River Liffey: Our most recommended tours and activities

Dublin: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Live Guide

1. Dublin: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Live Guide

Discover the magic of Dublin with our hop-on hop-off bus tour! With a 24,48, or 72-hour ticket, you can explore the city's top sights, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle, and St. Stephen’s Green at your own pace. Starting at Upper O'Connell Street, the Red Line has 25 stops packed full of Irish fun. Hop on and off the bus as many times as you wish within your ticket validity, and with buses passing through every 30 minutes, you can rejoin the tour when you're ready. Explore the beauty of Nassau Street and plan a visit to the National Art Gallery. Discover Merrion Square and stroll around the Georgian-style gardens before grabbing a bite to eat in Temple Bar. Don't forget to visit two of the most well-known cathedrals in Ireland - The Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's. And if you really want to experience the Dublin lifestyle, quench your thirst with a nice, cold pint of Guinness, freshly made from the Guinness Storehouse. But that's not all! Join the optional Yellow Umbrella Walking Tour to delve into the mysteries of Dublin, visit Trinity College, and explore the vibrant city center with our charming and witty guides. For a fun evening out, take our Panoramic Night Tour where our live guide shares the fascinating tales of the city as you cruise along its illuminated streets. Hear the hidden stories and exciting history with a locals' look into Dublin's traditions, architecture, and most memorable characters. Looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a trip to the Irish countryside? Our half-day Coastal Tour is perfect! Visit scenic Howth Summit and its fishing village to explore the cliffs on a guided walking tour and stroll through the picturesque Village on your own time. Try a delicious seafood dinner caught fresh from the shores before returning home. Experience Dublin like never before, with the freedom to explore where you want, when you want!

Dublin: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Irish Famine History Tour

2. Dublin: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Irish Famine History Tour

Climb aboard the Jeanie Johnston and learn about the one million Irish people that fled Ireland during the famine. 2,500 took a gruelling voyage on the Jeanie Johnston. Take a journey back in time, get an insight into life on board a Famine ship and hear the stories of the people who made the arduous voyage. Above Deck Experience the Wonder of a Tall Ship We begin with a walk around the upper deck, where you can see the majestic masts, admire the craftsmanship and learn about the ship’s history. Take in the sights and sounds of Dublin’s Docklands from a unique perspective. Feel the wind in your hair, breathe in that salty sea air and listen to the gulls calling overhead. Get a snap of yourself on one of the area’s most photographed attractions. Hear the fascinating history of tall ships and the shipping trade in the 19th Century. Learn all about the original Jeanie Johnston. Hear about the building of the replica ship. Below Deck Hear the Remarkable Stories of her Passengers and Crew Take a deep breath and go below deck to experience the cramped quarters where up to 250 passengers spent most of their time, only emerging for a half an hour of fresh air each day. Meet some of the passengers and crew. Hear their personal stories. Find out how they paid for their crossing See what they ate on the long voyage. Imagine what life was like on-board. Learn about their grim voyage in cramped and filthy conditions and the risks they faced from disease, starvation and disaster. Hear how they passed the time. Discover what fates awaited them at their destination.

Dublin City: Guided Cycle Tour

3. Dublin City: Guided Cycle Tour

Grab a set of wheels for an active bicycle 2.5-hour tour around Dublin city and discover the city’s most famous sites alongside a fully qualified ‘Failte Ireland’ national tour guide. Begin our tour at in Whitefriar Place near St. Stephen’s Green and set off to explore Dublin’s canals and the River Liffey, Georgian Dublin with its grand 18th-century houses, beautiful parks, and Norman Dublin’s castles and cathedrals. Get an insight into the culture of Dublin’s writers, painters, poets, and special characters and visit places of revolution and war from Dublin’s turbulent history.  As you cycle around in the streets of Dublin, your guide will point out all the good pubs and traditional music venues along the route- If there is enough time you might even be able to stop at one.

Dublin: Sightseeing Walking Tour in German

4. Dublin: Sightseeing Walking Tour in German

Please note that all visits are external, but opportunities will be available for such visits after the tour. •City Hall •Dublin Castle grounds & gardens •Christ Church Cathedral •Fishamble Street & Smock Alley •Meeting House Square, Temple Bar •Millennium Bridge & River Liffey •Italian Quarter •St Mary’s Church (now a famous café/bar) •Henry & Moore Streets •O’Connell Street •General Post Office •O’Connell Monument •Former Parliament House (bank of Ireland) •Finish outside Trinity College with its famed Book of Kells This exceptional and easy-going tour is one of the best introductions to Dublin’s rich history and culture. Enjoy this small-group experience. Maximum numbers on tour limited to 16 people and is often less. Additional guides are provided where required. (effective from 01 April 2023).The walk takes you to many of Dublin’s icons and also brings you to some wonderful hidden spots too. If you are looking for a comprehensive tour that introduces you to the best of the city centre, on both sides of the River Liffey, then this is the tour for you. Starting from Dame Street you will wind your way through the former Viking & Medieval Quarter including Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral before wheeling around through Temple Bar and across to the River Liffey to the Northside City and onto the main historic street, O’Connell Street. We will pass by the General Post Office which housed the headquarters of the rebels of the 1916 Rising which resulted in the then destruction of this building and almost the entire street and surrounds. We will finish around Trinity College and the former 18th century Houses of Parliament. All these places certainly have their interesting histories, but the human stories associated with them often capture more than just their eventful past. Our dedicated guides will share their love for the city with you and make you feel like a true Dubliner. To crown all this, the tour will also introduce you to many secret gems and surprises that visitors and even Dubliners often miss. Find Dublin’s first but now defunct full-time cinema, a church that’s not a church, a former Lisbon tram now serving as a café. Discover an amusing representation of a da Vinci painting, feel the bounce of a wobbly bridge and enjoy the tale of a post-box that represents Ireland’s transition to independence. And not forgetting a stark-naked representation of a very famous 18th century composer!

Dublin: Music Under the Bridges Kayaking Tour

5. Dublin: Music Under the Bridges Kayaking Tour

After meeting your guide on the River Liffey, head into the changing rooms to store any valuables, or change out of any clothes you don’t want to get wet. Then you’re off to experience the unique combination of kayaking and music. Over the course of your 2.5-hour tour, some of the best musicians in town will play for you under the most iconic bridges of Dublin. After hopping aboard your sit-on-top kayaks, paddle towards the city center, where you’ll be met by talented local musicians, serenading you at every turn. Enjoy the otherworldly acoustics and one-of-a-kind atmosphere as the musicians play original songs, mixed in with a touch of poetry and history. This private concert sums up what the city is about — good "craic" with friends, laughing, singing along, and breathtaking city views.

Dublin: Highlights and Hidden Corners Walking Tour

6. Dublin: Highlights and Hidden Corners Walking Tour

Please note that all visits are external, but opportunities will be available for such visits after the tour. •City Hall •Dublin Castle grounds & gardens •Christ Church Cathedral •Fishamble Street & Smock Alley •Meeting House Square, Temple Bar •Millennium Bridge & River Liffey •Italian Quarter •St Mary’s Church (now a famous café/bar) •Henry & Moore Streets •O’Connell Street •General Post Office •O’Connell Monument •Former Parliament House (bank of Ireland) •Finish outside Trinity College with its famed Book of Kells This exceptional and easy-going tour is one of the best introductions to Dublin’s rich history and culture. Enjoy this small-group experience. Maximum numbers on tour limited to 16 people and is often less. Additional guides are provided where required. (effective from 01 April 2023).The walk takes you to many of Dublin’s icons and also brings you to some wonderful hidden spots too. If you are looking for a comprehensive tour that introduces you to the best of the city centre, on both sides of the River Liffey, then this is the tour for you. Starting from Dame Street you will wind your way through the former Viking & Medieval Quarter including Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral before wheeling around through Temple Bar and across to the River Liffey to the Northside City and onto the main historic street, O’Connell Street. We will pass by the General Post Office which housed the headquarters of the rebels of the 1916 Rising which resulted in the then destruction of this building and almost the entire street and surrounds. We will finish around Trinity College and the former 18th century Houses of Parliament. All these places certainly have their interesting histories, but the human stories associated with them often capture more than just their eventful past. Our dedicated guides will share their love for the city with you and make you feel like a true Dubliner. To crown all this, the tour will also introduce you to many secret gems and surprises that visitors and even Dubliners often miss. Find Dublin’s first but now defunct full-time cinema, a church that’s not a church, a former Lisbon tram now serving as a café. Discover an amusing representation of a da Vinci painting, feel the bounce of a wobbly bridge and enjoy the tale of a post-box that represents Ireland’s transition to independence. And not forgetting a stark-naked representation of a very famous 18th century composer!

Dublin: Guided Delicious Donut Tour with Tastings

7. Dublin: Guided Delicious Donut Tour with Tastings

Our tour begins near St. Stephen’s Green at The Rolling Donut, one of Dublin’s original doughnut shops. The Rolling Donut has an amazing selection of doughnuts to sample and you can see many of them in the photo above. While we’re there, we’ll try some of their signature flavors and talk a bit about the history of Dublin and the surrounding neighborhood. From there, we’ll walk up Grafton street on our way to visit Molly Malone and learn a bit about how she fits into the history of Dublin. At our second stop, we’ll try some traditional Irish churros . Believe me, churros might not be traditional to Dublin, but these churros are delicious nonetheless. Walking through Temple Bar, we’ll make our way to our third stop, which is one of the best doughnut shops you’ll ever visit in Dublin or elsewhere. Make sure to pace yourself at this point, because we have one last stop to see. After crossing the River Liffey and taking in the beautiful sites along the river, we’ll make our last stop at Offbeat Donuts. We hope you can join us on our doughnut adventure. We look forward to hosting you soon!

Dublin: Jameson Whiskey Distillery & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

8. Dublin: Jameson Whiskey Distillery & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Enjoy the convenience of a hop-on hop-off bus and the immersive experience of a Jameson Distillery tour with one ticket. Explore Dublin at your own pace and gain a deeper understanding of its rich history and culture. Additionally, enjoy a walking tour of the city. Get your Jameson whiskey straight from the source on a fully guided tour of the Jameson Distillery which stands as a monument to Irish whiskey. Learn about the distilling process, sample whiskeys, and sip a Jameson cocktail in the distillery bar. At the end of the tour, enjoy a free Jameson drink. After the distillery tour, jump aboard a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Dublin. Join a route designed to discover all of the top Dublin tourist attractions. Explore the beauty of Nassau Street and plan a visit to the National Art Gallery. See Merrion Square and stroll around the Georgian-style gardens before grabbing a bite to eat in Temple Bar. Visit two of the most well-known cathedrals in Ireland – The Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. If you really want to experience the Dublin lifestyle, quench your thirst with a nice, cold pint of Guinness, freshly made from the Guinness Storehouse. Let expert local guides share the history and hidden stories of the city, as well as a few hidden gems off the beaten path. Start the Red Loop at Upper O'Connell Street, with over 20 stops packed full of Irish fun, including Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, Guinness Storehouse, Book of Kells, St. Stephen’s Green, and Jameson Distillery. Hop on and off the bus as many times as you wish and track bus arrivals with a mobile app. Join a Yellow Umbrella Walking Tour, a perfect complement to your bus tour. Visit some of the city's hidden spots, often located on narrow streets where the bus won't fit down. Delve into the mysteries of Dublin, visiting Trinity College and exploring the vibrant city center with witty guides.

Dublin: History & Culture walking tour

9. Dublin: History & Culture walking tour

This tour of Dublin's Fair City will take you right back to the beginning of it all. From the old Gaelic settlements to the coming of the Norsemen and the foundation of the old Viking city of 'Dyflin'. Through the epic battles between Irish Kings, to the Norman invasions and the colonization by an Empire. All of our guides are native Dubliners with a wealth of experience in history, culture, architecture and entertainment. Your tour will be delivered in a compelling and engaging fashion, allowing for interaction, questions and fun. Tours are updated as more of our history is uncovered through archeaology and genealogy . Your walking tour will begin at the centre of 'Viking' Dublin, taking in Wood Quay, the old city walls and Christ Church Cathedral. We will make our way through the iconic Temple Bar area and then to Dublin Castle, the site of the place that gave Dublin it's name and the seat of British rule in Ireland for over 700 years. Then onward to the majestic grounds of Trinity College (founded in 1593) where people such as Oscar Wilde and W.B Yeats received their education. We will then head north accross the River Liffey, passing landmarks like the Long Stone of Ivar The Boneless and the original Irish parliment building along the way. We shall cross the iconic O'Connell bridge, where you will learn about the emancipation of the Catholics of Ireland and see the site where the the 1916 Rebellion began, the Dublin G.P.O. Heading Eastward along the quays of the Liffey, you will see beautiful buildings like the Customs House (1781) The Great Hunger Memorial and the 'Jeanie Johnston' ship. We shall cross back to the Southside over the Samuel Beckett bridge, where you will see the business gateway to the E.U, The Grand Canal Docks, home of many tech and software companies such as Google, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and many more. Here, you will also see The beautiful Grand Canal Theatre (Bord Gais Energy Theatre), with its fantastic architecture and beautiful Modern Art pieces. We will then make our way to Georgian Dublin with it's beautiful 18th and 19th Century houses, buildings and park and home to people like Oscar Wilde. W.B Yeats and Daniel O'Connell. Yout tour will end with a casual stroll in the beautiful Saint Stephen's Green Park, in the exclusive Grafton Street shopping district.

Dublin: Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Tour of Temple Bar

10. Dublin: Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Tour of Temple Bar

Take a stroll through the vibrant pub-lined streets of Dublin’s Temple Bar district on a smartphone-powered audio tour. Go beyond the music and watering holes, and hear about some of the most interesting people connected to the district’s long history, from the city’s Viking origins, all the way to U2. Start the tour outside the Irish Houses of Parliament and along the way, you can quench your thirst at one of Temple Bar’s best pubs including the Porterhouse, Temple Bar Pub, Palace Bar (one of Dublin’s oldest pubs), and Foggy Dew (one of Ireland’s first craft beer pubs). Explore the area’s hidden corners and listen to lesser-known stories. Hear about Temple Bar’s origins, find out how it got its name, and discover the best way to enjoy your time here. Also, learn how the local government almost destroyed the whole place in the 1970s. Walk down cobblestoned streets and past a few of the city’s most famous landmarks including the Clarence Hotel, the Merchant’s Arch, the Viking Longboat statue, and Isolde’s Tower. Stand outside the medieval city wall’s boundary line. Along the way, stop by numerous cafés, restaurants, and pubs, like Crown Alley’s Vintage Cocktail Club, the Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi, and House of Read. Find out about the “Hellish” reputation the neighborhood once had. See some of the cultural district’s highlights, like 3 Olympia Theatre and Smock Alley Theatre. Snap photos of the Ha Penny Bridge, O’Connell Bridge, and the River Liffey. Take in the oldest building in all of Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Viking Museum next door, Dublinia. Hear about the famous musicians and poets who have hung around the area since the 1700s, including band U2, parliamentarian Henry Grattan, and German composer, George Frederick Handel. Leave with a greater appreciation for the district and a few stories in your pocket that most visitors never hear.

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What people are saying about River Liffey

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,798 reviews

This was one of my FAV tours! Collin was amazing and shared a lot of interesting facts about Ireland (and Dublin). I love tours which involve physical activity, so this tour was great for me. We were able to bike around the city in Dublin and see all the places we discussed during the tour!!

I learned lot about Dublin's buildings, bridges and history and we laughed a lot!

It's a really good short activity that will give you a lot of Dublins' history

Great experience, and superb explanation on the history behind. Loved it!

Laura is a great guide, seeing the city by bike is something else1