Dublin: 2-Hour Walking Tour with a Local Historian

Discover Dublin's rich history on a walking tour with a local historian. Learn about the city's early origins as a Gaelic village and its transformation into a bustling metropolis. Pass by iconic landmarks, such as the Ha'penny Bridge, and the General Post Office.

Meet your guide outside The Gresham Hotel, a Dublin hotspot since the 19th century located on O'Connell St. Pass by a statue of James Joyce (leaning on his walking stick) on North Earl St. and the Spire of Light towering above the General Post Office, the headquarters of the 1916 Rising.

Then, pass by the O'Connell Monument, named after Daniel O'Connell, known as the Liberator for his role as architect of the Catholic Emancipation in 1829. Proceed to O'Connell Bridge, which is as wide as it is long and serves as the main link between the north and south sides of the city across the river Liffey.

From this vantage point, see Christchurch Cathedral at the medieval heart of the city to the west. Looking eastward, see the newest part of the city, the 'Silicon Docks.' While traversing O'Connell Bridge, scope out the iconic Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin's most famous landmark.

Cross over to the south side of the city and pass by the Palace Bar on Fleet St, a well-known haunt of Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh, two hellraisers of the 1950s literary set. Make your way through the Temple Bar district, which survived being slated for destruction to make room for the central bus station due to its thriving bohemian arts community.

Pass by cultural centers like Project Theatre, the Irish Film Institute, and the National Photographic Archive, among others. Pass by the Olympia Theatre, an exquisite example of Victorian architecture that still hosts concerts, before visiting the exterior grounds of Dublin Castle, the site of Dublin's first Viking settlement in 841 and the place where the city sprang up.

Scope out the Chapel Royal, the neo-gothic church that was the private chapel of the lord lieutenant. See how the medieval courtyard was remodeled in the late 1600s and early 1700s and hear about the daring heist of the Irish Crown Jewels from the Bedford Tower in 1907.

Nearing the end of the walk, visit City Hall, a Palladian structure with frescoes illustrating the history of the city and a central mosaic depicting the city's coat of arms. From here, walk toward Wood Quay, the site of extensive archaeological excavations during the 1970s and '80s that uncovered the largest Viking settlement outside of Scandinavia.

Conclude the walk at Christchurch Cathedral, originally founded as a small church in 1028 by Sitric Silkenbeard, the Viking king of Dublin, and the burial place of Strongbow, the Cambro-Norman warlord who was a key player in the Norman conquest of Ireland. The site was renovated in the 1870s by the Roe whiskey distilling family.