Book of Kells Fast-Track Ticket and Dublin Castle Guided Tour

The Book of Kells at Trinity College

The Book of Kells is a Latin copy of the four Gospels, hand-painted by monks in the early Middle Ages, and is often called Ireland's greatest national treasure. Its pages are famous for elaborate initials, interlaced patterns and animals painted in rich colours. It is displayed in Trinity College's Old Library, and Book of Kells tickets usually sell out at busy times, so a fast-track ticket saves time in a long queue.

The exhibition first explains how the manuscript was made and used, then you see the pages themselves, which are turned periodically so different designs can be shown. How long you spend inside is up to you, but plan for about an hour. The manuscript is displayed under low light, so photography is restricted in the room.

The Long Room and the Old Library

From the exhibition you climb to the Long Room, one of the most photographed interiors in Ireland. The chamber is around sixty-five metres long, with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and dark wooden shelves that hold hundreds of thousands of the library's oldest books. Marble busts of writers and thinkers line the aisles, and an old harp, the model for Ireland's emblem, is on display.

Visitors often ask whether the Book of Kells and Long Room are worth seeing, and the answer is usually yes: the combination gives you both a medieval masterpiece and one of the finest libraries in Europe under one roof. Trinity College itself was founded in the late sixteenth century, and the cobbled front square is a pleasant place to pause.

Dublin Castle guided walk

From Trinity your guide leads you through the city centre to Dublin Castle. It began as a medieval fortress built by the Normans in the thirteenth century and later served for centuries as the seat of English and British administration in Ireland. Today the site is a working government complex and a visitor attraction, with a surviving medieval tower, a chapel and grand ceremonial rooms.

On this tour you explore the castle's grounds and gardens with your guide, hearing the story of how the city and the castle grew together on the site of an old black pool that gave Dublin its name. Entry to the castle interior, including the State Apartments, is not included in this option, so ask us if you would like to add it.

Planning your visit to central Dublin

This tour is an easy way to organise a busy sightseeing day, because the two sites are within a short walk of each other and a local guide keeps you on time. Start times are in the morning and the afternoon, and the whole experience lasts about two hours forty-five minutes.

If you are looking for a Book of Kells and Dublin Castle tour that avoids the hardest queueing, this option is designed for that. Book early in summer and around holidays, because the exhibition has limited entry times. The nearby streets, shops and cafés on Grafton Street make a natural next stop.