Travellers who want to cover a difficult route without hiring a car.
day trips IrelandMe tour notes
5hr or 7hr Dublin City & Bay authentic tour with a true Dubliner
A bespoke 5 or 7-hour private Dublin tour with Éamonn - born and bred Dubliner, in a 7-seat licensed minivan or BMW 7 Series. Hurling, whiskey, history, live music.
From €690 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration7 hours
PriceFrom €690
Rating5.0 from 89 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
Éamonn grew up in Dublin and has spent years thinking about what's actually worth showing people - not the postcard version, but the real one. When you book this tour, the itinerary you see below is a guide, not a script. He'll sit down with you at the start and shape the day around what genuinely interests you. That's why no two tours end up quite the same.
You travel in a licensed 7-passenger air-conditioned minivan with plenty of room to stretch out - or in a BMW 7 Series if your group is up to 3. It's entirely private, so you're not being shuffled along at a bus tour's pace or sharing the commentary with 40 strangers.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
Tell Éamonn what you actually care about before you set off. If someone in your group is obsessed with Irish history, another person wants to try a pint in a real local pub, and a third is mainly there for the views over Dublin Bay - say so. The itinerary genuinely moves around based on what you tell him, so the more specific you are, the better the day gets.
How the experience works
Along the way, you'll hear the stories that don't fit on information boards: the revolutionaries and what they were actually trying to do, what the Famine meant for the people who stayed and the people who left, the history of the Guinness brewery in the Liberties (Éamonn knows this area well), the old whiskey distilleries that became famous and the ones that were forgotten. There are hurling sticks on board if you want a go at Ireland's oldest sport, Irish chocolates, still or sparkling water, and a taste of whiskey if you're inclined.
This doesn't overlap with the standard walking or bus tours. It's built around what a Dubliner thinks matters.
What the price covers
- Private air-conditioned vehicle (7-seat minivan or BMW 7 Series)
- Still or sparkling water
- Hurling sticks on board - have a go
- Irish chocolates
- A taste of whiskey on board, if you'd like
- Live commentary from Éamonn throughout
- Admission and entrance fees at any stops - paid by guests on the day
- Gratuities
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
The itinerary is tailored on the day, but here's a typical shape:
- The River Liffey and its most famous bridge (around 20 minutes)
- Scenic drive up to the elevated Howth headland for views over Dublin Bay and some great photos (around 60 minutes)
- Drive out via Dublin Bay to the fishing village of Howth, with a look at the historic Howth Castle - still occupied today (around 20 minutes)
- A stop at a 193-year-old local gem - whether it's the best Guinness in Dublin or a proper taste of the city at lunchtime (around 60 minutes)
- Drop in for a wander, maybe a casual whiskey tasting or an Irish coffee (around 40 minutes)
- The last remaining medieval gateway into Dublin city (around 15 minutes)
- The Liberties - home to the Guinness brewery and several famous and long-forgotten whiskey distilleries (around 30 minutes)
- A photo stop at a famous church completed over 760 years ago (around 20 minutes)
- End of tour drop-off into the live Irish music of Temple Bar, if you'd like (around 60 minutes)
Meeting point: Outside the Olympia Theatre on Dame Street - the main route through central Dublin, and there's shelter if the weather turns.
Local tips that make the day better
Howth is worth lingering in if the weather is decent. The headland gives you some of the best views of Dublin Bay you'll find anywhere around the city, and the village itself has good seafood. The 7-hour format lets you breathe at each stop rather than just passing through - if you're tempted to stay longer somewhere, it's worth asking.
The Liberties is one of the most historically layered parts of Dublin and most visitors never get to it. The area around the Guinness brewery was the industrial heart of the old city, and the stories Éamonn tells about the distilleries - some famous, some completely forgotten - add up to a picture of Dublin that's hard to find elsewhere.
If you end up in Temple Bar at the end of the tour, ask Éamonn for a pub recommendation before he drops you off. He'll know which spots are running genuine trad sessions that evening and which ones are playing recorded music for the tourist trade - a distinction that matters quite a bit if live Irish music is what you're after.
The hurling sticks are genuinely fun. Don't dismiss it. Hurling is one of the fastest field sports in the world and giving it a go - even badly - is one of those things that ends up being a highlight people talk about later.
Good to know before booking
- Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller
- Service animals are welcome
- Specialised infant seats are available
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Public transport options are available nearby
- This is a private tour - your group only
- Available in English
Make more of the area
Questions before you book
How long is 5hr or 7hr Dublin City & Bay authentic tour with a true Dubliner ?
The published duration is 7 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does 5hr or 7hr Dublin City & Bay authentic tour with a true Dubliner cost?
The listed starting price is From €690. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €690 · 7 hours Check dates & prices ↗
