9 of the Best Ghost Tours in Dublin to Spook You Senseless

Are you looking for the best ghost tours in Dublin?

I’ve compiled a list of the best Dublin ghost tours that are sure to get your heckles rising, goosebumps bumping and senses spooked.

With my list, you don’t need to endlessly trawl through other websites trying to decide which one to do. I’ve made it super easy for you to choose the ideal tour for you.

Dublin is an old city with a varied past and some of its stories are littered with tales of murder, torture, and blood-curdling screams.

In this article, you’ll discover

  • The best ghost tours Dublin has to offer.
  • Ghost tours that are suitable for children.
  • A combination of walking ghost tours and ghost bus tours of Dublin.

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So, if you want to learn about the dark side of Dublin, learn about some of its past murderous inhabitants, or want a fun way to discover more of the city, you’re going to love this list of some of the fun Dublin ghost tours available to visitors.

Don’t have time to read the full article?

No worries. The best ghost tour in Dublin is the Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour with over 1400 5-star reviews!

Best Ghost Tours in Dublin

As an old city, Dublin has a long past, and with that comes some surprising and horrifying tales of mystery, murder, and ghosts galore.

Although you might be choosing to visit Dublin for its top tourist attractions, taking a ghost tour of the city will allow you to not only explore the city but to learn about a side of the Irish capital that many visitors do not get.

This list includes tours that are ghost walks in Dublin, ghost tours of Dublin by bus, and even one that is specifically tailored for kids and families.

1 Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour

⏱️Tour Time: 2 hours | ⭐Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of Smithfield Square by night with lights illuminating part of the square shown.
Smithfield Square

If you are looking for the most highly-rated ghost tours in Dublin, then the Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour is the one for you!

Guide was very knowledgeable and gave a great history of some of the darker parts of Dublin’s past! Would recommend for anyone visiting the area who is interested in these aspects.

Megan – Read more reviews

On the Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour, you’ll take a 2-hour journey that will take you from Dublin castle, where you’ll learn about the disturbing tortures of the past, before moving on to an area once known as ‘Hell’.

During your walking ghost tour, Dublin’s dark past comes to light through the side streets that have brutal histories.

You’ll hear stories of murder and torture, grave robbing and cannibalism, and more. You’ll hear the echoes of Dublin’s eerie history with every step.

The Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour has a 5-star rating from over 1400 reviewers, making it one of Dublin’s most popular ghost tours.

This small group tour will ensure you get an intimate and engaging experience, as you sightsee beyond the typical city centre attractions, exploring hidden gems in areas like Smithfield.

The Dark Dublin Tour begins at 5.30pm at Dublin Castle and ends at Smithfield Square. The group has a maximum capacity of 25 people and is stroller and wheelchair accessible.

So, if you are looking for the ghost walking tour Dublin has to offer visitors, book your spot on this tour today!

2 The Dublin Ghostbus Tour

⏱️Tour Time: 2 hours | ⭐Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A black and white picture of the inside of St Audoen's Church in Dublin.
St Audoen’s Church

If you don’t want to be traipsing around Dublin in the dark, then why not book a ghost bus tour in Dublin?

The Dublin Ghostbus Tour is the perfect alternative to a ghost walking tour while still being hugely enjoyable.

Wonderful guides, very informative and an all around good time.. we saw parts of Dublin we never knew about and lagged along the way

Stan – Read more reviews

During a 2-hour thrilling ride, you can hear tales of mystery and murder as you journey through some of Dublin’s most haunted places on the Dublin Ghostbus Tour.

Entertaining local guides will bring you on a spooky journey through Dublin’s gruesome past while visiting some of the city’s haunted sites.

Starting on O’Connell Street, you will make your way to St Audoen’s Church where you’ll get a demonstration of medical torture implements before getting back on the bus and ending at St Kevin’s Church and graveyard, where you will get a lesson in body snatching!

The Dublin Ghostbus Tour is one of the best ghost tours in Dublin and makes for an easy, yet entertaining way to discover the city’s more sinister side.

Note that this tour is only suitable for those aged 14 and up, with a maximum of 30 people, and a late 9.30pm start. Remember, dress for the outdoors and be aware it’s not wheelchair accessible.

So, if you are on the lookout for a great ghost bus Dublin tour, the Dublin Ghostbus Tour is the one to choose. Secure your spot today.

3 Dublin Ghostbus Kids Tour

⏱️Tour Time: 1 hour | ⭐Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of the Dublin Ghostbus Tour bus that is purple in colour with spooky writing for the signs. It is also a double decker bus.
Picture Source: megabus13601, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Dublin Ghostbus Tour)

If you are looking for ghost tours in Dublin, Ireland that are suited to families and children, then the Dublin Ghostbus Kids Tour is the ideal tour to take.

Brilliant kids loved it wanna go again they thought Damien was funny too and Francis was good driver!

Brian – Read more reviews

The Dublin Ghostbus Kids Tour is a 1-hour and 15-minute spooky ride in which kids and their families can discover educational stories of Dublin’s darker side while playing fun, interactive games with your host, Dr Ghastly.

The on-board storyteller keeps the scares to a minimum for children while keeping the journey super fun.

Designed for children between the ages of 7 and 14 (older kids are still welcomed with open arms), the tour starts and ends on O’Connell Street and has two start times, 1pm or 3pm.

Note that the bus is not wheelchair accessible. The tour also has a maximum of 38 participants.

So, if you are visiting the Irish capital with kids and are looking for the best ghost bus tour Dublin has to offer families, then the Dublin Ghostbus Kids Tour is the one you need to book

4 Mythological & Folklore Tour

⏱️Tour time: 2 hours | ⭐Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of the cross water-feature in the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin
Garden of Remembrance

Are you looking for a non-scary ghost tour in Dublin? Then get your tickets for the Mythological and Folklore Tour in Dublin today.

Well done Emily. T’was a great tour. Loved every minute. Was amazed at all the knowledge and history. Even bought a book to look further into it.

Garry – Read more reviews

Step into a world of Irish myths and legends with Dublin’s Mythological and Folklore Tour.

This 2-hour walking tour of Dublin is a great non-scary option for those who scare easily.

Journey through Dublin’s tales of mythology and folklore as you make your way from Temple Bar to the Garden of Remembrance. Along the way, you’ll visit landmarks such as St Michael’s Church and the GPO Museum, while gaining insights into the history of Dublin and how it ties in with the mythology of Ireland.

The Mythological and Folklore Tour is both stroller and wheelchair accessible, with a maximum of 25 guests, and begins at 5pm.

So, if you fancy an alternative ghost tour of Dublin, secure your place on the Mythological and Folklore Tour.

5 Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour Dublin

⏱️Tour Time: 1.5 hours | ⭐Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of the Molly Malone statue, located on Suffolk Street in Dublin. she standing in her dress, wheeling her wheelbarrow full of cockles and mussels to sell.
Molly Malone Statue

A great ghost tour in Dublin to take is the Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour of Dublin.

The tour guide was amazing, he made the experience for us, informative and funny. Well worth doing. Gonna have to look for the crown jewels…

Paul – Read more reviews

The Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour is a great 1.5-hour exploration of Dublin’s ghostly past.

This small group tour takes place after 4pm to set a spooky mood.

Your guide will bring you from Merrion Square, past St Stephen’s Green, Molly Malone, and ending at Christ Church Place. During your eerie walking tour, expect lots of tales some of which have a 200-year-old past.

The Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour starts at 4pm and has a maximum of 10 guests. The tour is stroller accessible but not accessible for wheelchair users.

If you are looking for a small-group ghost tour in Dublin, then join the Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour in Dublin on your next visit.

6 Dublin’s Private Horror Walking Tour

⏱️Tour time: 2 hours | ⭐Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of a bronze cow in Wolfe Tone Park in Dublin with a seagull standing near it.
Picture Source: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Wolfe Tone Park)

Looking to book one of the best ghost tours in Dublin that is completely private? Then book your family or group of friends on Dublin’s Private Horror Walking Tour today.

It was a very exciting walking tour which took you to places you never would have experienced otherwise. The guide was amazing. Would definitely recommend for everyone who likes true crime!

Kristina – Read more reviews

On Dublin’s Private Horror Walking Tour, you and your group get a privately guided tour through Dublin’s laneways, streets, and buildings while discovering the gruesome history associated with them.

Stories of grim deaths that included stabbings, beatings, torture, and murder highlight the historical horrors that happened on the streets of Dublin long ago.

Dublin’s Private Horror Walking Tour is a private tour for up to 10 people and is an adults-only tour.

A moderate fitness level is required and no pregnant women or people with back problems or heart problems are permitted on the tour. The tour is wheelchair accessible and has a choice of three start times: 2pm, 5pm or 8pm.

The tour begins and ends on O’Connell Street and visits places such as Broadstone, Capel Street, and Wolfe Tone Park.

So, if you are looking for a private ghost walking tour of Dublin, this tour is the one for you and your travel companions.

7 2-Hour Macabre Dublin Walking Tour

⏱️Tour Time: 2 hours | ⭐Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of St Michan's Church, Dublin with the graveyard in front of the church
Picture Source: Picture Source: RickybonCC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (St Michan’s Church)

Looking to visit some lesser-known streets of Dublin on a ghostly tour of Dublin? Then the 2-Hour Macabre Dublin Walking Tour is ideal.

I would highly recommend this tour conducted by Rob for anyone coming to Dublin! Rob is a natural storyteller with a great talent for sharing Dublins past and placing it in a modern perspective. The tour helps to contextualise different eras of Dublins history in a fresh, detailed, and easy to understand way. The tour is new and will definitely be one I’ll be recommending to friends and family.

Mark – Read more reviews

Get the sinister, lesser-known streets of Dublin revealed to you on the 2-Hour Macabre Dublin Walking Tour.

Hear stories of torture, executions, and serial killers who are part of Dublin’s dark history from your knowledgeable guide.

The 2-Hour Macabre Dublin Walking Tour brings you on a journey from the GPO on O’Connell Street, through Wolfe Tone Park, and past a Viking enclave ending at St Michan’s Church with its mummified corpses.

This ghost tour of Dublin allows a maximum of 25 guests and is wheelchair accessible. The tour starts at 6pm.

So, if you like the sound of the highly-rated 2-Hour Macabre Dublin Walking Tour, book your place today.

8 Horror Hike

⏱️Tour Time: 3 hours | ⭐Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of the ruined Hellfire Club in the Dublin Mountains with a blue sky overhead and green grass surrounding it.
Hellfire Club

Looking for Dublin ghost tours that aren’t in the city centre? Then look no further than the Horror Hike tour.

All in all, this was one of the best tours we’ve done in our fair city and outside and for us it was a case of full marks. Great value, great guides and the driver was super nice and informative.

Christy – Read more reviews

The Horror Hike is a Dublin ghost tour that takes you out of the city to the Dublin Mountains’ Hellfire Club, a place I was terrified of growing up in Dublin.

The tour lasts 3 hours and guests can expect to feel supernatural sensations at the ruins.

This unique, immersive tour for small groups of no more than 20 departs from St Audeon’s on Cook Street and heads for the Dublin Mountains. There, guests will hike 20 minutes uphill to the ruins of the Hellfire Club where you will get a tour while discovering why this site terrifies some Dubliners like me.

The Horror Hike combines outdoor adventure, breathtaking views, and eerie storytelling away from the busy city centre.

This is an adults-only tour that requires people to have a moderate fitness level for the 20-minute hike and departs at sunset (time may vary depending on the time of year).

So, if you are looking for a different Dublin ghost tour that lets you escape the city centre, the Horror Hike is the one for you.

9 Hidden Dublin: Northside Ghost Walk Tour

⏱️Tour Time: 2 hours | ⭐Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 👻Book Now

A picture of the exterior and whiskey barrels underneath the windows of The Brazen Head pub in Dublin.
The Brazen Head Pub

If you want to learn about Dublin ghost stories from the Northside of the city, then the Hidden Dublin: Northside Ghost Walk Tour is one you should join.

Loved this tour our guide made it so enjoyable with the dark stories we expected but also keeping it fun and making us laugh!

Ashley – Read more reviews

Discover the haunted history of Dublin’s northside on a 2-hour walking ghost tour of Dublin.

This tour will take you through a former Viking enclave, you’ll visit the spine-chilling St Mary’s Abbey, and Hendrick Streets, the sites of Dublin’s former more haunted houses.

The tour ends at Dublin’s oldest pub, The Brazen Head, where your guide will share the horrifying story of Lord Norbury, the infamous and sadistic ‘Hanging Judge’ who presided over the trial of Robert Emmet, an Irish rebel leader who fought for Irish independence at the end of the 18th century.

The tour is suitable for those aged 10 and over with those under 18 accompanied by an adult and is wheelchair accessible. The tour can accommodate a maximum of 55 people and starts at 8pm from the Church Bar on Mary Street.

So, if you want to discover the northside of Dublin’s dark side, join the Hidden Dublin: Northside Ghost Walk Tour.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ghost Tours in Dublin

Do you have a burning question about the best ghost tours Dublin, Ireland has to offer? Take a look to see if it is answered here. If not, pop me an email and I’ll answer it directly as well as add it here for other readers.

Wrapping Up Dublin’s Best Ghost Tours

This article has highlighted some of the best ghost tours in Dublin.

The tours include popular, highly rated ghost tours, private tours, and even one designed for families with children from the ages of 7 so they don’t miss out.

Each will share ghastly tales of Dublin’s sinister past while showing you a side to the city you might not get otherwise.

Are you brave enough to take a ghost tour of Dublin?

More Dublin Tour Ideas

A picture of a purple double-decker bus with writing on it saying the Dublin Ghostbus Tour and text overlay saying Dublin Ghost Tours.
A picture of Dublin's Ha'Penny Bridge at night with text overlay saying the top ghost tours in Dublin.
A picture of Smithfield Square in Dublin by night with text overlay saying Dublin Ghost Tours.
by Cath Jordan
Cath is an Irish expat and the founder of Travel Around Ireland. She and her husband both come from Dublin, where the rest of their family remains. They regularly return to the Emerald Isle to explore the country with their son as well as to visit family. Through Travel Around Ireland, Cath shares her local expertise and knowledge with travellers and visitors to Ireland. Find out more about Cath here.

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