09/11/2026
Dublin Castle stands in the centre of Dublin, just off Dame Street. It was built from 1204 on the orders of King John of England, on high ground next to the “dark pool” (Dubh Linn in Irish) that gave the city its name. For more than 700 years the castle was the centre of English and later British rule in Ireland. After a big fire in 1684, most of the old fortress was rebuilt as an elegant Georgian palace. In 1922 the castle was handed over to the new Irish government led by Michael Collins. Today it is an important government building where the Presidents of Ireland are inaugurated and where state visits and banquets take place.
What to See
The highlight is the State Apartments, the rich rooms where the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland once lived and held balls. St Patrick’s Hall is the grandest room, with a painted ceiling from around 1790 and the banners of the old Order of St Patrick. You can also see the Throne Room with a throne made for King George IV in 1821, the State Drawing Room and the long State Corridor. Under the castle you can visit the Viking Excavation with the remains of Viking defences, a medieval tower and the old city wall, where the River Poddle still flows underground. The Record Tower from around 1230 is the only tower of the medieval castle that still stands. Next to it is the Gothic Chapel Royal with fine wood carvings. Behind the castle lie the Dubh Linn Gardens, and in the castle grounds is the Chester Beatty, a free museum with rare books and art from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
How to Get There and Practical Information
The castle is on Dame Street, about 5 minutes on foot from Temple Bar and Christ Church Cathedral and 10 minutes from Trinity College. Many city buses stop on Dame Street. Important: because Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the castle is closed to the public until January 2027. Normally it is open every day from 9:45 to 17:45, with the last entry at 17:15. You can choose a self-guided visit of the State Apartments (about 30 minutes) or a guided tour of about one hour, which also includes the Viking Excavation and the Chapel Royal. Children under 12 enter free.
Weather in location: Dublin Castle, Ireland
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- Wind 19 km/h E
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Forecast data: Open-Meteo.com
