Private Family Strolling Historical Dublin Walking Tour

About This Tour

Dublin is one of Europe’s most walkable cities, and this private two-hour tour is designed to make the most of that - at a pace that actually works for a family. Your local guide keeps things engaging for kids and adults alike, weaving the real history of the city into the streets and buildings around you rather than rattling off dates.

The route takes in Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park, the iconic stadium at Croke Park, and two of the city’s finest Georgian squares - Mountjoy and Merrion. It’s a good mix of green space, architecture, and the kind of stories that stick. Entirely private, so it’s just your family and your guide, moving at your own rhythm.

Meet your guide at the main entrance of Christ Church Cathedral.

What’s Included

• Professional local guide for the full 2 hours

Itinerary

1. Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park - One of the oldest zoos in the world, opened in 1831 and home to over 400 animals across 70 acres in the heart of Phoenix Park. Ireland’s most visited family attraction - well worth the time. (30 min)
2. Croke Park - The home of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) and the largest stadium in Ireland, located in Drumcondra on the north side of the city. A landmark that means a lot to Irish sport. (30 min)
3. Mountjoy Square - A Georgian garden square that still retains its consistent terrace appearance, with reproduction facades where necessary keeping the character of the original 18th-century streetscape intact. (30 min)
4. Merrion Square - One of Dublin’s grandest Georgian squares, with elegant townhouses on three sides and the gardens of Leinster House on the fourth. Former residents include Daniel O’Connell and W.B. Yeats - plaques on the houses mark them out. The central park has colourful flower beds and shrubs. Your guide will fill in the history as you walk. (30 min)

Good to Know

• This is a private tour - just your group and your guide
• Meeting point: main entrance of Christ Church Cathedral
• Public transport is nearby
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• Conducted in English

Local Tips

Christ Church Cathedral is one of the easier meeting points in the city. It sits up on a hill in the Liberties, visible from a good distance. If you’re walking from the city centre, follow the road up from Dublin Castle and you’ll be there in five minutes or so - a gentle enough start before the tour gets going.

Phoenix Park is genuinely one of Europe’s great urban parks. At over 1,700 acres it’s more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park, and Dublin Zoo sits right inside it. Your guide will be able to point out a few things beyond the zoo entrance worth knowing about - the Papal Cross, the Magazine Fort, the deer that roam the park - so keep an eye out as you pass through.

Merrion Square is worth a slow look. The colourful Georgian doors on the north and east sides of the square are among the most photographed things in Dublin, and the plaques on the houses tell you who lived there. W.B. Yeats was at number 82, Daniel O’Connell at number 58. The central park is a lovely spot to let smaller kids have a run around before heading to the next stop.

This tour suits a wide age range. The pace is genuinely easy throughout - no rushing between stops - and the guide is used to pitching the stories in a way that holds the attention of younger visitors as well as adults. If your kids have specific interests (sport, animals, buildings), let the guide know at the start and they’ll work it in.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Private Dublin Highlights: Historical & Cultural Walk
• Private Dublin Sights and Pints Walking Tour
• Private Dublin City Tour