easy
1.5–2 hours
Suitable for most fitness levels, but comfortable walking ability is recommended.
Step back in time with a private walk along Dublin's historic medieval walls. Discover centuries of Irish history, stunning architecture, and hidden stories on this exclusive tour with Dublin Decoded.
From €250 | 2 Hours | A Circuit and Exploration
Group 1 - 5 people: (weekdays) € 250 Group 1 - 5 people: (weekends) € 300 Group 6 - 7 people: € 300 Group 8 - 10 people: € 350 Group 11 - 15 people: € 455* Group 15 - 20 people: € 565* Group 21 - 25 people: € 675*
*for this group size, price includes audio headsets.
Recommended for people aged +15
Approximately 2 hours
Our Medieval Walls Walk is a complete circuit and exploration of the medieval walls of Dublin, both in a physical sense, and as an exploration of the walls in the imagination and through Dublin’s history; through maps, conversation, story and historic detail.
Once a palisade of wooden stakes erected from 841 by Dublin’s Viking founders, and later re-built as thick, high stone walls by the Anglo-Norman conquerors, the walls delineated and defined the city for generations of medieval Dubliners. Citizens of the city felt their reassuring presence, as they limited, protected and defined a sense of place for centuries. We will follow their route along castle walls, down backstreets and side lanes, as the wall appears, disappears and reappears again, using maps, historic accounts, tell-tale street names and physical clues in the present city landscape to guide us along our way.
Along our route we will consider towers and gates, prisons and bridges, fires, plague, invasion and revolution. We’ll see the impact on the modern street plan, and contemplate how it helped shape the current-day city of Dublin.
We normally meet and start outside the West door of City Hall on Cork Hill (directly across the road from the Dublin Rates Office) We then walk a complete circuit of the ancient city walls, whether currently visible above ground or not.
This is an especially fun tour. We hand out maps of the medieval walls to all our guests. We then use these maps to trace the line of the old walls in the existing, modern-day streetscape. This requires a lot of imagination, map reading, navigation and guess work, and at times has an element of hunting for clues about it.
Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus), Dublin decoded have implemented the following cancellation and refund policies until further notice.
Tour canceled 8 days or more: full refund
Tour canceled from 8 days to 96 hours: 85% refund
Tour canceled from 24 hours to 96 hours: 50% refund
Within 24 hours: no refund
The tour involves walking along uneven medieval stones, so comfortable shoes are essential.
Capture the historic views and unique features along the walls and surrounding areas.
Irish weather can be unpredictable; prepare for rain or shine with appropriate clothing.
Booking a private tour allows for more customization, so arriving early helps maximize your time.
Dublin’s medieval city walls date back to the 13th century, originally built to defend the city from invading forces and now stand as a testament to Dublin’s historic resilience.
Efforts are in place to preserve these ancient walls, balancing tourism with the protection of Dublin’s cultural heritage.
Necessary for exploring uneven medieval terrain comfortably.
Layered clothing helps adapt to changing Irish weather conditions during your walk.
spring|summer|fall|winter specific
Capture scenic views and historic details along the walls.
Carry essentials like water, a map, and a rain jacket.