The 7 BEST Dublin Pub Crawl Tours + Information for Self-Guided Crawls

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It is no secret that Dublin is a big drinking city and has fantastic nightlife; did you know that Dublin has over 700 pubs across the city? I remember thinking it was like Starbucks in America – one on every corner! And if you are looking to get the full Irish experience, you will likely want to do the best Dublin pub crawl tour (maybe even MULTIPLE Dublin Pub Crawls!) during your stay. 

For those who are not much into drinking, I still recommend the experience of a Dublin pub crawl, just skip the booze! Pubs are a staple in Ireland and are really a part of the local Irish culture. Dublin pub crawl tours are a great way to explore the city, meet new people (hopefully hear some wild stories from the locals!), and most importantly to have fun while experiencing a unique Dublin activity.

🍻 JUMP STRAIGHT TO THE BEST DUBLIN PUB CRAWL TOURS 🍻

What Is a Dublin Pub Crawl?

A Dublin pub crawl essentially entails visiting between 3-5 pubs (or more if you’re really ambitious and have the time!). Some Dublin pub crawl tours might have a theme to them, such as literary or music, and could include more information and/or theatrics. Otherwise, the most simple Dublin pub crawl would be to find a few pubs that interest you and map a route to hop between them.

What Is the Legal Drinking Age in Ireland?

The legal drinking age in Ireland is 18. Some places will check for an ID, but it is much more relaxed than some countries (such as America).

HOW to Do a Dublin Pub Crawl Tour and Where to Look For One

There are a few ways to do a pub crawl in Dublin. The first is to book a GUIDED pub crawl tour. If you are looking for someone to lead you between traditional Irish pubs and give you a bit more of the history or stories of each place, this will be the best option for you!

Another option for Dublin pub crawls is to keep an eye on Facebook events or Meetup-type platforms. Often groups or local organizations will put together a more casual pub crawl. These are often larger groups that draw more locals looking to spend a night out meeting friends and moving from one place to another together. They are more common during holidays or special occasions such as Halloween or St. Patrick’s Day.

Last, you can always put together your own list of pubs in Dublin that interest you and have a go at creating your own DIY, self-guided Dublin pub crawl! 

Below I will share my list of best paid, guided Dublin pub crawl tours, along with my favorite pubs and nightclubs that I enjoyed visiting while living in Dublin.

Jump to…
• Best Guided Dublin Pub Crawl Tours and Drinking Experiences
1. Dublin Literary Pub Crawl Tour
2. Traditional Dublin Pub Crawl Tour
3. Dublin Mountain Pub Tour
4. Dublin Whiskey Tasting Tour
5. Dublin Generation Pub Crawl Tour (*best for a fun party night out)
6. Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Whiskey Distillery Tour
7.Howth Craft Beer and Seafood Trail
• Best Pubs & Routes for Dublin Pub Crawls
• Best Drinks to Try During Your Dublin Pub Crawl Tour
• Best Dublin Night/Dance Clubs

Top 7 Best Guided Dublin Pub Crawl Tours and Drinking Experiences

#1 Dublin Literary Pub Crawl Tour 

COST: Starts at $18

LENGTH: Approx. 2 hours

PUBS: Duke Pub, best pubs of the day (four total)

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR DUBLIN LITERARY PUB CRAWL TOUR

The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl Tour is the most popular Dublin pub crawl. Dublin is rich with literary history thanks to Trinity College Dublin which is located directly in the city center. Notable alumni that have had an influence on Dublin literature include James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, and Samuel Beckett, to name a few. 

If literature and history are something that you are looking for during your pub crawl tour – this is the best one for you! You will wander through some of Dublin’s historic pubs that inspired the country’s most famous writers and notable poets, all while enjoying local pints of beer and learning the history of each pub.

The pub crawl tour ends with a fun literary quiz (including prizes!). It is a special night with interesting and talented guides that will lead you through some of Dublin’s best pubs. If you want more than just a pint of beer, this tour is definitely worth checking out.

#2 Traditional Dublin Pub Crawl Tour

COST: Starts at $47

LENGTH: Approx. 3.5 hours

PUBS: A mix of well-known pubs and hidden gems

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TRADITIONAL DUBLIN PUB CRAWL TOUR

This tour of Dublin’s pubs will take you to different locations depending on the best music or events of the night. You will visit a mix of traditional, better-known pubs as well as some unique places that only locals could help you discover.

Your route starts on O’Connell Street and will venture away from the popular Temple Bar area to different, though still fantastic and popular pubs. This pub crawl tour is a great, basic Dublin pub crawl at an affordable price to help you get a feel for the city and venture into some areas and pubs that you likely wouldn’t stumble across on your own.

#3 The Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Pub Tour

COST: Starts at $85

LENGTH: Approx. 9 hours

PUBS: The Blue Light Pub (known for its amazing views of Dublin Bay), Johnnie Fox’s Pub, The Harbour Bar, and a few other rural pubs

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR DUBLIN MOUNTAIN PUB CRAWL TOUR

This is one of the more unique Dublin pub crawl tours, and for that reason – I think it’s one of the best! This tour is best for nature lovers and those looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience.

This full-day, small-group tour will take you on a scenic drive through the stunning Irish countryside to visit several traditional rural pubs in the stunning Wicklow Mountains. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to meet the local pub owners, indulge in some hearty pub food, and enjoy a variety of Irish drinks. The tour provides a unique opportunity to experience the local culture and famous Irish hospitality.

The day ends with an authentic Irish music session that is sure to leave you feeling fully immersed in the country’s rich cultural heritage. With round-trip transportation included from central Dublin, this tour is the perfect way to experience the best of Ireland’s pub culture in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

#4 Dublin Whiskey Tasting Tour 

COST: Starts at $53

LENGTH: Approx. 2 hours

PUBS: Dingle Whiskey Bar, Bowes Whiskey Bar, The Palace Bar

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR DUBLIN WHISKEY TASTING TOUR

If you are a fan of whiskey rather than a Dublin pub crawl then you absolutely must venture on this Irish whiskey tasting tour. This tour includes 5 whiskey tastings, and you will be led by a professional whiskey guide. The guide will go over the history of Irish whiskey as a foundation for your tastings, as well as explain the different processes and different whiskey businesses in Ireland.

Your whiskey tour will take you to three different locations that are off the beaten tourist path. Not only will you taste some of Ireland’s best whiskey, but you will get one of the more unique Dublin pub crawl experiences. This tour comes highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Irish whiskey and is a great thing to try as a couple in Dublin!

#5 Dublin Generation Pub Crawl Tour

COST: Starts at $15

LENGTH: Approx. 5 hours

PUBS: Norseman Pub (start), Whelan’s Pub (end), 3 other fun Dublin pubs of the night

PLUS: 1 Complimentary Guinness, Free Shots, Free Entry + Skip the Line / Drink Deals

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR DUBLIN GENERATION PUB CRAWL TOUR

The Generation Pub Crawl is an absolute favorite and the best Dublin pub crawl tour for those who are looking for a fun night out to dance, meet new people, and party all night in Dublin! It’s also the best bang for your buck with all the free bonus drinks and free entry tickets. Drinking in Dublin can get expensive quickly, so book ahead to save money with this pub crawl.

My friends and I always loved to finish a Generation Pub Crawl Tour by choosing one of Dublin’s nightclubs (see below for my recommendations) to dance the rest of the night away!

#6 Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Whiskey Distillery Tour

COST: Starts at $108

LENGTH: 4 hours

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR GUINNESS STOREHOUSE AND JAMESON DISTILLERY TOUR

The Guinness Storehouse tour is a self-guided tour of Dublin’s most popular attraction. I must have gone on the tour 5 or more times during my few months of living in Dublin because I wanted to take every guest that visited me. I never got bored of going and learned something new each time!

The tour walks you through the brewing process and history of Guinness, which takes you through some important Irish history as well. The tour ends at the sky-high “Gravity Bar” where you can take in 360-degree views of Dublin. There’s really nothing else quite like this bar in the whole city! Plus, you get to enjoy a free pint of Guinness while you take in the incredible view.

The Jameson Irish Whiskey Distillery Tour is also one of Dublin’s popular tours. It varies enough from the Guinness tour for both to be incredibly interesting and unique tours, even if you don’t like the taste of either beer or whiskey! The Jameson tour gives you a comparative whiskey tasting as well as a complimentary Jameson whiskey drink.

These are hands down my favorite tours/museums as an alternative to a Dublin pub crawl tour, and I highly recommend securing your tickets in advance so you don’t miss these popular attractions. The link below will give you admission to both tours PLUS timed skip-the-line passes – an incredible offer since the lines can last hours for those that wait!

#7 – BONUS: Howth Craft Beer and Seafood Trail

COST: Starts at $100

LENGTH: Approx. 3 hours

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR HOWTH CRAFT BEER AND SEAFOOD TRAIL

Howth is an adorable town just outside of Dublin that will give you a small taste of the Irish countryside and the slower outer city lifestyle. Howth sits on the Irish Sea and is lined with adorable shops and markets to walk through or cute Irish houses to view, it’s one of the best quick day trips from Dublin.

This tour takes you through some of the best, local Howth pubs and restaurants where you will sample at least 5 local craft beers as well as an abundance of locally caught seafood.

This tour is best if you want to hear the history of Howth and be a part of a guided tour to make the most of your time, otherwise, it is easy enough to wander around the town and nature trails yourself.

Howth is easily accessible from Dublin by a short ride on the DART (about €6 each way and 25-30 minutes) from the Dublin Connolly station or on Dublin Bus 31 (about €5-6 round trip and 35 minutes). 

Guided tours are a fantastic way to dive deeper into the history, culture, and traditions of Irish pubs. If you are looking for some additional recommendations of pubs to try, or want to attempt to create your own Dublin pub crawl, here are some of my top recommendations.

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Favorite Pubs for the Best Self-Guided Dublin Pub Crawl

I found so many pubs in Dublin (it’s truly a city of pubs) that I can hardly remember them or keep them straight! There is a pub that matches the need of just about every type of person, including casual and non-drinkers too. You will find pubs in Dublin that have traditional Irish music and dance, pubs where you can play board games, dance pubs, gay-friendly pubs, the list goes on and on!

What Is the Most Famous Pub in Dublin?

The Temple Bar is the most famous pub in Dublin. If you have ever seen an image of a Dublin pub, you likely saw a photo like the one below of the Temple Bar.

1. The Temple Bar (Pub and Area) 

A Few Other Popular Dublin Pubs to Crawl:

2. Whelan’s Pub

This is a great dance pub with several stages throughout that play different music and often have dancing.

3. Doyle’s Pub

This pub is still in the city center but is lesser-known. It’s a nice place for food and a drink during the day and turns into more of a dance pub at night.

4. The Camden Pub

A sports pub, it has large screens and is a lot of fun for Irish game days. It is located on Camden Street which is another area of Dublin with a good amount of fun, unique bars. If you are looking to hop between pubs just keep walking down Camden Street.

5. O’Reillys Pub

Known for their unique, “candlelit gothic bar” this Dublin pub is great for the character– and their cheap beers.

6. Sheehan’s Pub 

Located on Grafton Street, it is surrounded by stores. Sheehan’s is perfect if you want to stop for a pint while getting some shopping done. It is also known for having great food.

7. Brazen Head 

This is another touristy place because it is the oldest pub in Ireland. It has a very traditional Irish feel to it and is good for food and beer. It has a nice outdoor area so this is a good one to visit on a sunny day. Plus it’s fun to say you’ve been to the oldest pub in Ireland!

8. Cassidy’s Pub

This pub has board games such as Jenga or Guess Who, to add an extra layer of entertainment for you and your friends beyond the pints!

Best Dublin Pub Crawl Routes

As far as choosing a Dublin pub crawl route goes, I recommend starting by picking a list of 3-5 pubs that are within a roughly 5-10 minute walk of each other. From there, you can map out where you want to start and end in relation to your accommodation or the next place you are trying to get to.

In most cases, I would say the best place to start is at the Temple Bar and work your way out of the city center from there. The easiest way is to walk along Camden Street, there are many great pubs along this route. Starting at the Temple Bar gives you a taste of the large and crowded touristy-type pubs, and then you can branch off into some of the smaller, more niche pubs.

 

Best Drinks to Try During Your Dublin Pub Crawl Tour

2. Smithwick’s Beer

If you prefer a slightly lighter beer, Smithwick’s is a popular Irish red ale.

3. Bailey’s

Another popular Irish drink, Bailey’s Irish cream is a sweet and creamy liqueur that is perfect as a dessert.

4. Baby Guinness Shot

No, it is not a small Guinness – it just happens to look like one. A baby Guinness is typically a shot of Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and black Sambuca (licorice taste). It is sweet and way too easy to drink!

6. Irish Whiskey

Another classic Irish drink to try during your Dublin pub crawl. Irish whiskeys worth trying include Jameson, Bushmills, Connemara, or Teelings.

7. Rock Shandy (Non-Alcoholic)

A refreshing Irish drink that is a mix of sparkling orange and lemon.

How Much is a Pint of Beer in Dublin, Ireland?

A pint of beer in Dublin averages about €5. In the more touristy areas (yes, like Temple Bar) a pint could even go up to €7 or €8 depending on what you order. Though typically a pint of Guinness hovers around €6 or below at most places you go across Ireland.

🍻 TIP: When you “cheers” in Ireland, you say “sláinte“. Pronounced a bit like “slawn-cha” and means “health”.

Best Night/Dance Clubs in Dublin

Dublin has a good handful of nightclubs if you are looking to take your Dublin drinking experience to the next level and go beyond a typical Dublin pub crawl tour. Dublin’s dance clubs are always full of young Irish students and young adults looking to have a fun night! 

Most of Dublin’s popular nightclubs are found on Harcourt Street. So when in doubt, just walk down Harcourt and look for the best line to hop into. Plus, try looking out for Dublin club deals online for reduced entry fees and to learn about what events might be happening while you are in town.

A note: I do actually highly recommend sticking to mostly trying out different Dublin pubs. Especially if you are short on time in Dublin and only have a few nights. Nightclubs will be nightclubs pretty much anywhere in the world. While they’re still very fun in Dublin, each pub has a bit of its own character and will give you a much more fulfilling Irish cultural experience! 

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1. Dicey’s Garden Club

This popular nightclub is always busy and draws a fun international crowd. The drinks are some of the cheapest in the city (€2 pints and wine some nights) and there’s a live DJ every night playing a mix of Latin and European hits. One of Dicey’s better-known features is the huge beer garden right outside of its 2 dance floors.

2. Copper Face Jacks (Coppers)

Coppers is another great, standard dance club to get a sense of Dublin’s nightlife. It has multiple dance floors, is open late, and draws young crowds. It is one of the most popular nightclubs in Dublin and always has some sort of deal or event happening.

 

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3. The George

This club will certainly not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was one of my absolute favorites! It is an LGBTQ nightclub with fun, pop vibes and a friendly atmosphere. Beyond the great dancing that is always happening, The George will often have karaoke or drag nights that are hugely entertaining and draw some of Dublin’s most talented performers.

4. The Grand Social 

A unique circus-themed venue known for its friendly atmosphere and live music. It typically features more gigs and performers and is a bit smaller and more intimate of a crowd than some of the other Dublin nightclubs.

5. D Two

This is a unique venue with a little bit of something for everyone. You can hang out on the dance floor or outside under the heaters in the outdoor beer garden. It has a great atmosphere with occasional live music and multiple rooms to find your right vibe for the night.

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There you have it  – some of the best paid Dublin pub crawl tours and drinking experiences along with top recommendations of pubs and nightclubs to visit. 

If you are looking for a good time while you are in Ireland or if you are just moving to Dublin and need to get familiar with the city, you are sure to find it through one (or multiple) of these tours. The pub scene in Ireland is quite captivating, just remember that there are many more great things to see in Ireland beyond a pint of Guinness! If you are looking for more activities, unique experiences, and must-dos while touring or living in Ireland, click here.

And I will leave you with this piece of wisdom…

☘️FAQs About Ireland☘️

✈️ Where Can You Find the BEST Flight Deals to Ireland?
1. Scott’s Cheap Flights – FREE flight deals alert, works best if you can be flexible
2. Skyscanner – FREE search engine, great for budget flights + deal

❗Is Travel Insurance Required in Ireland?
No, it’s not.
However, it’s always recommended to have travel insurance any time you travel in case of injury, accident, lost luggage, missed flight, etc. The best and most affordable travel/expat insurance is Safety Wing.
>>>CLICK HERE FOR INFO

☔️ When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?
Summer (June-August) – is the warmest and rains the least but you will have the most crowds.
Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) – are cooler and have more rain but you will beat the crowds and see some incredible wildflowers (spring)/greenery (fall).

🏠 Where Should You Stay in Ireland?
Hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and house sitting are all available in Ireland for accommodation. My top recommendations for each are:
• Booking.com
• Hostelworld
• Vrbo (usually better options than Airbnb in Ireland)
• Trusted Housesitters (watch a home/pets in return for a FREE place to stay)

☘️ Where Can You Find Tours?
I found incredible tours in Ireland >>>HERE for private and guided group tours of both the most popular attractions and ones that fit your specific interests.

🚘 Should You Rent a Car in Ireland?
I always tell my friends and family to rent a car in Ireland so that they don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and wonderful things to do in between the big cities! However, if you plan to stay only in the cities, then you should be fine getting by with buses and walking.
>>> What to know about driving in Ireland
>>> The best car rental in Ireland

🍻 Make sure to try out the pubs! Even if you don’t drink, the atmosphere, live music, and friendly people are very uniquely Irish.