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Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
5
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Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Recommended by 95% of travellers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Experience Dublin’s love of literature and pubs on this pub crawl. Leave the navigation to your guide as you head down the city’s charming lanes. Stopping into pubs that hold literary significance, listen to anecdotes and facts about local authors, and hear actors bring famous works to life. Purchase some pints and snacks to refuel before participating in a literary-themed pub quiz to test your listening and retention skills.
from
RM 79.39
per adult
from
RM 79.39
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 16-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Highlights
  • In-depth tour of Dublin's literary history with a guide
  • Find hidden gem pubs with literary significance
  • Listen to actors in each pub bring literature to life 
  • Test your knowledge at a fun end-of-the-tour quiz
  • Guided walking tour with local actors to four Dublin pubs
  • Literary Quiz with prizes for winners
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
Meet your guide and group of fellow book and beer lovers at a central location on Dublin’s Duke Street. Stroll off down city streets, the sights and sounds of which inspired writers such as Brendan Kennelly, Paula Meehan, Eavan Boland, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett. Along the way, you’ll pop into pubs with literary significance, where actors will recite lines from famous works, bringing the literature to life. At each stop, feel free to purchase a pint or a snack; you’ll need your stamina for the literary quiz at the conclusion of the tour. End your evening at your departure point.
Departure details
  • 9 Duke St, Dublin, D02 NR76, Ireland You will find us in the upstairs bar of The Duke Pub, 9 Duke Street. Just off Grafton
Return details
  • Davy Byrnes, 21 Duke St, Dublin, D02 K380, Ireland
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5048DUBLIT1
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Minimum age is 16 years
  • Most travellers can participate
  • Infant seats should be required at time of booking
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
What you can expect during your visit
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Face masks required for travellers in public areas
  • Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Community
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  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
How much is Dublin Literary Pub Crawl?
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl price starts from RM 74.98. Discover and book Dublin Literary Pub Crawl on Tripadvisor
What is the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl cancellation policy?
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Dublin Literary Pub Crawl on Tripadvisor
How much time do I need for Dublin Literary Pub Crawl?
On average, this experience will take approximately 2h. Discover and book Dublin Literary Pub Crawl on Tripadvisor
If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5048DUBLIT1
Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    9 Duke St
    9 Duke St, Dublin, D02 NR76, Ireland
    You will find us in the upstairs bar of The Duke Pub, 9 Duke Street. Just off Grafton
    See address & details
  • 1
    Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
    Stop: 30 minutes
    On this tour that's as educational as it is recreational, you'll embark on an animated and entertaining journey through the sights and sounds that inspired great Irish writers including James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Brendan Behan, Sean O'Casey, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats - not forgetting modern scribes like Seamus Heaney, Eavan Boland, Paula Meehan and Brendan Kennelly. Kicking off at the Duke Pub on Duke Street, this literary pub crawl will take you to famous pubs and haunts while actors recite verses from the best Irish literature. You can sink a pint while learning about the lives of these great writers and hear some of the hilarious stories that became folklore in Dublin's literary circles. PLEASE NOTE: During Covid we reserve the right to cancel tours at short notice due to lack of numbers attending.
    Read more
  • You'll end at
    Davy Byrnes
    21 Duke St, Dublin, D02 K380, Ireland
    See address & details
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
745 reviews
Excellent
619
Very good
92
Average
16
Poor
12
Terrible
6
Lindsy
Birmingham, AL4 contributions
Great Night Out in Dublin
Jan 2023
Great experience! The hosts for the tour, Mark and Finbar, were phenomenal. They performed, recited, sang, joked, herded, and laughed all around Dublin. I loved that the particular bits that they chose to perform or recite were entertaining, but also tied into the history and culture of Dublin. I also appreciated that we alternated between walking and standing for a bit, and then we would go to a pub and sit down for a while. While we had 20 or so folks on our tour, I never felt crowded and could always position myself to hear what the guides were saying. One tip - unless you are a very fast drinker, consider getting a glass of beer instead of a pint at each stop. I would have felt pretty rushed trying to drink a whole pint at each pub. Overall, I highly recommend if you are interested in pubs, beer, Irish history, literature, or you know, just having a fun night out!
Written 19 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Thank you Lindsy! Colm
Written 20 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pennsylvania530
Sewickley, PA29 contributions
Great fun. Highly recommend.
Aug 2022
Great fun. I highly recommend. Frank and Finn walked us through Michael Collins's old haunts and James Joyce's hangouts. They performed a scene from Beckett and delivered a spot-on rendition of Oscar Wilde's tale of a trip down a Colorado mineshaft. Amazing. Plus they are kind and interested and engaging guides. They are either genuinely nice guys or the greatest actors who ever lived. I prefer to think they're both. This tour was a highlight of our time in Dublin.

One pro tip: make sure you eat first - or make arrangements for a late dinner somewhere. The tour ran long, since we were all having so much fun. By the time we wrapped up it was past 10 pm, and even on a Saturday night we couldn't find an open kitchen. Oh well. Guinness makes a meal.
Written 15 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Thanks for your review Pennsyl! You're right. Post Covid, they 're closing the kitchens early. Food is available at the Duke before. Get there for 6.15pm. All the best. COLM
Written 16 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EileenSB
Chicago, IL9 contributions
The Crowds Did Us In
Dec 2022
Would that we had picked another night/ another month. We abandoned the tour before its end--not because of the content or guide but because of the crowds. A Friday night during both the World Cup and the 12 Pubs of Christmas was not the time for two women in their late 70's to be elbowing their way through the masses. Not every stop was a bar so we can stress that Finbar certainly knew his material and was an impressive presenter. Alas we reluctantly surrendered to reality and missed the last two stops.
Written 6 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Anna
Vienna, Austria1 contribution
10/10 for every literature freak
It was a really nice experience, loved our tour guides. Also recommendable for people who travel alone :-) we visited 4 different pubs + trinity college. At every spot they told us about the literary background of that place and performed a short sketch. Really fun & enjoyable experience, thank you guys!!
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Thanks for the review and for pointing out that it is a good tour for solo travellers. We are delighted to see them too. COLM
Written 28 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alexandra L
8 contributions
A Fab Way To Spend Your First Evening in Dublin
Aug 2022
Excellent! I went on my first evening in the city, and it's a great way to kick off a trip to Dublin. Fun but a little intellectual, intellectual but still lots of fun. There are plenty of literature-related museums in Dublin, but this is a fun, interactive way to experience the city's literature and getting chatting to locals and tourists alike.

The tour is around 2 hours (you can stay for longer at the final stop if you choose) around central Dublin. And you might just win a drink at the end!
Written 4 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Glenda B
2 contributions
Fun Farewell to Dublin
Not only was the pub crawl fun, I learned a lot as well. For our last night in Dublin, this was perfect. A lot of fun and learning was packed in to a relatively short time. What made it even better was the fact that our "hosts" enjoyed themselves as well.
Written 26 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
stephen g
London, UK102 contributions
Well worth it
Booked this trip even though not really a book person. But I’ve got to say it was excellent. The stories imparted were delivered in a way that you didn’t think you were back in school. The pubs we stopped at were all welcoming and we had a area reserved for us. I learnt a lot not just about the writers but there back stories and there struggles in life. The Quiz at the end was a nice bit of fun to end the evening.
Written 14 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Thanks for joining us Stephen
Written 15 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KBGCSG
Ohio42 contributions
Take this tour! Fantastic!
What a entertaining and enlightening night! Collum and John create the perfect balance of fun and education in the lovely streets and cozy pubs of Dublin. Collum is a gifted storyteller and actor- his recitations were beautiful. John on the guitar with his clear and poignant tenor was an ideal partner. We were especially and uniquely pleased to discover a connection we all shared with an Irish bar in Bavaria! Small world and a special thrill for us. Wonderful men to get to know. Take this tour! It will be a highlight of your trip!
Written 9 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Thank you both so much. It was great to meet you. Colm & John
Written 11 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marcy G
Arlington, VA3 contributions
So much fun!
Oct 2022
Frank and Colm gave us the best tour! So much more than an info tour, these guys give a series of performances worth far more than the cost of admission. Our large group learned a lot, laughed a ton, and enjoyed the other members of our tour (and some good drinks). It was a highlight of a weeklong tour of Ireland. Definitely agree that having dinner at Duke's before the tour is a must--they make sure there's a seat for you even when it's crowded. Brilliant evening (and I'm not just saying that because I was the runner-up in the quiz)!
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Thanks Brad. You have bragging rights now Colm
Written 15 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
William H
2 contributions
Nice but different than I expected
The pub crawl was nice but different than I expected. I had thought that the pub crawl would be visiting pubs specifically visited by the various famous writers from Dublin. However it was more of a celebration and short theatrical performances dedicated to these Dublins famous writers than going to the actual pubs themselves.
Written 27 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chris19652016
Hello and thanks for your feedback. Just to point that we do call in to pubs closely associated with famous writers: O'Neills on Suffolk street which served Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon, Brendan Kennelly and, in his final years, the 'peasant poet' Patrick Kavanagh. We also land at Davy Byrnes to finish the tour. It's where Joyce set a full chapter of Ulysses. Beckett was also remembered as a distant figure there. He did not trust the Dublin pub scene. He said they were full of paralysis, indiscretion and broken glass. While the Duke was not known to serve writers such as those mentioned above, it certainly has caught up in the wealth of modern poets and novelists who have hung out there, especially after book launches around the corner in Hodges Figgis bookshop. I have personally seen John Boyne (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) and Booker prizewinners Roddy Doyle and Ann Enright in the same pub where we begin the tour. I hope someday you can join us. COLM
Written 29 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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