Attraction · Dublin
Dublin Castle: free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official Dublin Castle website. Official links are under Sources.
Dublin Castle is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Children under 12 free (State Apartments tours).
- Otherwise: state Apartments self-guided tour, adult — €8.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Closed until January 2027 - plan Dublin Castle for next year.
- The Chapel Royal can only be seen on a guided tour.
- OPW Heritage Card holders still queue to collect a ticket.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forChildren under 12 free (State Apartments tours) | children under 12 | Valid for both self-guided and guided tours when the castle is open. Campus closed until January 2027. | No |
Official prices
Dublin Castle ticket prices
| State Apartments self-guided tour, adult — Senior 60+/student €6, child 12-17 €4, family €20. Guided tour (incl. Viking Excavation and Chapel Royal) adult €12. Prices shown on the site during the closure; may change for 2027. | €8 |
| Guided tour incl. Viking Excavation and Chapel Royal, adult — Chapel Royal and the Viking excavation are only accessible on the guided tour. | €12 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (state apartments self-guided tour, adult). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Dublin Castle
Skip-the-line ticketDublin: Fast-Track Book of Kells Ticket & Dublin Castle Tour★★★★★ 4.6 · 2.3k reviews165 minutesfrom €79
Guided tourDublin: Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church Tour★★★★★ 4.8 · 1.9k reviews2 - 3 hoursfrom €22.09
Guided tourDublin: St Patrick's, Book of Kells, and Dublin Castle Tour★★★★★ 4.8 · 425 reviews3.5 - 6 hoursfrom €119
Guided tourEarly Access: Book of Kells & Dublin Castle Tour★★★★★ 4.6 · 49 reviews2.5 hoursfrom €79
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
Whole campus closed to the public until January 2027 (EU Presidency). Normally: daily incl. public holidays 9:45-17:45, last admission 17:15; closed 25-27 Dec and 1 Jan.
Dame Street, Dublin 2, D02 XN27, Ireland
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Dublin Castle: common questions
Is Dublin Castle free?
Dublin Castle has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Children under 12 free (State Apartments tours). Otherwise the official ticket costs €8.
Who gets free entry to Dublin Castle?
Children under 12 — valid for both self-guided and guided tours when the castle is open. Campus closed until January 2027..
How much is a ticket to Dublin Castle?
State Apartments self-guided tour, adult costs €8 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Dublin Castle
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- dublincastle.ie/tickets-and-times/ · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/dublin-castle/
- dublincastle.ie
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.