A History of Dublin Castle
From a Viking settlement to the center of British rule for 700 years, Dublin Castle holds Ireland's history within its walls. Imagine standing where Michael Collins took control, marking a new era for Ireland.
Private & personalized tours - just for you!
Always private. It's just you and your local host. No strangers, no groups.
Let your local host tailor the experience completely to your wishes.
Our tours are designed with people, places, and the planet in mind.
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Reviews from guests about our tours and locals
"Our tour with Ruairí was one of the absolute highlights of our time in Dublin. From the moment we met him, it felt less like a formal tour and more like spending time with a knowledgeable, engaging local who genuinely loves his city. Ruairí has an exceptional ability to bring Dublin’s history to life—his storytelling is clear, memorable, and never feels scripted or overly academic. What really sets him apart is his judgment and awareness. He reads his guests well, keeps the pace comfortable, and knows exactly how to balance history, culture, and practical insight. He also gave us excellent guidance that helped shape the rest of our day, which made a real difference in our overall experience. The entire tour felt relaxed, thoughtful, and personal. We walked away with a much deeper understanding of Dublin and a much greater appreciation for the city than we would have had otherwise. If you are considering a walking tour in Dublin, do not hesitate—Ruairí is outstanding, and we would recommend him without reservation."
"Our Dublin food tour with Ruairi was tasty, entertaining, educational, and all around fun. My wife and I were recovering from respective leg injuries, and Ruairi accommodated us by adjusting the distance traveled and assuring that we had plenty of opportunities to sit. Ruairi took us to an assortment of places we likely never would have learned about otherwise, many of which were favored by locals, and he arranged for an enticing variety of foods. Along the way, Ruairi also fed our appetite for history as well as the background of many local sites while entertaining us with so many humorous and interesting personal stories. Ruairi is very much a people person and is clearly well-known and well-regarded in the neighborhoods. He is very engaging and personable. Our time with Ruairi was like enjoying the company of a new friend while embarking on a movable feast. If you’re looking for a fun and enriching personal tour experience, whether you want to eat or sight-see, we highly recommend Ruairi. We had a wonderful time. "
Learn about their personal stories and find out how you can explore Dublin with locals










Our locals will give you the best experiences that Dublin has to offer





Step into the heart of Irish history with a private Dublin Castle tour. This iconic landmark has seen centuries of drama and change. A personal tour of Dublin Castle is the key to unlocking its secrets.
From a Viking settlement to the center of British rule for 700 years, Dublin Castle holds Ireland's history within its walls. Imagine standing where Michael Collins took control, marking a new era for Ireland.
Dublin Castle is a stunning mix of styles. See the mighty medieval Record Tower, wander through the lavish Georgian State Apartments, and admire the Gothic Revival Chapel Royal. It's an architectural timeline.
Did you know Bram Stoker, the creator of 'Dracula', worked as a civil servant at Dublin Castle? Walk the same grounds as this literary giant and uncover stories that inspired his dark imagination.
Home to the magnificent Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle is a cultural treasure. Discover priceless manuscripts, rare books, and artworks from around the world in this award-winning museum.
Find a moment of peace in the Dubh Linn Gardens, on the site of the original 'Black Pool' where Vikings first settled. It's a serene spot where the story of Dublin truly began. Your guide knows the way.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You'll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You're choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that's okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You'll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You're choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that's okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.
Don't just see Dublin Castle, experience it! Skip the crowds and delve deeper with a local guide who can tailor the tour to your interests. Book your unique Dublin Castle adventure with Withlocals now and create memories that last a lifetime!
"We had an absolutely fantastic food tour in Dublin, made unforgettable by our guide, Ruairi. His storytelling struck the perfect balance between rich Irish folklore and meaningful historical insight—he truly brought the city to life in a way that felt both authentic and engaging. Each stop on the tour was thoughtfully chosen, and the food was excellent across the board. It wasn’t just about eating; it was about understanding Dublin through its flavors, stories, and traditions. Ruairi’s warmth, knowledge, and sense of humour made the experience feel personal and memorable. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Dublin in a unique and delicious way—especially if you can go with Ruairi!"
"We had a great experience with Jack as our guide in Dublin. Communication in advance was clear and well organized, which made everything easy from the start. Jack is very knowledgeable and clearly knows the city inside out. He had planned a route tailored to our group, which worked very well. The tour itself was excellent. We were a group of eight, and he handled it in a very professional and engaging way. He is an authentic and skilled storyteller, bringing the history of Dublin to life in an interesting and enjoyable manner. As a bonus, we even got to try pouring our own Guinness at a local bar, which was a great experience. Jack also gave us many useful recommendations for places to visit during the rest of our stay. The tour lasted longer than scheduled, which we appreciated and see as a sign of great service. Highly recommended."
"We booked the tour for 1pm on the day we flew into Dublin, because we knew we needed something to keep us alert as we waited for hotel rooms to become available. Ruairi was lovely and told terrific stories. Our favorite stops were the Dublin version of Dean and DeLuca and Murphy's ice cream (I had the sea salt flavor 3 more times during my 10-day stay). The tour is not like other tours we've experienced, which tended to be restaurant-focused, but rather more of a variety of experiences that helped us understand the Dublin food scene. And Ruairi's stories definitely kept us engaged during our first few hours in Ireland."
"This was our first trip to Dublin — a weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday. Ruairi made it extra special with his stories, knowledge of history, and excellent food and drink selections. As a vegetarian, I especially appreciated how he tailored the tour with exciting and unique bites. We left full and a little tipsy! Ruairi also gave us great recommendations for the rest of our stay in Dublin. I would definitely do this tour again."
"My wife And I booked our first ever food tour. Ruairi was a fantastic guide, great stories, tips and good history as he took us around the city center area. We started off with a nice talking only pub with no tvs no bands/ music, no selfies allowed any open seat is open to anyone to sit and chat. Great atmosphere and we enjoyed the community vibe there. After that we stopped by a local meat and cheese market with unique cheeses. With stops for falafel with Irish twist. Then we stopped for sweets in an indoor market. And some famous sausages, stews, fish and chips with local history of those explained. Ending with more special and unique ice cream shop you can sample away everything you want before deciding. Ruairi was outstanding and highly recommended. We enjoyed the more personal experience together instead of a bigger of strangers like many tours. We went hungry, got full fast and still have dinner for tonight. "
"Marius was an amazing tour guide! He was so nice, funny, interesting and very knowledgeable. He kept our attention for three hours and shared interesting details and sites about Dublin. My two 25 year old nephews thought that he was great since he provided enough facts about Dublin and not boring them. I highly recommend him for any tour!"
"Jack was wonderful! Very informative and did so in a very fun and engaging way. Normal things we would have passed and had no idea of the story behind the sign or place. We had a perfectly poured Guinness and ended with a fabulous Irish coffee. We would highly recommend Jack to get the local / back ground stories."
"We had an incredible experience with Ruairi as our tour guide in Dublin. He was exceptionally knowledgeable, sharing not just the well-known history but also fascinating insights that you wouldn’t typically find in guidebooks. The food stops were also fantastic—each one thoughtfully chosen and offering a great taste of the local scene. It was clear that a lot of care went into planning the experience. Overall, we had an amazing time and would highly recommend Ruairi to anyone looking for a more engaging and memorable way to explore Dublin"
The best stories aren't found in guidebooks. Skip the crowds and unlock the hidden gems of Dublin Castle with a private, personalized experience led by a local.




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