Sorry, We Are Closed
In order to finalise preparations for Ireland’s hosting of the Presidency, the State Apartments at Dublin Castle closed to the public on 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.
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.
“Brilliant Star, Brilliant badge, Gold Badge, ORDER OF ST PATRICK, for the use of The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.”
By William Derham, Curator of 'Splendour & Scandal: The Office of Arms at Dublin Castle'. So reads the engraved lettering on the oval brass plate of an otherwise nondescript mahogany and brass-bound box. It is no bigger than a biscuit tin, and to some eyes little...
100 Years of Women in Politics and Public Life: Objects in Focus
Countess de Markievicz’s Despatch Bag Audio-description of Countess Markievicz’s Despatch Bag. Commentary by the curator Sinéad McCoole. Commentary by curator Sinéad McCoole interpreted in Irish Sign Language I had no idea that she belonged to “the...
The Clock Tower Building & The State Stables
By Dr Aidan O’Boyle, Guide & Information Officer The Clock Tower Building, now the Chester Beatty Library. The Clock Tower Building is located directly behind the State Apartments, it is bounded to the east by the Castle Gardens and to the west by the Ship Street...

