Set in the heart of Dublin city, Dublin Castle is presently owned and used by the Irish government for meetings and functions.

The Castle was the stronghold of British power in Ireland for more than 700 years, beginning with the Anglo-Norman fortress commissioned by King John in 1204. Only the Record Tower (1258) survives from the original; most of what you see was built from the 18th century onwards – but its best bits are still impressive.

Dublin Castle had four corner towers linked by high curtain walls and was built around a large central enclosure. Constructed on elevated ground once occupied by an earlier Viking settlement, the old Castle stood approximately on the site of the present Upper Castle Yard. It remained largely intact until April 1684, when a major fire caused severe damage to much of the building. Despite the extent of the fire, parts of the medieval and Viking structures survived and can still be explored by visitors today.

Highlighted for self-guiding:

• the medieval undercroft of the old castle, discovered by accident in 1986. It includes foundations built by the Vikings, the hand-polished exterior of the castle walls that prevented attackers from climbing them, the steps leading down to the moat and the trickle of the historic River Poddle, which once filled the moat on its way to join the Liffey;
• the State Apartments and St Patrick's Hall, the grandest room of the state apartments, and contains one of the most important decorative interiors in Ireland. It is one of the oldest rooms in the castle, dating from the 1740s, though its decoration largely dates from c. 1790, including the most significant painted ceiling in Ireland executed by Vincenzo Valdre (c. 1742–1814);
• Victorian Chapel Royal, decorated with more than 90 heads of various Irish personages and saints carved out of Tullamore limestone; 
• Bermingham Tower is the base of the original Bermingham Tower is one of the few remaining parts of the original castle. It is unclear which member of the De Bermingham family the tower was named for; perhaps William or Walter or John or Sir Walter;
• The Norman Record Tower with its 5m-thick walls is another original part of the castle. It's currently closed to the public pending a long-awaited revamp. It hosted the Garda Museum until its 2017 relaunch in the Treasury Building.;
• Next is the Georgian Treasury Building, the oldest office block in Dublin;
• Behind is Revenue Commissioners Building of 1960;
• On your right is a figure of Justice with her back turned to the city, an appropriate symbol for British justice, reckoned Dubliners; and
• Next to it is the 18th-century Bedford Tower, from which the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen in 1907 and never recovered.

Ticket Buying and Opening Time:

• Daily open 7 days a week from 9:45 to 17:45 (last admission at 17:15). A handbag is required to leave in the coined locker.
• Tickets can be purchased on site at the Castle’s visitor reception desk in the State Apartments (upper courtyard) or can be booked online. 

Self-guiding:

Visitors can choose to self-guide (access to State Apartments and exhibitions only). We offer brochures on the State Apartments in seventeen languages at the ticket desk as well as additional information resources – simply ask one of our guides at the information desk in the State Apartments.

Admission Fees:

Adult €8
Senior (60+) €6
Student (valid student ID required) €6
Child (12-17) €4
Family (max. 2 adults & 5 children) €20 

Guided Tours

Guided Tour (60 minutes) of the State Apartments, Medieval Section and Chapel Royal.

Admission Fees:

Adult €12
Senior (60+) €10
Student (valid student ID required) €10
Child (12-17) €6
Family (max. 2 adults & 5 children) €30