Irish Museums: The 15 Worth a Wet Afternoon

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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14.Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum with Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 123 reviews · from $25

Spend 75 minutes behind Dublin’s Wall of Fame in Temple Bar, touring Thin Lizzy and U2 exhibits, music memorabilia, rehearsal rooms, a working venue, and a commercial studio. English-speaking guides such as Alan and Bryan bring Irish rock stories to life, with a little humor along the way.

“Very educational. I love rock music. It was great to hear the stories and accomplishments about all these musicians.”

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15.EPIC Museum and Jeanie Johnston Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 69 reviews · from $36

Start with a guided tour of the Jeanie Johnston, where guides such as Claire, Katrina, and Owin bring the famine ship and its passengers to life. Then cross the street for a self-guided visit to EPIC, an interactive museum about Irish emigrants, culture, and global influence. Allow about three hours, with a free EPIC return visit within 10 days.

“What a great experience! I spent many hours in the stunning EPIC museum.”

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