11 Irish Folklore and Storytelling Tours Worth the Day

1.Dublin Mythology and Folklore Tour with Irish Stories and Legends

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,003 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $29Our pick

Walk from Temple Bar across the Liffey and north through Dublin with guides such as Helena, Emily, Ross, and Dave. Hear Irish myths, fairy lore, stories of St. Michan’s crypt, the 1916 GPO, and the legends behind modern Irish identity. The group is capped at 25, and the route is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

“Very entertaining! Helena was great! Expect to walk about 2 hours but not difficult with stops along the way.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Mythology, Folklore and Legends Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 703 reviews · from $27

Meet a local English-speaking folklore guide, often Helena, Emily, Dave, or Lee, beneath the green umbrella outside The Old Storehouse in Temple Bar. Over two hours, you’ll hear Celtic origin stories, meet banshees and púcas, uncover Georgian Dublin’s darker tales, and finish on O’Connell Street with Gaelic culture and modern Dublin stories.

“Helena was a great guide! She was very knowledgeable and kept us very entertained. You could tell she has a passion for teaching people this information! She was also helpful for recommendations after the tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Storytelling of Irish Myths and Legends

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $21

At Sin É Dublin, storyteller Sean Cuddy presents an English-language performance of Irish myths and legends, with tales of warriors, enchantments, love, and mythical creatures. The 90-minute show includes two short intermissions, and you can buy drinks during the performance. Your mobile ticket covers admission.

“The Irish tales were very fun to hear and Sean did a great job telling them. The setting could be improved upon”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Howth Hiking Trail from Dublin: Mythology and Legend

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $46

Join a Spanish-speaking guide such as Álvaro, Luis or Javi for an 11-kilometer hike around Howth Peninsula. Expect a fishing port, forests, castle stories, fairy houses, cliffs, Baily Lighthouse views and possible seal sightings. The route takes 5 to 6 hours and requires sturdy shoes, snacks and a separate train ticket.

“Álvaro is a great guide. He's funny and knows not only the history of the place but a lot of curious data about it. We had an amazing experience around Howth cliffs and the forest -there's a lot of hidden secrets! - I absolutely recommend doing any tour with him!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Forks, Focail and Folklore – Storytelling Tour via eBike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $78

Join Gormú in Union Hall for a 2-hour-45-minute e-bike ride through West Cork. Guides such as Conor and Dave lead you along quiet bóithríní, past Bláth na Gréine and Myross Wood House, stopping for short folklore tales and local Irish words. The group is capped at eight, with an easy return to the starting point.

“The bike tour was a highlight of our trip - Connor was a great guide with brilliant local knowledge - it was entertaining how every person we passed knew Connor. The folklore was engaging, the bikes easy to use - our first experience and now we all want an ebike - and the views were, as expected, incredible. We would highly recommend this to anybody.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Dublin Pub Odyssey: Storytelling, and Pub Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $276

Spend four hours walking between Dublin pubs with an Irish guide such as John, Colm, Eamon, or Maura. Learn how to drink Guinness, hear stories about Irish pub culture, sample craft beer and whiskey at your own cost, and visit a mix of old, modern, musical, and local pubs.

“We had an absolute blast with Eamon wandering through Dublin's pubs! We had great drinks, good conversation, and tons of laughs! Eamon introduced us to the Dublin pub culture and to the city itself. The evening was well paced, and we enjoyed walking through the city as much as we enjoyed the pubs themselves. We've done a lot of tours in a lot of places over the years, and this is definitely one we'd recommend! Eamon was great fun, and our trip to Dublin was better because of him!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Coastal Foraging and Folklore Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Walk Sandycove with a local marine biologist and learn to identify seaweeds, shellfish, and wild plants used for food, beauty, and medicine. Guide Suzanne has also led the experience, sharing Irish coastal legends and natural history. The private tour lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes and returns to the slipway.

“This was a great way to see the beautiful city walking and tasting amazing foods. We had a very energizing tour guide Shaphon. Not sure how to spell her name. She was passionate about her job and it showed. I loved the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Bioluminescent Swim Experience in West Cork with Storytelling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $118

Meet Conor and Selene in Castletownsend for a two-hour evening at Castle Haven. You’ll hear Irish legends and simple science, put on a wetsuit, and swim in dark seawater that can glow when disturbed. Two guides lead each group, with no more than eight participants.

“The legends of Ireland that brought us to this magical land come together in an amazingly choreographed evening of nature, storytelling with a twist of science and excitement. This will remain in the story of my travels one of those unique experiences that I will remember in my minds eye. My family made a tremendous effort to join - totally worth it!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $16Best value

Start at 6pm on Merrion Square and walk for about two hours through central Dublin with guide Sean or another English-speaking guide. Hear grim tales of hangings, séances, haunted hotels, and old city legends while stopping at the Molly Malone Statue, St. Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square, Christchurch Place, and the Shelbourne Hotel. The group is limited to 15 people.

“This is more of a legends an history tour. We expected to hear more ghosts stories, see cemeteries not the stuff we already saw walking around dublin. Our tour guide was amazing an very animated an loves to tell the stories. Just not what we expected nor wanted. If you want to k ow history or dublin yes do it he was very knowledgeable. If you want something spooky no.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Dublin Storytelling Pub Tour – 3 stops, drinks & local snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $102

Start at 250-year-old Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, then walk through central Dublin to three pubs for local drinks, snacks, Irish mythology, faerie tales, and stories about the city’s characters. Guides such as Daniel and Grainne keep the three-hour experience conversational. Groups are limited to 15 people.

“Due to my wife and I being the only folks to schedule the excursion, the tour guide asked if we could switch to a different excursion and they made the transition super easy. Our guide was entertaining, knowledgeable and picked three great locations. She also made plenty of recommendations to our group for dining, drinking and entertainment options. She even walked us back to a bar where we went at the start of the tour, which was very helpful as we covered a good bit of ground during the tour. Highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Legends, Ghosts & Ghouls Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · from $16

Join an English-speaking guide from Alternative Dublin for a two-hour walk through Dublin’s darker stories. Hear about Darkey Kelly, the Dolocher, resurrection men, haunted theatres, grisly hangings, and strange events linked to famous city landmarks. The route is wheelchair accessible and begins at 82 Merrion Square South.

“Really enjoyed the tour! Very friendly guide I would recommend for other tourists.”

Check availability →Read our full review