Dublin Great Famine Tour with Fast-Track EPIC Museum Tickets

About This Tour

The Great Irish Famine reshaped Ireland and sent millions of people across the world. This private tour walks you through Dublin Docklands - the place where so many of those departures began - with a licensed history guide who brings the human stories of that period to life.

You’ll see the Famine Memorial and the Jeanie Johnston tall ship, walk along the Liffey past the Custom House Quay, and visit EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum (depending on the option you choose). Every stop is rich with history, from the fictional tragedy of Molly Malone to the very real and sobering story of a population halved by death and emigration.

There are four options to choose from, depending on your time and budget:

2-hour: Great Famine Tour - A walking tour of Dublin Docklands. Includes the Famine Memorial, Jeanie Johnston, and more. No transfers or EPIC Museum.

3-hour: Great Famine and Transport - The same 2-hour walking tour, plus a 1-hour round-trip private transfer from your accommodation.

3.5-hour: Great Famine and EPIC - The walking tour plus a visit to EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, with skip-the-line entry included. No transfers.

4.5-hour: Great Famine, EPIC and Transport - The full experience: 1-hour round-trip transfer, a 3.5-hour walking tour, and skip-the-line entry to EPIC.

What’s Included

• Private walking tour of the Great Famine and Irish emigration in Dublin
• Licensed history guide, fluent in your chosen language
• Expert commentary on the Great Irish Famine and its aftermath
• Skip-the-line tickets to EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum (3.5 and 4.5-hour options only)
• Private transfers with pickup and drop-off at your accommodation (3 and 4.5-hour options only)

What’s Not Included

• Skip-the-line tickets to EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum (not included in 2 and 3-hour options)
• Private transfers (not included in 2 and 3.5-hour options)

Itinerary

Meeting point: Next to the Molly Malone Statue, outside St Andrew’s Church, Suffolk St, Dublin 2, D02 KX03.

1. Molly Malone Statue - Your starting point. The statue commemorates a popular but tragic fictional character who died young. Nearby, you’ll also find a statue of Thomas Davis and a Memorial Fountain that directly commemorates the Famine. (10 min)
2. Private transfer - For the 3 and 4.5-hour options, a 5-star driver picks you up from your accommodation in a private vehicle and brings you to the meeting point. Drop-off at your accommodation is included after the tour. (30 min)
3. Dublin Docklands walking tour - Your guide leads you through the Docklands, sharing authentic stories of daily life during the Famine years. You’ll hear about the struggles of ordinary people and what drove so many to leave. (60 min)
4. Along the River Liffey - The tour continues through the city centre, passing Trinity College, the Irish Houses of Parliament, the O’Connell Monument, and the Custom House Quay. You’ll see the powerful Famine Memorial and the World Poverty Stone. (60 min)
5. Triumphal Arch and EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum - Depending on your chosen option, you’ll visit EPIC with skip-the-line entry. This world-class interactive museum tells the stories of Irish emigrants - their departures, arrivals, and the lives they built far from home. The exhibits explore Irish identity and the global Irish diaspora through playful, engaging storytelling. (30-60 min)
6. Jeanie Johnston tall ship - The tour ends in front of the historic Jeanie Johnston, moored in Dublin Docklands. The ship carried Irish emigrants across the Atlantic during the Famine years. (20 min)

Good to Know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• This is a private tour
• Guide available in German, Russian, English, Italian, and Polish

Local Tips

Give yourself time at EPIC if you’re choosing that option. The Irish Emigration Museum is genuinely one of Dublin’s best attractions and gets underestimated by visitors who expect a traditional museum experience. It’s interactive, beautifully designed, and if you have any Irish ancestry at all, it hits differently. The 3.5 or 4.5-hour tour options give you the chance to spend real time there rather than rushing through.

The Docklands is a different Dublin. Most visitors spend their time in Temple Bar or around Grafton Street, so this tour takes you somewhere that feels genuinely distinct. The area around the Liffey and the Custom House Quay is where the weight of the Famine story sits most heavily - the Famine Memorial sculptures in particular are among the most affecting public artworks in the country.

If you have Irish roots, think about what you might find at EPIC. The museum has resources and context that can help you understand the emigration story of the 1840s and beyond - not just as history but as a thread that connects to where your family ended up. It’s worth coming with questions.

The 2-hour option is a solid standalone choice. You don’t need to add the EPIC Museum or the transfer to have a meaningful experience. The Docklands walking tour covers a lot of ground in two hours, and your guide’s knowledge of the period is the real value here regardless of which option you pick.

Ask your guide about the World Poverty Stone. It’s easy to walk past it without knowing what it represents. It’s a moving piece of the tour that connects the Irish Famine story to a broader global context - well worth pausing at.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Dublin LGBTQ Pride Historical and Cultural Walking Tour
• Dublin Express Private Guided Walking Tour
• Dublin Highlights 3hr Private Licensed Guide