Sorry, We Are Closed

In order to finalise preparations for Ireland’s hosting of the Presidency, the State Apartments at Dublin Castle will be closed to the public from Tuesday 5 May. 

Dublin Castle will be the primary State venue for events during Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the EU with more than one hundred events taking place including conferences, meetings, dinners, cultural events and receptions. 

The wider Dublin Castle campus will remain accessible to the public for a further period, including the Chester Beatty Library, the Dubh Linn gardens and the census exhibition in the Coach House Gallery.   It is advised to check our websites and social media channels for updates on access arrangements at Dublin Castle during May and June 2026. 

From mid-June 2026 for the six-month duration of the Presidency, the Dublin Castle campus will close the public in its entirety.  There will be no public access, in particular, there will be no through access from Dame Street (Palace Street Gate) to Ship Street for the duration. 

We look forward to welcoming visitors back to Dublin Castle in January 2027. Enquiries regarding group bookings for 2027 may be directed as follows:

 For Guided Tours, please contact the Guiding Section at dublincastle@opw.ie For Education Programme bookings (including Origami Workshops, Drawing Workshops, Irish Language Tours, ISL Tours, Autism-Friendly Tours, and Dementia-Inclusive Workshops) please contact the Education Section at dublincastleeducation@opw.ie

IMPORTANT NOTICE

PLEASE NOTE THAT ACCESS TO DUBLIN CASTLE IS ONLY THROUGH THE CORK HILL GATE & THE LA TOUCH GATE (NEXT TO CITY HALL).

ACCESS TO THE CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY, THE 1926 CENSUS EXHIBITION, AND THE DUBH LINN GARDENS IS THROUGH THE SHIP STREET GATE ONLY.

WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

Welcome to Dublin Castle

Constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland. In 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government. It is now a major government complex and a key tourist attraction. We hope you enjoy your visit.

Accessibility

All areas in the State Apartments and the Chapel Royal are universally accessible. The Viking Excavation is only accessible by stairs.

The Coach House Gallery located in the Dubh Linn Gardens is also universally accessible, as are the gardens themselves.

Caution is advised on the uneven surfaces in the Upper Courtyard of the Castle.

Calendar

Please click here for our calendar of events.

Opening Times

Open all Year Round

Monday – Sunday and Public Holidays 09:45 – 17.45

Last admission at 17:15

Closed 25 – 27 December and 1 January

Average Length of Visit: Guided Tour 1 hour. Self Guided Tour 30 minutes.

Ticket Prices

Self-guided Tour

Adult Ticket: €8.00
Senior Ticket (60+): €6.00
Student Ticket (18+): €6.00
Child Ticket (12-17 yrs): €4.00
Child Ticket (under 12 yrs): €0.00
Family Ticket (2 Adults & 3 children): €20.00

Guided Tour

Adult Ticket: €12.00
Senior Ticket (60+): €10.00
Student Ticket (18+): €10.00
Child Ticket (12-17 yrs): €6.00
Child Ticket (under 12 yrs): €0.00
Family Ticket (2 Adults & 3 children): €30.00

Latest Posts

Read the latest posts below, and click through to the full Castle Blog for all news updates.

EXHIBITION: The Story of Us: Census 1926

The Story of Us: Census 1926 is a landmark exhibition marking this historic release of census records. It explores the world reflected in the census and reveals what life was like in 1926: in towns and cities, across rural communities and islands, from crowded urban...

EXHIBITION: IRREVERENT IRELAND

The Office of Public Works at Dublin Castle presents Irreverent Ireland, a new exhibition that runs from 29th October 2025 until 26th April 2026. Irreverent Ireland marks the long-awaited return of the Van der Hagen Painted Hangings - spectacular 18th century party...

EXHIBITION: ARTISTIC ISLANDS

The Office of Public Works (OPW) announces Artistic Islands, running at Dublin Castle's Coach House Gallery from 29th September 2025 - 22nd March 2026. The exhibition explores the creative legacies of Ireland and its diaspora through the work of Irish artist Maria...