Ireland · MUSEUMS

Irish Museums: The 15 Worth a Wet Afternoon

31 tours  ·  from $9 a head

On a wet Tuesday a museum is not a fallback here, it is the plan. The 15 below cover the national collections, the emigration story and the small city museums, with entry prices and which tickets skip the queue.

Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum Experience Dublin - Entering the performance venue
Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience Dublin

1.Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,112 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26Our pick

Meet your guide in Temple Bar for a 75-minute tour of Dublin’s Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum. See Thin Lizzy, U2, Rory Gallagher, Sinead O’Connor, and Michael Jackson memorabilia, visit a working music venue and recording rooms, and try recording your own song. Guides such as Alan, Scott, Brian, and Emily bring the stories to life.

“Working studio with several rooms of memorabilia dedicated to iconic Irish bands Rory Gallagher, U2 and Thin Lizzy. Wonderful stories and even a brief jam session with our guide Sterling! Highly recommend for music fans, but a “must do” if you love any of the highlighted bands.”

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The Little Museum of Dublin: Famous Guided Tour - Pairing It With Other Dublin Plans
Guided, Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Dublin

The Little Museum of Dublin Famous Guided Tour

2.The Little Museum of Dublin Famous Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,948 reviews · 30 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $21

Join a lively English-language tour at the Little Museum of Dublin beside St Stephen’s Green. Guides such as Emma, George, Saul, Pauline, and Daryl turn Dublin’s past into a funny, musical story, with stops for U2 memorabilia, Tara’s Palace dolls house, and objects donated by local people. The visit lasts about 30 minutes to an hour.

“This was the highlight of our time spent in Dublin. The Georgian home,displays, stories, and humor told a great story of Irish history. Pauline’s song at the end was beautiful.”

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Dublin EPIC Museum Admission Ticket - Arriving at the CHQ building in Dublin
Museums, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Dublin EPIC Museum Admission Ticket

3.Dublin EPIC Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,729 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $25

At EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin’s CHQ building, follow 20 self-guided galleries about the Irish diaspora, from famine-era departures to modern global achievements. Collect passport stamps, use the free audio guide in nine languages, and allow 1.5 to 3 hours. Irish family research costs extra.

“The museum was excellent. Very well done. Quite educational . The Irish diaspora was vast and occurred for different reasons.”

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Giant's Causeway with the Titanic Exhibition and the best of Northern Ireland - The Dark Hedges and its familiar screen setting
Giants Causeway Day Trips, Museums, Titanic & Cobh Heritage Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Giant’s Causeway with the Titanic Exhibition and the best of Northern Ireland

4.Giant’s Causeway with the Titanic Exhibition and the best of Northern Ireland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,122 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $102

Travel from Dublin to Northern Ireland with a guide such as Quiggs, May, or Luke, stopping at Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the Dark Hedges, Titanic Belfast, and Belfast City Hall. Transport and Titanic admission are included, but expect a 13-hour day, long bus stretches, brisk walks, and limited time at some stops.

“Giant’s Causeway was beautiful even though the weather wasn’t as brilliant. The fog added a mysterious touch to the scenery. Our tour guide Harry was very entertaining and sweet and our driver (I unfortunately forgot her name) was very experienced and I felt safe.”

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Dublin: Irish Whiskey Museum Tour and Whiskey Tasting - Starting on Grafton Street
Food & Drink, Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Dublin, Whiskey & Distillery Tours, Whiskey Tours in Dublin

Dublin: Irish Whiskey Museum Tour and Whiskey Tasting

5.Irish Whiskey Museum Tour and Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 999 reviews · from $22

Meet at 119 Grafton Street for a one-hour guided tour through four rooms of Irish whiskey history. English-speaking guides such as Brian, Linda, Andrew, and Matthew bring the story to life, followed by a tutored tasting of three classic or four premium whiskeys. The premium option includes an extra pour and souvenir glass.

“Andrew is awesome! Great tour and entertainment for a small price!”

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Dublin: EPIC Museum Entrance Ticket - Entering the CHQ building in Dublin Docklands
Museums, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Dublin: EPIC Museum Entrance Ticket

6.EPIC Museum Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 816 reviews · from $24

Explore EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin’s CHQ building through touch screens, motion quizzes, audio, and film. Learn how Irish emigrants shaped science, politics, music, art, and more. Your ticket includes an app audio guide, souvenir passport, temporary exhibition access, and a return visit within 10 days. Bring headphones and a charged phone.

“Excellent exhibition. It can take 2+ hours to go round it you look at every exhibit in detail but well worth the time and money.”

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Irish Whiskey Museum: Whiskey Blending Experience - Four samples that make the lesson practical
Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin, Whiskey & Distillery Tours, Whiskey Tours in Dublin

Irish Whiskey Museum: Whiskey Blending Experience

7.Irish Whiskey Museum: Whiskey Blending Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 577 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $44

At Dublin’s Irish Whiskey Museum on Grafton Street, you’ll trace whiskey’s rise and fall, taste four Irish varieties, then create a personal blend to take home in a miniature bottle. Guides such as Lydia, Colm, Linda, and Donal bring humor and clear explanations to the 75-minute English-language experience.

“The Whiskey Museum was very educational and we enjoyed our time spent there. Lydia the tour guide was phenomenal! She’s a gifted storyteller and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend it for those who want to better understand the history of Irish Whiskey. We enjoyed making our blended whiskey sample.”

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Dublin: Irish Whiskey Museum Blending Tour with Tastings - Forty-five minutes of whiskey history
Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Dublin, Whiskey & Distillery Tours, Whiskey Tours in Dublin

Dublin: Irish Whiskey Museum Blending Tour with Tastings

8.Irish Whiskey Museum Blending Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 378 reviews · from $34

At Dublin’s Irish Whiskey Museum on Grafton Street, an English-speaking guide leads you through Irish whiskey’s rise, fall, and revival. You’ll taste four different whiskeys, learn from a master blender, create your own blend, and take home a miniature bottle. Guides such as Ellen, Donal, Dan, and Hailey are known for lively storytelling.

“Donal was a fantastic guide. Learnt a lot in a fun interesting experience.”

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Dublin: National Wax Museum Plus Entrance Tickets - Meeting literary Ireland above the city
Museums, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Dublin: National Wax Museum Plus Entrance Tickets

9.National Wax Museum Plus Entrance Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 367 reviews · from $22

Spend a day at Dublin's National Wax Museum Plus, where wax figures meet interactive rooms. See Irish writers, scientists, musicians, film stars, childhood heroes, and Father Ted, then brave the Chamber of Horrors and Mirror Maze. The museum is on three floors, includes an English audio guide, and costs $22 per person.

“There was lots of famous people to see my son loved batman and joker ! They all looked so real it was great! .”

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Dublin: Irish Coffee Masterclass at the Irish Whiskey Museum - Starting at the Irish Whiskey Museum
Coffee Experiences, Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin, Whiskey & Distillery Tours, Whiskey Tours in Dublin

Dublin: Irish Coffee Masterclass at the Irish Whiskey Museum

10.Irish Coffee Masterclass at the Irish Whiskey Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 279 reviews · from $23

At Dublin’s Irish Whiskey Museum, an English-speaking host such as Briain, Linda, Andrew, or Tiernan guides you through two origin stories, then shows you how to balance coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream. You make and drink your own Irish coffee in 45 minutes. The class is for ages 18 and over and is wheelchair accessible.

“Very entertaining guide with a great personality. The whole group had a good time.”

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Irish Famine Museum / Exhibition Dublin - The 15-minute film and the value of a slower visit
Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Irish Famine Museum / Exhibition Dublin

11.Irish Famine Museum / Exhibition Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 247 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $18

Visit the temporary Irish Famine Exhibition upstairs at St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Dublin. Explore photographs, newspapers, an original soup pot, and other artefacts at your own pace, then watch a 15-minute documentary. Translation guides are available in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Allow about one hour.

“Interesting exhibit. Environment was not climate controlled so it was too warm in the area in which the film was seen.”

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Skip the Line: The National Wax Museum Admission Ticket - Starting with Irish history and culture
Museums, Skip the Line, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Skip the Line: The National Wax Museum Admission Ticket

12.Skip the Line: The National Wax Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 216 reviews · 45 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $22

Explore Dublin’s National Wax Museum Plus at your own pace on a 45-minute to one-hour visit. Meet Irish writers, scientists, musicians, U2, Oscar Wilde, and Liam Neeson, then test your nerve in the horror section. Interactive rooms, children’s areas, Irish history, and photo opportunities make this a flexible family stop, though the wax figures vary in quality.

“Very nice u'll defo spend there around an hour of your time just mabye horror section is probably not for kids quite brutal 😀”

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Dublin: Skip-the-Line Little Museum of Dublin Ticket - What happens during the 29-minute tour
Museums, Skip the Line, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Dublin

Dublin: Skip-the-Line Little Museum of Dublin Ticket

13.Skip-the-Line Little Museum of Dublin Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 161 reviews · from $23

At Dublin’s Little Museum, an English-speaking guide such as Emma, Pauline, or Isabelle leads a lively 29-minute tour through objects donated by Dubliners. Expect Irish humor, city history, U2 memorabilia, and time to browse the exhibits, gift shop, and local recommendations. Tours run every 45 minutes from 9:15 AM to 4 PM.

“Excellent experience , a great way to get to know Dublin and a lot of interesting items on display”

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The Medieval Mile Museum Guided Tour - Guides who make the history easier to follow
Guided, Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kilkenny

The Medieval Mile Museum Guided Tour

14.The Medieval Mile Museum Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 155 reviews · 55 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $13

Tour Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile Museum with an English-speaking guide such as Joe, John, or Lyn. Expect a 55-minute to one-hour visit through a medieval church, historic graveyard, and displays of artifacts found by archaeologists. You can keep exploring after the guided portion, making this a useful, compact stop on High Street.

“Those interested in archaeological history would find this tour very interesting. The tour guide was excellent and very informative on medieval history and history of local surrounds”

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Waterford Treasures: Medieval Museum Admission Ticket - Guided visit or self-guided walk?
Museums, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Waterford

Waterford Treasures: Medieval Museum Admission Ticket

15.Waterford Treasures: Medieval Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 132 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $16

Visit Waterford’s Medieval Museum in the Viking Triangle, built over two national monuments. See the rare Cloth of Gold vestments, Henry VIII’s Cap of Maintenance, and the Great Charter Roll. Choose a short guided tour when available, or explore independently with a handheld guide in English, French, or German.

“Definitely worth a stop if you’re in Waterford. So much history and a neat collection of items! We did the self guided tour and it took about 45 minutes as stated! I highly recommend the Viking VR experience as well. It’s right down the street from the museum but tickets can be purchased inside the museum.”

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