This gleaming Edwardian pile opened as the Royal College of Science in 1911 before being transformed into government offices in 1989. Free 40-minute tours include the Taoiseach’s (Prime Minister's) office, the Cabinet Room and the ceremonial staircase with a stunning stained-glass window – designed by Evie Hone (1894–1955) for the 1939 New York Trade Fair. Pick up tickets from 9.30am on the day of the tour at the Clare St entrance of the National Gallery.
Government Buildings
Dublin
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.21 MILES
Newgrange is one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites in Europe, famous for the illumination of its passage and tomb during the winter solstice sun…
0.34 MILES
Trinity's greatest treasures are found within the Old Library and the incredible Long Room is one of the most photographed rooms in Dublin, for good…
2.3 MILES
If you have any desire to understand Irish history – especially the long-running resistance to British colonial rule – then a visit to this former prison…
0.37 MILES
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's most prestigious university, a collection of elegant Georgian and Victorian buildings, cobbled squares and nature…
0.14 MILES
A magnificent Caravaggio and a breathtaking collection of works by Jack B Yeats – William Butler Yeats' younger brother – are the main reasons to visit…
28.55 MILES
Slane Castle is a 300-year-old sprawling estate on the banks of the River Boyne in County Meath. The neo-gothic castle and grounds are open to visitors…
1.37 MILES
The most popular attraction in Dublin is this multimedia homage to Guinness. An old fermentation plant in the St James's Gate Brewery has been converted…
1.13 MILES
Explore behind the facade of one of Dublin's famous Georgian townhouses, carefully restored to gently peel back layers of complex social history over 250…
Nearby Dublin attractions
0.05 MILES
Affectionately known as the 'Dead Zoo', this dusty, weird and utterly compelling museum is a fine example of the scientific wonderment of the Victorian…
0.06 MILES
All the big decisions are made at the Oireachtas (Parliament). This Palladian mansion was built as a city residence for James Fitzgerald, the Duke of…
0.06 MILES
This tiny cemetery was established in 1693 by French Protestant refugees. The cemetery is closed but you can see graves through the railings; of the 239…
4. National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
0.08 MILES
Established in 1877 as the primary repository of the nation's cultural and archaeological treasures, this is the country's most important museum. The…
0.11 MILES
In the southeastern corner of St Stephen's Green is a monument to Wolfe Tone, the leader of the abortive 1798 invasion; the vertical slabs serving as a…
0.12 MILES
At the northeastern entrance to St Stephen's Green is a poignant memorial to the victims of the Famine (1845–51) featuring three figures and a dog…
0.12 MILES
The National Memorial is a pyramid-shaped stone-and-glass sculpture designed by Brian King (1942–2017) and unveiled by the then-president Mary McAleese in…
8. National Library of Ireland
0.12 MILES
The domed reading room of this august establishment is the main visitor highlight, and it was here that Stephen Dedalus expounded his views on Shakespeare…