pub, Dublin Hills - A well-known spot for lunch, tucked into the hills above the city. Renowned for its cosy atmosphere and authentic Irish food. Lunch not included in the price. (60 min)
4. Guinness Storehouse - Discover the story behind Ireland’s most famous stout. The visit ends at the Gravity Bar, with panoramic views over Dublin. (60 min)
5. Book of Kells and Long Room Library, Trinity College - See Ireland’s most treasured illuminated manuscript and the stunning Long Room Library. (60 min)
6. St. Patrick’s Cathedral - Dublin’s largest cathedral, with centuries of history and striking Gothic architecture. (45 min)
7. Dublin Castle - A historic landmark in the heart of the city, with a medieval crypt and architecture that tells Dublin’s story from Norman times to independence. (45 min)
8. Temple Bar or the Georgian Quarter - Stroll through the city’s most vibrant cultural quarter or the elegant Georgian streets, with your guide sharing local stories along the way. (45 min)
9. Return transfer - Your guide’s team brings you back to your hotel or accommodation in comfort. (15 min)

Good to Know

• This is a private tour - just your group
• Tour conducted in English
• Specialised infant seats are available
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• No free cancellation on this tour - check terms at booking

Local Tips

The coastal drive south of Dublin is one of those things that genuinely surprises people. Most visitors head straight into the city and never see Killiney Bay or Dalkey, but the views out over the Irish Sea on a clear morning are as good as anything you’ll get in the West of Ireland. It’s a gentle start that sets the tone for the day.

Powerscourt is worth every cent of the €7 entry fee. The formal gardens are beautifully kept, and the backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains behind the house makes for some of the best photography of the whole trip. Give yourself enough time to walk the terraces rather than just glancing from the front steps.

Johnny Fox’s is genuinely old - it claims to be the highest pub in Ireland. It’s been going since at least the early 19th century and sits up in the hills above the Wicklow landscape. Lunch there feels appropriately removed from the city, and your guide will likely have a story or two about the place.

At the Guinness Storehouse, the Gravity Bar is on the seventh floor and the pint there is included in your entry. The panoramic views over Dublin are best in the late afternoon when the light comes in from the west. If the weather cooperates, it’s one of the better views in the city.

The Long Room at Trinity is worth pausing in properly. It’s 65 metres long, lined with 200,000 of the oldest books in the library’s collection, and home to the Book of Kells - Ireland’s most celebrated illuminated manuscript, created by Celtic monks around 800 AD. Don’t rush through it.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Dublin by Car: Best Highlights and Hidden Gems
• Dublin Coastal Hike and Pints with a Local
• Dublin City to Kildare Village Shopping Private Full Day Round Trip