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Semi-private tour max 8 pax of Dublin Old Library, Book of Kells
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From €95 per person
This three-hour walking tour is conducted entirely in Italian and stays small - eight people maximum. It covers some of Dublin’s most historically significant spots, from the cobbled streets of Temple Bar to the medieval manuscripts inside Trinity College’s Old Library.
You start near the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street, where your guide picks up the story of the woman it depicts and her connection to the Famine and the wave of emigration that reshaped Ireland in the mid-1800s. From there you move into Temple Bar - its medieval origins, its murals, the pubs, the particular mix of old and new that makes it one of the most photographed corners of the city.
St Patrick’s Gardens and St Patrick’s Cathedral come next. Your guide covers the story of Ireland’s patron saint, the legend of the clover, and the Guinness family’s long and somewhat unexpected connection to this place. Then the tour finishes at Trinity College, where entry to the Book of Kells and the new Book of Kells experience is included. The college doesn’t permit private guided tours on campus, so your guide covers its history from outside the gates before you go in on your own.
Meeting point: Meet your guide at the Molly Malone statue, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2.
Arrive at the Molly Malone statue a few minutes early. Suffolk Street is a busy pedestrian area, and the statue itself is a well-known meeting point for many tour groups. Getting there slightly ahead of time means you won’t be scanning a crowd trying to spot your guide while the briefing has already started.
The Book of Kells gets busy - your timed entry is worth protecting. The ticket included in this tour gives you entry to the Book of Kells and the new Book of Kells experience. Queues for walk-up tickets can run long, especially in summer. Don’t linger too long in St Patrick’s Gardens if you’re running behind - the Trinity entry is the one stop where timing genuinely matters.
Look up in the Long Room. Most visitors focus on the manuscripts at eye level, which makes sense. But the Long Room itself - the barrel-vaulted ceiling, the busts lining the gallery, the scale of the shelves - is what catches many people off guard. Spend a moment just looking at the room before you look at the books.
Temple Bar is worth returning to in the evening. The tour covers its history and character during the day, but the area has a different energy after dark when the traditional music sessions start in the pubs. If you’re staying in Dublin for the night, coming back to Temple Bar later gives you a fuller picture of the place.
St Patrick’s Cathedral is not included in the tour ticket. The tour covers St Patrick’s Gardens and the exterior of the cathedral, but entry inside is a separate purchase if you want it. It’s worth knowing in advance so you can decide whether to factor in time and cost for a visit on your own.