Explore the dark side of Dublin on a 2.5-hour walking tour and hear spooky tales of whisperings from ancient tombs. Listen to stories about the devil worshippers of the Hellfire Club, and the friendly ghost who visits the Olympia Theatre.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 2.5 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English, Spanish
Wheelchair accessible

Highlights

Visit Dublin Castle, where the heads of enemies were mounted on the walls
Learn the legend of the haunted dog that seeks its master at St Patrick's Cathedral
Listen to the tale of the serial killer and brothel owner Darkey Kelly
Meet the friendly ghosts of Olympia Theatre
Hear about the debauchery and occult practices of the Hellfire Club

Full description

Make your way through church graveyards and down narrow back alleys to discover a side of Dublin that you won't find on any postcards. Hear gruesome stories of brothels run by serial killers, cannibals with a taste for young children, and the notorious Hellfire Club, said to be made up of Devil worshippers! Journey through the folklore of Ireland and get introduced to fairies, banshees, and leprechauns. Hear how Halloween originated from the Gaelic harvest festival of Samhain when, according to legend, beings from the spiritual world could cross dimensions more easily. Admire the stunning architecture of ancient buildings such as Dublin Castle, said to be haunted with the souls of beheaded invaders. Learn about the young boy who is said to stroll around the Olympia Theatre.

Includes

Guided walking tour

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You must fill out a travel information form

Meeting point

Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Important information

Know before you go

Children up to 13 years old are welcome to join this tour for free. However, this tour contains content that may not be suitable for younger guests
While the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 2.5 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 153 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Service
4.6/5
Organization
4.6/5

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Took my 15 year old daughter and was expecting quite a fuss from her about staying to the end of the tour as it was cold and wet but she thoroughly enjoyed it. She even told her friends about it afterwards! Our tour guide was very entertaining, informative, considerate of us and people who would need to get past our group and the tour was great value. Thank you.

October 29, 2021

Our guide, Adam, was great. He was passionate and engaging. This is a walking tour and we did have some rain (not a big surprise) so wear good shoes and bring a rain jacket or umbrella. Our group was small and the stops were uncrowded. At times the traffic did make it a bit tougher to hear but Adam did his best to speak loudly.

September 7, 2020

Nice tour with Ciarán

If you are interested in dark history, we definitely recommend this tour. The tour guide (Ciarán) is an experienced guide and will show you the dark side of Dublin with Irish humour. Very good :) As you will be staying a few minutes at the sights to hear the story, I recommend that you bring a sweater or a warmer jacket - Dublin can be very windy and colder, even on sunny days.

May 3, 2019

Dublin Walking Tour: The Dark Side

Dublin Walking Tour: The Dark Side

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Nice tour with Ciarán