Castles in Dublin

Six worthwhile castles and fortresses are dotted in and around Dublin – some right in the city centre, others a rewarding day trip into the surrounding countryside. From a medieval tower house to a stately estate with botanic gardens, there's something for every taste. This overview covers which ones are worth it, what they cost, and what to keep in mind for a 2026 visit.

The main castles at a glance

The best-known is Dublin Castle in the heart of the city, once the seat of British administration and now a state reception venue with State Apartments and the Chapel Royal. Important to know for 2026: because of Ireland's EU Council Presidency, Dublin Castle is closed to the public from 5 May to 31 December 2026 – initially the State Apartments, and from mid-June the entire grounds. Public tours aren't expected to resume until January 2027. Until the full closure in mid-June, the Chester Beatty Library, the 1926 census exhibition and the Dubh Linn Gardens remain accessible via the Ship Street Gate.

To the north lies Malahide Castle, with its castle, botanic gardens, Butterfly House and Fairy Trail – the only one of the six sites that reliably offers a full castle experience in 2026. On the coast, Howth Castle combines a private estate with a rhododendron park; the same building complex, but run separately, also houses the National Transport Museum of Ireland. Things turn medieval at the former archbishop's stronghold Swords Castle and the Renaissance-era Rathfarnham Castle. In Phoenix Park stands the rebuilt tower house Ashtown Castle.

Prices, free castles and tips for your visit

Free to visit are Swords Castle (a national monument, open Tuesday to Sunday) and Ashtown Castle (admission and guided tour free, accessible only via the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre). The extensive grounds of Howth Castle, including the rhododendron park, are also open to the public free of charge year-round – the castle itself, however, only on a guided tour. At Rathfarnham Castle, admission is free on the first Wednesday of every month; otherwise adults pay €5.

Paid admission applies at Malahide Castle (guided tour only, roughly 45 minutes, adults from €17) and – when open – the State Apartments at Dublin Castle (€8 self-guided, €12 on a guided tour). The standalone National Transport Museum in Howth charges adults €5.50 and takes cash only.

If you want to be sure of seeing a castle interior in 2026, Malahide is the safest bet. It combines well with the botanic gardens and a walk through the demesne, and – unlike Dublin Castle during this period – it's also redeemable with the Go City Dublin Pass. For Swords and Howth, it's worth checking the current situation before you travel: in Swords, Cultural Quarter building works are limiting access in 2026, and Howth Castle only opens to the public at weekends.