If you live in Ireland and you haven’t done the Dublin Big Bus tour yet, you’re genuinely missing out. We did it recently as a family day out and honestly, it was one of the best decisions we’ve made. We’ve lived here a while and thought we knew Dublin, turns out, you don’t really know a city until you see it from the top of an open-top bus with a multilingual audio guide in your ear and the wind in your face.
Here’s the full honest breakdown of what to expect, what’s worth your time, and why this is a brilliant day out whether you’re new to Ireland, visiting family, or just finally doing the tourist things you’ve been putting off.
What Is the Big Bus Dublin Tour?
It’s a hop-on, hop-off open-top bus that covers 25 stops across Dublin city. You buy one ticket and you can jump off at any stop, explore at your own pace, and catch the next bus when you’re ready. The buses run from 9am and the last bus is around 6pm–7pm depending on the stop, so you have a full day to work with.
The route covers everything from O’Connell Street and Trinity College down through Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, the Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, the Jameson Distillery, and back around through the city centre. There’s a free multilingual audio guide available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, and Chinese, which makes it very family-friendly.
You can download the Big Bus app for live bus tracking so you’re never standing at a stop wondering when the next one is coming.
👉 Book your Big Bus Dublin tour here
The Highlights — What We Loved
O’Connell Street and the GPO (Stop 1)
This is where the tour kicks off — 13 Upper O’Connell Street, first bus at 9am. The Daniel O’Connell monument stands right at the bottom of the street, and from the top deck of the bus you get a brilliant view of it as you pass. The GPO — Ireland’s General Post Office — is a short distance up the street and it’s one of the most significant buildings in Irish history. The 1916 Easter Rising, which led to Irish independence, was centred here. The columns and neoclassical facade are seriously impressive up close.
Westland Row DART Station
One of the hidden architectural gems on the route is the old Westland Row railway bridge — a beautifully ornate Victorian iron structure that spans the road near Pearse Street. It’s connected to one of Dublin’s oldest train stations. Most people walk under it without looking up. From the top of the bus, the detail on the ironwork is stunning.
The National Gallery of Ireland (Stop 4 area)
This is right near Merrion Square and it’s free to enter — always a bonus. The building itself is grand neoclassical architecture and worth seeing even from the outside. Inside, the collection spans Irish and European art from the 15th century to the present day. If you have art lovers in your group, hop off here.
Christ Church Cathedral (Stop 11)
This one hit differently in person. Christ Church Cathedral is over 1,000 years old and it’s right in the heart of the old city. The scale of it from the street is impressive — ancient stone, Gothic arches, and a tower that has been part of Dublin’s skyline for centuries. You can go inside for a small entry fee and there’s a crypt underneath that’s the oldest surviving structure in Dublin.
Jameson Distillery Bow Street (Stop 23)
The Jameson Distillery is a proper experience. Established in 1780 on Bow Street in Smithfield, this is where Jameson Irish Whiskey was originally made. The building frontage is fun and colourful — you’ll spot it immediately. Inside, the tours take you through the history of Irish whiskey making, and you get tastings included. Even if whiskey isn’t your thing, it’s a genuinely interesting slice of Dublin history.
Pearse Lyons Distillery (Stop 16)
This one is a conversation starter. A whiskey distillery built inside a converted 12th century church — the steeple is fully intact and the original stone church structure is preserved, with the distillery operation and bar built inside it. The contrast between the ancient church architecture and the modern whiskey experience is very Dublin.
The Guinness Storehouse Area (Stop 15)
Even if you don’t go inside, passing through this area on the bus is something. The old Guinness brewery buildings along St. James’s Street are enormous — massive Victorian brick warehouses stretching the full length of the road with a skywalk bridge connecting them high above. The bus passes right underneath it. It’s one of those moments where you understand just how big the Guinness operation is in this city.
Teeling Whiskey Distillery (Stop 13)
Teeling has one of the most distinctive buildings on the entire route — dark stone, circular porthole windows, and a phoenix bird statue on the roof. It’s fitting for a brand that relaunched Irish whiskey in the Liberties area where it all began. If whiskey is your thing, Teeling tours are excellent and the tastings are generous.
Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo (Stop 20)
Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe, bigger than Central Park in New York. The bus takes you through it and the views are lovely. Dublin Zoo is inside the park and is great for kids. You can also rent bikes at this stop if you want to explore the park properly. It’s the kind of place you could spend half a day just wandering.
The Irish Pub Experience — Don’t Skip This
No Dublin day out is complete without stepping into a proper traditional Irish pub. We did, and it was exactly what you’d hope for — dark wood panelling everywhere, ornate bar fittings, low lighting, the hum of conversation, sport on the TV, and that warm feeling you only get in a place that’s been doing the same thing for a very long time.
If you’ve never been in a real Irish pub, it’s different from what you might expect. It’s not loud and chaotic — it’s actually quite comfortable and social. You can sit for hours, nobody rushes you, and the atmosphere does something to you. We ended up staying longer than planned, which is always the sign of a good pub.
Where We Ate — The Chinese Buffet
After the tour we were properly hungry and we ended up at a Chinese buffet that hit the spot perfectly. The spread was massive — fresh salads, spring rolls, onion rings, wedges, sticky ribs, sweet and sour chicken, chow mein noodles, stir-fried vegetables with broccoli and bok choy. It’s priced per 100g so you pay for what you eat, which we found very fair. Food was hot, fresh, and the variety covered everyone in the group.
Practical Tips Before You Go
Book tickets online in advance. You can book the Big Bus Dublin tickets through GetYourGuide and often save versus buying on the day. Plus it means you skip the queue at the visitor centre.
👉 Book your Big Bus Dublin tour here — GetYourGuide often has discounts
Start early. Be at Stop 1 (O’Connell Street) for the 9am or 9:10am bus. Starting early means you have the whole day and aren’t rushing.
Sit upstairs, front seats if possible. Non-negotiable. The whole experience is about the views from the top deck. Front seats give you unobstructed views — especially through narrow streets like the Guinness Storehouse area.
Bring layers. Even in summer Dublin weather changes quickly. The top deck is open-air and it can get cold when the bus picks up speed.
Download the Big Bus app. Free live tracking so you always know when the next bus is coming at each stop. Saves a lot of standing around.
Keep your ticket safe. If you lose it, you lose your ride. Keep it in your pocket or photograph it as backup.
Kilmainham Gaol — plan ahead. A 10-minute walk from Stop 17. One of the most significant historical sites in Ireland. Book tickets separately in advance as they sell out fast.
Factor in the pub. Leave time at the end of the day for a proper Irish pub stop. Temple Bar has plenty but wander slightly off the main drag for a more authentic experience and better prices.
Is It Worth It?
Honestly, yes. For a family day out in Dublin it’s one of the best value options in the city. You cover more ground than you ever would on foot, the audio guide keeps everyone engaged, and the flexibility to hop off wherever you want means you’re not locked into a rigid schedule.
We came away knowing Dublin better than we did going in and we’ve lived in Ireland for years. That says something.
If you’re visiting family in Ireland, heading to Dublin for a weekend, or just finally doing the things you’ve been meaning to do this is a great way to spend a day.
👉 Book your Big Bus Dublin tour here
Have you done the Big Bus Dublin tour? Drop your experience in the comments we’d love to hear what stops you loved most.
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