Dublin Pass
Exploring Dublin's attractions without breaking the bank is possible with the Dublin Pass: here's how to get it, how much it costs and whether or not it's worth it.
Walk the streets of Dublin | ©William Murphy
The capital of Ireland is a city full of museums, monuments and places to visit. When we travel we want to make the most of our time, save costs and, above all, not leave anything pending. That's why there is the Dublin Pass; the tourist card to visit Dublin.
1. How to get your Dublin Pass
The best option to purchase the Dublin Pass with tourist bus included is to buy it online for a price of $77 and receive it in your mail with the guarantee of being able to cancel the purchase if any unforeseen event arises.
2. Main attractions and experiences included in the Dublin Pass
The Guinness Brewery tour
This museum-like brewery has seven floors, a panoramic view bar and includes a beer tasting. It is one of the most demanded experiences in Dublin because it not only provides information about the brewing process but cultural data that make you better understand the Irish idiosyncrasy and the importance of this drink in the country. I tell you more details here: Guinness Storehouse Tickets and Tours in Dublin.
The sightseeing bus for 24 hours
With the purchase of the Dublin Pass you will have access to a 24-hour pass for the city's tourist bus. You can get on and off the bus as many times as you want and at as many stops as you want. During the tour you will enjoy panoramic views and audio commentary. You can also read all the information about the sightseeing bus in my article Dublin Hop on Hop off Bus Tours.
Dublinia Museum
It is an ideal place to visit with the family. It tells the medieval history of Ireland with life-size exhibits about Viking Dublin and medieval Dublin.
Ship-museum Jeanie Johnston
This mythical ship-turned-museum focuses on the period of the Great Famine that ravaged Ireland. This ship is not the real Jeanie Johnston, but a successful life-size replica.
Irish Emigration Museum
This museum is composed of different thematic galleries with interactive activities. Here you can discover the history of Irish emigration and its connection with Ireland today.
Small museum of Dublin
It is one of the most complete and popular museums in Dublin. The objects that it houses in its interior have been donated by individuals and they cross the historical trajectory of the Irish capital.
Jameson Distillery
If beer is the main drink of Ireland, whiskey is not far behind. For this reason this museum is one of the most visited places in the city. It offers a totally immersive experience.
National Wax Museum
In every major city there is a wax museum and, although it may not seem so at first glance, it is one of the most fun visits you can make with your family. The one in Dublin is not to be missed.
Dublin Castle
In the heart of Dublin you will find this castle which is currently used for conventions and state meetings. With the Dublin Pass the entrance is free.
Malahide Castle
North of Dublin is located this castle whose visit is worth both for its architecture and its gardens and interiors.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
This cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland is a must visit. The architectural style is Gothic and the ornate interior will surprise you very pleasantly.
Dublin Zoo
If you are traveling with children this is a highly recommended visit, especially if you spend several days in the city. With the Dublin Pass the entrance is quite amortized since it is one of the most expensive among the different attractions in the city.
3. Advantages of the Dublin Pass
Before describing the advantages of the Dublin Pass it is important to know what is a tourist card. It is a pass that you can hire for one or several days and with which you will have free access to the main attractions and tourist experiences in the city. It serves to save money and it is convenient to buy it when you are going to concentrate many visits to museums and monuments in a short time.
- Free access to more than 30 museums and monuments in the city.
- Free use of the tourist bus for one day with free stops.
- Discounts and offers in selected stores and restaurants
- A Dublin travel guide
- Queue-free access to the city's main sights and attractions
4. How the Dublin Sightseeing Pass works
The Dublin Pass is designed for all types of trips; from a quick getaway to an in-depth visit. For this you have different options: you can buy this tourist card for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. My recommendation in the case of Dublin is that you choose between the two-day pass or the three-day pass; with less time you would have less things to see and you won't need much more time to visit the main points of interest of the city.
5. What you should know about the Dublin Pass
- It works for consecutive calendar days, so always activate it first thing in the morning.
- Children under 5 years old do not need a card if they travel with an adult who has one.
- There is a reduced price for children from 5 to 12 years old.
- You cannot visit the same attraction or monument several times; the card is only valid for one visit.
- You do not need a physical card, as you can load the Dublin Pass directly on your cell phone and organize your visits around the city through the official Mobile Dublin Pass app.
- You can activate the Dublin Pass at any time since your purchase; from the first use, the validity time of your card will start to count.
6. When to buy the Dublin Pass
Let's not fool ourselves: buying the Dublin Pass is a major investment and therefore it is logical to ask ourselves whether or not we are going to amortize it. The answer will depend on your travel plans; the most practical way to find out whether or not the Dublin Pass is right for you is to add up the prices of the different points of interest you plan to visit during your trip and compare the result with the price of the card.
However, do not forget that the Dublin Pass is not only free tickets, but also discounts and experiences. For example, if you want to use the city's tourist bus for a day, the Dublin Pass is probably worth it.
It is also important to take into account the time you are going to spend in Dublin and the pace of travel you want to take. If you are in the Irish capital for a long weekend and in two days you are willing to make several visits to museums and monuments, surely the Dublin Pass is right for you. If on the other hand you are going to spend two weeks in Dublin it is not worth concentrating all your visits in one or two days and therefore you will not need the tourist card.
Whatever you decide, my advice is to fully explore the advantages of the Dublin Pass including restaurants or stores where you would get a discount. If you organize yourself well you could save a considerable amount on your trip without depriving yourself of anything.
7. The sightseeing bus included in the Dublin Pass
The Dublin Pass includes a 24 hour pass for the city's sightseeing bus. As much as this service may seem like an option reserved for "guiris" it is one of the most enjoyable benefits.
Why? Because the tourist bus in Dublin is a comfortable way to tour the city sheltered from the rain, because it has panoramic views, because it includes audio commentary on the monuments of the city and because it is a considerable time saver in moving between the main points of interest in Dublin.
If you are interested in seeing Dublin from the tourist bus, you can also purchase a pass for one or more days without having to buy the tourist card. An important fact you may be interested to know is that the Dublin Sightseeing Bus Pass gives you access to several free guided walking tours of the city center. In this article about Dublin Hop on Hop off Bus Tours I tell you how to get it.
8. Other interesting activities in Dublin
If you want to walk around the city making sure you don't leave a corner untouched, there is nothing better than taking a guided tour to understand the history and secret legends of Dublin. And if you have enough time to dedicate a morning or a whole day to visit other areas of the country, I recommend you to read my article about Best Tours and Day Trips from Dublin to organize your trip.