Visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
Standing proudly in the heart of Ireland’s capital for over 800 years, Dublin’s St Patrick’s Cathedral is much more than just a religious building: it’s a life-size history book, a living testimony to Irish culture and soul. As Ireland’s largest cathedral, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to admire its majestic Gothic architecture, pay their respects at the tomb of Jonathan Swift – author of Gulliver’s Travels – or simply soak up the unique atmosphere that reigns within its walls steeped in history. If you’re planning a visit to Dublin, this cathedral is undoubtedly one of the Irish capital’s must-sees. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to organise your visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral: entrance fees, opening times, what to see inside, history, practical advice and ideas for walks in the area.
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1. Entrance fees to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
There is a charge for visiting St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, which contributes directly to the upkeep and restoration of this exceptional heritage. Prices are reasonable and there are several options to suit all visitor profiles. Admission is €11.50 for adults, €10.00 for students and senior citizens (aged 60 and over), and €5.50 for children aged between 6 and 12. Children under 5 enter free of charge. For families, a group ticket at €31.00 covers two adults and up to three children.
You can also combine admission to the cathedral with a visit to Marsh’s Library, Ireland’s oldest public library, right next door to the cathedral, for €17.00. If you’re an intensive Dublin visitor, the Go City Dublin Pass includes entry to over 40 of the city’s attractions, including St Patrick’s Cathedral, from €69. For groups of 10 or more, online booking is compulsory, and prices are reduced (€10.00 per adult, €9.00 per student or senior citizen).
2. What can you see inside St Patrick’s Cathedral?
St Patrick’s Cathedral is packed with architectural, historical and artistic treasures. Allow a good hour and a half, or even two hours, to make the most of it. Here are the major points of interest not to be missed during your visit.
The Gothic nave and stained glass windows
As soon as you step through the main doorway, you are struck by the height and sobriety of the Gothic nave. Built in the English Gothic style, St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin is over 91 metres long, making it the longest church in Ireland. The large pointed arches, slender pillars and cross vaults create an atmosphere of remarkable contemplation and grandeur. Throughout the nave and chancel, a series of colourful stained glass windows elegantly filter natural light, some dating from the 19th century and others much earlier, depicting biblical scenes and figures of saints.
Jonathan Swift’s grave
This is undoubtedly one of the most visited monuments inside the cathedral: the tomb of Jonathan Swift, immortal author of Gulliver’s Travels and Dean of the Cathedral from 1713 to 1745. Located to the right of the main entrance, the tombstone is sober but charged with emotion. Swift himself wrote his epitaph in Latin, translated by the Irish writer W. B. Yeats: “Here lies he, where savage indignation can no longer tear his heart.” Next to him lies Esther Johnson, the mysterious “Stella” he wrote about and had known since he was a child. This closeness in death continues to fuel historians’ speculation about the nature of their relationship.
The banners of the Order of St Patrick
One of the cathedral’s most striking visual spectacles is the row of heraldic banners that adorn the chancel, a remnant of the time when the cathedral served as the chapel of theMost Illustrious Order of St Patrick, an order of chivalry founded in 1783. These colourful banners, which hang above the choir’s carved wooden stalls, bear witness to the splendour of this now defunct order. Each banner corresponds to a knight, with his personal coat of arms. The brass plaques attached to the stalls, engraved with the names and titles of former members, complete this impressive heraldic decoration, giving this part of the cathedral a unique character.
The Boyle memorial and the pulpit
On the north side of the cathedral, the Boyle Memorial is one of the most elaborate funerary monuments in the whole of Dublin. Built in 1632 in memory of Richard Boyle, the first Earl of Cork, this painted and gilded altarpiece depicts members of his family arranged in niches. It is in this memorial that the young Robert Boyle – the future father of modern chemistry – is said to have been portrayed as a child, making it an object of scientific curiosity as well as artistic interest. Not far away, the 17th-century carved wooden pulpit also deserves your attention for the finesse of its ornamentation.
The choir school and the choir
St Patrick’s Cathedral is home to one of the oldest choir schools in Europe, founded in 1432. For nearly six centuries, the school’s pupils have been performing twelve sung liturgical services a week during term time. If you are lucky enough to visit the cathedral during one of these services, the musical experience is truly unforgettable: the voices soar through the Gothic nave with exceptional resonance. The times of the sung services are posted at the entrance to the cathedral.
Download the audio-guided tour to discover Dublin on foot and on your own
To extend your immersion and make sure you don’t miss out on any of the wonders of Ireland’s capital, download the Navaway audio tour of Dublin. This tour takes you through 20 must-see places of interest, including St Patrick’s Cathedral, on a guided and interactive walk. It’s the ideal way to explore the city at your own pace, without a guide and with no time constraints.
3. St Patrick’s Cathedral opening times
St Patrick’s Cathedral is open all year round, but its opening times vary according to the day of the week, due to the religious services that continue to be held there on a regular basis. It is therefore important to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
From Monday to Friday, the cathedral is open from 9.30am to 5pm (last entrance at 5pm). On Saturdays, it opens a little earlier, at 9am, with the last entrance at 6pm. On Sundays, the opening times are divided into three slots to make way for the services: from 9am to 10.30am, then from 1pm to 2.30pm, and finally from 4.30pm to 6pm. Outside these times, the cathedral is closed to tourists to allow religious ceremonies to take place.
Free guided tours are available from Monday to Saturday, at 10.30am and 2.30pm. These tours are led by volunteer guides and take around 45 minutes to learn more about the history of the cathedral. Please note that they are not available for organised groups, and may sometimes be cancelled without notice: ask at reception when you arrive.
4. History of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
To understand St Patrick’s Cathedral, you have to go back to the very origins of Christianity in Ireland. Its history is intimately linked to that of the country, reflecting its glories, its upheavals and its resilience.
From Celtic origins to the Middle Ages
According to tradition, it was around 450 AD that Saint Patrick himself used a well located on the site of today’s cathedral to baptise converts to Christianity. This well, considered sacred, gave rise to the first modest place of worship. A small wooden church was built on this site, which was gradually rebuilt in stone from the 11th century onwards. In 1191, at the instigation of Archbishop John Comyn, the church was raised to the rank of collegiate church, before being promoted to the status of cathedral in 1213. Construction of the Gothic building we know today began in 1220 and spanned several decades, finishing around 1260, in an English Gothic style characterised by pointed arches, buttresses and a slender silhouette.
The Protestant Reformation and its consequences
The 16th century marked a radical turning point in the cathedral’s history. During the Protestant Reformation, under the reign of Henry VIII, St Patrick’s Cathedral came under the authority of the Church of Ireland – an Anglican church – in 1537. This change of regime led to decades of religious and political tension. Later, Oliver Cromwell brought his soldiers and horses here during the English occupation in the 17th century, causing extensive damage to the building. Paradoxically, it was also during this troubled period that the cathedral experienced one of its moments of artistic glory: in 1742, the composer Georg Friedrich Handel conducted the world premiere of his oratorio Messiah in Dublin, in which choristers from St Patrick’s and the neighbouring Christ Church Cathedral sang.
Restoration by the Guinness family in the 19th century
At the beginning of the 19th century, the cathedral was in an advanced state of disrepair. It was Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, a millionaire brewer and member of the famous Irish family, who saved it. Between 1860 and 1869, he personally financed a vast restoration campaign that restored the building to its medieval appearance, while consolidating its structures. His son, Lord Ardilaun, completed the work and financed the development of the gardens that now surround the cathedral. This restoration, spectacular for its time, is commemorated by a statue of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness that can be seen outside the building. Thanks to this decisive intervention, St Patrick’s Cathedral has survived to the present day.
5. Anecdotes and curiosities about Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
St Patrick’s Cathedral wouldn’t be quite the same without its tasty legends and anecdotes. Here are just a few to spice up your visit.
The best known is the origin of the English expression “to chance your arm”, which means “to take a chance” or “to take a risk”. In 1492, during a bloody feud between two great Irish families – the Kildares and the Ormonds – the Ormonds barricaded themselves in the cathedral chapter house. To put an end to the conflict, Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, had a hole cut in the door and slipped his arm through, risking having his hand cut off by his enemies, as a sign of peace. The gesture was accepted, and the reconciliation took place. This found door can still be seen in the cathedral today.
The cathedral is also home to more than 500 graves, including those of many archbishops, soldiers and personalities from Irish history. One of the most visited tombs is, of course, that of Jonathan Swift, but also that of his companion Stella, two figures inseparable from the history of the cathedral. Finally, the choir school, founded in 1432, is one of the oldest music teaching institutions in Europe, and its pupils still sing at weekly services today – a living link with the Middle Ages that never fails to impress visitors.
6. How do I get to St. Patrick’s Cathedral?
St Patrick’s Cathedral is ideally located in Dublin’s historic city centre, within walking distance of many of the city’s other major attractions (St Patrick’s Close, Dublin, D08 H6X3, Ireland, rated 4.5/5 on Google for many reviews). It is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the heart of the city centre, along Patrick Street.
If you prefer public transport, several bus routes serve the area from Dublin city centre: routes 49, 54a and 77a stop nearby. However, walking is still the most pleasant and practical option: from Trinity College, allow around 15 minutes to walk through the narrow streets of the old town. From Dublin Castle, less than 5 minutes will suffice. There is no private parking associated with the cathedral, but limited coach parking is available on Saint Patrick’s Close. Visitors with cars are advised to park in one of the public car parks in the city centre.
The cathedral is accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to adapted access, and also has on-site toilets.
7. Practical tips for visiting St Patrick’s Cathedral
To make the most of your visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, here are a few practical tips that will make all the difference.
Book your ticket online. Although the cathedral can be very busy during peak tourist periods – especially in summer and during Irish festivals – booking online in advance guarantees you access without waiting and often allows you to benefit from the same prices as at the ticket office. Groups of 10 or more are required to book in advance, with a specific time slot.
Take advantage of our free guided tours. Offered from Monday to Saturday at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm, they are the best way to discover anecdotes and details that you might not notice on a self-guided tour. The enthusiastic volunteer guides share their intimate knowledge of the building with you.
Plan your visit outside church services. The cathedral is closed to tourists during religious services, especially on Sundays. If you would like to attend one of these services, you should know that they are generally open to everyone: an extraordinary musical and spiritual experience, with the choristers from St Patrick’s School.
Dress respectfully. Although dress regulations are not strict, the cathedral is an active place of worship. Proper and discreet dress is required, especially during services. Photography is permitted, without flash, so as not to disrupt the ceremonies or other visitors.
Finally, to make the most of your day in Dublin, we recommend that you combine a visit to the Cathedral with a visit to the other sites in the historic quarter. Our audioguided walking tour of Dublin allows you to link these sites in a fluid and guided way, in complete autonomy.
8. What can you see around St Patrick’s Cathedral?
St Patrick’s Cathedral is surrounded by a particularly rich historic quarter, ideal for a half-day stroll. Here are some of the must-see sights nearby, many of which feature on our Dublin city tour itinerary.
Christ Church Cathedral
Just a few hundred metres north, Christ Church Cathedral is Dublin’s other great historic cathedral. Founded in the 11th century, it is slightly older than St Patrick’s, and boasts remarkably well-preserved medieval crypts. The two cathedrals complement each other perfectly on a day’s visit.
The Dublinia Museum
Adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral, the Dublinia Museum offers an immersive insight into Viking and medieval Dublin. Thanks to life-size reconstructions and interactive exhibitions, it puts the history of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the city into context in a way that’s fun and accessible for all the family.
Dublin Castle
Just a few minutes’ walk away, Dublin Castle is one of the country’s most important historic sites. Formerly the residence of the British viceroys, this complex combines medieval, Georgian and Victorian architecture. Its ceremonial flats and royal chapel are well worth a visit.
The Temple Bar district
After a studious morning of cathedrals and museums, head to the Temple Bar district for lunch or a drink in one of its many traditional pubs. This lively district, with its cobbled streets and colourful facades, is the beating heart of Dublin’s cultural and nightlife life, just a 10-minute walk from St Patrick’s Cathedral.
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