Best Walking Tours of Dublin

If you are looking to explore Dublin on foot, then you’ve come to the right place. Taking a walking tour is one of the best ways to discover and enjoy the Irish capital, and the best walking tours of Dublin are listed right here to help you decide which one to take.

*This post contains affiliate links, which may include Amazon affiliate links. To read more about affiliate links, please visit my Disclosure Policy page.

The Campanile Tower in Trinity College, Dublin, one of the best things to see in Dublin

🧭 Don’t have time to read the full article? The best Dublin Walking Tour is the Dublin Highlights Walking Tour with over one hundred and fifty Five Star reviews.

The centre of Dublin is not very big and is easy to explore and enjoy on foot. Many of the main Dublin tourist attractions are located in the centre of the city and so are accessible from one another on foot. Just one or two are located outside of the very centre of the city.

But, if you don’t feel comfortable exploring by yourself, I’ve put together a list of the best walking tours in Dublin so you can join a tour and let someone guide you around this beautiful Irish city. Note that these are Dublin tours by locals with plenty of knowledge to share with their guests.

9 Best Walking Tours of Dublin, Ireland

Dublin Highlights Walking Tour

🧭 Tour time: 2 Hours | ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of the front of the GPO in Dublin with people and cars passing in front of it
General Post Office (GPO)

If you are looking for one of the best Dublin walking tours that is led by an entertaining local guide, then book your spot on the Dublin Highlights Walking Tour. This two-hour walking tour of Dublin is an ideal way to start one day in Dublin and you will discover the best of Dublin as your stroll from site to site.

Anne was extremely knowledgeable and detailed in illustrating Dublin knowledge. She provided lots of great tips of sights to see that we would have missed- including the Archeological Museum. Well worth the time and highly recommend

Karena – Read more reviews

Starting on O’Connell Street, this Dublin City walking tour visits iconic sites in the city centre including the GPO which was a focal point in the 1916 Easter Rising, City Hall, and of course, Trinity College.

This Dublin walking tour also brings you to the historical St Mary’s Church, with its beautiful stained-glass windows and a magnificent organ. You will also visit the famous area of Dublin, Temple Bar before visiting Dublin Castle and learning more about its history and importance.

To get a taste of Dublin and find your bearings to continue your exploration yourself, book your place on the Dublin Highlights Walking Tour today. There will be plenty of time afterward to discover more of Dublin yourself, get lunch and visit other sites in the city.

Dublin Private Walking Tour

🧭 Tour time: 3 hours | ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of the main entrance of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College

If you’d prefer not to join a group tour, then a great option for you and your travel party is a private walking tour of Dublin. With a range of stops along the way, this is one of the best Dublin walking tours to avoid the crowds.

Our guide was a very friendly guide who tailored our tour to our particular interests. It was fascinating to hear the stories and history behind the sights that we saw. Some highlights among many were Trinity College, Grafton Street, and St. Stephens Green. Highly recommended!

Daniel – Read more reviews

With a rich and diverse history, there is no better way to learn about the history of Dublin than on a private walking tour. This tour, just for your travel group, provides an insight into the city while visiting its landmarks such as Trinity College and the GPO.

Along the way, you will stop at various points and enjoy gaining knowledge about each place and the history surrounding it from your knowledgeable, local guide. You can choose from a morning or afternoon tour and get insider tips on places to visit and where to eat.

So, if you want a truly personalised tour of Dublin, book the Dublin Private Walking Tour. There is no better tour to take if you want a personal introduction to Ireland’s capital city.

90 Minute Dublin Walking tour and Sightseeing tips

🧭 Tour time: 90 minutes | ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of a street lined with pubs in Temple Bar Dublin
Temple Bar, Dublin

How would you like to discover Dublin and its history in 90 minutes, leaving you free to explore more solo? Then book yourself onto the 90-minute Dublin Walking Tour and Sightseeing tips which is led by a knowledgeable and engaging local.

Very knowledgeable and gave fantastic tips on things to do in the city, and pointed many extras that we could do later in our trip

Melissa – Read more reviews

Over 90 minutes you will wander the cobbled streets of Dublin and learn more about the history of the city (and Ireland) and just a few of the colourful characters and events that have happened along its streets over the centuries.

Starting on O’Connell Street, you will work your way through Dublin, passing places such as the GPO, Trinity College, Temple Bar, and Christ Church Cathedral before ending back on O’Connell Street.

This is one of the top city sightseeing tours Dublin has to offer. The 90-minute Dublin Walking Tour is ideal for an introduction to the city and its history, while also leaving you plenty of time for more solo sightseeing in the city.

Dublin Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

🧭 Tour time: 2.5 hours | ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of Smithfield Square in Dublin
Picture Source: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Smithfield Square)

If you’d like to explore the dark side of the Irish capital and see a side to Dublin most visitors will miss, then book your place on the Dublin Darkside Walking Tour. This evening-time walking tour of Dublin will show you a different side of Dublin all together and is another great walking tour of Dublin.

Enjoyed the tour, lots to see and learn about. The late evening walk about gives Dublin a whole new light.

Timothy – Read more reviews

This evening walking tour of Dublin starts at Dublin Castle where you will learn about some of the more gruesome events that took place at the castle. Then you will move on to the 3Olympia Theatre to discover some friendly ghosts. And finally, you will visit Smithfield Square (pictured above), reputed to be one of the darkest areas of Dublin.

And you will learn plenty of things about the city that you might not ordinarily have discovered. End your day exploring Dublin with this tour.

So, if you are looking for other different Dublin walking tours, get yourself onto the Dublin Darkside Walking Tour today and discover the darker side of the city.

Dark Dublin Guided 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: Rickybon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (St Michan’s Church)

If you are looking for the best walking tour Dublin has to offer and want something a bit different, then get yourself onto the Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour.

This trip was fantastic! A fun way to see Dublin and get some information on some of the darker history. Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend this tour.

Michaela – Read more reviews

Join one of the top guided tours in Dublin and discover a more gruesome side of the city with tales of murder, torture, grave robbing, and more.

This unique Dublin walking tour begins at Dublin Castle where you will hear stories of torture before moving on to the two cathedrals, St Michan’s Church (a unique place to visit in Dublin and pictured above), and more. Along the way, you will unearth Dublin’s dark side while visiting and passing some of Dublin’s iconic landmarks and sites.

So, if you are looking, book your place on the Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour and you will soon be enjoying stories not covered on other walking tours in Dublin.

2-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Dublin

🧭 Tour time: 2 hours | ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of the Four Courts in Dublin with the River Liffey in front
Four Courts

If you want to get to grips with the history of Dublin and Ireland, then the 2-hour Historical Walking Tour of Dublin is the best walking tour of Dublin for you. Hosted by expert guides who are history post-graduates, this tour is ideal for the history lovers out there.

Excellent tour explaining the history of the city and the country. Would highly recommend to everyone!

Tetyana – Read more reviews

During this 2-hour historical walking tour, Dublin and Ireland’s history is brought to life through the knowledge and expertise of the guides. More than a sightseeing tour, you will be guided around Dublin while discovering the history of the city and Ireland as a whole.

From Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, to the Four Courts, Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin Castle, visitors on this tour will learn about the English Conquest of Ireland, the Great Hunger, the struggle for freedom and independence, and more.

So, if you enjoy learning about the cities and countries you are visiting, booking yourself onto the 2-hour historical walking tour of Dublin will be a great way to delve into the history of Ireland and its capital city.

Best of Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems With Locals Private Tour

🧭 Tour time: 3 hours | ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of people walking towards one of the entrances of Dublin Castle
Picture Source: XeresNelro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Dublin Castle)

Another one of the best walking tours Dublin has to offer is another private tour of the city. The Best of Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems With Locals Private Tour is another great option if you want a more private tour of the city.

Our guide was fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly, flexible. He made the whole experience great. Really taught us a lot about the history and character of Dublin.

Donna – Read more reviews

If larger group tours are not your thing, this private walking tour of Dublin is the ideal solution. Hosted by a local guide, you will tour Dublin City Centre and gain a greater insight into each destination from your guide, something you simply cannot get on a larger tour.

Visit places such as Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and the GPO, among others, and learn about Dublin from your local and very knowledgeable guide. And at the end, enjoy a complimentary beer in a traditional pub at the end.

If you want to avoid the larger walking tours of Dublin City and prefer to get a more personalised tour, book the Best of Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems With Locals Private Tour. You’ll get lots of local knowledge while enjoying the city of Dublin.

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

🧭 Tour time: 2 hours | ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of the Oscar Wilde statue at Merrion Square, Dublin
Oscar Wilde Statue

One of the best walking tours Dublin has to offer visitors is a literary walking tour of Dublin. The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl combines a literary walking tour of Dublin with a good old-fashioned pub crawl.

Wonderful! What a fun and unique pub crawl! Really enjoyed the energy and authentic Irish talent. Lots of history and fun combined. Highly recommend this evening tour for all, in any weather, for any size group!

Leah – Read more reviews

This walking tour of Dublin allows visitors to discover the rich literary history of the city through visits to important sites and pubs associated with the literary figures of the city.

Discover the places where some of the country’s most famous writers and poets got their inspiration or where they relaxed. Along the way, you can enjoy locally brewed ales and local specialties (at your own expense), while delving into Dublin’s literary past.

This guided walking tour of Dublin, Ireland is hosted by local actors who bring you to four Dublin pubs and immerse you in the lives of talented artists, including Oscar Wilde, WB Yeats, and James Joyce.

If you want to know more about Dublin’s literary past and the writers of the city, then book your place on the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl. Whether you partake in an alcoholic beverage at each stop is entirely up to you!

Dublin Street Art Walking Tour

🧭 Tour time: 1-2 hours | ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | 🚶‍♀️ Book now

A picture of some street art in Dublin
Street Art in Dublin

One of the more unique Dublin City walking tours you can take is one in which you discover the amazing street art dotted around the city. The Dublin Street Art Walking Tour is the ideal way to combine exploring the city while discovering some of the city’s amazing street art.

Our guide was an excellent guide and really brought the stories behind the artworks to life with his knowledge and enthusiasm. We were even lucky enough to serendipitously meet one of the artists responsible for murals on icon alley and the spoken word poet whose work inspired him. Even got an impromptu recital. Overall, an excellent experience and well worth doing.

Sean – Read more reviews

A local guide can open your eyes to the lesser-known face of Dublin. You’ll be guided through the city, discovering the vibrant street art that can be located just off the main tourist routes.

Learn about the murals that adorn some of the walls, wonder in awe at the artistry of some of the graffiti and if you are lucky, meet some of the artists themselves.

If you want to discover a hidden but beautiful side of Dublin, then this tour is ideal. So, book your spot on the Dublin Street Art Walking Tour today. Just don’t forget your camera!

Whether you are looking for historical walking tours of Dublin or just looking for a way to get your bearings while being guided around the city, these are among the best walking tours of Dublin for visitors to the city.

You might also be interested in these tour ideas:

A collage of pictures of Dublin including the GPO, Four Courts and Trinity College and text overlay in the upper left hand corner saying 9 best walking tours of Dublin
A picture of people passing a pub in Dublin with text overlay saying best wlaking tours in Dublin
A picture of a bridge across the River Liffey in Dublin with text overlay saying best Dublin walking 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.

Leave a comment