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.
The Bedford Tower, Castle Gates & Guard House
By Dr Aidan O’Boyle, Guide & Information Officer By the middle of the 18th century most the Upper Castle Yard either had already been, or was in the process of being, rebuilt. In February 1750 the Surveyor General, Arthur Jones Neville, sent a memorial to the...
Ship’s Biscuits in Ship Street Barracks
By Anna Caffrey, Guide & Information Officer Ship Street Barracks and the Rising Nestled in the south-west corner of Dublin Castle are the brick clad buildings of Ship Street Barracks. Four of the buildings were originally built around the 1750s and were converted...
1916 In and around Dublin Castle: People and Places that made History
In our work, the business of buildings is inextricable from the business of history. In 1916, fighting broke out at the castle gates and the adjacent City Hall. James Connolly and Kathleen Lynn were brought here after their arrest and other key figures of the Rising...

