Dublin: St Patrick's Cathedral & Book of Kells with Fast-Track Entry

Four centuries of Irish history in one morning, starting with Jonathan Swift's tomb

You visit St Patrick's Cathedral with fast-track entry and learn the history of Jonathan Swift's tomb, see the Book of Kells manuscript in Trinity College's Long Room, and walk past Dublin Castle's exterior and the Molly Malone statue. A local guide leads a small group through all four stops, entry fees are included, and you skip the queues at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. St. Patrick's Cathedral1h · entry included
2. Molly Malone Statue20m · entry included

Explore Dublin's historic landmarks

• Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• See Jonathan Swift’s tomb
• Tour Trinity College Dublin campus
• View the Book of Kells manuscript
• Explore the Long Room library
• Visit Molly Malone statue

The experience

You want to see Dublin's most important landmarks but don't want to spend half the day in queues. St Patrick's Cathedral sits in the middle of the city, Gothic and imposing, and the Book of Kells (a 9th-century illuminated manuscript made by Celtic monks) lives in Trinity College's Long Room, a 65-meter library lined with 200,000 of the oldest books in Ireland. This tour covers both, plus the exterior of Dublin Castle and the Molly Malone statue, with a local guide who knows the stories behind each stone.

The guide meets you and moves straight through: fast-track entry means no queue at St Patrick's Cathedral, where you'll stand in front of the tomb of Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels and served as Dean here from 1713 to 1745. The cathedral's Gothic architecture is intricate: carved stone, soaring arches, memorials embedded in the walls. After that, you walk to Trinity College, established in 1592, and enter the Long Room to see the Book of Kells itself: two pages rotated regularly, displayed under glass, surrounded by an exhibition explaining how monks created it with gold leaf and Celtic spirals and knots. The Long Room alone is one of the most photographed interiors in Dublin, and the guide walks you through both the manuscript and the space around it.

The tour also includes Dublin Castle's exterior (you walk around the perimeter but don't enter the grounds, which are closed until December), and a stop at the Molly Malone statue, a bronze sculpture from 1988 showing a 17th-century fishmonger with her cart. Groups stay small, which means the guide can actually talk to you instead of shouting over thirty other people. If you want wireless earpieces, they're available. The whole thing is led by a qualified, English-speaking local guide, and all entrance fees are covered upfront, so there's no surprise cost at the door.

What’s included

• Your tour includes fast-track entry to St Patrick's Cathedral, where you see Jonathan Swift's tomb and the cathedral's Gothic architecture.
• entry to Trinity College's Long Room to view the Book of Kells manuscript and the 65-meter library.
• a walk around Dublin Castle's exterior.
• a stop at the Molly Malone statue.
• and a qualified, English-speaking local guide leading a small group. All entrance fees are covered. Wireless audio earpieces are available if you request them.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guided tour covering St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle and the Book of KellsGuide in English · 10:00 and 14:00Local guides with fast-entry access

VIP small group tour, 5-star bespoke experienceGuide in English · 10:00 and 14:00VIP small group tour, 5-star bespoke experience

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by City Heritage Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Dublin's major historical sites in one morning without arranging separate tickets or waiting in entry queues: the small group size and fast-track access are what make that possible in a few hours.

Traveler reviews

4.88★★★★★★★★★★

185 verified traveler reviews

5 ★170

4 ★11

3 ★1

2 ★2

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

Is Dublin Castle interior included?

No. The tour covers the exterior only. The interior and grounds are closed until December.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. All entrance fees to St Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, and the Book of Kells exhibition are covered in the price.

Do I need to book the wireless earpieces in advance?

They are available if requested. Mention it when you book or contact the operator.

Can I use a wheelchair on this tour?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or walkers, or those with limited mobility.

What language is the guide?

The guide is qualified, professional, and English-speaking.

Is there public transport nearby?

Yes. Public transportation options are available near the tour sites.

Who was Jonathan Swift?

Jonathan Swift was an 18th-century author and satirist who wrote Gulliver's Travels. He served as Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral from 1713 to 1745, and his tomb is inside the cathedral.