Private Dublin Highlights and Coastal Villages Tour

About This Tour

Seven hours, two sides of Dublin. This private full-day tour covers the city’s headline attractions first - the Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells at Trinity College, the EPIC Emigration Museum, and Christ Church Cathedral - then heads north along the coast to Howth’s fishing village and on to Malahide Castle. City and coast in a single day, entirely private, at your group’s pace.

There’s no group schedule to keep up with. Your guide and driver work around you, the vehicle is air-conditioned with onboard WiFi throughout, and if your group wants to linger somewhere or swap time between stops, that conversation happens on the day. The itinerary is a guide, not a timetable.

What’s Included

• Private transportation for your group
• WiFi on board throughout the day
• Air-conditioned vehicle

What’s Not Included

• Attraction entry tickets (paid directly on-site): Guinness Storehouse approx. €26, Book of Kells approx. €17, cathedrals approx. €10 each

Itinerary

1. Guinness Storehouse - Self-guided tour across multiple floors at St James’s Gate, following the story of Guinness from grain to glass. Your ticket includes a pint at the Gravity Bar on the top floor, with 360-degree views over the city rooftops. (60 min)
2. Book of Kells and Trinity College - The Old Library at Ireland’s oldest university (founded 1592) holds the 9th-century illuminated manuscript and, above it, the Long Room - a barrel-vaulted hall with 200,000 ancient books, scholar busts lining the walls, and the oldest surviving Irish harp. (60 min)
3. EPIC Emigration Museum - Set in the stone vaults of the CHQ building on Dublin’s Docklands, 20 themed galleries trace the Irish diaspora through interactive displays, personal letters, and real emigrant stories from every continent. (flexible)
4. Christ Church Cathedral - One of Dublin’s two medieval cathedrals, with foundations dating to 1028. The crypt running the full length of the building is one of the largest in Ireland or Britain. (flexible)
5. Howth Village and Harbour - A working fishing village 15 kilometres north of the city. The West Pier has seafood stalls and restaurants; the East Pier looks out towards Ireland’s Eye and the dramatic cliff headland beyond. (flexible)
6. Malahide Castle - A well-preserved castle set in 250 acres of parkland, home to the Talbot family from 1185 to 1976. Exterior visit is included; optional paid entry to the castle interior and the Talbot Botanic Gardens behind it. (flexible)

Good to Know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals are welcome
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• Private tour, conducted in English
• Pricing is per vehicle, making it good value for families and small groups

Local Tips

Howth is the stop that surprises most first-time visitors. It’s only 15 kilometres from the city centre but it feels like a completely different world - working fishing boats in the harbour, cliff views out across Dublin Bay to Ireland’s Eye, and seafood that came off the boats that morning. The fish and chips stalls on the West Pier are as good as you’ll find anywhere in the dublin area. Read more about the village at Howth.

In the Long Room, look up. The Book of Kells gets most of the attention - rightly so for a 9th-century manuscript - but the Long Room above it, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and two full floors of ancient shelves, is the space that stays with people longest. Go before noon if you can; early afternoon is the busiest time of day.

At Malahide, the gardens are worth the extra time. The 7th Lord Talbot was a passionate botanist and the walled garden and seven glasshouses behind the castle reflect serious collecting over decades. On a clear day the parkland is lovely to walk. The village itself is a ten-minute stroll from the castle gates and has good cafes if the group wants to sit down before the drive back. More at Malahide.

Tell your driver your priorities before you leave. Because this is private, if you want more time in Howth and less at one of the city stops, agree that at the start rather than on the road. The six-stop itinerary covers a lot of ground - treating it as a menu rather than a fixed sequence helps everyone get more out of the day.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Private Dublin City Tour
• Private Full Day Whiskey Tour from Dublin with Tullamore D.E.W.
• Private Dublin Highlights: Historical & Cultural Walk