Top 15 Ireland History Tours

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

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

Walk central Dublin with a guide such as Ann, Lee, Francesca, or Ciaran, stopping for eight Irish food and drink tastings. Make Irish coffee, try a warm sausage roll, local oyster, cheese, stew, beer, brownie, and ice cream. The three-hour route begins at College Green and ends near Grafton Street.

“By the end of this tour you will have an Irish Mom, Ann. She takes care of you and shows you all the heat small places to go eat and drink in the city. She has a vast knowledge of random facts and a life lived. Brilliant experience!”

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2.2-Hour Historical Walking Tour from Dublin

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

Meet at the Grattan statue opposite Trinity College for a brisk, story-filled walk through Dublin’s past. History graduates such as Jody, Eoin, John, and Colm cover Vikings, religion, politics, revolution, and modern Ireland, with stops at Temple Bar, the Four Courts, Christ Church, Dublin Castle, and more. Book of Kells entry costs extra.

“The guide was really nice and explained really well. I had fun, even if the weather was freezing. Would definitely recommend.”

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3.Historical 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Dublin

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

Meet at the Henry Grattan Statue by Trinity College for a two-hour walk through Dublin’s Medieval City, Temple Bar, City Hall, and Dublin Castle. Trinity and UCD history graduates such as Daragh, Jodie, Colm, and Jody bring dates, politics, songs, and wit to Ireland’s story. The tour is in English, wheelchair accessible, and ends where it begins.

“Jody was a fantastic guide! super knowledgeable, engaging, and friendly. This is a perfect way to get better acquainted with Dublin! You'll end the tour having seen some of the major highlights in the heart of Dublin while understanding the historical context and importance of key figures and events! We learned things that we'll carry through us throughout our trip across Ireland and thoroughly enjoyed spending a couple hours with Jody as our guide! highly recommend this to anyone, whether it's your first time in Dublin, or your fifth (like me)!Read more”

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4.Celtic Boyne Valley & Ancient Sites Day Tour From Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 865 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $84

Leave Dublin at 8 a.m. for the Hill of Tara, Trim Castle, Loughcrew Cairns, Fore Distillery, and Fore Abbey. You’ll hear Celtic history and folklore from a driver-guide such as Flann, Alex, Barry, or Matthew, with time for walking, lunch, and a tasting. Expect a full 10-hour day with several steep, wet paths.

“There is some considerable walking and Loughcrew stop there is a lot of climbing. Our guide/ driver (Alex) was a fountain of information all along the way. This tour covered important sites but more of the less touristy sites, so not overcrowded.”

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5.Dublin: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Irish Famine History Tour

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

Step aboard the Jeanie Johnston at Dublin’s Custom House Quay for a 50-minute English-language tour. Your guide may be Steve, Claire, Eoin, Katrina, or another member of the team. Walk the upper deck, then see the cramped quarters where up to 250 famine emigrants lived during their ocean crossing.

“The guide was very informative, brought the story of the misery the passengers endured into vivid gocus. I got a real sense of life on the Jeanie Johnston”

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6.Dublin’s Haunted History Walking Tour

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

Meet at Bernardo Square beside City Hall for an English-language walk through Dublin’s darker past. Guides linked with PSI Ireland, including Darragh, Finn, Kate, Lydia, and Darren, tell stories of Darkey Kelly, the Green Lady, the Dolocher, Dublin’s Hell, and the Hellfire Club. Expect history, folklore, humor, and some gruesome detail.

“We absolutely loved our guide and Dublin’s Haunted History Tour! Our guide was a fabulous story teller and kept both our teenagers engaged.”

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

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

Walk about two miles through Dublin with guides such as Erin, Jody, Patrick, or Niamh, stopping at four city eateries for donuts and churros. The two-hour morning outing mixes sweet samples with stories about Irish history and culture, then ends near the River Liffey at Offbeat Donut Co.

“Loved this tour so much! Had so much fun walking around on a gorgeous morning learning tidbits about Dublin while stopping for delicious treats along the way. Our guide Patrick was fabulous!”

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8.Cork: Guided Historical Walking Tour

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

Spend 75 minutes walking Cork with an English-speaking local guide. Follow the river beneath the curved main street, see Shandon, Elizabeth Fort, South Mall’s former boathouse entrances, and finish at the English Market. Guides such as Noel, Mary, Gerard, Jarrod, Catherine, and Aiden bring local stories and personal insight.

“Mary O’Sullivan was an excellent guide. She had lots of local knowledge and showed up the key spots in the short time that we had before we had in cork.”

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9.Dublin Private Highlights & History of 1916 Easter Rising Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 154 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $135

Spend about three hours walking central Dublin with only your group and a local guide. Visit Dublin Castle, Trinity College, and Christ Church Cathedral while exploring the city’s 1916 Easter Rising story. Guides such as Eamon, Keelan, Derek, and Rauri tailor the route, pace, food stops, and local tips to your interests.

“Brendan was an excellent guide. We were traveling with young children, and he tailored the entire day to their little legs and interests. We learned so much, had a fun time, and were so grateful for his introduction to Dublin for us. Highly recommend!”

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10.Dublin Historical Centre Private Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 152 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $429

Spend about three and a half hours walking central Dublin with a private Secret Food Tours guide. Learn to make Irish coffee, try warm sausage rolls, Irish cheeses, a Flaggy Shore oyster, soda bread with hearty stew, local beer, brownie, and Irish ice cream. Guide Karen brings local insight from growing up in Dublin.

“Fun tour with good food. Our tour guide Karen made the whole experience! She is fantastic, knowledgeable and fun, providing lots of regional insight having grown up in Dublin … including at spots along the tour!”

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11.Dublin: Macabre History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 95 reviews · from $19

Walk Dublin’s old city centre with an English-speaking guide such as Peter or Rob, hearing stories of Cuchulainn, grave robbing, quarantines, executions, serial killers, and man-eating rats. The two-hour route crosses both sides of the River Liffey, begins beside the Spire under a yellow umbrella, and ends at the same point.

“Really interesting tour - seeing things we definitely would have overlooked otherwise. Our tour guide was funny and kept things moving, while being more than happy to answer any questions we might have had”

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12.The History of Dublin With Locals: 1916 Easter Rising PRIVATE Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Follow Dublin’s 1916 Easter Rising story with a private local guide, beginning at Custom House Quay and ending at Collins Barracks. You’ll visit the GPO and Garden of Remembrance, hear personal stories, and adjust the pace and focus to suit your group. Guides such as Eamon, Keelan, Hugh, and Ruairi have earned praise for their history and storytelling.

“Fascinating to walk in the steps of the Rebels of the 1916 Rising. Eamon has a wealth of knowledge about the Rising but, also in all aspects of Dublin and surrounding areas. We throughly enjoyed our day. Thank you Eamon”

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13.Semi-Private (8people max) 2.5 Hr Dublin Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · from $71

This 2.5-hour Dublin walk takes up to eight people from the Molly Malone statue through Christ Church, Temple Bar, Trinity College, Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin Castle, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Guides including Jimmy, Dermot, Miriam, Sean, and Antonio combine city history, local stories, food advice, and Irish lore. The route ends where it begins.

“We had a great time with Jimmy. He was so friendly and informative, and we felt like we had known him forever. He is extremely knowledgeable, and you can tell he really enjoys making sure you receive the best experience during his tours. Read more”

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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, meet a matron or jailer, and follow a partly guided visit through the old prison. Hear about inmates, crimes, punishments, education, famous prisoners, and executions. Videos, holograms, mannequins, an English audio guide, and a children’s quiz add variety, though the app may not always work.

“The matron was very informative and the gaol was very interesting and informative.”

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15.Cobh: Guided Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 32 reviews · from $40

Walk through Cobh with local guide Kieran, visiting 16 sites tied to ambushes, safe houses, training halls, barracks, and detention centers. The relaxed two-hour route links local places to Ireland’s famine and independence story. It starts and ends at Cobh Heritage Centre, includes entry, and requires comfortable shoes for a small opening hill.

“very information and we learned a lot about the history of Ireland while enjoying the sites of Cobh.”

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