
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin (must see)
Step into the Christ Church Cathedral — here, medieval majesty meets a touch of mystery, and not everything is quite what it seems. While the cathedral's story begins back in the 12th and 13th centuries, time wasn’t always kind to the original structure. By the 1870s, it was crumbling faster than a biscuit in tea. Luckily, Henry Roe, a 19th-century whiskey magnate and unlikely architectural hero, bankrolled its full-scale reconstruction. The result was a faithful revival of Romanesque and Early English Gothic splendour, with a pinch of Victorian flourish.
Wander the grounds and you’ll stumble across ghostly echoes of the past: a ruined 13th-century chapter house in the courtyard, and inside the southern aisle, a knight’s tomb — the monument's nose suspiciously missing. Local legend suggests that it’s Strongbow’s (the nobleman in charge of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland) final resting place, though historians claim otherwise that his original tomb was lost in a 1562 collapse of the south wall. Still, it makes for a dramatic photo op.
Don't miss the Peace Chapel, where the heart of Archbishop Laurence O’Toole — Dublin’s patron saint and 12th-century peacemaker — sits encased in a reliquary, beating metaphorically with centuries of reverence.
And now for something truly bizarre: behold “Tom and Jerry,” a mummified cat-and-rat duo frozen mid-chase inside a church organ. Yep, you heard that right. Add in some oddly tilted arches on the north aisle, and you’ve got yourself a guided tour through ecclesiastical eccentricity.
Venture down into the cathedral’s crypt — the oldest surviving structure in Dublin — and prepare to be both amazed and mildly unsettled. Among ancient tombs and treasures, you’ll find regal statues of Charles I and II looking a bit smug, and sparkling silverware gifted by William of Orange after he thrashed his rival in 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne.
Open daily, the cathedral also hosts spellbinding Evensong services, with music that dates back to the Reformation — ideal if you like your choir with a side of history. And if you're feeling brave (or simply bell-curious), guided tours up to the belfry let you ring a bell and enjoy panoramic views over the city.
Let’s just say: it’s not your average Sunday visit.
Wander the grounds and you’ll stumble across ghostly echoes of the past: a ruined 13th-century chapter house in the courtyard, and inside the southern aisle, a knight’s tomb — the monument's nose suspiciously missing. Local legend suggests that it’s Strongbow’s (the nobleman in charge of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland) final resting place, though historians claim otherwise that his original tomb was lost in a 1562 collapse of the south wall. Still, it makes for a dramatic photo op.
Don't miss the Peace Chapel, where the heart of Archbishop Laurence O’Toole — Dublin’s patron saint and 12th-century peacemaker — sits encased in a reliquary, beating metaphorically with centuries of reverence.
And now for something truly bizarre: behold “Tom and Jerry,” a mummified cat-and-rat duo frozen mid-chase inside a church organ. Yep, you heard that right. Add in some oddly tilted arches on the north aisle, and you’ve got yourself a guided tour through ecclesiastical eccentricity.
Venture down into the cathedral’s crypt — the oldest surviving structure in Dublin — and prepare to be both amazed and mildly unsettled. Among ancient tombs and treasures, you’ll find regal statues of Charles I and II looking a bit smug, and sparkling silverware gifted by William of Orange after he thrashed his rival in 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne.
Open daily, the cathedral also hosts spellbinding Evensong services, with music that dates back to the Reformation — ideal if you like your choir with a side of history. And if you're feeling brave (or simply bell-curious), guided tours up to the belfry let you ring a bell and enjoy panoramic views over the city.
Let’s just say: it’s not your average Sunday visit.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dublin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ϳԹ: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Christ Church Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: Christ Church Cathedral
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Dublin, Ireland
Create Your Own Walk in Dublin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Dublin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
A Walk Along Liffey River
The River Liffey — Dublin’s liquid backbone — slices through the Irish capital like a great shimmering bookmark, separating the Northside from the Southside in a civil yet longstanding sibling rivalry. Stretching around 125 kilometers, this body of water is indeed a living archive, a story that never quite ends. Stroll along its banks, and you’ll find yourself time-traveling without the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Dublin Literary Pubs
The three Ps of Dublin – the pub, the poet, and the pint – have always distinguished the Irish capital as home to some of the most literary pubs in Europe. Indeed, Dublin's public houses, where writers traditionally sharpened their wit, today encapsulate the enchantment of the written word and play a significant role in preserving and celebrating this legacy.
Among these revered... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Among these revered... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Pub Crawl
The Irish in general and Dubliners in particular are known for their passion for whiskey and beer. As you embark upon a beguiling odyssey through the spirited streets of the Irish capital, you can't help noticing the reverberating vibrancy coming from its enchanting pubs. A tapestry of libation-laden lore awaits those who traverse the path of the Dublin pub crawl, guided by the siren call of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
A Walk with Famous Irish Writers
Albeit a small country, Ireland has given the world a plethora of remarkable writers and poets, many of whom were born, lived, and studied in Dublin. Needless to say, as an epicenter of Ireland's literary scene, Dublin boasts a myriad of hallowed locations closely associated with the luminaries of Irish literature, such as James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and many of their... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Dublin Introduction Walking Tour
The Irish capital, Dublin, is a city where history has a pint in one hand and a smartphone in the other. Sitting snugly on Ireland’s east coast, straddling the River Liffey like it owns the place, Dublin is a heady mix of medieval charm, Georgian swagger, and modern-day buzz. The name itself, Dubh Linn (the Celtic expression for “black pool”) sounds mysterious enough — and yes, it refers... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
16 Distinctively Irish Things to Buy in Dublin
The birthplace of many artistic talents, such as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, Dublin is the show-window of Ireland, a small country renowned for its rich cultural scene encompassing music, writing, poetry, dance, craftsmanship and more. The food & drink scene of Dublin (much as the whole of...