Dublin & Wicklow Mountains: 6 Pub Tour with Irish Music

Six pubs, one day, and the scenery that makes Ireland worth the trip

You visit six traditional pubs across the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains, with dinner at a historic hunting lodge and live Irish music at the final stop. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the small group size means you have time to talk to locals and other travelers instead of rushing through. The whole day takes place in the countryside, so you get the scenery without arranging your own transport or timing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dublin and Wicklow Mountains pub tour

• Travel over Dublin Mountains
• Visit 2 rural pubs
• Enjoy views and Guinness
• Visit Johnnie Fox's Pub
• Travel into Wicklow Mountains
• Visit local pub in Roundwood
• Enjoy scenic travel through Wicklow
• Have a delicious meal at hunting lodge
• Visit 2 more pubs
• Chat with locals in country pub
• Enjoy live traditional Irish music

The experience

I didn't expect the mountains to start so close to the city. The drive out of Dublin shifts almost immediately. The urban sprawl gives way to green slopes, and you realize you've left something behind without quite noticing when. The tour picks you up from the city centre and heads first into the Dublin Mountains, stopping at two pubs that feel nothing like what you'd find on Temple Bar. These are the places locals actually go, where the bartender knows regulars by name and the Guinness tastes like it's supposed to. The group stays small, never more than 15 people, so there's room to breathe, to talk to other travelers or just sit with your drink and watch the light change on the hills.

Then comes the real shift: the drive into Wicklow proper. Wicklow Mountains rise around you in a way that catches you off guard if you've only seen Ireland in postcards. The itinerary takes you to four more pubs scattered through the region, each one chosen for something specific: a view, the music, the food, the people. Midway through, there's dinner at an old hunting lodge, home-cooked and solid, the kind of meal that tastes better when you're hungry and surrounded by countryside. After that, two more stops, and the final one is always the music pub. It's not a performance for tourists. It's the kind of session where musicians show up and play because that's what happens on certain nights, and you're just there to listen and drink alongside whoever else wandered in.

The whole day moves at a pace that lets you actually talk to people: the other guests, the pub owners, locals who drift in and out. You're not rushing between photo stops or checking boxes on a list. The air-conditioned vehicle handles the driving, which matters more than it sounds when you're moving between six different places and the roads get narrower as you climb. By the time you head back to Dublin in the evening, you've seen the part of Ireland that doesn't make it into the guidebooks, tasted it, and heard it in a room full of people playing music because they want to.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Dublin city centre, a fully guided tour in an air-conditioned vehicle, visits to six traditional rural pubs across the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains, a home-cooked dinner at a historic hunting lodge, and live traditional Irish music at the final pub stop.

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDeparts at 14:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Please wait by The City Hall Building at the Bottom of Castle Street, which is just off Lord Edward Street.”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Rural Pub Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Irish countryside and experience real pub culture without renting a car or planning six different stops: the small group and fixed itinerary handle all of that, leaving you free to enjoy the scenery and the people.

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Top questions

What's included in the price?

Fully guided tour, air-conditioned vehicle, six pub visits, dinner at the hunting lodge, and hotel pickup and drop-off from Dublin city centre.

Is the music guaranteed?

The final pub is always chosen for traditional music, but live sessions depend on the night. The tour operator selects the best venue for music on the day you travel.

What if I don't drink alcohol?

You can order non-alcoholic drinks at any pub. The tour is about the experience and scenery, not just drinking.

How many people are on the tour?

Maximum 15 people per group, keeping it small enough to feel personal rather than crowded.

Do I need to be fit for this?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You're traveling by vehicle between pubs, not hiking.

Can I use public transport instead of the pickup?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer to meet the group at a starting point.

What's the food like?

Dinner is home-style cooking at a hunting lodge. The pubs serve standard Irish pub food, though the focus is on the atmosphere and drink rather than meals.