Free self-guided walk · Dublin

Trinity College, the castle and the cathedrals

A free self-guided walk from Trinity College up Grafton Street to St Stephen's Green, then past Dublin Castle and Christ Church to St Patrick's Cathedral.

Distance
3 km
Walking time
40 min
Allow
About 2 hours with stops
Stops
6

Open the route in Google MapsDublin city guide

About this walk

Dublin's historic centre is compact enough to cross in an hour. This walk starts at Trinity College, heads up the shopping street of Grafton Street to St Stephen's Green, then turns west through Temple Bar's edge to the castle and the city's two medieval cathedrals.

Bring a light raincoat whatever the forecast.

  • Terrain: Flat and paved, with a gentle rise towards Christ Church. Step-free.
  • Best time: Weekday mornings, when Grafton Street is calm and Trinity's grounds are open early.

Route map

123456
Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Trinity College

    Start at the university's front gate on College Green. The Book of Kells exhibition is inside and needs a ticket.

  2. Grafton Street

    The pedestrian shopping street, known for its buskers.

  3. St Stephen's Green

    A Victorian park at the top of Grafton Street, with lawns, a lake and statues.

  4. Dublin Castle

    The seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922. The castle campus is closed to the public until January 2027 for Ireland's EU Council Presidency, so see it from outside and follow Dame Street on towards Christ Church.

  5. Christ Church Cathedral

    The city's oldest cathedral, founded around 1030, with a large medieval crypt.

  6. St Patrick's Cathedral

    Finish at the largest cathedral in Ireland, where Jonathan Swift was dean.

Tips

  • Book the Book of Kells online to avoid the queue.
  • The Luas Green line stops at St Stephen's Green.
  • Temple Bar is a short detour north from the castle; pub prices there are high.

Prefer a guide?

Advertising disclosure: these link to Viator. If you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See all walking tours in Dublin.

Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-11-09. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.