Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Dublin, Ireland

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

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

Why travelers loved this

4.7

· 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).

· Stacy_A ·

Jun 2026

This was a very fun experience. Frank and Finn were entertaining and just good people. The quiz was fun and chaotic, the history was interesting, and their acting was good.

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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

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

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

4.7

based on 1,675 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Tour Operator No Show!

GeraldPeter_D, Jul 2026

Terrible! I waited for a half hour at the meeting point and no one showed up. This is the worst organized mess that I have experienced.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Dear reader. The customer was informed by voucher to present UPSTAIRS in the Duke at 7.15pm where the actors and I greet the audience. 34 people followed those directions to our room in the Duke. I asked GeraldPeter three times in writing afterwards, if the directions were on his booking voucher. He declined to answer. Viator confirms that the meeting point directions WERE on his voucher. There are also two signs displayed at the pub that we meet Upstairs in the pub. Furthermore, he could have simply asked any member of staff where the tour starts. He has been refunded. I also apologised to him in writing for missing out. And I said: 'I hate that to happen to someone travelling solo.' 800,000+ customers in 38 years have made their way to us. That's not the worst organised mess that he suggests Sincerely COLM P.S I phoned the customer at 19.54 to let him know that the actors were still at the Duke and were about to move off to Trinity just after 8. He did not answer his phone. So I texted him that information. CQ

Book directly through the...

Josh_L, Jun 2026

Book directly through the tour to give the guides a larger cut. …………………………………………………………………………………………..

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thanks for coming Josh ANNE

Excellent time in Dublin

Pamela_I, Jun 2026

Prepare for fun and entertainment and visiting attractive pubs and learning their history. Also great tunes

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thanks Pamela. COLM & JOHN

Perfect 2+ hours

David_P, Jun 2026

It's a great tour if you are interested in history, engaging presentations, and beer. Dublin has a great history, especially through the voices of great authors. Enjoy!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Amazing...thanks David COLM

A very good choice

Stacy_A, Jun 2026

This was a very fun experience. Frank and Finn were entertaining and just good people. The quiz was fun and chaotic, the history was interesting, and their acting was good.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you Stacy COLM

Great night, very funny

Nikki_C, Jun 2026

Great night, very funny. More literary tour than pub crawl. More of the night is outside than expected so wrap up!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you.! There are two drink stops and the opening section for 30 mins in the Duke at 7.15pm. All indoors. Colm

You must book this pub crawl - ASAP!

Margo_M, Jun 2026

Truly one of the best experiences whilst in Ireland. So enjoyable, so entertaining, so informative and such tremendous value. I would do this literary pub crawl every night of the week if I could.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thanks Margo. We really appreciate that. COLM & JOHN

Great tour

David_P, May 2026

Great tour. Fun, educational, and casual. The guides had a high talent level. Lots of fun!! Highly recommend.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks David.

Loved!

Peggy_B, May 2026

Wonderful, fun and informative pub crawl. Our tour guides, Finbar and Frank were so much fun, and very engaging and talented! Loved this!

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Peggy. Delighted you enjoyed the tour. Colm

Had this experience on...

Ava_R, May 2026

Had this experience on the first day of my trip and it was a great introduction to Dublin! My friend and I loved it

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Ava. You got the spirit of it COLM & John

Save your $$$

William_L, May 2026

While the 2 tour guides attempted to be entertaining, it was extremely boring and went to very crowded pubs with absolutely no plan on what to do with us gen we got there,while we had to purchase our own drinks

Response from Host, May 2026

You had to purchase your own drinks? Wow! You expect us to buy your drinks for you? This is a walking tour with actors performing from the works of the great Irish writers. We visit two pubs for drinks. 'Absolutely no plan on what to do with us when we got there'...as you were told to get drinks and have a look around for clues to the quiz questions. (for 20 minutes) Surely you don't need to be spoon fed the whole night long. We introduce people to some great historic pubs on this tour. It's up to you to enjoy them. COLM

Excellent tour

Gertraud_H, May 2026

Fun and entertaining! I came with my adult daughter, we had a great time. Colum and John were fun, knowledgeable, and entertaining

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Gertraude!

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

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks Michael. Glad you enjoyed it so much Colm

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

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.

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.