Are you coming to the Irish capital soon? So don’t miss visiting Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland’s oldest university!
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland! Located in the heart of Dublin, it is a unique and unique university of the city open to the city. Prestigious, she is recognized for the quality of her teaching, as well as for the rare books she jealously protects in her library. Every year, it welcomes thousands of visitors and students from all over the world! Visiting Trinity College is a must in Dublin!
Would you like to visit Trinity College in Dublin? In this article, you will find all the necessary information to discover it. Tips, history and practical information through rates and times, you will know the essentials to plan your visit and appreciate it at best!
Trinity College History in Dublin
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Opened in 1592 and designed on the model of universities Oxford and Cambridge, the university only allowed his access to Protestant male students, but gradually began to tolerate the presence of Catholics in 1793. The university allowed access to women only from 1904.
When it was founded, Trinity College accepted between its walls only the elite and the most promising students. The courses offered as diverse as varied vou each student to a promising career! Great names of Irish History have thus studied in the establishment, like the writer Samuel Beckett or Theobald Wolfe Tone , one of the initiators of Irish Republican nationalism.
Over the centuries, the university has gradually expanded, building new buildings to offer more courses to a larger number of students. Also prestigious, Trinity College hosts 16,000 Irish or foreign students each year.
A place of knowledge, Trinity College has also become a high place of tourism in Dublin. In addition to its architectural treasures, such as the old library, the university also exposes the Book of Kells, considered by many as one of the most beautiful pieces of medieval history. Visiting Trinity College brings you back to history!
Our tips to visit Trinity College in Dublin
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Do you soon arrive in Dublin and want to organize your discoveries? We understand you perfectly, time is precious! To help you discover this beautiful university and its treasures, here are some tips to visit it at best:
The best time to visit Trinity College in Dublin
To enjoy the gardens of Trinity College, it’s best to prefer visits in spring, summer or autumn. At these times, you will also meet many outside students. To make the most of your visit, avoid coming early in the morning before the start of the classes, at noon during lunch breaks or at the end of the afternoon.
To visit the Trinity College Library, we recommend that you come to mid-morning or mid-afternoon. The Library visit usually lasts 40 minutes to an hour.
Some practical information
Photographs are not allowed in the Library's exhibition section, especially in the part where the Book of Kells is located. In the Long Room, however, you can take photos without flash and without tripod.
The Old Library is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Upon arrival, you can use the elevators by requesting the guardian’s permission in advance.
What to do when you visit Trinity College in Dublin?
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To visit Trinity College, there are several options available to you. You can first go to the campus and admire the old or new buildings that form the university. A guided tour of this campus exists, we detail the modalities in the section dedicated to guided tours below.
You need to take advantage of your visit to discover the Trinity College Library and its exhibition on the Book of Kells. The largest library in Ireland, this Old Library keeps on 2 floors rare books particularly ancient. Some even dating from the 15th century! On the left in the library, you can also admire the harp of Brian Boru A true archaeological wonder! But above all, the Library is known to house the famous Book of Kells .
The Book of Kells
Also known as Grand Evangelist of St. Columbus , this book is an illustrated manuscript of ornamental motifs. It was realized by celtic culture monks around the year 800. He is thus regarded as a masterpiece of Irish Christianity and Irish-Saxon art.
Despite his incompletion, he was one of the most sumptuous illuminated manuscripts that had survived the Middle Ages. Many specialists to consider it as one of the most remarkable vestiges of medieval religious art, especially because of its great beauty and the excellent technique of its finishing.
How much does a ticket cost to Trinity College in Dublin?
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Access to the university gardens is free .
However, pay an entry to visit the Book of Kells and its exhibition, and at the same time the Old Library of Trinity College. Here are the rates to visit Trinity College:
- Adults: 10€
- Child under 12 : free
- Students and seniors: can benefit from a reduction
Note that prices may vary depending on periods. Until March 2020, the Book of Kells is unavailable. Consequently, the Library’s entry is cheaper.
How to book an online ticket for Trinity College in Dublin?
You can book your ticket directly to visit Trinity College and its Library on the university’s official website. The university’s official website has a page dedicated to the exhibition “The Book of Kells”.
On this page, simply click the Buy Tickets button to book your tickets.
Are there guided tours of Trinity College in Dublin?
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Introducing yourself Authenticity Tours desk At the main entrance you can also book a guided tour of the Campus. Duration 35 minutes , it allows you to learn more about this prestigious university. The tour to visit Trinity College costs 6€ for an adult. It is possible to buy a ticket combining this visit and the entrance to the Library.
Note: the schedule of visits changes depending on the periods. Visits usually take place from morning to mid-afternoon. You will find more information on the university’s official website.
The Trinity College Library offers audioguides in French, English, Spanish, German, Italian and Chinese. You can borrow them for 5€ per audioguide. Note that there are no official guided tours of the Library.
Are there visits combined with other monuments?
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There are guided tours of Trinity College combined with other monuments in Dublin. For example, you can opt for bus or walking tours, which necessarily include the oldest and most prestigious university in the capital.
These guided tours frequently include monuments such as the Central Station, the emblem of the revolutionary past of the island, the Cathedral of St. Trinity, the Dublin Castle or the cultural district of Temple Bar. These visits cost on average 15 to 25€ .
Attention: guided tours of this type do not necessarily include entry into the Trinity College Library.
Opening hours of Trinity College in Dublin
From May to September, the Old Library and its exhibition are open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm and Sunday from 9:30am to 5pm. From October to April, it opens its doors from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 12 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The last entry is 30 minutes before the Library closes.
Gardens and campuses can be visited from Monday to Sunday all day.
How do I go to Trinity College in Dublin?
To reach Trinity College, you can take the following buses 25, 25a, 25b, 26, 47, 49, 54a, 61, 66a, 66b, 67, 84x, 150. All have a stop around the university. The latter is also just a step away from the Temple Bar and thus the historic city centre of Dublin.
From the City Hall or the Dublin Castle, the university is within a 10-minute walk!
Where to park near Trinity College in Dublin?
Would you like to drive to Trinity College? No panic, you will have no trouble parking near the university and downtown Dublin. Near the university there are many parking lots. For example, you can opt for the Q-Park Setanta just steps from Trinity College. Parking costs 4€ per hour and the rate is degressive over time.
Where to stay near Trinity College in Dublin?
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Trinity College is located in the heart of Dublin City. As mentioned earlier, Temple Bar is located a few steps from the university. This festive district has in its midst countless irish pub the emblem of the city! If you like lively, festive, friendly areas, then we can only recommend this neighborhood for your accommodation in Dublin. You will easily find a hotel or Airbnb Here. Due to its central position, it makes it easy to visit the rest of the Irish capital.
However, prices can be a bit high, as in any city centre of a large European city!
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