Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Dublin, Ireland

High interest

Booked 4 times today.

2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8

· David_D ·

Apr 2026

A must experience experience. Colm and John are masterful storytellers in prose, verse, and song. Do yourself a favor and book this tour. You will learn many things while enjoying several libations (and like me, you may win the culminating trivia contest).

· Nita_S ·

May 2026

All those interested in Irish literature should go for this tour. The two actors were informative and hilarious, giving anecdotes from the lives of great Irish writers, along with bits on the country's history. They took us to four pubs that were all unique.

Explore our promoted experiences

Waterford Crystal & Kilkenny: Private Rail Day Tour From Dublin

Dublin, Ireland

4.0

(4)

Waterford Crystal & Kilkenny: Private Rail Day Tour From Dublin

from $1,449

Price varies by group size

Dublin, Ireland

Private Family Tour of Dublin with Fun Activities for Kids

from $196

Price varies by group size

Cliffs of Moher from Dublin Full Day - Private Driver

Dublin, Ireland

5.0

(21)

Cliffs of Moher from Dublin Full Day - Private Driver

from $1,418

Per group

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Discover Dublin’s rich literary heritage while absorbing the ambience of Ireland's traditional pubs on a pub crawl with a difference. Wander Dublin’s charming streets to visit sites and pubs that inspired some of the country’s most famous writers; enjoy refreshing pints of locally brewed ale and snacks (own expense); and put your newfound knowledge to the test in a fun-filled literary quiz at the end of your tour.

Visit historic pubs, share a drink and hear tales from Dublin’s literary folklore
Led by entertaining actors who bring the characters to life
Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of a small-group tour
Learn more about Dublin's literary culture than you cold alone

What's Included

Guided walking tour with local actors to four Dublin pubs
Literary Quiz with prizes for winners

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

The Duke Dublin
9 Duke St, Dublin 2, D02 NR76, Ireland
You will find us UPSTAIRS in The Duke Pub, 9 Duke Street. Just off Grafton

End point

Davy Byrnes
21 Duke St, Dublin, D02 K380, Ireland

Operating hours
.7:15 pm

Itinerary

Depart from the central location of Duke Street and embark upon an animated and entertaining journey to the sights and sounds that inspired revered Irish writers such as Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and W.B. Yeats. Begin with a refreshing pint at the Duke Pub and listen to hilarious stories of the writers’ artistic antics.

Revel in the joyous atmosphere created by incredible actors as scenes sourced from canonical novels are recreated; learn about the lives of the talented artists while also gaining fascinating insight into the turbulent history of Ireland’s capital city; and see the influence modern and ancient authors have had on the architecture of the city.

Conclude your tour with an immersive literary quiz to test your new found knowledge of Ireland’s literary past; seize victory in order to win some fantastic prizes before returning to Duke Street, where the tour concludes.

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
Minimum age is 16 years
Infant seats should be required at time of booking
Maximum persons per booking is four
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 1,647 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great evening

Michael_N, May 2026

Ben was a great storyteller and John added to the experience with his singing. It was a cold wet night but it didn’t dampen the fun

Don't waste your money

Claire_O, May 2026

This is a very crowded pub tour. The guides are so soft spoken you cannot hear a word. You start in a private room at The Duke but the roar of the surrounding bar makes this first stop of no value. Then you move en masse to three additional bars. Arriving at a pub with 30 people makes it nearly impossible to get to the bar to order. If you do, get a shot. Because by the time it is your turn to order it is in time to leave. The guides stopped on the street to sing and lecture right next to a highly amplified street performer. Once again, it was impossible to hear and with 39 people crowding around, you cannot get close enough to hear anything.

Response from Host, May 2026

Lots of reductive language here. No.. don't misrepresent and exaggerate! We walked well away from the loud busker who should not have cranked it up so. We asked him to bring down his amp. He did so. We still walked around behind another building so ppl could hear and did hear. Is it 30 or 39?. .(32 actually) After the first pub we walk together to a quiet trinity college stop and talk at length there about writers past and present. No mention of that! Then we stop at two (not 3) great pubs to get a drink. We always suggest 'get a shot' as we dont hang too long in the pub because some customers don't want to drink at all. It amazes me how you made no mention of your crit at the end of the night. I find it grossly irresponsible of you to torch a micro business in another country. If you want seating everywhere then go to the theatre at $100-200+ for a seat. Pubs are pubs. They can be busy depending on the night. BTW everyone stayed to the end and took active part in the quiz and gave a solid round of applause to us. That was the time to signal your displeasure. But no. You want to do more damage online. Dear Reader: have a look at other more measured reviews and make up your mind. More than 800,000 have joined us in 38 years. They certainly weren't wasting their money as this customer rudely remarks. TOPICS COVERED: The story of Joyce's Ulysses, The background to Beckett's Waiting for Godot. In Trinity: Oscar Wilde, three modern writers: Brendan Kennelly, Eavan Boland and Claire Keegan. The demise of the irish language and it's revival. How pubs got started. The War of Independence and the conflict in the North of Ireland. All this interspersed with 7 great songs sung in two part harmony. All that a waste of money? Come off it! Colm

A romp through the literature and city

Jill_D, May 2026

This is a joyful, meaningful romp through the city of Dublin. I have done this pub crawl three times now, and I learn something new each time: great literary trivia plus plus plus.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Jill for joining us again and again. We' re delighted. COLM

Great time learning while pub crawling

Anne_T, May 2026

It’s literary references but Colum and John make it fun. Their singing and guitar are lovely. Colin is a true actor, quoting literary figures through the 2 hours, adding color and background to the crawl.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you Anne! COLM & JOHN

Just go! You'll have a great time!

Cathy_M, May 2026

Our guides, Frank and Finbar, were incredibly fun and engaging. They are professional actors, and it shows. We got lots of great facts and info delivered in a fun and gloriously entertaining way.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Cathy, we are delighted you enjoyed the 'show' COLM

Drinks, Drama and Bellylaughs

Claudia_W, May 2026

Just a wonderful way to combine the pub experience with notable bits of Irish literature. Finbar and Ben were so hilarious, really talented actors.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you Claudia! COLM

Great experience

Paul_F, May 2026

Excellent evening throughly entertaining and informative. My sister and brother in law joined me and consider it the highlight f their trip to Dublin

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you Paul.! Colm

Fun and informative tour

Nita_S, May 2026

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Nita.! Colm

Most entertaining couple oh hours!

rickhajek, May 2026

It was informative, hilarious, packed with historical information, rapid fire vignettes and excellent character renderings. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks a mill..Rick

A great evening out.

Shirley_G, May 2026

Great fun, but also educational. Really enjoyed the stories as they helped bring the authors to life. The actors were fab, as was the balladeer, John.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks shirle...we appeciate that COLM, FrANK & JOHN

Great night!

Kim_H, Apr 2026

Collum and John were amazing tour guides. The history was in depth, Collum’s memorized literary pieces were superb, John’s music added a great dynamic to the trip, and the pubs were perfect. Definitely one of the better walking tours I’ve taken!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks Kim Colm

Book This Tour

David_D, Apr 2026

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks David. Colm & John

Excellent time! ...

Mary_D, Apr 2026

Excellent time! Wonderful time. Nice mixture of music and literature. Wonderful pubs. The guides did a fabulous job!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks Mary Colm & John

Great Literary Experience

Margaret_A, Apr 2026

Some walking involved, with stairs inside the pubs. Frank & Finbar are great presenters! Story telling and character enactment was funny and enlightening.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you Margaret Colm

From Literature to Lager: A Perfect Dublin Night

Cydonie_B, Apr 2026

I had an amazing time on the Irish Writers and Pub Tour in Dublin! As a solo traveler, this experience was both educational and incredibly fun. I learned so much about George Bernard Shaw and other Irish writers who used poetry and storytelling to share their life experiences and cultural identity. The pub crawl was such a great touch—it brought everything together perfectly. The two guides were absolutely hilarious and made the entire experience engaging from start to finish. Even though I didn’t win the lucky t-shirt contest, I had a blast participating in the trivia game—and honestly, that’s what matters most: having fun! They truly made learning and enjoying a drink go hand in hand. What an outstanding duo. I highly recommend this tour—just be sure to book in advance. I promise you won’t regret it. Thank you for such a memorable experience!

Rich story telling. Wonderful

Lynne_S, Apr 2026

Wonderful way to learn about history. Colm was an excellent guide, with a beautiful voice. Thankyou.

Great pub tour

Caren_P, Apr 2026

What a great way to learn a little about Dublin and visit some great pubs. So fun! Our hosts were great!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks Caren. Colm

A superb evening

Sue_S, Apr 2026

This tour was excellent. We can not recommend it more highly. Finbar and Frank delivered theatre quality performances of a well chosen range of literary and historical content. They looked after our group with warmth and care, so that in a few short hours we all felt we had spent the evening with friends rather than people we had just met. It was the highlight of our trip to Dublin.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks very much Sue Colm

Wonderful Evening!

Jennifer_D, Apr 2026

The actors performed really well and were very easygoing and helpful. It was wonderful to learn about the Irish writers and to experience a variety of pubs!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks Jennifer. We enjoyed your company too. Frank & Finbarr

Enjoyed very much!

Joanne_R, Apr 2026

Great way to see different pubs in Dublin and here stories about famous Irish authors! The actors were a lot of fun!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks Joanne Colm

Best Books and Brews

Rachel_S, Mar 2026

The tour was a delightful mix of history and theater-style vignettes, all presented by supremely talented, engaging actors (Finbarr and Ben for ours). And they get even funnier after each pub? Odd coincidence. 😉 Just be prepared for busy pubs, especially on the weekend!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thanks Rachel. You summed it up well COLM

Lovely Kind People

Emma_H, Mar 2026

We thought the actors were lovely and super kind/prepared/interesting and invested. We were a bit surprised by the number of outdoor stops - there was less talking at the pubs and more stops outside of them. It was a bit cold for that so I would say if you are planning to do this tour - bring lots of warm clothes!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

|Thanks Emma. DLPC is a walking tour popping into pubs along the way. As the weather gets warmer there should be no need to overwrap. There are outdoor performances in locations of strong literary note...and then into the pub adjacent. The pub stops are to get a drink, sample the atmosphere and check out the walls for answers to the quiz questions throughout the tour. COLM

Don't skip this!

Nadia_A, Feb 2026

This was a very fun and interesting experience. The stories and the company were fantastic! A night to remember!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks Nadia. COLM

A blazing review

blase_b, Feb 2026

This is just wonderful! Frank and Colum were very skilled in their acting and leading the group..Try to get to know the other people attending, since that makes the experience even better. It was a rainy and cold evening, but the warmth and joy of Irish hospitality was abound. You do not have to be a literary giant or academic to enjoy this experience. It is simply Brilliant!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you Blaze. We are delighted you enjoyed the tour Frank & Colm

A brilliant pub tour!!!

Donna_H, Feb 2026

A brilliant pub tour!!! Lots of information in a really fun way!! A great way to see pubs you otherwise would miss with great actors - Frank and Finbar did a fantastic job!! A fab activity!! Loved it!!

Loved it

Allison_d, Feb 2026

The actors/story tellers were fabulous! Loved hearing all the stories, and the bars they brought us too were very fun. Great way to kick off a night out in Dublin.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks Allison. We loved having along Colm & Finbarr

Too large a group for the money

Norma_S, Feb 2026

The group leaders were great but our group was 40 people, way bigger than what I would call a “small group” tour and it was too many people to add to crowded pubs on a Saturday night. I would not have signed up if I had known. We ended up leaving halfway through.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hello. We don't get that many customers in January. Usually numbers are very low in the early part of the year. Last sat we had 35 ppl. I'm sorry you left the tour half way through. You missed two other beautiful pubs and performances by the actors with the Literary quiz to finish (and prizes to win). The Literary Pub Crawl is a set of performances by actors on the theme of the pub, poet, pint. Most ppl like the lively nature the Dublin pubs, even on Saturday nights. I hope you join us some day. Colm

Entertaining, well...

Sarah_K, Jan 2026

Entertaining, well presented , interesting literary information and quotes, with the pubs close by each other. And a quiz! Which we won !!

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Well done you! Thanks for joining us. COLM

Fantastic!!! Do Not Miss It!

Rich_W, Jan 2026

My favorite tour! This was my third time on this tour. I plan to go on it every time I visit Dublin! If it is your lucky evening you will have Frank as your tour guide. Great actor, ridiculously knowledgeable and a really nice guy.