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Attractions · Leinster, Dublin

Trinity College & Book of Kells

Ireland's oldest university and its most famous manuscript

  • CategoryUniversity / Illuminated Manuscript
  • Duration1.5–2.5 hours
  • AdmissionBook of Kells €18 adult, €16 concession, free under 12 (~$20 / ~$17.60)
  • Rating★ 4.7
  • Price€16–€18 (~$17.60–$20)
  • TransportDART to Pearse; Luas Green Line to St. Stephen's Green; Bus 25, 25A, 66, 67
Trinity College & Book of Kells

Founded in 1592, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and home to the Book of Kells, a lavishly illuminated 9th-century gospel manuscript. The visit combines the manuscript exhibition with the Old Library's Long Room, a 65-metre barrel-vaulted chamber lined with roughly 200,000 antique books and marble busts of scholars.

Practical information for Trinity College & Book of Kells
Admission Book of Kells €18 adult, €16 concession, free under 12 (~$20 / ~$17.60)
Hours Mon–Sat 08:30–17:00, Sun 09:30–17:00 (hours vary by season; check tcd.ie)
Typical visit 1.5–2.5 hours
Best time First entry (08:30) to avoid peak-hour queues; book online at tcd.ie/visitors
Getting there DART to Pearse; Luas Green Line to St. Stephen's Green; Bus 25, 25A, 66, 67
Address College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland

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Location

College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland

53.3459, -6.2548 View on map

Highlights

  • 9th-century Book of Kells illuminated manuscript
  • The Long Room's 65-metre barrel-vaulted ceiling and antique book collection
  • Cobblestone quadrangles of Ireland's oldest university, founded 1592
  • One of the last surviving copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic

Tips for visiting

  • Buy timed-entry tickets online at tcd.ie/visitors to skip the walk-up queue, which can exceed an hour in summer
  • Some original shelved books are currently removed from the Long Room during an ongoing conservation project — check tcd.ie for the current gallery layout before visiting

Frequently asked questions