Best of · IRELAND HISTORY TOURS

The 15 Best Ireland History Tours

30 tours  ·  from $14 a head

The 15 best ireland history tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and how much of it is on foot. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Dublin Historical Centre Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings & Drinks - Warm sausage rolls and the first surprise
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Dublin Historical Centre Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings & Drinks

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

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

Spend about three hours walking central Dublin with a local guide such as Ann, Lee, Ciaran, Cathy, or Francesca. You’ll make Irish coffee, sample sausage rolls, cheese, an oyster, stew, soda bread, beer, and ice cream, with Dublin stories along the way.

“Lee was a fantastic guide- a little history of Dublin, some fun facts, amazing food! Our family of 4 had the best time!”

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2-Hour Historical Walking Tour from Dublin - Starting at Trinity College and the Book of Kells
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2-Hour Historical Walking Tour from Dublin

2.2-Hour Historical Walking Tour from Dublin

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

Meet opposite Trinity College for a two-hour Dublin history walk led by a history postgraduate guide. Visit Trinity, Temple Bar, Wood Quay, the Four Courts, Christ Church Cathedral, City Hall, and Dublin Castle. The Book of Kells entry is not included, and the group can reach 25 people.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and open to questions. We learned so much about the history and culture of Ireland.”

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Historical 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Dublin - Meeting at the Henry Grattan Statue
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Historical 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Dublin

3.Historical 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Dublin

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

Walk central Dublin with history graduates from Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. Expect Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, City Hall, the Medieval City, and stories linking the Potato Famine, 1916 Rising, War of Independence, and Peace Process. Guides such as Daragh, Jodie, and Colm add wit and personality.

“excellent tour for someone who has an understanding of the broad brush of Irish history and would like to know a little more about the places and personalities.”

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Celtic Boyne Valley & Ancient Sites Day Tour From Dublin - Loughcrew Cairns and the climb worth making
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Celtic Boyne Valley & Ancient Sites Day Tour From Dublin

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

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

Spend about 10 hours exploring ancient Ireland from Dublin with a driver-guide such as Flann, Alex, Barry, or Philip. Visit the Hill of Tara, Trim Castle, Loughcrew Cairns, Fore Abbey, and Fore Distillery. Expect steep grassy paths, changing weather, and lunch at your own cost.

“This is a totally exciting travel experience, Visiting old tomb or graveyard sites. We also stepped into a burnt down Abbey. Some ancient sites that I ever thought of. A real million years old viking experience.”

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From Dublin: Celtic Boyne Valley and Ancient Sites Tour - Hill of Tara: Ireland’s royal stage
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From Dublin: Celtic Boyne Valley and Ancient Sites Tour

5.From Dublin: Celtic Boyne Valley and Ancient Sites Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 618 reviews · from $74

Travel from Dublin into County Meath with an English-speaking guide such as Flann, Alec, Jonathan, or David. See 5,000-year-old tombs, Tara’s royal hill, Trim Castle, Fore Abbey, and enjoy a guided spirit tasting. Bring good shoes: Loughcrew includes a steep climb.

“The day trip to Boyne Valley was amazing! Our guide really knew his stuff and provided us with the most interesting informations regarding Dublin City and its surroundings. Seeing landmarks that are older than the Giza Pyramids was breathtaking! The bus was comfortable, clean and warm. The guide also organised lunch to all the visitors during the visit, which was very handy! He was a smooth driver, concerned about our safety throughout the whole trip. I couldn’t recommend this trip enough!”

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Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle & Cóbh Heritage Centre by train - Starting early at Dublin Heuston Station
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Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle & Cóbh Heritage Centre by train

6.Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle & Cóbh Heritage Centre by train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 510 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $195

Travel from Dublin Heuston to Cork by reserved train, then continue by coach to Blarney Castle and Cobh. You’ll kiss the Blarney Stone, explore the gardens, visit the Queenstown Story Heritage Centre, and return by rail. Guides such as Norman, Paul, John, and Peter add local stories along the way.

“We had a very enjoyable tour with Norman and Paul they made the tour fun and the wife and I enjoyed it very much”

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Dublin: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Irish Famine History Tour - Below deck, the story becomes physical
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Dublin: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Irish Famine History Tour

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

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

Step aboard the Jeanie Johnston in Dublin’s North Dock for a 50-minute English tour. Guides such as Steve, Claire, Eoin, and Katrina bring the ship’s famine-era passengers to life, from the open deck to the cramped berths below.

“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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Dublin's Haunted History Walking Tour - Bernardo Square and the start beside City Hall
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Dublin’s Haunted History Walking Tour

8.Dublin’s Haunted History Walking Tour

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

Walk Dublin’s cobbled streets with guides linked to Paranormal Study and Investigation of Ireland. Hear the stories of Darkey Kelly, the Green Lady of St. Audoen’s, the Dolocher, and Hell, with guides such as Darragh, Lydia, Finn, and Kate bringing the city’s darker past to life.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a lot of information about each stop we went to. Very personable and answered our personal questions as well. I honestly wish this tour was longer because it was so interesting!”

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Deliciously Dublin: The Artisan Donut Walking & History Tour - Sweet Churro brings an Irish twist
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Deliciously Dublin: The Artisan Donut Walking & History Tour

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

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

Start with donuts at The Rolling Donut, then walk through Dublin for churros and more treats at three local stops. Guides such as Erin, Jody, Patrick, and Niamh mix city history with friendly stories. The tour ends near the River Liffey, leaving your afternoon free.

“Great informative & enthusiastic guide Niamh. Fab doughnuts 🍩 a very pleasant afternoon wandering the streets of Dublin & experiencing some excellent delights”

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Cork: Guided Historical Walking Tour - Starting at the Tourist Information Centre
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Cork: Guided Historical Walking Tour

10.Cork: Guided Historical Walking Tour

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

Explore Cork’s city centre with local guides such as Noel, Mary O’Sullivan, Gerard, Catherine, and Aiden. Follow the buried river, see Shandon Church, the Huguenot cemetery, Elizabeth Fort, and old boathouse entrances before finishing at the English Market.

“Great historical info. Easy to keep up. Lovely town.”

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Galway: Dark History Guided City Walking Tour - Galway’s dark past, told with a light touch
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Galway: Dark History Guided City Walking Tour

11.Galway: Dark History Guided City Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 236 reviews · from $23

Meet your English-speaking guide at the green Explore Galway kiosk in Eyre Square for a 90-minute winter walking tour through Galway’s darker past. Hear about Halloween, murders, executions, witch trials, and ghosts as guides such as Conor, Lorraine, Sean, and Nicole lead you through historic streets and alleyways.

“Fantastic! Conor made the tour educational and entertaining. He kept the attention of the group and actively engaged everyone. He is a great story teller.”

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Historic Cork Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour - Cork Opera House, Shandon Bells, and Queen Anne houses
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Historic Cork Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour

12.Historic Cork Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 232 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Explore central Cork with guides such as Paddy, Chloe, Rachel, and Marysol while tasting breakfast donuts and bakery treats. The route covers the English Market, Cork Opera House, Rory Gallagher’s statue, Coal Quay, Washington Street, and St Patrick Street. Expect history, short walks, and plenty of sweets.

“Donuts were tasty. We went to areas we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own. Our guides were very knowledgeable.”

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Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle Ticket - Irish harp, fiddle, and a 35-minute finale
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Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle Ticket

13.Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 201 reviews · 2 hours 9 minutes (approx.) · from $96

Enter Bunratty Castle to the sound of a kilted piper, sip honey mead, watch the Earl and Lady crowned, then enjoy a four-course dinner with unlimited wine, Irish harp, fiddle, songs, and comic medieval drama. Allow about two to two and a half hours.

“It was amazing and if you want a true Irish experience, you should definitely do this, check off the bucket list.”

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The Queenstown Story @ Cobh Heritage Centre , Great Stories of Emigration. - Titanic, Lusitania, and Cobh’s maritime role
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The Queenstown Story @ Cobh Heritage Centre , Great Stories of Emigration.

14.The Queenstown Story @ Cobh Heritage Centre , Great Stories of Emigration.

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 181 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $18

Visit Cobh Heritage Centre independently inside a restored Victorian railway station. Follow Irish emigrant stories from the 1600s onward, see links to the Great Famine, Titanic, and Lusitania, and allow 60 to 100 minutes. A café, gift shop, genealogy help, and same-day re-entry add value.

“Interesting museum, very comprehensive. I loved that it encompassed more of Ireland's immigration history than just the Titanic. The exhibits were well done.”

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Walking Tour of Dublin’s Viking/Medieval Quarter with a Viking - The story told by a ninth-century warrior
Dublin History Tours, History Tours, History Walking Tours, History Walking Tours in Ireland, Ireland History Tours, Medieval History Tours, Medieval History Tours in Ireland, Tour Reviews, Tours

Walking Tour of Dublin’s Viking/Medieval Quarter with a Viking

15.Walking Tour of Dublin’s Viking/Medieval Quarter with a Viking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 171 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Meet Bren at Dublin Castle for a 2-hour-45-minute walking tour through the Viking and Medieval Quarter. Expect lively storytelling, Irish myths, Viking history, replica weapons, and photos in full warrior dress. The tour is in English, returns to its starting point, and may run closer to three hours.

“An authentic and engaging history of the early days of Dublin told with humour and great affection for the subject. Highly recommended for the history buffs and great fun.”

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New in Ireland History Tours

★ 4.9Kilkenny: Historical Highlights Walking TourFrom $1490 reviews
★ 5.0Galway: Connemara, Sheepdog Show and Medieval Castle Tour24 reviews
★ 4.9Dublin: Macabre History Walking TourFrom $1995 reviews
★ 5.0Dublin: LGBT Pride Walking Tour with Queer HistoryFrom $2724 reviews
★ 4.4Wicklow Historic Gaol: 1-Hour TourFrom $1456 reviews
★ 4.6Cobh: Guided Historic Walking TourFrom $4032 reviews
★ 4.9Cobh: 3-Hour Cultural Tour PlusFrom $4831 reviews
★ 5.0The History of Dublin With Locals: 1916 Easter Rising PRIVATE TourFrom $13573 reviews
★ 5.0Dublin Private Medieval Walking TourFrom $16269 reviews

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