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

Cruise into Dublin on Your Own Schedule with a Double-Decker Bus

You board an open-top bus at any of 24 stops around Dublin and ride for 24 or 48 hours, hopping off to visit the Guinness Storehouse, cathedrals, distilleries, and museums at your own pace. The 48-hour ticket includes entry to the Irish Whiskey Museum or World of Illusions, a free walking tour, and a complimentary drink at Temple Bar. Buses run every 20–25 minutes, so you're never waiting long to continue.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Board hop-on hop-off bus
• See Irish Whiskey Museum and Trinity College
• Visit Dublin Castle and City Hall
• Stop at Christ Church Cathedral and Dublinia Viking Centre
• Explore St. Patrick's Cathedral and Marsh's Library
• View Teeling Whiskey Distillery
• Visit Guinness Storehouse
• See Pearse Lyons Distillery
• Stop at Irish Museum of Modern Art
• Visit Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo
• Explore Collins Barracks and National Museum
• Stop at Smithfield Square and Old Jameson Distillery
• Visit Temple Bar and Irish Rock & Roll Museum
• See Dublin Writers Museum and Hugh Lane Gallery
• View O'Connell Street and The GPO
• Visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Jeanie Johnston
• See Samuel Beckett Bridge and Convention Centre
• View Bord Gais Energy Theatre and Grand Canal Dock
• Stop at Merrion Square and National Gallery of Ireland
• Visit St. Stephen's Green and Little Museum of Dublin
• See Mansion House and St Ann's Church

The Experience

The first time you step onto an open-top double-decker bus in Dublin, you realize how much you can actually see in a day without being herded through a group itinerary. You've got 24 or 48 hours to hop on and off whenever something catches your eye — the Guinness Storehouse, Ha'penny Bridge, Christ Church Cathedral, Temple Bar — and the bus circles back every 20 to 25 minutes, so you're never stuck. The audio commentary runs in eight languages, which means you can listen in English or switch to whatever works for you, and the open deck gives you a 360-degree view that no enclosed tour bus can match.

What makes this work for cruise passengers is the flexibility. Your ship docks, you grab your voucher (mobile or printed), and you can hop on at any of the 24 stops along the Red Route — you don't have to wait for a scheduled departure or stick to someone else's timeline. Stop 1 is at College Green outside H&M, but if you're closer to the Guinness Storehouse or Phoenix Park when you want to start, just board there. The buses run from 9:15am to 5pm, and you can use your ticket for up to 12 months if you need to come back to Dublin later. If you book the 48-hour ticket, entry to either the Irish Whiskey Museum or World of Illusions is already included — you just need to pre-book your slot online after purchase, since walk-ins aren't accepted.

Beyond the bus itself, there are small perks that add up. You get a free walking tour (departing at 10am, 11am, or 2pm from The Spire on O'Connell Street, about three hours) that you can reserve using the QR code on your ticket, saving the 3€ booking fee. There's a complimentary drink waiting for you at Thunder Road Cafe in Temple Bar when you show your ticket. Meal deals are available at J.R. Mahon's, Kennedy's, and Murray's Bar and Grill at various stops. Plus, one child aged 3–12 travels free with every two paying adults, and you get a 15% discount at The Gravedigger and 10% off Irish Day Tours. If you're traveling with a stroller, infants and small children can ride in them, and the buses are wheelchair accessible.

The route itself covers the landmarks people come to Dublin for — Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Smithfield Square with the Old Jameson Distillery, the Dublin Writers Museum, and the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum. You're seeing the city from above, which changes how you understand the layout, and you can get off whenever you want to walk into a cathedral, grab lunch, or just sit in a pub for an hour. Your voucher needs to be shown to redeem it at one of the tourist offices (37 College Green or 69 Upper O'Connell Street) or scanned at any bus stop if you have a mobile version.

What’s included

• Unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour for 24 or 48 hours.
• live commentary in English or multilingual audio tour in 8 languages.
• free walking tour (3 hours, departing at 10am, 11am, or 2pm).
• entry to Irish Whiskey Museum or World of Illusions (48-hour tickets only, pre-booking required).
• complimentary drink at Thunder Road Cafe in Temple Bar.
• meal deals at J.R. Mahon's, Kennedy's, and Murray's Bar and Grill.
• 15% discount at The Gravedigger.
• 10% discount at Irish Day Tours.
• one child aged 3–12 travels free with every two paying adults.
• access to 24 stops covering Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, Temple Bar, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by City Sightseeing Ltd - Europe

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docking in Dublin and want to see the main sights without arranging separate tickets, transport, or a fixed group schedule — the hop-on hop-off format and flexible 24 or 48-hour window let you move at your own pace and still make it back to your ship on time.

Traveler reviews

3.73★★★★★★★★★★

91 verified traveler reviews

5 ★46

4 ★12

3 ★8

2 ★12

1 ★13

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I board the bus at any stop, or do I have to start at Stop 1?

You can board at any of the 24 stops along the route. Stop 1 is at College Green, but if you're already near the Guinness Storehouse or another stop, you can hop on there instead.

What's included in the 48-hour ticket that isn't in the 24-hour one?

The 48-hour ticket includes entry to either the Irish Whiskey Museum or World of Illusions Museum (you choose and pre-book online after purchase). The 24-hour ticket does not include museum entry.

How often do the buses come?

Buses arrive every 20 to 25 minutes at each stop. The first departure from Stop 1 is at 9:15am and the last is at 5pm.

Is there a free walking tour included?

Yes. The walking tour departs daily at 10am, 11am, and 2pm from The Spire on O'Connell Street and lasts about three hours. You reserve your spot using the QR code on your ticket, which saves the 3€ booking fee.

Do I need to print my voucher, or can I use my phone?

You can use either a mobile or printed voucher. Mobile vouchers can be redeemed at any bus stop; paper vouchers must be redeemed at the tourist offices at 37 College Green or 69 Upper O'Connell Street.

Can my child ride for free?

Yes. One child aged 3–12 travels free with every two paying adults. No ticket is required for the child.

How long is the full loop if I stay on the bus the whole time?

The full loop takes approximately 2 hours, but you can hop off and on as many times as you like during your 24 or 48-hour window.

Are there food and drink options included?

You get a complimentary drink at Thunder Road Cafe in Temple Bar with your ticket. Meal deals are also available at J.R. Mahon's, Kennedy's, and Murray's Bar and Grill at various stops — just show your ticket at purchase.