Dublin Castle

About the museum

Dublin Castle stands beside the former “dark pool” that gave the city its name, on a site that held Viking-age defences before the Normans arrived. King John ordered a fortress to be built in 1204 to protect the town, administer justice and guard the royal treasure. For about seven centuries it was the centre of English and later British rule in Ireland, and the medieval Record Tower is the best-preserved part of that first castle.

A fire in 1684 destroyed much of the old building and led to its rebuilding as a Georgian palace. The State Apartments, built in the eighteenth century, were the residence and reception rooms of the Viceroy and include the Throne Room, the State Drawing Room and St Patrick’s Hall, with its painted ceiling of 1788. The Gothic Revival Chapel Royal by Francis Johnston opened on Christmas Day 1814 and is decorated with the coats of arms of the viceroys.

The castle was handed to Michael Collins and the new Irish government on 16 January 1922. Since 1938 Irish presidents have been inaugurated in St Patrick’s Hall, and the complex is still used by the state for official ceremonies and European Union meetings. It is run by the Office of Public Works and also houses the Chester Beatty and the Garda Museum, which have their own entries. Visitors can see the State Apartments on a self-guided visit and join a guided tour that also covers the Chapel Royal and the Viking and medieval excavations in the undercroft.

Highlights

• St Patrick’s Hall, setting of presidential inaugurations since 1938
• Throne Room, State Drawing Room and Apollo Room in the State Apartments
• Gothic Revival Chapel Royal with viceregal coats of arms
• Viking and medieval excavations beneath the castle (guided tour only)
• Medieval Record Tower, currently closed for restoration

Permanent exhibitions

• State Apartments – Suite of eighteenth-century reception rooms of the Viceroy, including St Patrick’s Hall, the Throne Room and the State Drawing Room, with portraits and period furnishings.
• Chapel Royal – Gothic Revival chapel by Francis Johnston, opened in 1814, with galleries and windows showing the arms of Ireland’s viceroys; visited on a guided tour.
• Viking and medieval excavation – Underground remains of the Viking-age defences, the medieval curtain wall and the old moat beneath the lower castle yard; reached by stairs on a guided tour.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Admission & discounts

Prices are those published before the 2026 closure and are for self-guided entry unless stated. Self-guided tickets can be booked online up to two weeks ahead or bought at the desk in the State Apartments; guided tour tickets are sold only at the desk. Holders of the Go City Dublin Pass pay a €3 upgrade for a guided tour.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All areas of the State Apartments, including the cafe and toilets, are step-free, and staff take wheelchair users by lift to the first-floor museum rooms. The Coach House and the gardens are accessible and the Chapel Royal is partly accessible on a guided tour. The Viking excavation can be reached only by a staircase. Heritage Ireland notes limited access and uneven surfaces in places. Irish Sign Language tours, autism-friendly tours and dementia-inclusive workshops are offered through the education team.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Free activity sheets (Animal Adventure, Family Trail and Painting Pursuit) are available for self-guided family visits, and a discounted family ticket exists. Prams and pushchairs are not allowed in the State Apartments; staff will store them during the visit.

Getting there & parking

The castle is entered from Dame Street behind City Hall, about five minutes’ walk from Trinity College on the way to Christchurch.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

The Terrace Cafe is in the State Apartments. Free Wi-Fi is available in the castle. Free lockers for bags are near the toilets before the State Apartments; backpacks must be left there.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The castle is a conference and events venue. Spaces include the Printworks, the Hibernia Conference Centre, Bedford Hall (up to 80 delegates), the Gothic Room in the Bermingham Tower, the Chapel Royal and the State Apartments for gala dinners. Enquiries go to the events office at dublincastleevents@opw.ie.

Plan your visit