Dublin Castle, Dublin

Dublin Castle, Dublin (must see)

Standing tall and slightly smug on a ridge above the River Liffey, Dublin Castle is like that one friend who鈥檚 seen it all and still dresses sharp. This place packs over 800 years of drama 鈥� Vikings, royals, revolts, and a whole lot of renovations 鈥� into one surprisingly elegant complex.

Originally whipped up by the Anglo-Normans in the 1200s, it was built over a Viking settlement and served as the control center of English (and later British) rule in Ireland for seven centuries. A fire in 1684 charred most of the medieval bits, so the castle reinvented itself in the 18th century with Georgian flair. Think less fortress, more fancy manor 鈥� though if you join a guided tour, you can still find some medieval bones beneath the beauty.

The Upper Yard keeps the old castle layout alive, while the Cork Hill entrance, topped with a statue of Justice, offers a not-so-subtle historical joke 鈥� Lady Justice turns her back to the city. Not shady at all...

Inside, you鈥檒l find the plush State Apartments, where British viceroys once threw parties and where Irish presidents now make things official. Expect glittering chandeliers, dramatic tapestries, and a strong "please don't touch" vibe. The nearby Chapel Royal, all Gothic charm and carved woodwork, is open for a peek 鈥� though the only thing being preached nowadays is great design.

Go underground and time-travel even further back: you鈥檒l spot the remains of a Viking wall and the famed Dubh Linn (or 鈥淏lack Pool鈥�) that gave Dublin its name. Above ground, in that very spot, the Dubhlinn Gardens now bloom in Celtic patterns 鈥� ideal for pretending you鈥檙e in a historical drama, minus the beheadings...

And don鈥檛 skip the Chester Beatty Library set behind the castle walls. This under-the-radar gem is packed with ancient manuscripts and rare books from all over the world 鈥� basically, the Louvre of library nerds.

Dublin Castle isn鈥檛 just a relic of power; it鈥檚 a mash-up of past and present, stateliness and surprises. No matter if you're here for the politics, the Vikings, or the velvet furniture, it鈥檚 the kind of place that makes history feel less like homework and more like a plot twist.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dublin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Dublin Castle
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Dublin Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Dublin, Ireland

Create Your Own Walk in Dublin

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dublin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Pub Crawl

The Irish in general and Dubliners in particular are known for their passion for whiskey and beer. As you embark upon a beguiling odyssey through the spirited streets of the Irish capital, you can't help noticing the reverberating vibrancy coming from its enchanting pubs. A tapestry of libation-laden lore awaits those who traverse the path of the Dublin pub crawl, guided by the siren call of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

A Walk Along Liffey River

The River Liffey 鈥� Dublin鈥檚 liquid backbone 鈥� slices through the Irish capital like a great shimmering bookmark, separating the Northside from the Southside in a civil yet longstanding sibling rivalry. Stretching around 125 kilometers, this body of water is indeed a living archive, a story that never quite ends. Stroll along its banks, and you鈥檒l find yourself time-traveling without the... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Dublin Literary Pubs

The three Ps of Dublin 鈥� the pub, the poet, and the pint 鈥� have always distinguished the Irish capital as home to some of the most literary pubs in Europe. Indeed, Dublin's public houses, where writers traditionally sharpened their wit, today encapsulate the enchantment of the written word and play a significant role in preserving and celebrating this legacy.

Among these revered... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

A Walk with Famous Irish Writers

Albeit a small country, Ireland has given the world a plethora of remarkable writers and poets, many of whom were born, lived, and studied in Dublin. Needless to say, as an epicenter of Ireland's literary scene, Dublin boasts a myriad of hallowed locations closely associated with the luminaries of Irish literature, such as James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and many of their... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

Dublin Introduction Walking Tour

The Irish capital, Dublin, is a city where history has a pint in one hand and a smartphone in the other. Sitting snugly on Ireland鈥檚 east coast, straddling the River Liffey like it owns the place, Dublin is a heady mix of medieval charm, Georgian swagger, and modern-day buzz. The name itself, Dubh Linn (the Celtic expression for 鈥渂lack pool鈥�) sounds mysterious enough 鈥� and yes, it refers... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

16 Distinctively Irish Things to Buy in Dublin

The birthplace of many artistic talents, such as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, Dublin is the show-window of Ireland, a small country renowned for its rich cultural scene encompassing music, writing, poetry, dance, craftsmanship and more. The food & drink scene of Dublin (much as the whole of...

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