City Scape Tours

Mansion House

The Mansion House is the official residence of Dublin’s first citizen, the Lord Mayor, and is one of the city’s finest and most historic buildings. The residence was designed by Joshua Dawson, whom the street is named after, and construction began in 1705. Originally intended to be a townhouse for Dawson, he seldom stayed in the house and it was sold to the Dublin Corporation for £3,500 which doesn’t seem like much now but back then was a huge amount of money. The Mansion House is the site for some of the most important events in Irish History as it was the site of the proclamation of the 1919 Declaration of Independence and it was the meeting place of the first Dail Eireann (Parliament of Ireland).

Tours of the Mansion House are on a first come first serve basis where you will be led by guides as they walk you through and explain the history of some of the historic public rooms in a building that still plays an important part in the civic life of Dublin and has been host to dignitaries including Nelson Mandela and Queen Victoria.

Fun Fact 

The Corporation also had to pay annual rent of 40 shillings as well as provide an odd yet delicious payment of a loaf of double refined sugar weighing six pounds every Christmas.

Contact Details:

Address: Dawson Street, Dublin 2

Tel: (01) 222 6200

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 22 Dawson Street (see Route Map)

National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland is a must see for any visiting Dublin art lovers. Situated in Merrion Square near the National Museum at Kildare Street, the gallery is an underrated attraction that is not to be missed. The Gallery boasts a collection of more than 2, 500 paintings as well as over 10, 000 other artistic works including watercolours, drawings, prints and sculptures.

Founded in 1854 by an Act of Parliament, and opened to the public in 1864, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of Irish and European fine art, spanning the period circa 1400s to 1950s.The National Gallery is unique thanks to its collection of exhibitions which documents the story of Irish art from the seventeenth century to the present day with key works by Nathaniel Hone, John Lavery, William Leech, Roderic O’Conor, Paul Henry, Sean Keating, Jack B. Yeats and Louis le Brocquy. The Gallery is also home to a number of Europe’s most renowned masterpieces including works by Fra Angelico, Rembrandt, Poussin, Goya, Picasso, Bonnard, Van Gogh and a recently discovered Caravaggio.

Free tours of the permanent collection take place every Saturday at 12.30pm, and every Sunday at 12.30pm and 1.30pm. Guided tours of the collection may be booked for private groups, schools and university groups, special interest groups and individuals. A minimum of 2 weeks’ notice and a small fee is required.

Fun Fact

Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’, a painting recorded in contemporary biographies on the artist but long believed to be lost or destroyed, was discovered in a Jesuit house of studies in Dublin.  The picture remains in the gallery on indefinite loan from the Jesuit fathers.

Contact Details:

Address: Merrion Square West & Clare Street, Dublin 2

Tel: +353(0)16325133

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 19 Merrion Square West(see Route Map)

National History Museum – The National Museum of Ireland

One of the three branches of the National Museum of Ireland, the Natural History Museum is located between Government Buildings and the House of the Oireachtas on Merrion Street. First opened in 1857, the Museum is virtually unchanged since its opening, bar some restoration work in 1909 and 2007 after the grand stone staircase was deemed unsafe.

The Victorian style Museum is home to a fascinating collection of over 2 million species which are situated side by side in a building full of old Victorian charm and scientific wonderment.

The ground floor is dedicated to Irish wildlife featuring the mammals, sea creatures, birds and some butterflies that could have been found in Ireland at some point, with the centrepiece being the skeleton of the now extinct giant Irish elk.

The upper floors of the building feature the World Animals Collection and are dedicated to animals found throughout the world. There you will find an exhibition that jumps from continent to continent and includes outstanding examples of animals found throughout the history and far reaches of the world.

The Museum has no admission charge and visitors are welcome to explore the collections by themselves at their own pace. The Museum of Natural History is one of the top things to do in Dublin for any history buffs or anyone looking to see Dublin on a budget.

Fun Fact

Some of the large exhibits face away from the entrance. This is due to a new entrance being constructed at the east end of the building facing Merrion Street in 1909. This reversed the direction from which visitors approached the exhibitions and explains why some of the large exhibits still face away from the entrance; it was too difficult to turn the whales and elephants around to face the new entrance.

Contact Details:

National History Museum, Merrion St Upper, Dublin 2

Tel: +353 (0) 1 677 7444

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 20 Merrion Street (see Route Map)

O’Connell Street

Ireland’s widest and premier street, every visitor has to see O’Connell Street while visiting Dublin- in fact people would be hard pressed to miss the main thoroughfare of Dublin. The street is the centre of Dublin and is a busy shopping district. The pathways are full of retail stores and the middle of the road is lined with statues commemorating many Irish heroes including Daniel O’Connell, Jim Larkin and Charles Stewart Parnell. The street is dominated by the historic GPO and The Spire, which at 133 metres tall is the world’s tallest sculpture. O’Connell Street is the hub of Dublin and a trip of Dublin is incomplete without a visit.

This busy thoroughfare is named after the famous Irish political leader and Catholic Rights Activist Daniel O’Connell. O’Connell Street and the GPO have been witness to some of the most important events in Irish history. They are permanently associated with the 1916 Rising, where an armed contingent of men led by Padraig Pearse and James Connolly, took over the GPO and used it as the headquarters for an uprising against British Rule in Ireland. After a week of fighting the GPO and surrounding area were destroyed following bombardment from the British gunship Helga and the rebels, seeing it was futile to keep fighting, had surrendered. Although the destruction and loss of lives was devastating, the events that unfolded on O’Connell Street were the beginning of a series of events that would eventually lead to Irish Independence.

Fun Fact

The GPO still retains the battle scars of the 1916 Easter Rising and you can still see the bullet marks from the fighting on the exterior of the building.

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 7A or 9 O’Connell Street (see Route Map)

Old Jameson Distillery

Set in the heart of Dublin, a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery is so much more than just a tour, it is an exciting and engaging experience, guaranteed to enlighten and inspire you. At the distillery, you will relive the story of John Jameson as you drink in the history, the atmosphere and the odd sip of whiskey.

The tour experience occupies a section of the old distillery, which kept Dublin flowing with the ‘water of life’ from 1780 to 1971 until the remaining distillers moved to a new and modern distillery in Midelton Co. Cork. This attraction offers the personal touch through guided tours and whiskey masterclasses, which run every 35 minutes. They start with a short film and then, with the aid of models (not the ones you’re hoping for!) and exhibitions, explain everything you ever wanted to know about Jameson Irish whiskey from grain to glass.

At the end of the tour, all visitors are rewarded with a complimentary dram of whiskey at the Jameson Bar and partake in a comparison whiskey tasting session where you will learn how to tell the differences between Scotch, Irish, and American whiskey. The tour finishes at the exclusive gift store where people may choose to buy a personalised bottle or a memento of their visit. Dublin is a city famous for its whiskey and a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery is essential for any person looking to explore, sightsee or even just enjoy themselves and have a drink.

Contact Details:

Address: Old Jameson Distillery, Bow Street, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7

Tel: +353 (1) 807 2355

Opening Times: Open 7 days a week, 9am- 6pm ( Sundays from 10.00am )

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 6 Smithfield (see Route Map)

Pembroke Estate

Pembroke Estate had been in the hands of the Norman Fitzwilliam family since the middle ages, when it was known as the Fitzwilliam Estate. It extended from modern Merrion Square to the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. After the construction of Leinster House in the 1740s it began to be developed, and Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares were laid out by 1800. It continued to grow after the 1800 Act of Union that abolished the Irish parliament. By the 1820s the estate had sprawled beyond the Grand Canal, and by 1837 had acquired the longest classical terrace in the city, on the northern side of Pembroke Road. Eventually it extended out as far as Ailesbury and Shrewsbury Roads, but the Pembroke Estate is easily the largest and best-preserved district of Georgian Dublin. Its most unique feature, apart from the squares, is the distinctive dome of St Stephen’s Church on Mount Street Crescent, completed in 1824 and better known by its nickname: the Peppercanister. The Church occasionally hosts classical concerts, but there are no tours available. It is only open during services, usually held at 11am Sunday and 11.30am Wednesday, with an extra one at 11am on Friday in July and August.

Fun Fact

During the late 1800s the southern townships of Dublin became notable strongholds for rugby union as it grew in popularity at the end of Victorian era: the location of the modern AVIVA Stadium on Lansdowne Road, the traditional home of Irish rugby, is a testament to that.

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 14 Pembroke Road (see Route Map)

Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park covers over 700 hectares and is now one of the largest city-centre parks in Europe. It was formed initially as a royal hunting Park in the 1660s but was opened to the public in 1747. With such a vast space, there are several things to do as you explore the Park.

The Dublin City park still contains a herd of fallow deer and is the site of Dublin Zoo, the Peoples Gardens, a Fort and Áras an Uachtaráin, the residence of the President of Ireland. In addition, there are several recreational facilities throughout the Park, including football, GAA and cricket pitches, and polo grounds. There is also the Cross, erected for the visit of Pope John Paul II, and the Wellington monument, which are both top-rated attractions with locals and tourists alike.

Bike hire is located at the Parkgate entrance of Phoenix Park for anyone interested in taking a relaxing cycle through the Park.

Phoenix Park is open and has a herd of deer still roaming freely around the Park. The deer are possibly dependents of those that were kept on Phoenix Park in the 1660s as part of a then hunting park in Dublin City.

The Phoenix Park is open 24 hrs a day, seven days a week, all year round. The main gates of the Park at Parkgate Street and Castleknock Gate are open 24 hours. The side gates to the Park are open from 7 am until 11 pm.

Contact Details:

Address: Phoenix Park, Dublin 8

Tel: +353 (0)1 677 0095 (Visitor Centre)

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 3 Phoenix Park (see Route Map)

Admission:

Free

Phoenix Park Papal Cross

Papal Cross

The Phoenix Park Papal Cross was erected as a backdrop for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland in 1979. The white Latin cross is 35 metres high and was built using steel girders. Pope Francis celebrated this appearance on the last day of his visit to Northern Ireland in 2018. After several attempts to install it at the edge of the Fifteen Acres in Dail, Ireland, the Cross was erected before it was laid upon by Pope Francis in October 2018. When John Paul died in 2005, devotees gathered at the Phoenix Park cross, praying and leaving flowers and other tokens of remembrance.

Áras an Uachtaráin

Aras an Uachtaráin, built-in 1754, is located in Phoenix Park. It is the residence of the Irish President in Dublin. It was the Viceregal Lodge of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland until the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Áras an Uachtaráin is opened to the public on Saturdays only. Free admission tickets are issued at The Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on the day on a first-come, first-served basis. Tour times are: 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30.

Phoenix Park & Magazine Fort

The Magazine Fort

The Fort was initially built as Phoenix Lodge in 1611, as a home for by Sir Edward Fisher. The government knocked the house down in 1734 to make way for the fortifications, and an additional wing was added to the Fort in 1801 for troops. In 1734 the Duke of Dorset directed that a powder magazine be provided for Dublin. The structure is currently abandoned and not open to the public. However, a conservation plan has been put into place by the Office of Public Works to partially restored the Fort. The Magazine Fort is located in the southeast of Phoenix Park, overlooking the Liffey.

Ashton Castle and Gardens

Ashtown Castle and Demesne

Ashtown Castle is a medieval tower house and may date from the fifteenth century. It was hidden in the walls of a Georgian mansion occupied by the Under Secretary for Ireland. The Castle and garden have since been restored and is now open year-round to the public. In addition, the Office of Public Works has installed a new free bottle filling station at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre in the courtyard.

Wellington Testimonial

Phoenix Park Monument

The Phoenix Monument, or The Wellington Testimonial, is a 62m 203 ft tall Obelisk at the Southern end of Phoenix Park. It was built to commemorate the career of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Wellington, a British Army General and politician, also known as the ‘Iron Duke’, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1769

The obelisk was designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke, and building work started in 1817. However, it remained unfinished until 18 June 1861 due to funding issues.

At its base sit four bronze plaques; these were cast from cannons captured at the Battle of Waterloo – three have pictorial representations of his career while the fourth has an inscription.

Dublin Zoo

Dublin Zoo opened to the Dublin in 1833 and occupies around 28 hectares (69 acres)^[1] of Phoenix Park, it is divided into a number of areas on the site named Asian Forests, Orangutan Forest, The Kaziranga Forest Trail, Fringes of the Arctic, Sea Lion Cove, African Plains, Roberts House, House of Reptiles, City Farm and South American House.

The Zoo is open 7 days a week to visitors from April to October.

Christ Church Cathedral

Towering over Dublin on its hilltop location with its Romanesque style and magnificent flying buttresses, Christ Church is undoubtedly the most photogenic of Dublin’s three Cathedrals. Christ Church Cathedral is Dublin’s oldest building, a leading visitor attraction and a place of pilgrimage for almost 1000 years. Initially founded in 1030 on the southern edge of Dublin’s Viking settlement, the grandiose Cathedral we see today was initially a wooden Church until the Normans, under the impetus of Anglo-Norman invader Richard De Clare or Strongbow as he is known, decided to rebuild it in stone in 1170.

Admission to the Cathedral includes entry to the crypt and the ‘Treasures of Christ Church’ exhibition, where many of the Cathedral’s artefacts and manuscripts are on display, including the embalmed heart of St. Laurence O’Toole, the magnificent silver plate presented to the Cathedral by William III after the Battle of Boyne as well as the famous tomb of the legendary Strongbow. One of the most popular tours is the Belfry Tour, where visitors are brought up to the top of the Bell tower for a spectacular view of Dublin City and even get the chance to fulfil their wildest dreams and ring the famous church bells under expert supervision.

Fun fact

The crypt includes a glass display case housing a mummified cat chasing a mummified rat (known as Tom and Jerry), trapped inside an organ pipe in the 1860s!

Contact Details:

Address: Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch Place, Dublin 8

Tel: +353 (0)1 677 8099

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 25 Christ Church Place (see Route Map)

Admission:

Adult: €6.00

Child: €2.00

Group (10+): €4.20

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat: 9.00am-5pm &

Sun: 12.30-2.30pm

Longer Hours between Jun-Aug