Irish History Tours: The 15 Worth Following

1.Dublin Historical Centre Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,718 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125Our pick

Spend about three hours eating through central Dublin with a guide such as Ann, Lee, Cathy, or Ciaran. You’ll make Irish coffee, try sausage rolls, cheese, an oyster, stew, ice cream, a secret dish, and local beer while hearing city stories. The tour ends near Grafton Street and is limited to 12 people.

“Fun, interesting and some surprising food choices. Wonderful guide who included all participants. Minimum walking for anyone with limitations.”

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2.2-Hour Historical Walking Tour from Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 875 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $22

Walk central Dublin with a history postgraduate guide such as Jody, Eoin, John, or Caolan. In about two hours, you’ll connect Trinity College, Temple Bar, Viking Dublin, the Four Courts, Christ Church Cathedral, City Hall, and Dublin Castle. The tour is lively, detailed, and best suited to adults and older children who enjoy politics and history.

“The historic walking tour was great, we learned a lot on the colorful, detailed history of Dublin. Our guide was very easy to listen to and gave a nice variety of information from funny little stories to more in depth points.”

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3.Historical 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 865 reviews · from $22

Walk Dublin’s Medieval City with guides such as Daragh, Jodie, Colm, and Jody Fitzpatrick, all praised for sharp history and good humor. In two hours, you’ll connect Dublin Castle, City Hall, Temple Bar, the 1916 Rising, the Potato Famine, Irish independence, and the Northern Ireland Peace Process. The tour is in English and wheelchair accessible.

“Wonderful tour! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and injected humor into the history to make it a highly engaging tour!”

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4.Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle & Cóbh Heritage Centre by train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 510 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $195

Start at Dublin Heuston at 7am for a full day by rail and coach. Visit Blarney Castle and its gardens, kiss the Blarney Stone, enjoy lunch in the village, then explore Cobh’s Queenstown Story Heritage Centre. Guides such as Norman, Paul, John, and Peter are praised for clear commentary, though rail delays can make this a very long day.

“It was excellent. Taking the train out of Dublin was a great way to see the countryside. Our tour guide Norman was excellent. While on the train ride, he told us more details about what we would be seeing and doing for the day. Along the way he pointed out sights and particular places that we would be passing and might want to take a picture of. He was very friendly and knowledgeable and really made the tour a great experience!”

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5.Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Irish Famine History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 431 reviews · from $16

Spend 50 minutes aboard Dublin’s Jeanie Johnston with an English-speaking guide such as Steve, Claire, or Owen. See the masts and Docklands above deck, then enter the cramped lower deck where up to 250 famine emigrants lived. Expect personal stories, shipbuilding details, and a moving look at the voyage to America.

“Hi - we visited yesterday 30/7/24. Our guude Katrina introduced herself and then asked everyone where they came from. This then encouraged some engagement between visitors. Katrina was very informative and encouraged questions. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would therefore highly recommend this experience. Thank you.”

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6.Dublin’s Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 345 reviews · from $31

Walk Dublin’s cobbled old streets with an English-speaking guide linked to Paranormal Study and Investigation of Ireland. Hear grim tales of Darkey Kelly, the Green Lady of St. Audoen’s, the Dolocher, Dublin’s Hell, and the Hellfire Club. Guides such as Darragh, Finn, Lydia, Kate, and Dara bring history, humor, and just enough fright.

“Tour guide Darragh is passionate and knowledgeable, such a nice person in general! We really enjoyed the tour.”

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7.Deliciously Dublin: The Artisan Donut Walking & History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 329 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

Spend about two hours walking through central Dublin with guides such as Erin, Jody, Niamh, Patrick, and Angelica. You will stop at The Rolling Donut, Sweet Churro, The Hot Donut, and Offbeat Donut Co. for breakfast treats and local stories. Groups can reach 20 people, and the route covers about two miles.

“Fun and unique food tour. We enjoyed our morning walking around Dublin with 4 stops along the way with tasty donuts and churros. Delightful way to spend the morning. Erin was an excellent guide, witty and entertaining. We thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience. Highly recommend! Erin, Thanks so much for a great morning!”

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8.Guided Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 310 reviews · from $26

Walk central Cork with an English-speaking local guide such as Noel, Mary, Gerard, or Catherine. Follow streets built over old river channels, hear stories of maritime trade and local characters, see Shandon Church, Elizabeth Fort, South Mall boathouse entrances, and finish at the English Market. The route is wheelchair accessible and runs rain or shine.

“I truly enjoyed the personal stories intermixed with the historical facts. Noel was a treasure trove of information.”

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9.Dark History Guided City Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 236 reviews · from $23

Meet your English-speaking guide at the green Explore Galway kiosk in Eyre Square for a 90-minute winter walking tour through Galway’s darker past. Hear about Halloween’s Irish origins, murders, executions, witch trials, and hauntings, with guides including Conor, Lorraine, Sean, and Nicole bringing the stories to life.

“Lorraine was a riveting storyteller of fascinating tales. Great way to spend an evening in Galway.”

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10.Historic Cork Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 232 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Spend about two hours walking through central Cork with guides such as Paddy, Chloe, Rachel, or Marysol, stopping for fresh donuts and bakery treats along the way. You’ll see the English Market area, Cork Opera House, Rory Gallagher’s statue, Coal Quay, Washington Street, and St Patrick Street before finishing at Cafe Mexicana.

“Donuts were tasty. We went to areas we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own. Our guides were very knowledgeable.”

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11.Hidden Dublin: Haunted History Walking Tour v2.0 2026

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 188 reviews · 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Start at Barnardo Square near City Hall at 8pm for a guided walk through Dublin’s darker past. Hear stories of Darkey Kelly, the Hellfire Club, lepers, hauntings, old churches, and the Brazen Head area before finishing at Darkey Kelly’s. Guides may include Emma, Lydia, Finn, Kate, or Katie. The tone mixes history, humour, and supernatural tales.

“Fun evening walk with a great tour guide! Thank you for showing us the dark side of Dublin!…………………..”

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12.The Queenstown Story @ Cobh Heritage Centre , Great Stories of Emigration.

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 181 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $18

Follow one emigrant’s path through Cobh Heritage Centre, from 17th-century departures to the Great Famine, Titanic, and Lusitania. Your self-guided visit takes about an hour, though you can stay longer and revisit exhibits. The centre sits beside the cruise pier and Cobh railway station, with a cafe, shop, and genealogy help nearby.

“Very personal for me as my grandfather left from here to America. The geneological service was great!”

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13.Visit 16 Sites Key Historical Sites And Experience Cobh Rebel Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42

Meet Kieran outside Cobh Heritage Centre for a 90-minute walk through 16 sites tied to Irish resistance, local life, emigration, and wartime events. Expect vivid storytelling, steep hills, and many steps. The tour ends in town with complimentary tea or coffee at a local bar.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable about Irish history. Be prepared for lots of uphill walking and stairs. Enjoyed it very much!”

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14.Wicklow Historic Gaol: 1-Hour Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 56 reviews · from $14Best value

Enter Wicklow Gaol through the Gates of Hell and follow a partially guided visit through its old cells. A matron or jailer introduces the prison, then videos, holograms, mannequins, and English audio explain inmate life, crimes, punishments, education, famous prisoners, and executions. Children can complete a quiz and may earn a release form.

“A wonderful experience, to learn the unknown truth about the gaol was very interesting, it makes you think of those poor souls, men women and children who had to endure being incarcerated there,it was horrific times.We really enjoyed our historical tour it definitely takes you back in time and makes you leave counting your blessings.”

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15.Guided Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 32 reviews · from $40

Join Cobh Rebel Walking Tours for a two-hour English-language walk with Kieran through 16 sites tied to Irish history. You’ll see ambush locations, safe houses, training halls, barracks, and former detention places, with stories ranging from the potato famine to the War of Independence. The tour begins and ends at Cobh Heritage Centre.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable; we learned so much about Ireland's history. He was engaging. We loved and recommend this tour”

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