Dublin: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Little Museum Entry

Summary

Hop on at O’Connell Street then wander Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse, and the Little Museum with live commentary and plenty of laughs

You’ll wander Dublin at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus ticket covering 25 stops like Trinity College and Guinness Storehouse, plus live stories from local guides. Entry to the quirky Little Museum is included—just ask your driver for your ticket—and kids ride free with adults. It’s easygoing sightseeing that feels more like joining in than ticking boxes.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I did was miss the right stop for Trinity College — classic me. I got distracted listening to our guide telling some wild story about Oscar Wilde’s mother (who knew she was such a character?). So yeah, ended up hopping off a bit too far down O’Connell Street. The driver just grinned when I asked if people do that all the time. “Every hour,” he said, waving me back on for the next loop. Honestly, it made me relax — nobody seemed in a rush here.

We rode past the Guinness Storehouse and you could actually catch a whiff of roasted barley in the air — or maybe that was just wishful thinking after seeing all those pints through the window. The live commentary was full of those little details you don’t get from an audio recording; our guide pointed out where U2 used to rehearse (Windmill Lane), but also where his own uncle once tried to sneak into a gig for free. He had this way of making Dublin feel like everyone’s hometown, not just his.

I finally made it to St Stephen’s Green — still slightly damp from last night’s rain, benches shining under that rare Irish sun. Decided to check out the Little Museum of Dublin since it was included (just ask your driver for a ticket). It’s tucked inside an old Georgian house and packed with oddball stuff — handwritten notes from visitors, Bono’s sunglasses (maybe?), and a whole room about JFK’s trip here. The woman at the front desk offered me tea because she thought I looked “a bit windswept.” She wasn’t wrong.

By late afternoon I’d lost track of how many times I’d hopped on and off. There were families with strollers, students arguing over which pub is best in Temple Bar, and one kid who kept asking if Molly Malone was real. Maybe my favorite part was how easy it felt — no pressure to cram everything in or follow some checklist. Just drifting through Dublin with a bus pass and nowhere urgent to be. I still think about that view from the top deck as we crossed Ha’penny Bridge, wind in my face, city humming below.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Dublin by Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

• Join bus tour at O'Connell Street
• Listen to live commentary on bus
• Hop off at Parnell Square North
• Visit Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
• Hop off near GPO Witness History
• Hop off at Oscar Wilde Statue
• Visit Natural History Museum nearby
• Hop off at St. Stephen's Green
• Hop off near Pearse Street train station
• Hop off opposite Trinity City Hotel
• Visit Trinity College Dublin
• Hop off at Temple Bar and City Hall
• Hop off at Dublin Castle
• Hop off at Christ Church Cathedral and Dublinia
• Hop off at St. Patrick's Cathedral and Marsh's Library
• Hop off at Teeling Whiskey Distillery
• Hop off at Guinness Storehouse
• Hop off at Roe & Co. Distillery and Pearse Lyons Distillery
• Hop off at Museum of Modern Art and Kilmainham Gaol
• Hop off at Heuston Station
• Hop off at Dublin Zoo and Áras an Uachtaráin
• Visit Little Museum of Dublin (complimentary entry)

Top questions

How many stops are on the Dublin hop-on hop-off bus tour?

The tour covers 25 city centre stops around Dublin.

Is entry to any museums included with the bus ticket?

Yes, complimentary entry to the Little Museum of Dublin is included—ask your driver for a ticket.

Does the tour have live guides or just recorded commentary?

The buses feature live commentary in English from Fáilte Ireland trained guides.

Are children allowed on the tour for free?

One child under 15 travels free with each paying adult.

Is the Dublin hop-on hop-off bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible throughout the tour.

Where does the hop-on hop-off bus start in Dublin?

You can join at O’Connell Street or any of the designated 25 stops along the route.

How do I get my Little Museum of Dublin entry voucher?

Your DoDublin guide will give you a voucher—just ask when boarding.

What’s included

Your day includes unlimited rides on Dublin’s hop-on hop-off bus for 24 or 48 hours, live English commentary from local guides, complimentary entry voucher for the Little Museum of Dublin (just ask your driver), and a handy map to help you plan your own route—plus one child under 15 rides free per adult ticket.