Private Dublin Day Tour

About This Tour

Eight hours in Dublin, your way. This private day tour gives you the flexibility to shape the day around what genuinely interests you - your guide will suggest adjustments based on your pace and preferences, and if you spot something on the day and want to explore it, just say so.

The tour runs for around eight hours, and if you’d like to extend it, additional hours can be arranged for an extra fee. Entrance tickets to attractions are not included - after you book, you’ll receive a link to purchase them in advance.

You travel in a private, air-conditioned minivan with WiFi on board and bottled water provided throughout the day.

What’s Included

• Private minivan with air-conditioning
• WiFi on board
• Bottled water

What’s Not Included

• Entrance tickets to attractions (a purchase link is sent after booking)
• Gratuities

Itinerary

The stops below are the suggested itinerary. Your guide can adjust based on your interests - if you want to spend longer somewhere or swap a stop, just let them know on the day.

1. Malahide Castle - A well-preserved medieval castle surrounded by extensive gardens, home to the Talbot family for over 800 years. You can explore the historic rooms, learn the castle’s story, and walk through the grounds. (60 min)
2. Trinity College and the Book of Kells - Trinity is Ireland’s oldest university, and the Book of Kells - a 9th-century illuminated manuscript - is one of the country’s most significant artefacts. The Old Library that houses it is worth seeing in its own right. (60 min)
3. Guinness Storehouse - Dublin’s most visited attraction tells the full story of Guinness across six floors, finishing with a pint in the rooftop Gravity Bar with panoramic views over the city. (60 min)
4. Dublin Castle - Dating from the medieval period, Dublin Castle was central to Irish political history for centuries. The State Apartments and gardens are open to explore. (60 min)
5. Phoenix Park - One of the largest enclosed parks in any European city. The resident deer herds are a regular sight, and the park is home to Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of Ireland’s president. (60 min)
6. Howth - A fishing village on the scenic peninsula north of the city, with cliff walks and sea views over Dublin Bay. Good fresh seafood at the harbour restaurants if you’re ready for a break. A hike to the summit of Howth Hill is an option if the group is up for it. (60 min)

Good to Know

• Wheelchair accessible vehicle
• Prams and strollers can be accommodated
• Service animals permitted
• Public transport is available nearby
• This is a private tour - just your group, your guide, and your driver
• Conducted in English

Local Tips

Book the Book of Kells tickets in advance. The queue for walk-in entry at Trinity College can be very long in summer - pre-booking online is the smarter move. Your guide sends you a purchase link after booking, so use it. The Long Room library that houses the manuscript is one of the most beautiful interior spaces in Ireland and worth seeing even if illuminated manuscripts aren’t your thing.

The Guinness Storehouse Gravity Bar works best mid-morning. The rooftop bar gets crowded as the day goes on - if this is one of your stops, going earlier in the day gets you better views and a less hectic experience with your complimentary pint. The self-guided tour through the six floors takes about an hour at a comfortable pace.

Phoenix Park is bigger than most visitors expect. At 1,752 acres, it’s one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe. The deer are easiest to spot near the Fifteen Acres area in the centre of the park - they’re wild and often visible from the road, which makes for a good photo stop. Áras an Uachtaráin, the president’s official residence, sits within the park grounds and its exterior can be viewed from the main road.

Howth at the end of the day is a good call. The light on Dublin Bay in the late afternoon is genuinely lovely, and after a day of history and city stops, walking along the harbour or grabbing seafood by the pier is a nice way to wind down. The village has a good few restaurants, and the crab claws at the harbour stalls are a proper Dublin experience.

Your guide can genuinely flex the day. This isn’t a fixed itinerary - if Malahide Castle takes longer than expected or you’d rather skip one stop and spend more time at another, just say so. The private format means the day adapts around you rather than the other way around.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Private Howth and Malahide Full Day Tour from Dublin
• Book of Kells and Trinity College Library Tour
• Guinness Storehouse Experience