With its handsome Georgian and classical architecture, the Trinity College campus is a top destination for visitors to the Irish capital. Sightseers can tour the grounds independently or join a guided tour. Most walking tours of Dublin city center include Trinity College, along with other neighboring landmarks, such as the General Post Office (GPO), the Molly Malone statue, and Dublin Castle.
The campus is also home to several standalone attractions including Dublin’s Science Gallery and the Zoological Museum, though the biggest crowd-pleaser is the Book of Kells in the Old Library, visitable for a small fee.
Founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 for the exclusive use of Protestant men, the university now welcomes all religions and genders.
Book an entrance ticket in advance or sign up for an early-access guided tour to see the Book of Kells without the lines and crowds.
As a large portion of the campus is open-air, bring an umbrella and waterproof layer in case of rain.
The parts of Trinity College Dublin visited on a tour are wheelchair accessible, though there are some cobblestones outside the library.
Trinity College is south of Dublin city center, near pedestrian-only Grafton Street. Take the Luas Green Line tram to Stephen’s Green, the Luas Red Line tram to Abbey Street, or the DART train to Dublin Pearse station. From all three, the walk to campus is less than 10 minutes.
Go early in the morning or in the late afternoon to avoid the midday rush. If you plan on seeing the Book of Kells, buy a Trinity College Library ticket in advance, or be prepared to wait in line. Student-led, 30-minute campus tours, which depart from the Main Gate, are available in the summer.
Trinity’s headline attraction is the illustrated 9th-century manuscript known as the Book of Kells. The illuminated manuscript of the four gospels was created by Irish monks, who painstakingly covered each page in elaborate and colorful Celtic-inspired imagery. Four pages from two volumes of the book are displayed in glass cabinets at Trinity College’s Old Library, which also contains an exhibition chronicling the book's creation and storied history.
