If you’re planning to visit several of Dublin’s most popular attractions, buying a Dublin attraction pass can be one of the easiest ways to save money while making sightseeing much simpler. Rather than purchasing separate tickets for every museum, distillery and historic site, a single digital pass gives you access to multiple attractions using nothing more than your smartphone.

The challenge is deciding which pass offers the best value. Dublin currently has three main attraction passes available through Go City: the Dublin Explorer Pass, the Dublin Essentials Pass, and the Dublin Pass (All-Inclusive). While they may appear similar at first glance, each is designed for a different type of visitor. Some are ideal if you only want to visit a handful of attractions over several days, while others reward travellers who plan to pack as much sightseeing as possible into a short city break.

Choosing the right pass depends on how long you’re staying, which attractions you want to visit, and how quickly you like to travel. Someone spending a relaxed four-day break exploring museums, cathedrals and distilleries will often benefit from a different pass than someone trying to see every major attraction in just two days.

In this guide we’ll compare each option in detail, explain who each pass is best suited for, highlight the attractions included, and help you decide whether buying a pass will genuinely save you money. We’ll also share practical tips for getting the maximum value from your purchase and avoiding some of the common mistakes first-time visitors make.

Compare Dublin Attraction Passes at a Glance

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview of the three main Dublin attraction passes.

Pass	Best For	How It Works	Validity
Dublin Explorer Pass	Visitors staying 3–5 days	Choose 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions	30 days after first use
Dublin Essentials Pass	Weekend breaks	One premium attraction plus two additional attractions	30 days after first use
Dublin Pass (All-Inclusive)	Busy sightseeing itineraries	Unlimited attractions	1–5 consecutive days

All three passes are completely digital, meaning you simply scan a QR code on your phone at each attraction. Most major attractions are included, including the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery Bow St., EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin Zoo, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and much more.

The biggest difference isn’t the attractions themselves, but how you access them. That’s why choosing the right pass can make a surprisingly big difference to how much money you save.

How Do Dublin Attraction Passes Work?

Using a Dublin attraction pass is refreshingly straightforward. After purchasing your chosen pass online, you’ll receive a digital QR code that can be stored on your smartphone using the Go City app. There’s no need to collect paper tickets or visit a redemption office before you begin sightseeing.

Your pass only becomes active when you visit your first attraction. From that point, the validity depends on which pass you’ve purchased. The Explorer Pass and Essentials Pass give you 30 days to visit your chosen attractions, making them perfect if you prefer a relaxed pace. The Dublin Pass, however, works differently, giving you unlimited entry for a set number of consecutive days, so it’s designed for travellers who plan to visit several attractions every day.

Some of Dublin’s most popular attractions, including the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery Bow St., and certain guided tours, require advance reservations even if they’re included with your pass. Booking these as early as possible is highly recommended, particularly during weekends and the busy summer season.

One of the biggest advantages is the flexibility. You don’t need to decide exactly what you’ll do each day before you arrive. As long as the attraction is included with your chosen pass and you’ve made any necessary reservations, you can simply turn up, scan your QR code and head inside.

Dublin Explorer Pass

For most visitors, the Dublin Explorer Pass offers the best balance of flexibility, value and convenience. Rather than trying to squeeze as many attractions as possible into one or two hectic days, this pass lets you choose 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions from a collection of more than 40 of Dublin’s top experiences.

Once you’ve activated the pass at your first attraction, you’ll have 30 days to use your remaining choices. This makes it ideal for travellers enjoying a longer city break, combining Dublin with other parts of Ireland, or simply preferring to explore at a more relaxed pace without rushing from one attraction to the next.

Included attractions cover many of Dublin’s biggest highlights, including the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery Bow St., EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour, Dublin Zoo, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and dozens of other museums, tours and experiences. Because you only pay for the number of attractions you actually want to visit, many travellers find this is the easiest way to avoid spending money on attractions they’ll never have time to see.

For couples enjoying a long weekend or visitors spending three to five days in Dublin, the Explorer Pass is often the sweet spot between flexibility and savings, offering excellent value without the pressure of trying to fit an entire city’s worth of sightseeing into a single day.

Dublin Essentials Pass

If you’re only planning to visit a few of Dublin’s headline attractions, the Dublin Essentials Pass is often the smartest choice. Designed with short city breaks in mind, it allows you to experience three of Dublin’s biggest highlights without paying full price for individual tickets.

The pass works slightly differently from the Explorer Pass. Instead of choosing any combination of attractions, you first select one premium experience, such as the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery Bow St., or the Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour. You then choose two additional attractions from a carefully selected list that includes favourites such as EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin Zoo, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, the GPO Museum and the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience.

Like the Explorer Pass, everything is stored digitally on your smartphone and becomes active when you visit your first attraction. You’ll then have 30 days to use your remaining entries, giving you plenty of flexibility if you’re staying in Dublin for a long weekend or combining the city with other destinations around Ireland.

The Essentials Pass is particularly attractive for travellers who already know exactly which attractions they want to visit. Rather than paying for a larger pass with attractions you may never use, it lets you focus on three must-see experiences while still enjoying worthwhile savings.

Dublin Pass (All-Inclusive)

If your goal is to experience as much of Dublin as possible, the Dublin Pass is the standout option. Unlike the Explorer and Essentials Passes, which limit the number of attractions you can visit, the Dublin Pass gives you unlimited access to more than 40 attractions during the period your pass is valid.

You can choose passes lasting one, two, three, four or five consecutive days, allowing you to tailor the pass to the length of your trip. During that time you can visit as many participating attractions as you like, making it ideal for travellers who enjoy busy sightseeing itineraries and want to make every day count.

Included attractions cover many of Dublin’s biggest highlights, including the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery Bow St., EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublinia, Dublin Zoo, Little Museum of Dublin, Teeling Distillery, the National Wax Museum, and dozens of other museums, historic houses, tours and visitor attractions. The pass also includes a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour, making it even easier to travel between sights without worrying about transport.

To get the best value from the Dublin Pass, it’s worth planning your days in advance. Visiting three or four paid attractions per day can quickly generate substantial savings compared with buying individual tickets, particularly if you’re visiting some of Dublin’s more expensive attractions.

Which Attractions Are Included?

One of the biggest advantages of the Go City passes is the sheer number of attractions available. While each pass works differently, many of Dublin’s biggest sights are available across multiple options.

Attraction	Explorer Pass	Essentials Pass	Dublin Pass
Guinness Storehouse	✅	⭐ Premium Choice	✅
Jameson Distillery Bow St.	✅	⭐ Premium Choice	✅
Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour	✅	⭐ Premium Choice	✅
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum	✅	✅	✅
Dublin Zoo	✅	✅	✅
St Patrick’s Cathedral	✅	✅	✅
Christ Church Cathedral	✅	✅	✅
Dublinia	✅	❌	✅
Teeling Distillery	✅	✅	✅
National Wax Museum	✅	❌	✅
Little Museum of Dublin	✅	❌	✅
Game of Thrones Studio Tour	✅	❌	✅

Please note: The attractions included can occasionally change, and some experiences require advance reservations, so it’s always worth checking the latest information before you travel.

Latest from Rupert on Instagram

Follow Rupert's latest train journeys, destination discoveries, travel apps and behind-the-scenes adventures from AppSavvyTraveller.

appsavvytraveller

Travel guides, apps & practical advice.
Cities, rail journeys, ferries and more.
↓ Start planning your next trip

🎡 There’s nowhere quite like Blackpool. From one

🏰 One card. More than 100 incredible heritage site

💳 Turn everyday spending into travel rewards. Rev

Follow on Instagram

Which Pass Saves the Most Money?

There’s no single pass that’s best for everyone. The biggest savings depend entirely on how many attractions you plan to visit and how quickly you want to see them.

If you’re only planning to visit three headline attractions, such as the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, the Essentials Pass often works out to be the best value.

If you’re staying in Dublin for several days and want the flexibility to spread your sightseeing across your trip, the Explorer Pass is usually the better option. Choosing five or seven attractions often produces worthwhile savings while avoiding the pressure of racing between attractions.

For visitors determined to fit as much as possible into a short stay, the Dublin Pass usually delivers the largest savings. If you’re visiting four or more paid attractions each day, it’s often possible to save considerably compared with buying individual tickets, especially when you include expensive attractions like the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery.

The easiest way to decide is to make a list of the attractions you definitely want to visit, add up the individual ticket prices, and then compare that total with the cost of each pass. Spending just a few minutes planning before you buy can make a significant difference to both your budget and your sightseeing experience.

Which Pass Is Best for Your Trip?

Choosing the right Dublin attraction pass is less about finding the “best” pass and more about finding the one that matches your style of travel. Each pass has been designed with a different type of visitor in mind, so thinking about how long you’re staying and how much sightseeing you plan to do will help you make the right decision.

Type of Traveller	Recommended Pass	Why?
Weekend city break	Dublin Essentials Pass	Perfect if you’re only visiting three major attractions.
Three to five-day holiday	Dublin Explorer Pass	Flexible, relaxed sightseeing over several days.
One or two busy sightseeing days	Dublin Pass	Unlimited attractions make it easy to maximise savings.
Families	Explorer Pass	Choose attractions that suit children without feeling rushed.
Couples	Explorer or Essentials	Ideal for combining Dublin’s most popular attractions.
First-time visitors	Dublin Pass	The easiest way to experience the city’s biggest highlights.

If you’re the sort of traveller who enjoys wandering through neighbourhoods, relaxing in cafés and mixing sightseeing with shopping, the Explorer Pass usually offers the best balance between value and flexibility. If, however, you’re determined to tick off every major attraction during a packed itinerary, the Dublin Pass is almost always the better investment.

AppSavvyTraveller.com

Is a Dublin Attraction Pass Worth It?

For many visitors, yes. Dublin’s most popular attractions are excellent, but admission charges can quickly add up. Visiting the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour individually can represent a significant part of your travel budget before you’ve even added museums, cathedrals or guided tours.

An attraction pass helps reduce those costs while also making sightseeing simpler. Instead of buying tickets throughout the day, everything is stored on your smartphone, allowing you to move between attractions with minimal hassle. For first-time visitors especially, this convenience can be almost as valuable as the financial savings.

That said, attraction passes aren’t for everyone. If your plans mainly involve exploring Temple Bar, wandering around Phoenix Park, browsing museums with free admission or taking day trips outside Dublin, you may not visit enough paid attractions to justify buying a pass. Before purchasing, it’s always worth making a rough itinerary and comparing the cost of individual tickets against the pass you’re considering.

As a general rule, if you’re planning to visit three or more major paid attractions, there’s a good chance one of the Dublin passes will save you both money and time.

Looking for Unlimited Public Transport Instead?

If your plans involve exploring Dublin at a more relaxed pace, rather than squeezing in as many paid attractions as possible, the DoDublin Freedom Card is well worth considering. Unlike the attraction passes above, this pass focuses on getting around the city while still including one of Dublin’s most popular sightseeing experiences.

The Freedom Card includes 72 hours of unlimited travel across Dublin’s public transport network, including Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead buses, Luas trams, DART and commuter rail services. It even covers Dublin Bus Route 41, making it an economical option if you’re travelling between Dublin Airport and the city centre.

Alongside unlimited public transport, you’ll also receive a 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour, allowing you to visit many of Dublin’s biggest attractions while listening to live commentary about the city’s history and landmarks. With more than 25 stops, it’s an easy way to reach places such as the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, Dublin Zoo, Temple Bar and Phoenix Park.

One of the biggest advantages of the Freedom Card is its flexibility. Because the transport pass and sightseeing bus are activated separately, you don’t have to use both at the same time. That makes it ideal if you’re spending several days in Dublin and want the freedom to mix sightseeing with visits to coastal towns such as Howth, Malahide or Dún Laoghaire, all of which can be reached using the included public transport.

If your itinerary includes lots of museums, distilleries and paid attractions, one of the Dublin attraction passes above will usually offer better overall value. However, if you’re planning to explore Dublin by public transport, take a few day trips and only visit a handful of paid attractions, the DoDublin Freedom Card could be the smarter and more economical choice.

Tips for Getting the Best Value

A little planning can make a big difference to how much you save. The biggest mistake many visitors make is buying a pass first and deciding what to do later. Instead, make a shortlist of the attractions you definitely don’t want to miss, then choose the pass that matches those plans.

It’s also worth booking popular attractions well in advance. Experiences such as the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery Bow St., and certain guided tours often require advance reservations, particularly during the busy summer months. Booking early helps you secure your preferred time and avoids unnecessary disappointment.

Try to group attractions that are close together. For example, you could combine Trinity College, EPIC, Temple Bar and the River Liffey in one day, then explore Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery and Phoenix Park on another. Planning sensible routes means you’ll spend less time travelling and more time enjoying the city.

Finally, don’t forget to make use of the Hop-on Hop-off Bus, where included. It’s not only a sightseeing attraction in its own right, but also an easy way to travel between many of Dublin’s biggest landmarks without relying on taxis or public transport.

Attractions That Require Advance Reservations

Although most attractions simply require you to scan your pass at the entrance, some of Dublin’s most popular experiences ask visitors to reserve a timeslot in advance. This is particularly common for guided tours and attractions with limited visitor numbers.

Attraction	Advance Reservation Recommended?
Guinness Storehouse	✅ Yes
Jameson Distillery Bow St.	✅ Yes
Teeling Whiskey Distillery	✅ Yes
Walking Food Tours	✅ Yes
Game of Thrones Studio Tour	✅ Yes
Hop-on Hop-off Bus	❌ No
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum	Usually not required
Dublin Zoo	Usually not required
St Patrick’s Cathedral	No
Christ Church Cathedral	No

Reservation requirements can change throughout the year, especially during peak travel periods. Before travelling, it’s always worth checking the latest information in the Go City app, where you’ll also find opening hours, booking links and any temporary attraction updates.

Rupert’s Handy Travel Tips

Buying a Dublin attraction pass can save you a surprising amount of money, but only if it matches the way you like to travel. Before you buy, spend a few minutes planning which attractions you definitely want to visit. If you’re only interested in three or four sights, a smaller pass may offer better value than an unlimited one.

Reserve popular attractions early: The Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery and several guided tours often require advance booking, particularly during weekends and the summer.
Start sightseeing early: If you’re using the Dublin Pass, getting out first thing in the morning will help you fit in more attractions and maximise your savings.
Plan by neighbourhood: Group attractions together, such as Temple Bar, Trinity College and EPIC, rather than travelling back and forth across the city.
Mix paid and free attractions: Dublin has excellent free museums, beautiful parks and historic streets, so don’t feel you need to spend every minute inside ticketed attractions.
Keep an eye on reservations: Some attractions included with Go City passes have limited daily capacity, so booking ahead avoids disappointment.

Want to discover more ways to save money while travelling? Find hundreds of practical travel tips in our latest travel guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Dublin attraction pass offers the best value?
For most visitors, the Dublin Explorer Pass provides the best balance between flexibility and savings. If you’re planning a very busy sightseeing itinerary, the Dublin Pass can offer even greater value.

Is the Dublin Pass worth buying?
Yes, if you’re planning to visit several paid attractions. The more included attractions you visit, the greater your potential savings compared with buying individual tickets.

What’s the difference between the Explorer Pass and the Dublin Pass?
The Explorer Pass lets you choose a set number of attractions to visit over 30 days, while the Dublin Pass offers unlimited attractions during a fixed period of one to five consecutive days.

Do I need to book attractions in advance?
Some popular attractions, including the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery and certain guided tours, require advance reservations even when using a pass.

Can I buy a pass before I travel?
Yes. All of the Go City passes can be purchased in advance and remain valid for up to a year before they’re activated by your first attraction.

Can I use my phone instead of printing tickets?
Yes. All three passes are fully digital and can be scanned directly from your smartphone using the Go City app.

Are Dublin attraction passes suitable for families?
Absolutely. Many family favourites, including Dublin Zoo, the Hop-on Hop-off Bus, museums and historic attractions, are included depending on the pass you choose.

Last Updated

July 2026

Affiliate Disclosure

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase a Dublin attraction pass or book an experience through one of our trusted travel partners, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend passes and attractions that we genuinely believe offer good value, and your support helps us continue creating free, in-depth travel guides for visitors to Dublin and beyond.

Tagged:Dublin Europe - Western Ireland

Rupert

Globetrotter (60+ countries) & Bow-Tie enthusiast. Hotel pillow connoisseur, breakfast buffet enthusiast, and firm believer in the window seat. Loves exploring off the beaten track followed by a decent slice of cake.