5 of the Best Museums in Dublin and How To Visit

Learn all about Irish history by visiting these outstanding places.

Margot Bigg

2 min readJul 27, 2019

Inside Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland

Photo credit:VanderWolf Images / Shutterstock

Dublin is both Ireland’s administrative and cultural capital, so it’s no surprise that the city offers an incredible variety of museums, many of which place a strong emphasis on the country’s history. Here are a few Dublin museums you won’t want to miss.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

1. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

The EPIC sign and the entrance to the Emigration Museum in Dublin.

A look at the exterior of the Emigration Museum.Photo credit: Agnieszka Pas / Shutterstock

For stories of emigration.

Launched in 2016, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum focuses on the country's long and storied history of emigration, and how that’s impacted the entire world. Exhibits are spread across 20 galleries and focus on the hows and whys of Irish emigration, along with life among the Irish diaspora today.

Visit Epic the Irish Emigration Museum

2. National Irish Museum

Visitors explore a room of exhibits at the National Irish Museum in Dublin.

Some of the exhibits on display at the National Irish Museum.Photo credit: Sadik Gulec / Shutterstock

For Irish history.

The National Museum of Ireland features hundreds of art exhibits and artifacts that focus on Irish history. Although there are three branches across the city, the main museum is housed in a building that's worth visiting for its Victorian Palladian-style architecture alone. Highlights include preserved bog bodies and ancient Celtic knots.

3. The Irish Famine Museum / Exhibition

A yellow poster of man in the Great Famine at the Irish Famine Museum in Dublin.

A poster for The Irish Famine Museum.Photo credit: Sheryl H / Tripadvisor

For films, panels, and photos dedicated to the Great Hunger.

Situated on the second floor of the Stephens Green Shopping Centre, this seasonal museum tells the story of the Irish Potato Famine, also known as the Great Hunger. Here, you’ll find photos and informational panels, along with a short film on the subject.

4. Irish Whiskey Museum

A flight of whiskeys at the Irish Whiskey Museum in Dublin.

A flight of drinks at the Irish Whiskey Museum.Photo credit: Salvador Maniquiz /Shutterstock

For Ireland's beloved beverage.

Ireland has long been known for its whiskey production, so it’s not surprising that there's an entire museum dedicated to the beloved beverage. At the Irish Whiskey Museum, you can learn all about whiskey production on a tour, which come complete with tastings, or even participate in a blending experience during which you can blend your very own whiskey.

Visit the Irish Whiskey Museum

5. The National Wax Museum Plus

Harry Potter at the Wax Museum in Dublin in Ireland.

Harry Potter at the The National Wax Museum Plus.Photo credit: Irene Fox / Shutterstock

For lifelike wax figures.

Move over, Madame Tussauds, Dublin has a fantastic wax museum all of its own. Here, you’ll encounter life-size wax models of famous faces that range from James Bond to recognizable Irish writers, inventors, and scientists. You may even encounter a few of your favorite Game of Thrones characters during your visit.

Visit The National Wax Museum Plus