The Quirky, Top-Rated Museum You Can't Skip On Your Trip To Ireland

Whenever you're fortunate enough to plan a trip to Ireland, you're in for a scenic treat. Here, travelers have seemingly endless access to castles and seaside cliffs as well as fascinating Celtic culture and intriguing lore. For many visitors, Dublin is a top destination on the must-visit list when they head this way, and with good reason. The vibrant Irish capital city is home to memorable destinations, like St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse. However, if you're looking to dig into the area's past in a unique way, you'll want to be sure to make time for a stop at The Little Museum of Dublin. This top-rated and decidedly quirky destination might just end up being the highlight of your stay.

Located on St. Stephen's Green, The Little Museum of Dublin is a one-of-a-kind destination for visitors who are looking to pair local history with some incredible Irish storytelling. The museum has been highlighted by The Irish Times and TripAdvisor on multiple occasions as a worthwhile destination to visit in town no matter when you happen to drop by. Much as the name indicates, this museum isn't vast, but it is brimming over with local insight into the story of Dublin and the many characters that made it the place it is today. The museum aims to help locals and visitors alike remember the past, with eyes on preserving Dublin in the present at its very best.

The Little Museum of Dublin may be one of the smallest of its kind in the city, but it perhaps has the biggest obsession with history. A visit here is a chance to enjoy Irish hospitality and humor while learning about the area's past with every gallery and floor visited. Since opening in 2011, the museum has grown to host over 5,000 regional artifacts across three levels of visiting space. The museum functions as a historical center and a registered charity, making it an even more integral part of the city it works to honor. Guests can visit The Little Museum of Dublin daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. with all day ticket prices starting at €20.

You'll begin your visit to The Little Museum of Dublin on the ground floor, where you can access a souvenir shop as well as The Golden Age of Dublin exhibit. This area showcases life in Dublin in the 1790s as viewed through the eyes of artist James Malton. The first level of the museum houses the permanent collection, which covers Dublin's history throughout the 20th century. The upper level of the museum is where you'll find an exhibit dedicated to the Irish musical group U2, as well as The Editors Room, a perfect recreation of the office of The Irish Times editor, Robert Smyllie.

Exploring Dublin is always an exciting adventure, but when you're looking to travel through the city's past and present simultaneously, the best way to do it is to book your spot on one of the many tours offered at The Little Museum of Dublin. The Famous Guided Tour option is a good choice at €13 per person, when you want to make sure you hit every gallery and floor of the museum with humorous commentary included in the experience. An After Hours tour will cost you a bit more at €25, but it's worth the investment for the added glass of wine and jovial vibe infused into the tour experience. French language tours are also available at the museum daily, while an all day ticket gives you the freedom to hop on any available tour between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Guests who are looking to expand on their museum experience can pair their tour or self-guided exploration with a ticket to the Big Little Treasure Hunt too. It's an opportunity to get outdoors alongside family and friends and enjoy a historic scavenger hunt that takes you through the best of Stephen's Green. In total, the hunt takes about an hour, but what you learn along the way is sure to last a lifetime.