Dublin South Walking Tour: Stories & Splendour: with Local Expert

About This Tour

This is Dublin’s medieval south side done properly - on foot, with a guide who actually knows what they’re talking about. Your DoDublin expert takes you through the city’s oldest stories, from the Viking settlers who first named this place to the Victorians who shaped the streets you’re walking today.

You’ll take in Dublin Castle, Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedrals, hear the tale of Molly Malone, and wander the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar with someone who can point you toward the best pubs, food, and live music once the tour wraps up. Groups are capped at 20 people, so you’re never just a face in a crowd.

What’s Included

• Award-winning DoDublin guide
• Personal small-group tour (max 20 people)
• Live storytelling and witty commentary throughout
• Insider tips and recommendations for the rest of your day

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to any attractions
• Food and drinks
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Gratuities

Itinerary

1. Molly Malone Statue - Meet your guide here and hear the real story behind Dublin’s most famous fishmonger. (10 min)
2. Dublin Castle - Walk the historic grounds of this fortress with 800 years of power, plotting, and ceremony behind it. Your guide brings it all to life. (15 min)
3. Dubh Linn Garden - A stroll through the peaceful gardens on the very site of the “Dubh Linn” (black pool) where the Vikings first settled and gave Dublin its name. (5 min)
4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral - Take in the Gothic grandeur of Ireland’s National Cathedral and hear about its most famous Dean, Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver’s Travels. (15 min)
5. St. Audeon’s Church and Arch - The city’s oldest parish church and the last surviving gate of the old city walls. It’s one of those spots most visitors walk right past. (10 min)
6. Viking Settlement Site - Pass the original Viking settlement on the banks of the River Liffey, the true birthplace of Dublin. (pass by)
7. Temple Bar - Finish with a walk through the iconic cobbled lanes of Dublin’s Cultural Quarter. Your guide leaves you with the best tips for great pubs, food, and live music. (10 min)

Good to Know

The tour is wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly. Service animals are welcome. Public transport links are close to the route, and transport options in the area are wheelchair accessible. Groups are capped at 20 travellers.

Local Tips

Arrive five minutes early at the Molly Malone Statue - it’s right at the junction of Suffolk Street and Grafton Street, which can get busy in the morning. The statue is unmissable, but the foot traffic around it isn’t always kind to latecomers trying to find a guide in a crowd.

If you’re heading into the Cathedrals after the tour, Christ Church and St. Patrick’s both charge an admission fee and are worth a proper look inside. St. Patrick’s has the tomb of Jonathan Swift and the memorial to Turlough O’Carolan, the blind harper. Give yourself at least 30 minutes in each.

Temple Bar is best in the daytime for eating and browsing - the Saturday market at Meeting House Square is one of the best in the city. In the evenings it gets lively and loud, which some people love and others find a bit much. Your guide will steer you toward the spots with more character and fewer tourist menus.

For food after the tour, the streets immediately south of Dame Street have some strong options. Fade Street Social, Soder+Ko and the George’s Street Arcade area all deliver well without the Temple Bar premium on prices.

Comfortable shoes matter more than you’d think - the cobblestones in Temple Bar and around Dublin Castle are charming but uneven. Wear something you’d happily walk two and a half hours in, and you’ll enjoy the whole thing much more.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Christ Church Cathedral guided tour
• Viking Dublin walking tour
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Marsh’s Library experience