Kilmainham Gaol Museum, Dublin
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
4.5
About
This bleak old jail was notorious in the 19th century for its harsh treatment of prisoners.
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Kilmainham
How to get there
- Suir Road • 8 min walk
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
1,980 within 5 kms

La Dolce Vita
555
0.1 km€€ - €€€ • Italian • Pizza • European

Limetree Cafe
308
37 m€ • Quick Bites • Irish • Cafe

BRÚ House Kilmainham
588
0.3 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • European • Contemporary

The Patriots Inn
440
0.1 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Bar • Pub

Hilton Dublin Kilmainham Restaurant
131
0.4 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Bar • Pub

The Officers Mess Cafe
20
0.3 km€€ - €€€ • Cafe

The Glen of Aherlow - Donoghue's
14
0.1 km€ • Pub

Broyage Bar & Bistro
44
95 m€€ - €€€ • Irish • Bar • Pub

Newland Chinese
14
0.2 kmChinese • Fast food • Asian

Brambles Cafe - Kilmainham Gaol
2
0.4 km€€ - €€€ • Irish
Attractions
624 within 10 kms

The Proclamation Sculpture
6
34 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks

War Memorial Gardens
226
0.5 kmGardens

St. Michael's Church
2
0.4 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals

St. Jude's Church of Ireland Tower
1
0.4 kmAncient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Pearse Lyons Distillery
495
1.3 kmDistilleries

Guinness Storehouse
47,147
1.5 kmSpeciality Museums • Historic Sites

Royal Hospital Kilmainham
116
0.7 kmHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings

The Little Museum of Dublin
12,086
3.4 kmSpeciality Museums • History Museums

Roe & Co Distillery
230
1.6 kmDistilleries

Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)
537
0.6 kmArt Museums
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
26,863 reviews
Excellent
19,264
Very good
5,886
Average
1,222
Poor
258
Terrible
234
JET1955
Bournemouth, UK15 contributions
May 2022
Well worth the trip out to Kilmainham from the city centre. Very informative about the history of the gaol.
Written 24 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Michelle France... C
10 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Absolutely charmed at the guided tour. We had Ellen and she was so knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. We learned so much and really enjoyed ourselves. It’s essential to visit this place at least once. So humbling yet enlightening.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jessica S
16 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
Excellent! You MUST book tour ahead of time, don’t be disheartened if there aren’t tickets available initially. We kept checking and tickets were released as people cancelled. Tour was excellent, great way to get a interesting history of Ireland. Our guide Emma was excellent, answered lots of questions and explained things really well. Great value for money too. One of my favourite things I’ve done in Dublin.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
RoadWarrier99999
Isle of Palms, SC487 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
A well organized presentation of a place with very significant history. Our guide did a thorough job of informing and entertaining, offering anecdotes from the lives of those who have spent time and suffered there. Well worth a visit.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Karen W
26 contributions
May 2022 • Solo
Really interesting place, you get a guided tour round and it’s really informative, the only downside is sometimes it’s a bit rushed and you don’t get to have a proper look around. Some parts are closed off because they are still doing them up but I’m nosey so I wanted be able to wonder round but you can’t.
Written 21 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Alessandro M
Padua, Italy9 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
The visit at the Kilmainham Gaol is a must to do in Dublin. We had the pleasure to be guided throughout the itinerary by Orla, the local guide that passionately explained us the history of the prison, of its inmate and the historical background of Ireland during the years while the prison was actively operating. The whole visit was really interesting and gives a dept insight of the vicissitudes that interested Ireland especially in relation of its independence.
One of the most interesting sites to discover Ireland and its history.
Totally suggested to book the visit way in advance as it’s really difficult to find a free spot.
One of the most interesting sites to discover Ireland and its history.
Totally suggested to book the visit way in advance as it’s really difficult to find a free spot.
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sandra S
Island of Malta, Malta8 contributions
May 2022
BIG TIP - Do book ahead of time as it is truly worth the visit.
Our tour guide EMMA was fantastic - she made the history of the gaol extremely interesting and detailed. I would have loved to hear more about the women who had been gaoled there, their backgrounds and history, but time was limited. However, Emma was brilliant and really help us to "feel" the experience. She was certainly patient with the never ending questions and with me, as I wanted to capture as much as I could with my camera so at times lagged behind!!. Thank you!!!
Our tour guide EMMA was fantastic - she made the history of the gaol extremely interesting and detailed. I would have loved to hear more about the women who had been gaoled there, their backgrounds and history, but time was limited. However, Emma was brilliant and really help us to "feel" the experience. She was certainly patient with the never ending questions and with me, as I wanted to capture as much as I could with my camera so at times lagged behind!!. Thank you!!!
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
gourmetflaneur
York, UK1,063 contributions
May 2022
This is truly worth a visit. The gaol as gaol in impressive. As a significant part in the liberation of Ireland it is impressive through the story telling of the guides. They do a marvellous job. Highly recommended.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jay F
2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Highly recommend this guided tour around Kilmainham Gaol, our tour guide Adam was amazing and very funny. We learned so much from him and enjoyed every minute. He is a credit to the place.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
I will be doing both Guinness Brewery tour and Kilmainham tour on the same day. With only half an hour between them.
I know my Brewery tour ticket includes a free beer. If I consume the beer, I doubt I will become tipsy, but people might smell the alchohol in my breath. Will they allow me into Kilmainham after I drink a beer?
palmtree34
Burlington, Canada3,944 contributions
No one will be that close to you to smell it . If they do no one would say anything it’s just a walking tour .
We did Guinness first then grabbed taxi to goal as it’s a fair walk .
can u book and pay when u visit
Juan Poz
2 contributions
No, you previously have to book it on-line. You can do it there, of course, but you're exposed to find the day, as it was our case, not available.
do u have to pay when u book. or can pay on the day
Paul O
County Monaghan, Ireland2,110 contributions
Pay when you book online
chrillla
Euskirchen, Germany
Eine online Buchung klappt irgendwie nicht. Hat da jmd Erfahrungen?
2013Iain2013
Ireland124 contributions
Wir haben letzten Sommer damit keine Probleme gehabt. Vielleicht noch einmal probieren..?
Midlandsfamily50
12 contributions
Hi, how long are the restricted access free COVID tours?
2013Iain2013
Ireland124 contributions
About half an hour then as long as you wish in the museum at the end of the tour.
lishaobrien
Horncastle, UK4 contributions
how long are the tours?
Suzannemichelle
Kelowna, Canada38 contributions
It was an hour and a half.
E M
Glasgow, UK34 contributions
Hi
Been looking daily to buy tickets , can anyone advise what time of day the advance online tickets are released? Many thanks
Natasha D
Burnley, UK90 contributions
at the moment they are doing renovations so only doing half hour tours at the moment we just turned up on the day it was 3 euros and brilliant can not wait to return and do the full tour
Scott C
Glasgow, UK66 contributions
Could anyone help. Ave been onto the kilmainham Gaol website for tickets. Only for the site to say the whole of February is booked. Just looking for some other avenues to obtain tickets for Saturday afternoon 15th February. Any help would be very much appreciated.
sean g
Wicklow, Ireland12 contributions
I was with a Parkinson's group, picked our date, contacted Gaol and tickets made available. Perfect
Frequently Asked Questions about Kilmainham Gaol Museum
- We recommend booking Kilmainham Gaol Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 16 Kilmainham Gaol Museum tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Kilmainham Gaol Museum:
- (0.10 km) Hilton Dublin Kilmainham
- (1.89 km) Zanzibar Locke
- (1.40 km) Ashling Hotel
- (0.59 km) Portland House
- (2.41 km) Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin
- Restaurants near Kilmainham Gaol Museum:
- (0.04 km) Limetree Cafe
- (0.13 km) La Dolce Vita
- (0.12 km) The Patriots Inn
- (0.09 km) Broyage Bar & Bistro
- (0.15 km) The Glen of Aherlow - Donoghue's
- Attractions near Kilmainham Gaol Museum:
- (0.03 km) The Proclamation Sculpture
- (0.06 km) Dublin Food Co-op
- (0.26 km) Withlocals.com Private Tours in Dublin
- (0.47 km) War Memorial Gardens
- (0.25 km) Battles and Barracks