Dublin Decoded
Dublin Decoded
5
Historical & Heritage ToursLiterary, Art & Music ToursWalking Tours
10:30 - 17:30
Monday
10:30 - 17:30
Tuesday
10:30 - 17:30
Wednesday
10:30 - 17:30
Thursday
10:30 - 17:30
Friday
10:30 - 17:30
Saturday
10:30 - 17:00
Sunday
11:00 - 17:00
Full view

About
Guided Dublin History and Architectural walking tours from Arran Henderson, historian and Art/ architectural historian from radio & from the old Hidden Dublin column. Both scheduled public tours, 3-6 times a month and (our specialty) pre-booked private tours for your own group, large or small. Corporate and other events also handled. Our walks includes private art tours of the National Gallery of Ireland; walks of Temple Bar, and the extraordinary Liberties district, as well as the south and south-central areas of the city centre, Capel St area, O'Connell St and Parnell Sq; the fascinating, little-visited Grangegorman area, and much more. Themes include Penal and Revolutionary history, social and political change, movements in art and architecture and many insights into Dublin from medieval times to Victorian, Georgian and the Modern eras. As our name suggests, we are passionate about reading the streetscape and buildings of the city, to "decode' and bring its history to life!
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
379 reviews
Excellent
372
Very good
5
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0
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Mike M
Dublin, Ireland6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We did the tour of Dublin City's Medieval walls, taking about two hours at a leisurely pace. I knew of the existence of fragments of these walls in a few places (the Wood Quay Venue and behind Tailors' Hall) so it was a surprise to find more pieces still standing (although in some places just the original footings).
Arran gave us maps tracing the original line of the walls along with their gates and towers. It was a defensive system encircling the high ground around Cornmarket/Christchurch with Dublin Castle at its easternmost side. It replaced a Viking mound/ditch topped by a wooden palisade defense.
Arran delivers a smashing talk at each location filled with commentary on the places, architecture, the trades that made the city wealthy and the historical figures and events.
Do not miss these tours.
Arran gave us maps tracing the original line of the walls along with their gates and towers. It was a defensive system encircling the high ground around Cornmarket/Christchurch with Dublin Castle at its easternmost side. It replaced a Viking mound/ditch topped by a wooden palisade defense.
Arran delivers a smashing talk at each location filled with commentary on the places, architecture, the trades that made the city wealthy and the historical figures and events.
Do not miss these tours.
Written 6 August 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.
Stephen WB
4 contributions
Nov 2022
The guide dripped with enthusiasm and fascinating facts about Dublin City's Medieval walls. (I believe he has other tours, check out their website). He had very helpful aides for communicating throughout the tour so and we followed his lead with an earpiece and maps. It was also a very healthy walk at two hours, a terrific day out. Despite being locals, my wife and I learned new things about our city's heritage and I'd also recommend it for visitors as he's very good at explanations..
Written 24 November 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.
Stephen D
3 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
My dad and I went on Arrans tour of Dublin Medieval Walls today . It was really interesting and Arran knew so much detail about the parts of Dublin we visited. The tour lasted over 2 hours but the time flew by as we visited sites that I had walked past many times without knowing the history behind them. From Hanging Towers to hidden postern doors, every stop on the tour reveals something new. Highly recommended for Dubliners who want to know their city and also for visitors who want more than expensive beer in Temple Bar (the tour starts a stones throw from the pubs and restaurants of Temple Bar).
Written 22 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.
Jennifer J
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Solo
I enjoyed the two hour walking tour of Rathmines today with Arran Henderon of Dublin Decoded in glorious sunshine. It was great to see the place in a different light as he pointed out beautiful architectural features in old buildings such as Kensington Lodge and the old YMCA (1911) and Carnegie Library, and newer buildings like the Kodak building and the Post Office. We finished up at the neo Gothic church, The Holy Trinity, designed by John Semple with its quirky pinnacles . It was fun and well organised with head sets to help when the traffic was noisy. We stopped at a house where Lafcadio Hearne once lived. There were no Japanese visitors on tour but if there were they' would probably have heard of this Irish man. A fun day with a superb guide who loves his city and can entertain as well as inform his group. Thanks Arran!
Written 26 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.
bjwvm
Indianapolis, IN6 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
I had the pleasure of a Dublin tour with Aaron. Prior to the tour he asked about my interests and then planned a bespoke tour for me. He is very knowlegeable and interesting regarding the gems in Dublin. From a small church with beautiful paintings, to the House of Lords, a ruined tower, a bit about Handel, a lovely section of Temple Bar, a photo exhibit, good places to eat, just to name a few; this was a remarkable tour. We ended at a place I always wanted to visit as I have read about it in books, The Four Courts. We were allowed to enter the beautiful rotunda. Since this is a working court we could go no further. The outside of Four Courts is such an architectural beauty. This tour was one of the highlights of my time in Dublin, and I highly recommend Dublin Decoded. Tours are offered monthly for groups or private tours are available.
Written 4 November 2024
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.
jkg
Antony, France5 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
I registered a trip advisor account solely to write a review for this tour....I personally had a rather negative experience on his "Dublin's older theater history" that I booked with the Dublin Theater Festival. I had 20-30% of content on theater, the rest of time the guide constantly restates how he is fascinated by the churches and walls and has tours on those topics and talks about other historical stuff that is nothing theater. I'd say this person probably has a good knowledge but is by no means an engaging speaker : did not check people's expectation, nor their knowledge on Ireland or Dublin or theater, did not structure his introduction, asked for no interaction. Most of the time I wondered how I ended up listening to very irrelevant words, if I were in anyway interested in knowing which tower of the castle survived the fire I would have booked a tour on that. The lack of professionalism was striking, striking
Written 8 October 2024
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.
AggiUggi
Dublin, Ireland15 contributions
Nov 2022
Just did the Medieval Walls walk with Arran, who is one of the most engaging and knowledgeable guides I have come across; very fun and so much to learn every time.
Arran has a wonderful understanding of the long history of Dublin so always has some more context to add as you walk around.
The tech setup with headphones is excellent, so no difficulties with hearing what is being said, or keeping up.
Arran has a wonderful understanding of the long history of Dublin so always has some more context to add as you walk around.
The tech setup with headphones is excellent, so no difficulties with hearing what is being said, or keeping up.
Written 24 November 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.
GordyOrly
Dublin42 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
As someone who has lived in Dublin my entire life I learned so much about my city in the Walled Dublin walking tour. Places I had walked past hundreds of times were revealed to me and it was a lovely experience wandering around the city on a gorgeous sunny day. Would highly recommend.
Written 3 October 2024
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.
Mary Hatch
Dublin, Ireland4 contributions
Mar 2023
I have taken walking tours in many parts of the world (including my home town of Dublin). Without a doubt, though, I have never, before last Saturday, encountered a tour guide so engaging and informative as Arran Henderson of Dublin Decoded (a tour offered by the wonderful Little Museum of Dublin). He speaks entertainingly with a great depth and breadth of knowledge about the fascinating buildings and places he reveals, and about the work and craftsmanship of their creators. Indeed, it sometimes feels as though he was personally acquainted with those creators.
My only disappointment was discovering that I have commitments that clash with his forthcoming tours of Dublin's medieval walls and "Drama and Politics in Dublin's Medieval Core". I do hope these are regular offerings!
My only disappointment was discovering that I have commitments that clash with his forthcoming tours of Dublin's medieval walls and "Drama and Politics in Dublin's Medieval Core". I do hope these are regular offerings!
Written 12 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.
Bernie T
17 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Even though I lived in Dublins historic Liberties for 7 years Arran Henderson Dublin Decoded tour of the Medieval walls and beginnings of viking Dublin was a treat for myself and two friends. We met in Crow Street Temple bar. Arran marries architechture, old etchings, historic facts, the economics of the time with enthusiasm and little know facts. Bring a Hat, umbrella raincoat, flat shoes for comfort in our 4 seasons in one day weather. Route follows all of the old walls and more. Several other walks are planned.
Written 6 August 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.
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