Settled by the Vikings in the 9th century, the place was called Duiblinn– or “black pool” – and later became the city of Dublin.
As the capital city of Ireland, Dublin has long been a witness to many events in Irish history. Needless to say, there are many historical things to see and experience.
Keep reading to find out 20 of the best historic things to see in Dublin!
Table of Contents
1. The Book of Kells
One of the foremost examples of Insular art, the art form native to the British Isles after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript containing the four Gospels.
Over 1000 years old, it is believed to have been made at Iona Abbey, one of the most important centers of learning in the early Middle Ages in the British Isles. Now it is housed in its own room in Trinity College Dublin, accompanied by an informative exhibition about the creation of illuminated manuscripts and the creation of the book itself.
2. Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s oldest university; it was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. Over the centuries it has been regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Some of its past students include notable figures in Irish history, such as the statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke, writer Oscar Wilde, satirist Jonathan Swift, and political leader Eamon de Valera.
The university is also famous for its library, especially its stunning Long Room, where, in addition to books, you can find artefacts of Irish history, including the Brian Boru Harp (the symbol of Ireland) and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
3. Dublin Castle
Founded in 1204, Dublin Castle was once the administrative seat of the British government when Ireland was under British rule. Today, it still serves as the place where the Presidents of Ireland are inaugurated.
Parts of the castle, such as the subterranean portions and the Chapel Royal, are accessible only by tour. Also on the grounds of Dublin Castle is the original Duiblinn – or “black pool” – which gave the city its name.
4. National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
If you want to see artefacts from Ireland’s prehistoric to medieval past, look no further than the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology. The oldest item is said to date from around 7000 BC.
There is a lot to see at this museum, but perhaps the most interesting is the goldwork, the exquisite Tara Brooch, and (more morbidly) the well-preserved bog bodies.
5. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is said to have been built on the spot where Saint Patrick himself would baptize people into Christianity. (And as the Irish like to remind you, Saint Patrick wasn’t actually Irish.) The church dates from a few centuries later, having been founded in 1191.
The cathedral has a long history and has been associated with many famous historical Irish people. Perhaps the person best-known and most closely linked to the cathedral is Jonathan Swift, the author of the satirical Gulliver’s Travels who served as dean of the cathedral and who is buried there.
6. Guinness Storehouse
Ireland is rightly famous for its beer, and the most famous Irish beer of all is Guinness. In 1759, Arthur Guinness started brewing beer in this location and the company hasn’t stopped brewing beer since.
In addition to being a brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is a tourist attraction that walks visitors through the company’s history and what is involved in brewing beer. At the end, you can enjoy a pint of Guinness at the rooftop bar, which includes a 360-degree view of Dublin.
Want to learn more about the Guinness Storehouse? Check out my Guide to Visiting the Guinness Storehouse!
7. National Gallery of Ireland
Take a tour through European art at the National Gallery of Ireland. Here you’ll find a who’s who of European masters from through the centuries, from Fra Angelico to Titian to Vermeer to Rembrandt. There’s even a work by Caravaggio which, up until its rediscovery in 1990, was believed to have been lost.
If it’s Irish art you’re looking for, there is an exhibit of the works of the Irish artist Jack B. Yeats. If that name rings a bell, the answer is yes; Jack was the Nobel Prize-winning writer William Butler Yeats.
8. The Brazen Head
Ireland is famous for its pubs, and there’s certainly no shortage of them in the Irish capital. The Brazen Head is one such pub, but it also stands out among the crowd for claiming to be the oldest pub in Dublin.
While said to date to 1198, there’s no proof that this is actually the case. What is verifiable, however, is that there has been an establishment selling alcohol here since at least 1661.
9. Christ Church Cathedral
A cathedral of the Church of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral is actually older than St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was founded while Dublin was still under Viking rule in around 1030. While the cathedral was extensively renovated during Victorian times, the crypt still retains some of its original 12th century appearance.
Among the most famous individuals closely associated with Christ Church Cathedral are Laurence O’Toole, a 12th century Archbishop of Dublin who was later canonized a saint, and Strongbow, a Norman knight who led the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland and who is buried in the cathedral.
10. The Little Museum of Dublin
This award-winning museum shows the local side of Dublin’s history, focusing on life in the 20th century. There’s even an exhibit on the famous Irish rock band, U2.
While you can tour the museum on your own, I recommend joining one of the museum’s tours to get the most out of your visit.
11. Dublinia
One of my personal favorite museums in the city, Dublinia focuses on Dublin’s Viking and medieval history. It can be quite immersive, with street scenes and staff in costume. It’s also a great place to take kids.
The museum is located right next to Christ Church Cathedral; there’s an elevated passageway that connects the two buildings.
12. National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
This museum has a bit of an identity crisis. As its name implies, it houses items relating to the decorative arts, such as clothing and furniture, as well as artefacts pertaining to events in Irish history, such as the Easter Rising.
The museum is housed in the Collins Barracks, which from 1702 to 1997 served, as its name implies, as a military barracks. As a result, there’s a large collection relating to military history here as well.
13. Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol was a prison located in Dublin. It was built in 1796. It is perhaps best known as the place where leaders of the Easter Rising, a major rebellion against British rule that took place in 1916, were imprisoned and executed.
The jail was decommissioned after Ireland gained independence in 1923. After restoration, it opened as a museum in the 1960s.
14. EPIC Museum
The Irish diaspora is huge; it’s estimated around 80 million people worldwide claim some Irish ancestry. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum tells the story of the Irish who left their homeland over the centuries.
Neville Isdell, the former chair and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, himself an Irish emigrant, founded the museum in 2016. It’s a modern, flashy, but informative museum where you learn about Irish emigrants from over the centuries and some of their descendants – from Saint Columba to Rihanna.
15. The Jeanie Johnston
The Jeanie Johnston was a ship that brought Irishmen and women escaping the Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine, to a new life in North America in the mid-19th century. Take a tour on this replica to discover the harrowing experiences these emigrants had to face on their voyage.
Don’t forget to check out the nearby Famine Memorial, which remembers the victims of the Great Famine, which occurred between 1845 and 1852.
16. GPO Museum
In 1916, Irish republicans launched their most brazen rebellion against their British rulers. It became known as the Easter Rising, and the execution of the rebel leaders increased popular support for Irish independence.
The headquarters of the rebellion was at the General Post Office. Today, an interactive museum dedicated to the rising is housed in the building. Learn about the event itself, but also about the societal and economic conditions of the era that led to the rising, as well as the characters who led, supported, or were inspired by it.
17. He’penny Bridge
For most of Dublin’s history, the way to cross the River Liffey was via ferry. In 1816, the first cast iron and the first dedicated foot bridge was built. It was called the Wellington Bridge, after the British hero of the Napoleonic Wars, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, who had been born in Dublin.
A toll was charged to use the bridge. The cost was originally a half penny – or ha’penny – and the name “Ha’penny Bridge” stuck. The toll was dropped in 1919. Today, the bridge is an iconic symbol of the city.
18. National Museum of Ireland – Natural History
Formally known as the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, this museum is affectionately known to locals as the “Dead Zoo.” Take a journey through earth’s geological and zoological history as you admire the thousands of taxidermized animals, rocks, and fossils on display.
But why does the Dead Zoo hold such a special place in the hearts of Dubliners? Perhaps because the museum itself is a historical artefact. The museum hasn’t changed much since it opened to the public in 1857, so the exhibits look much the same as they did in Victorian times. It’s been described as “a museum of a museum.”
19. Oscar Wilde Statue
Ireland’s most famous literary figure, Oscar Wilde was born and raised in Dublin. He wrote plays and poems, although his best-known work is his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. He is also famous for having been convicted of engaging in homosexual acts, then illegal in the UK. He was pardoned in 2017.
Head to Merrion Square Park where you can see a statue of Oscar, languidly lying atop a rock with a mischievous expression on his face. The statue is across from the Oscar Wilde House, now part of the American College Dublin, which had been the writer’s childhood home.
20. Chester Beatty Library
If you want to expand beyond Irish history for a more global perspective, head to the Chester Beatty Library. Located near Dublin Castle, this museum is a collection of rare manuscripts, books, miniature paintings and prints from Western, Islamic, and East and Southeast Asian traditions.
Alfred Chester Beatty was an American who had made his fortune as a mining engineer. He used his money to purchase rare manuscripts, later moved to Dublin, and eventually donated his collection to the Irish state.
There you have it! The top 20 historic things to see in Dublin. Did I miss your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
On a budget? Why not check out some of the best free historical things to see in Dublin!
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