Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
About
Christ Church Cathedral is one of Dublin's oldest buildings, a leading visitor attraction and a place of pilgrimage for almost 1,000 years. Famous for its breathtaking beauty, magnificent architectural features and wonderful floor tiles, Christ Church is also popular as a venue and is host to many high profile concerts throughout the year. It is home to the tomb of Strongbow, leader of the Normans, who captured Dublin in 1170. The Medieval Crypt, the largest in Ireland, extends under the entire Cathedral and contains the mummified Cat and Rat, trapped in the organ in the 1860s. Please note Sunday visiting hours operate around service times. Sunday service times are 11:00-12:30 and 15:30-16:30.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Admission tickets
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$12.77
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Plan your visit

The area

Address
Neighborhood: South City Centre
How to get there
  • Four Courts • 6 min walk
  • Smithfield • 8 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • KarenM1_10
    1,043 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning
    If you only plan to visit one cathedral in Dublin, in my opinion, this is the one to see. The cathedral is visually stunning on the inside and out. It is a feast of the eyes. On the inside you don’t know where to look first: at the ceilings or the intricate design on the floor. I particularly loved the beautiful stained-glass windows and organ. We went downstairs to view the crypt and were surprised to see how large it was. We did not expect this. Also, downstairs is a large souvenir store. Allow at least an hour to visit. We did not buy advance tickets and had no issues getting in.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 5, 2023
  • mayccm2018
    Hong Kong, China1,061 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful cathedral with crypt
    Originally I planned to go St Patrick’s cathedral but came here firstly because we missed direction. However, we were attracted by amazing outside architecture. Wonderful cathedral - many paintings and glass windows. There was a collection in crypt also. Peaceful atmosphere.
    Thank you Mayccm2018 for a wonderful 5-star review. We're thrilled you enjoyed your visit so much - thanks for supporting the cathedral.
    Written December 18, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 11, 2023
  • Ronnie B
    Dublin, Ireland5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Emotional visit
    I returned to Dublin after many years abroad, and revisited Christ Church earlier this week. As soon as I walked up I could see changes. The grounds are more landscaped than I remember. The charge of a visitor fee is new too, but understandable. I didn't opt for the audio guide. I prefer to do things at my own speed. Memories came flooding back as I walked up the nave, and when I reached the transepts I was holding back tears I was confirmed into the Church here many decades ago. I remembered some of my school friends who were too. Most of them are no longer with us alas. The crypt is a bit tidier than I remember too. The museum part is very well presented. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. I needed some clarification on a few things and approached a man at the desk. I didn't get his name but he had a real Dublin accent. I had a little chat with him on the way out, and it transpires he was born and bred in the Liberties where I hale from myself. He was very helpful. God bless you all for a lovely visit.
    Hi ronnieB12113. Thank you for a wonderful review and feedback. How lovely to welcome you back to the cathedral after some time, and we hope to welcome you again in the near future, perhaps for one of our weekly services.
    Written June 25, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 23, 2024
  • Damon
    90 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Organ recital in an ideal venue
    We went to Christ Church for a free organ recital which is weekly during the summer season. The concert series is open to everyone and admission is free with a donation requested. The concert lasted 45 minutes and was excellent - IMHO there is nothing like the spectacular nature of a church organ played in a cathedral by an expert organist in our case it was James Short. If you like organ music we highly recommend attending one (or more!) of the series - we greatly enjoyed it!
    Thank you for the five star review and for joining in on our organ recital. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed it. We will make sure to pass on the message to James.
    Written June 18, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles4,649 reviews
Excellent
2,463
Very good
1,584
Average
489
Poor
85
Terrible
28

Nyallg
Warragul, Australia305 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
I have been lucky enough to be back to Christ Church a fews times over the years and each time I feel a little overwhelmed when entering the main body of the cathedral. You are immediately enveloped in the quiet calm of this sacred place, and my mind always goes back to the thought that this represents about 1000 years of continuous worship and reflection. Men and women have, over the centuries come to worship, to ask for help, intercession, relief from illness and affliction, to pray before going into battle, to pray for the dead and dying. The walls must hold so many thoughts and secrets ! How lucky to be here and to admire the timelessness and majesty of the stained glass windows, the exquisite floor tiling, the soaring ceilings, the crypts ( were they really a market place so long ago ?) and the bell tower. It is so beautiful just to sit and recharge, even for just a few minutes and be still. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the clergy, all the staff, the volunteers- those who make this such a special place.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Nyallg, Many thanks for visiting Christ Church Cathedral, on more than one occasion, and for posting a review on TripAdvisor. This is such a special review to read - we're so thrilled that your visits and experiences at the cathedral continue to have such an impact on you mentally, physically and spiritually. Such experiences are what we endeavour for all those to have who walk through the main doors. Thank you for your kind words and feedback about all the team here also - I'll be happy to share them. We hope to welcome you back to the cathedral again in the very near future. Take care & best regards!
Written April 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Casper Dawson
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I was walking down Dame Street towards the Christ Church Cathedral with my sister from Poland and my girlfriend from the Philippines. The main reason why my sister and my girlfriend came to Dublin was a religious experience related to visiting the church. When we finally reached the church, we entered the cathedral, opened the main door and saw a man in a black suit (priest?) who asked us to go out... We could not believe... It is unthinkable in Poland and either in the Philippines that a priest will not allow you to enter the cathedral during a mass. Come visit Poland or the Philippines, you will enter churches always, almost anytime, priests are always welcoming and friendly and supportive, unlike in IRELAND!
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Casdawson, Many thanks for sharing your feedback with us on your recent visit to the cathedral. Firstly, may I apologize on behalf of all the team here for the greeting that you, your sister and your girlfriend received when you arrived to the cathedral entrane. Christ Church Cathedral is a working Anglican cathedral, as well as a popular cultural heritage site among tourists and Dubliners alike. Our opening hours for visiting are scheduled around our worship and service hours. While there is a service happening, the cathedral is not open for visiting i.e. self-guided or guided tours, as to do so would directly impact the service taking place and those worshiping. However, all are welcome to join us for service and visit the cathedral afterward and this should have been communicated to you, your sister and your girlfriend on the day that you visited. Please can you advise what day and date you visited the cathedral? Feel free to contact me directly on the details below. We will be sure to follow this up internally with all staff. Our sincere apologies again, and we hope to welcome you all back to the cathedral in the very near future. Sophie Gough welcome@christchurch.ie
Written January 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

kwagmeister
Newburgh, IN1,651 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Beautiful cathedral - don’t miss the crypt!
After you enter and pay your admission you’ll scan a QR code to bring up the audio guide on your phone (very 21st century!). The stories told are what makes the visit all the more interesting.
Down in the crypt is some beautiful Eucharist plates and chalices, as well as the Black Book…..Magna Carta buffs won’t want to miss a glimpse of that. I could have done without the skeletal remains of the cat and rat, but as they were next to the gift shop (which was lovely) I had to take a look.
this is a must visit and just steps from St. Patrick’s cathedral.
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi kwagmeister. Thanks for visiting the cathedral and supporting us. We're thrilled to read your feedback and to learn you thoroughly enjoyed your visit. Enjoy the rest of your time in Dublin!
Written August 19, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rusmir
Dublin, Ireland190 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Solo
This place would be in my top ten when we are talking about Dublin experiences. Breathtaking architecture. Stunning view. Telling a stories centuries ago. For any tourist and visitor this is a must see spot. Holy mass available on Sundays. Visitors - i will recommend to book your ticket online because quees are happening very often. Next to the cathedral there is beautiful viking experience museum 'Dublinia' , so it's a good way to explore both spots.
Written September 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Damon
90 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
We went to Christ Church for a free organ recital which is weekly during the summer season. The concert series is open to everyone and admission is free with a donation requested. The concert lasted 45 minutes and was excellent - IMHO there is nothing like the spectacular nature of a church organ played in a cathedral by an expert organist in our case it was James Short. If you like organ music we highly recommend attending one (or more!) of the series - we greatly enjoyed it!
Written June 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the five star review and for joining in on our organ recital. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed it. We will make sure to pass on the message to James.
Written June 18, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

bigwawao
New York City, NY10,149 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Was here alone last October. Did the self guided tour.
This is a very beautiful church in " competition " with St. Patrick's Cathedral.

On the grounds is a statue of a man lying down on a bench. If you look closely you will see nail holes on the feet. So you can deduce who this is meant to be.
Inside.
In the basement, you will find the mummified remains of a cat and a rat. The cat was chasing a rat and they went up, if I remember, an organ pipe. Both got stuck.

Don't forget to see the catacombs!

Lord Strongbow, nickname of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, Lord of Leinster, Justiciar of Ireland, also known as Richard FitzGilbert, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman notable for his leading role in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. He was reported to be buried here although other sources said he was buried in Gloucester.

The church architecture is quite impressive and beautiful. It alone is worth your time.

If you ask me, I would say at par with St. Patrick's Cathedral. Visit both of them!
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lauradoll78
Durham, UK64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Family
Great place to visit and loved the option of an audio or written guide, my son loved the audio guide and could navigate this himself. As a cathedral lover it’s always nice to visit somewhere new. It’s a small but pretty cathedral and the treasures and fun facts (Rat and the Cat) were good to learn about.
Written April 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi lauradoll78, Many thanks for visiting Christ Church Cathedral, and for posting a review onTripAdvisor. We're really thrilled to receive such a lovely (!) review, and appreciate your kind feedback. We will be happy to share with the team, and we hope that you had just as pleasant a remaining trip in Dublin.
Written April 19, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lazaro M
Miami Beach, FL115 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
It looks bigger in pictures. It's free to get in. Basically, it's a regular church with a lot of history. I did not know until after I left that you could visit the crypts in the basement. A lot of people visit each day but the crowds don't pose a problem because there is a lot of space to walk around.
Written April 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Lazaro M, Thank you for your review, we really appreciate your feedback. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your visit to the cathedral and we hope to welcome you back to have a look at the crypt as well in the very near future.
Written April 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John Ryan
Dublin, Ireland17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Business
Visited the Cathedral on March 7th with some colleagues from the DoDublin tours and had the pleasure of Darragh Daly giving us his tour. As guides ourselves, it was a great experience to be tourists in our own town in one of our most iconic landmarks and to have such a great character show us around. His stories of the history of the Cathedral, the people associated with it and the people who have visited it over the years were brilliant. To top it off we then climbed the 13th century staircase to the Bell tower to ring the bells across the city. A very memorable experience. Live in the town you love and love the town you live in. Thanks Darragh and all at the Cathedral. A must do for visitors and locals alike.
Written March 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Fine P for a brilliant review. We were delighted to welcome you and some of the other new DoDublin drivers. We'll happily share this feedback with the wider team, especially Daire. Best of luck with the season ahead!
Written March 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

redeco
Warren, MA9,376 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Friends
Christ Church is steeped in history...started by the first bishop of Dublin, the church was rebuilt and completed in the 1230's. The Gothic character of the architecture is a marvel and the grounds are free to visit. Admission is required to tour the church and tickets are available at the ticket desk. The admission is free with a Dublin Pass.

My friends and I didn't choose to do the tour, so we were unable to view the Crypt...however, we enjoyed a pleasant half hour viewing the exterior of this remarkable cathedral.

Enjoy!
Written October 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

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