Treasures of Dublin: Book of Kells, Dublin Castle & Molly Malone Statue Tour
4 hours
City Highlight Tours
Dublin
Choose one of 6 locals available
Experience hosted by Ben, Marius & other locals
Private Tour
Carbon Neutral
Step into the heart of Dublin with a private tour that brings history and legend to life. Explore the iconic Book of Kells, the grandeur of Dublin Castle, and the charm of the Molly Malone statue, all through the eyes of a passionate local host. Discover the culture, stories, and spirit that make Dublin truly unforgettable!
Destination
Dublin, Ireland
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
4 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Română
Included
Private guide
1 Local snack or drink
Entrance ticket Book of Kells
Entrance ticket Dublin Castle
All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral
Excluded
During high season there might be a waiting time to enter the Book of Kells due to increased visitor numbers
6 reasons to book this tour
Can be 100% customized to your wishes
Get to truly embrace the culture of the city
Learn about Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and the Molly Malone Statue in Dublin
Connect with a knowledgeable local
Hear fascinating stories and insights
Discover cultural highlights & their local relevance
What you can expect
Dublin is a city rich in culture, history, and legend — and on this private tour, your friendly local host will guide you through three of its most iconic landmarks: the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, and the beloved Molly Malone statue.
With captivating stories and immersive stops along the way, you’ll dive deep into the cultural fabric of Dublin. Explore how its vibrant traditions, myths, and heritage have shaped the city from ancient times to today — because after all, it’s culture that gives a city its soul!
As you wander through the heart of Dublin, you’ll uncover fascinating tales and local insights at every turn. From the intricate artistry of the Book of Kells to the regal grounds of Dublin Castle and the folklore surrounding Molly Malone, each stop brings a new dimension to the city’s personality.
Your host is more than a guide — they’re a natural storyteller, each bringing a unique background, whether in history, art, or local lore. They're eager to share personal anecdotes and hidden gems that you won’t find in guidebooks.
Want to tailor the experience to your interests? Just say the word! This tour is all about making Dublin yours, with flexible routes and a personalized touch that ensures every moment is unforgettable.
Choose your local
Get to know these 6 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
Ben
The Native Outdoor Dub
4.945 reviews
English
Marius
Local experienced tourist
4.827 reviews
English・Română
Mydie
The Great Storyteller
4.971 reviews
English
Ruairi
Born and Bred Dub
4.9281 reviews
English
Eamon
The Happy Historian
5.0290 reviews
English
Jack
The Experienced Tour Guide
5.011 reviews
English
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
Meeting point
Meet at In front of Keoghs Cafe - Dublin to start your journey
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
Culture of the City
On this private tour, you’ll experience and discover Dublin through its culture. Whether it’s focused on a tradition, a special part of town with a story to tell, cultural beliefs, or around a cultural activity that shaped the city into what it is - this tour will be a cultural awakening you can’t miss!
Book of Kells
Thanks to your local host, you’ll learn and see how Book of Kells made an impact in Dublin, making you experience the city from a different perspective.
Cultural Highlights
As you deep dive into the subject of your tour, you’ll make stops to visit unique spots that will give you a full picture of the city. Visit Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, Statue of Molly Malone, and more and see how these cultural highlights are part of the local life but have so much history behind them!
Storytelling Journey
As you discover the cultural side of Dublin, you’ll be able to embrace it thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are reliving history in the present time.
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
John🇮🇪 Ireland
(About local )
20 July 2025
We did th Dublin City centre tour with Ben yesterday. We were a group of three retirees. My self John (Irish) and my two friends of 40 years Brett and Penney originally from South Africa but now living in Australia. The three of us have traveled extensively and have been on numerous tours but as Brett said “this tour was right up there at the top” Ben was patient, very knowledgeable, organised, humorous and had lots of interesting facts and funny little stories about the various places we visited.
Thank you Ben.Dublin with Ben.
Zlatko🇧🇬 Bulgaria
(About local )
14 August 2025
Angelina and I were extremely lucky to have chosen Eamon for this tour of Dublin dedicated to its history, particularly the stories of the Irish giants in literature, drama and poetry. He is very passionate in describing them and explaining the gems of the Irish capital. We wholeheartedly recommend him as a guide for tours in Dublin and beyond.Eamon unveils the hidden gems of Dublin
Sharon🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 August 2025
Eamon was simply outstanding - one of the best experiences of our family trip. His passion and depth of knowledge are hard to beat - would certainly book again. Thanks Eamon!!Outstanding!
Geetha🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
12 August 2025
Highly recommend Ruairi to anyone looking for a fun and engaging private tour! Tour was excellent!Suoerb tour of Dublin with Ruairi
David🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 August 2025
Tasty and Entertaining
Chevy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 August 2025
Exceptional tour experience our with Marius in Dublin.
His services were truly outstanding, and I wholeheartedly recommend him as a guide and will certainly use his services for the future guests
Thanks again
Sincerely,
Chevy S. NoratliExceptional tour experience
Carol &Brendan🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 August 2025
Ben was our first choice to walk with a
few hours after we arrived from Chicago. We desired someone interesting that could keep us awake . We had a memorable few hours together and loved every minute . Ben is a good listener, knowledgeable and interesting. We highly recommend Ben Walking Tour on Artivwl Day!
mg2rcrrs6q🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
10 August 2025
Ruairi was fantastic! The tour was full of great stories, hidden gems, and authentic Dublin charm. He made the city come alive and gave us brilliant tips for the rest of our stay. Absolutely unforgettable!The Best Way to Experience Dublin
Anne🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 August 2025
Very knowledgeable and interesting. Nice bikes as well and enjoyed the ride. Anne ratcliffe
Larry
(About local )
8 August 2025
Mydie was an excellent host! We scheduled a day drive out to the inland of Ireland with only one specific destination (National Sheep Dog Trials near Athlone). We started out of town on the main highway but then transitioned to smaller side roads to get a feel for the countryside. Mydie had valuable knowledge and experience to show us some unique historical places. We also found interesting photo sites. Several times we were on even smaller one lane roads. Most of what we saw would not be seen on a bus tour. Mydie was a great conversationalist and kept the trip enjoyable.
We highly recommend herThe Backroads of Ireland
Erin
(About local )
7 August 2025
Mydie was an absolute delight. Great knowledge of Dublin, all the while keeping in mind what we wanted to see and hear about. We left the tour feeling like Dublin’s and having made a new friend! Erin
Ashley🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 August 2025
Eamon did a FABULOUS job of showing us the main sites, and hidden gems (as the name of the tour implies!) of Dublin. He’s cheerful and enthusiastic and was able to keep our attention which can be hard to do. We could tell he’s passionate about what he does. Would absolutely recommend Eamon and this tour!Great tour of dublin!
Georgianna🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
5 August 2025
We thoughly enjoyed our tour with Eamon! We learned so much and he was extremely interesting and fun! I highly recommend himEamon was great!
Ashley🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 August 2025
We had a fabulous food tour in Dublin with Ruairi! We had a big family group with children and grandparents and he was absolutely wonderful. We started the tour in a local pub like friends listening to his great stories and we left full of food, laughs and great memories. It really doesn’t get any better than Ruairi! Do not hesitate! Book him now! Thank you Ruairi!Ruairi was the BEST!
Whitney
(About local )
1 August 2025
Eamon was a fantastic tour guide! Our three hour tour flew by us in a whirlwind of fun - tons of history and facts, beautiful sights, and laughs along the way. Highly recommend!A very happy historian indeed!
Lisa🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
30 July 2025
Derek was a wonderful guide and we loved our walking tour with him. Very informative, friendly and customized to your interests and starting location. Great walking tour! Highly recommend.
Charles🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
25 July 2025
Derek has an amazing command of the history and the culture of Dublin. This was exactly what we had hoped for and we had an excellent time. We stopped for tea and a delicious scone as well. We highly recommend Derek for your Dublin tour!Very Thorough Tour!
Brian
(About local )
24 July 2025
Thanks again for the fantastic tour—it was truly the highlight of my trip to Ireland. Exploring Dublin with you was unforgettable. The way you brought the 1916 Rising and Irish history to life through your storytelling was something special. Your passion for Ireland and its history came through in every stop and story, and it made the entire experience so memorable.
We had a great time weaving our way through the city—with a few well-earned stops at some classic Dublin pubs along the way!
I couldn’t recommend Eamon more highly. He’s an incredible guide, a gifted storyteller, and someone I’ll absolutely be booking the next time I’m back in Ireland.
The Highlight of Our Ireland Trip
Michael🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 July 2025
Derek was knowledgeable and personable. And patient since the rain and the traffic made us about 20 minutes late to our meeting point. The tour was a perfect intro to this magical and historic city, especially for folks like us who had only a short layover. I like that he talked about architecture as well as history: in a place like Ireland the two are very much connected. Enjoyable all around and very much recommended!Dublin in the Rain!
Verena
(About local )
22 July 2025
Thanks Eamon, we had a fantastic time and enjoyed the 90+ minutes walking tour with you. It is great that we had the opportunity to see some places besides the regular tourist route. :)Great Walking Tour of Dublin!
Cassie
(About local )
20 July 2025
Ruari exceeded my expectations!! Such a knowledgeable, friendly guide. He really tailored the 10 Tastings to those in the group. We learned history and context for each location we visited. Had a delightful time feeling like a local with Ruari !!Ruari Knows Dublin!
Unknown
(About local )
19 July 2025
Since our guide was a no show, I want my money to be reimbursed. Very disappointed.Our guide did not show up
tom🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
16 July 2025
We did the sights and hidden gems tour. Ruairi is a great storyteller and has excellent insider’s knowledge of Dublin. From the little known stories of events to the characters that make up the city. Great historical notes along with a locals knowledge of contemporary history made this a great tour of the inner city on a changeable blustery day. Great insights into Dublin
Ted🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 July 2025
Our family of five (three teenagers) booked Ruairi after reading his reviews, and the tour did not disappoint. Ruairi is a lifelong Dubliner and has extensive contextual knowledge of Dublin’s ancient and recent history. Not only did we visit and learn about major landmarks and events, Ruairi also shared stories and history that you’ll never read in any textbook. He has an excellent sense of humor and we laughed a lot. Ruairi also shared stories that kept our teenagers interested and even pointed out several shops/restaurants frequently by the rich and famous. Many of the shop keepers along the tour know Ruairi and it gave the tour an authentic personal touch. I can’t share all the highlights because we promised Ruairi we wouldn’t share any spoilers, but you will get a unique and special experience in Dublin on his tour. 10/10. Thank you, Ruairi!Excellent experience
Chetan
(About local )
12 July 2025
Eamon was a perfect guide. Full of energy and information. Very communicative and helpful. Couldn't ask for more.Great Guide
Sharyn, John (husband), Evan (son), Tabi (girlfriend)
(About local )
10 July 2025
Absolutely outstanding experience! Mydie was prompt, upbeat, and full of energy from the moment we met. Her deep knowledge of Dublin’s history, culture, and hidden gems brought every corner of the city to life in the most engaging way. What truly set her apart was her flexibility—she effortlessly tailored the day to our interests while keeping the pace fun and relaxed. It was the perfect blend of insight, warmth, and charm, making this one of the most memorable parts of our trip. Highly recommend Mydie to anyone visiting Dublin!Awesome Tour with Mydie!
Elizabeth, Christian, Caroline and Nicholas🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 July 2025
Derek walked us around Dublin’s city centre, sharing historical facts and cultural insights. It was the perfect start to our vacation in Ireland. We appreciated his suggestions of restaurants and pubs. Fantastic family walking tour of Dublin
Emily
(About local )
8 July 2025
Our food tour with Ruari with wonderful and a perfect introduction to the city and its food. We made 10 stops and sampled a variety of food, from chocolate, Guinness, fish and chips, stew, ice cream, cider, and more. Definitely come very hungry to this tour. Ruari was so knowledge and hilarious, with lots of great stories of the places we went and the city. His personality truly made this tour unique. I definitely recommend to anyone visiting in the city!Unique and delicious tour
David🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 July 2025
Marius was a great guide. Throughly enjoyable!Nice pub crawl and historical tour
Saurabh🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 July 2025
Had a great day introduction to Dublin with Derek. He was flexible to start the tour near our hotel which meant less walking for us. He was extremely knowledgeable about history and was interesting to talk to. We saw a few places we would never have seen on a regular tour. All in all a great choice.Nice day in dublin
Maureen🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 July 2025
Ruairi was great! Very informative and an absolutely phenomenal story teller. He has lots of knowledge about the history of Dublin and had some funny stories about his former tours. He also introduced us to some great local characters and greatly lessened a lot of my biases to boot. Great tour.
Steve & Jodi🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
30 June 2025
So happy we booked this food tour with Ruari! We enjoy doing a food tour to literally get a taste of the city and Ruari delivered an exceptional experience. We had some must see places on our list that I doubt we would have had time to find on our own and thanks to Ruari we actually got to visit them. We really enjoyed all of our tastings and Ruari’s stories. If you are looking for a great food tour, I’d highly recommend this one with Ruari. He also went above and beyond when our flight in was delayed and met us at our hotel which we REALLY appreciated because we almost always get lost in new cities. He also took us on our first luas ride which gave us the confidence to use it on our own. Saved us so much time over the course of our visit. Thank you, Ruari!Fabulous!
Anne Marie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
28 June 2025
If you want to enhance your visit to Dublin (or just looking for something different to do), do yourself a favor and book a food tour with WithLocals! …specifically Mydie!!
From the minute our group met her, we knew we’d enjoy her company. She’s got a terrific personality and was very entertaining with her stories of Irish history and legends.
Let’s see if I can remember everything…3 different kinds of potato cakes (a little thicker than our potato pancakes) with a glass of hard cider, then a doughnut, then a good-size portion of smoked cod & chips (they had a sign outside listing all the celebrities who had eaten there), then Irish Guinness stew, then a falafel stuffed with mozzarella and finally the best ice cream we’ve ever had.
With this said, if anyone in your group has special dietary needs, they are happy to work around it.
We look forward to checking out WithLocals food tours in other cities we travel to in the future. Job well done, Mydie!A 10+++ ❤️ Experience!
Peter🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
25 June 2025
Eamon did a great tour. He really did the right spots for us. Well done. THANKS
Great experience
Mark
(About local )
25 June 2025
Eamon did a 3 hour private tour for our family of 5, and this was the absolute highlight of our time in Dublin! He is so knowledgeable and passionate about Irish history, and we learnt so much from him about what we were seeing. We would highly recommend his tour! Thank you Eamon! Dublin Tour with Eamon O’Sullivan
Daniela🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
24 June 2025
Unser Spaziergang durch Dublin mit Derek war eine Reise in die Vergangenheit. Derek wusste so viel und lebendig aus der Geschichte zu berichten - wir hatten oft das Gefühl mitten im Geschehen zu sein. Wir haben den Nachmittag sehr genossen und sagen nochmals herzlich Danke. Zeitreise in Dublin
Jennifer
(About local )
24 June 2025
We were a group of work colleagues that thoroughly enjoined this lively tour. Eamon made history come alive!Interesting and Fun!
James🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 June 2025
Derek was fantastic. He's very knowledgeable, personable and a great sense of humor. We have visited Dublin several time and wanted a bit more of the history and to see some out of the way places. Derek did not disappoint - his knowledge of Irish history and ability to explain it was spot on. We also visited a few hidden gems. Our time with him was the one of the highlights of our visit to Dublin. Great tour
Pernilla
(About local )
18 June 2025
A true Dubliner showing his home city with knowledge and a sense of humor. Great sights, behind the scenes, and a door opener to the places and the people you would never find on your own.
/Gus Enquist, Gustav's Europe & BeyondRuairi is Dublin incarnate
vvc6cts2y7
(About local )
17 June 2025
Keelan was an outstanding guide to introduce us to Dublin. Even on our first day on zero sleep due to an overnight flight from US, he engaged our attention and engagement beautifully throughout the 3-hour tour. We feel very grateful that we selected Keelan to conduct our tour and would recommend him very highly to others. Perfect blend of Dublin culture & history
Alison🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
15 June 2025
Derek was highly knowledgeable of many aspects of Irish culture and politics. Curated the tour to focus on things we had mentioned when we first met. Highly recommend.Very knowledgeable and friendly
Charles
(About local )
15 June 2025
Mydie was a wonderful tour guide that showed us the authentic Dublin experience. We went to a number of delicious spots that we would never have discovered on our own. She also gave us a bunch of historic tidbits along the way. Highly recommend! Wonderful Tour!
Thomas🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
13 June 2025
The journey with Keelan was an unbelievable experience.
We enjoyed every second and every sentence of his stories.
Always again. Best ever
Naomi
(About local )
13 June 2025
Eamon was personable and full of great information. We really enjoyed our tour with him and especially appreciated his friendly and fun nature and his patience in answering our questions. I would definitely recommend him for an excellent introduction to Dublin!Great tour with Eamon
Ashley🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 June 2025
We spent a wonderful morning with Eamon! He was charming and kind, and gave us loads of info. about Dublin. Our 11 year old daughter also loved the tour - highly recommend. Thanks, Eamon!Wonderul Tour!
Jason🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 June 2025
Seeing what and where locals eat is a great glimpse into the real lives of residents. Ruairi took me though a wonderful variety of food experience and places as we walked around Dublin for the afternoon. Based on my preferences he created a bespoke tour that gave me great food and drinks while avoiding the tourist traps that are too easy to find. A glimpse into a real view of Dublin
Barbara and Michael🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 June 2025
Ruairi really went above and beyond with his tour. The food selections were excellent and his local knowledge and personal experience with the local food scene made for an unforgettable Dublin experience. Additionally, he was able to provide great recommendations that made the rest of our trip that much more special. Would recommend booking with him if you get the chance.Fantastic experience
Carolyn
(About local )
9 June 2025
We wanted to see some key highlights and also hidden gems. We got them both. So many unknown stories of the city and its people that makes this worth the value. Great stories of Dublin
Eva🇦🇹 Austria
(About local )
9 June 2025
We had a fantastic walking tour of Dublin — our guide Keelan was incredibly knowledgeable and showed us hidden spots we’d never have found on our own. What made it really special were the personal stories he shared from his parents and grandparents, which gave the city’s history a personal and authentic touch. Highly recommended!
Stacy🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
9 June 2025
A few too many stories about his past tours.
He was knowledgeable about the sites we saw.
Meh
Withlocals experiences
are always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.