Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral
4.5
12:30 - 15:00
Monday
09:30 - 17:00
Tuesday
09:30 - 17:30
Wednesday
09:30 - 17:00
Thursday
09:30 - 17:30
Friday
09:30 - 17:00
Saturday
09:30 - 17:00
Sunday
12:30 - 15:00
About
Christ Church Cathedral is one of Dublin's oldest buildings, a leading visitor attraction and a place of pilgrimage for almost 1,000 years. Famous for its breathtaking beauty, magnificent architectural features and wonderful floor tiles, Christ Church is also popular as a venue and is host to many high profile concerts throughout the year. It is home to the tomb of Strongbow, leader of the Normans, who captured Dublin in 1170. The Medieval Crypt, the largest in Ireland, extends under the entire Cathedral and contains the mummified Cat and Rat, trapped in the organ in the 1860s. Please note Sunday visiting hours operate around service times. Sunday service times are 11:00-12:30 and 15:30-16:30.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Admission tickets
from
€12.00
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: South City Centre
How to get there
  • Four Courts • 6 min walk
  • Smithfield • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Ronnie B
    Dublin, Ireland5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Emotional visit
    I returned to Dublin after many years abroad, and revisited Christ Church earlier this week. As soon as I walked up I could see changes. The grounds are more landscaped than I remember. The charge of a visitor fee is new too, but understandable. I didn't opt for the audio guide. I prefer to do things at my own speed. Memories came flooding back as I walked up the nave, and when I reached the transepts I was holding back tears I was confirmed into the Church here many decades ago. I remembered some of my school friends who were too. Most of them are no longer with us alas. The crypt is a bit tidier than I remember too. The museum part is very well presented. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. I needed some clarification on a few things and approached a man at the desk. I didn't get his name but he had a real Dublin accent. I had a little chat with him on the way out, and it transpires he was born and bred in the Liberties where I hale from myself. He was very helpful. God bless you all for a lovely visit.
    Hi ronnieB12113. Thank you for a wonderful review and feedback. How lovely to welcome you back to the cathedral after some time, and we hope to welcome you again in the near future, perhaps for one of our weekly services.
    Written 25 June 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 May 2024
  • Damon
    103 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Organ recital in an ideal venue
    We went to Christ Church for a free organ recital which is weekly during the summer season. The concert series is open to everyone and admission is free with a donation requested. The concert lasted 45 minutes and was excellent - IMHO there is nothing like the spectacular nature of a church organ played in a cathedral by an expert organist in our case it was James Short. If you like organ music we highly recommend attending one (or more!) of the series - we greatly enjoyed it!
    Thank you for the five star review and for joining in on our organ recital. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed it. We will make sure to pass on the message to James.
    Written 18 June 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 June 2024
  • Василий Х
    Moscow, Russia221 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A trip to Ireland.
    A huge cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows, although they were already made in the 19th century. The crypt contains exhibits from the cathedral's stores and a gift shop. The mummies of a rat and a cat whose mummified bodies were found in the cathedral organ are housed. Probably got there while the cat was hunting a rat. We couldn't get out. You can purchase a guide to the Cathedral in Russian.
    Thank you B2505VL_, for the 4 stars. We're happy to hear you enjoy your visit!
    Written 12 September 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 September 2024
  • redeco
    Warren, Massachusetts9,433 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Thirteenth Century Marvel
    Christ Church is steeped in history...started by the first bishop of Dublin, the church was rebuilt and completed in the 1230's. The Gothic character of the architecture is a marvel and the grounds are free to visit. Admission is required to tour the church and tickets are available at the ticket desk. The admission is free with a Dublin Pass. My friends and I didn't choose to do the tour, so we were unable to view the Crypt...however, we enjoyed a pleasant half hour viewing the exterior of this remarkable cathedral. Enjoy!
    Thanks Redeco for the review and feedback. We hope to welcome you back for a full visit inside in the near future!
    Written 25 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 12 October 2024
  • CHRISTIAN V
    Ostend, Belgium617 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    ESPECIALLY FOR CRYPT
    The cathedral is splendid and we will not dwell too much on describing all the aspects of it much better explained in the specialized guides. However, a very special word for the crypt that we did not know existed. Exceptional, under low arched vaults of old stones, it is full of treasures of goldsmiths, costumes and other elements found during the various excavations and restorations. In addition, the cathedral can be visited in association with the Dubliana Museum to which it is attached.
    Thank you 128christianv for a wonderful review. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your visit so much!
    Written 29 November 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 15 November 2024
  • Ирина К
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unusual
    The temple was originally called Harold's Cross Church. It was built in 1838 by architects John Loosch and brothers R. and W. Tauf. The south-west bell tower was added in 1914, but was recently removed due to security concerns. The first priest was Robert James McGee, and a house for the parish priest was built between 1875 and 1880 on the corner of Harold's Cross and Leinster Road West. The building looks like a castle and can give the wrong impression of what's inside. There is a beautiful blue corrugated ceiling supported by slender columns and a melodic organ in the back gallery. There are also many beautiful colored windows, among which is one that was voted the most beautiful in 1960. It was made by renowned Irish glass artist Catherine A. O'Brien of An Tur Gloine Art Studio. She passed away in 1936. This window is called the Good Samaritan and reflects the spirit of charity in the Harold's Cross area, which supports the Poor Clares shelter. On the ground floor and in the gallery you can still see old fireplaces that once worked.
    Visited December 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 December 2024
  • luciussilvae
    Vilvoorde, Belgium5,474 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Over 1000 years of church history
    Christ Church Cathedral is a thousand year old church that had its origins as a Viking church. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Dublin and has a very rich and filled history. Including transition from the Church of Ireland to the Church of England and back. Very specific to this structure is also the air bridge over Winetavern Street that connects the cathedral to St Michael’s Tower the Archangel (Dublinia)
    Visited December 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles4,660 reviews
Excellent
2,471
Very good
1,586
Average
490
Poor
85
Terrible
28

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Maria C
Loughton, UK156 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Friends
We were lucky that, when we arrived a local school choir were singing Christmas hymns and, we were able to sit and watch and take it all in which was a wonderful experience.

We also did the full tour but as we were short on time we decided not to use the optional audio guide.

The staff here were very friendly and helpful and the entrance fee is reasonable for the amount of interesting things to view.

The crypt has a small gift shop and an area where you can dress in medieval style clothing, which was popular with many of the visitors.

There are also toilet facilities in the crypt.

I would definetly visit again.
Written 22 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Maria for such a detailed review and feedback, we really appreciate it. We're delighted that you enjoyed your visit so much and the bonus of a school choir performing their Christmas carol service. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future!
Written 5 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

kwagmeister
Newburgh, IN1,646 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Beautiful cathedral - don’t miss the crypt!
After you enter and pay your admission you’ll scan a QR code to bring up the audio guide on your phone (very 21st century!). The stories told are what makes the visit all the more interesting.
Down in the crypt is some beautiful Eucharist plates and chalices, as well as the Black Book…..Magna Carta buffs won’t want to miss a glimpse of that. I could have done without the skeletal remains of the cat and rat, but as they were next to the gift shop (which was lovely) I had to take a look.
this is a must visit and just steps from St. Patrick’s cathedral.
Written 13 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi kwagmeister. Thanks for visiting the cathedral and supporting us. We're thrilled to read your feedback and to learn you thoroughly enjoyed your visit. Enjoy the rest of your time in Dublin!
Written 19 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lita L
99 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
Instead of paying the price of admission to tour the cathedral, we decided to join their 3:30pm Choral Evensong (45-min). Truly a slice of heaven on earth! I've experience Evensongs at St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, York Cathedral, Sagrada Familia, and more. Christ Church Cathedral choir ranks high on the list.
Written 29 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you 648lital for the wonderful review. We're really thrilled with this feedback, and appreciate it so much. Hope to welcome you back soon in the future!
Written 4 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John Ryan
Dublin, Ireland17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Business
Visited the Cathedral on March 7th with some colleagues from the DoDublin tours and had the pleasure of Darragh Daly giving us his tour. As guides ourselves, it was a great experience to be tourists in our own town in one of our most iconic landmarks and to have such a great character show us around. His stories of the history of the Cathedral, the people associated with it and the people who have visited it over the years were brilliant. To top it off we then climbed the 13th century staircase to the Bell tower to ring the bells across the city. A very memorable experience. Live in the town you love and love the town you live in. Thanks Darragh and all at the Cathedral. A must do for visitors and locals alike.
Written 17 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Fine P for a brilliant review. We were delighted to welcome you and some of the other new DoDublin drivers. We'll happily share this feedback with the wider team, especially Daire. Best of luck with the season ahead!
Written 31 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

EigTravel100
583 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Beautiful place, well maintained with the possibility of listening to the audio guide for free on your mobile phone.
Like all
Churches is paid, we took the combined ticket with the Dublinia museum (saving a few euros).
The prices of the souvenirs are a bit expensive, the biscuits and sweets can be found in other souvenir centers saving even 1/2€
Google
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you EigTravel100 for visiting and supporting the cathedral, and for posting a detailed and helpful 5-star review.
Written 3 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Brienbut
Blind Bay, Canada527 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Christ Church Cathedral was a highlight in Dublin. We spent three hours in the Cathedral, wandering around on our own. We were provided with a download that would explain each of the stops along the way but wifi reception was spotty especially in the crypts. When you enter the Cathedral you are struck by the beautiful arches overhead, the stained glass windows, the baptistry, the nave, the pulpit and pipe organ. There are crypts below the Church itself that contain artifacts and collections, It is very well laid out and very interesting. We were treated to a choir performance for a Norwegian choir and the acoustics were a marvel. Make sure you visit this cathedral.
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Brienbut for the wonderfully detailed review, we really appreciate the feedback and support!
Written 6 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

lauradoll78
Durham, UK65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Family
Great place to visit and loved the option of an audio or written guide, my son loved the audio guide and could navigate this himself. As a cathedral lover it’s always nice to visit somewhere new. It’s a small but pretty cathedral and the treasures and fun facts (Rat and the Cat) were good to learn about.
Written 17 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi lauradoll78, Many thanks for visiting Christ Church Cathedral, and for posting a review onTripAdvisor. We're really thrilled to receive such a lovely (!) review, and appreciate your kind feedback. We will be happy to share with the team, and we hope that you had just as pleasant a remaining trip in Dublin.
Written 19 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KarenM1_10
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan1,041 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
If you only plan to visit one cathedral in Dublin, in my opinion, this is the one to see. The cathedral is visually stunning on the inside and out. It is a feast of the eyes. On the inside you don’t know where to look first: at the ceilings or the intricate design on the floor. I particularly loved the beautiful stained-glass windows and organ. We went downstairs to view the crypt and were surprised to see how large it was. We did not expect this. Also, downstairs is a large souvenir store. Allow at least an hour to visit. We did not buy advance tickets and had no issues getting in.
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deirdre S
Meath69 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Friends
I had the privilege of attending Evensong in Christchurch. There was a choir of girls visiting from Cambridge and their voices were ethereal. The acoustics were literally out of this world and balm for the soul.
Wonderful guide Tom was so helpful and welcoming that it was just the best experience of our Dublin trip.
Written 12 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you MeathDeirdre for an absolutely wonderful review. We appreciate the feedback immensely!
Written 21 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lazaro M
Miami Beach, FL115 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
It looks bigger in pictures. It's free to get in. Basically, it's a regular church with a lot of history. I did not know until after I left that you could visit the crypts in the basement. A lot of people visit each day but the crowds don't pose a problem because there is a lot of space to walk around.
Written 6 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Lazaro M, Thank you for your review, we really appreciate your feedback. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your visit to the cathedral and we hope to welcome you back to have a look at the crypt as well in the very near future.
Written 8 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

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