Trinity College Is Dublin's Must-See Attraction

My favorite part of Dublin was undoubtedly Trinity College, a massive campus in the heart of downtown Dublin. Visiting Trinity College Dublin is full of fun things to do and see: the Old Library is one of the most famous libraries in the world, the buildings are beautiful, and the sculptures and landscaping make for a really nice addition to your walk around Dublin.

Why is Trinity College Dublin so famous?

Trinity College is one of Dublin's most popular tourist attractions. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, it is Ireland's oldest university, and the campus features 18th-century neoclassical architecture and many famous landmarks.

Trinity College Dublin is also the alma mater of many famous Irish authors, including Bram Stoker, Samuel Beckett, Sally Rooney, Jonathan Swift, and, of course, Oscar Wilde. I say "of course Oscar Wilde" because there are multiple statues of him around Dublin. As a Dublin-native, Oscar Wilde is one of the most famous artists from Ireland. (James Joyce is up there, too, of course, but he didn't attend Trinity College Dublin.) There's only one statue of Joyce in Dublin that I found, while there are three of Oscar Wilde, so make of that what you will.

What to see at Trinity College Dublin

I really enjoyed the greenery around Trinity College Dublin. Ireland is, of course, the Emerald Isle, and there were so many plants, ivy-covered walls, and this awesome plant wall building to enjoy. You can tell the island gets a lot of rain because the flowers were all blooming, and the college quads were covered in a very healthy amount of grass. It's too bad that the sun wasn't out so that I could get better photos of the campus, but alas, that is to be expected in Ireland.

Trinity College Dublin also had some cool sculptures that I have to shout out. I especially enjoyed the strange bronze globe, called Sphere within a Sphere, by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. You can see it closer up in a video here. If you are visiting Trinity College to go to the Long Room and Book of Kells Experience, you can't miss the globe - it's situated right outside the Old Library.

What is there to do at Trinity College Dublin?

As a tourist visiting Dublin, I recommend a walk through Trinity College. It's historic, has beautiful architecture, and it's situated pretty centrally in Dublin to many other tourist attractions you'll want to see.

For example, the main entrance to Trinity College Dublin is only a couple of blocks from Temple Bar, the Molly Malone Statue, and the Irish Whiskey Museum, and the south side of the Trinity College campus is steps from the National Gallery of Ireland and St. Stephen's Green. Trinity College Dublin is, therefore, a great stop on a walking tour of Dublin.

Trinity College Dublin's Book of Kells Experience

I also recommend getting a ticket to the Book of Kells Experience so you can step inside one of the most beautiful old libraries and see Ireland's oldest harp! You could pay for a guided tour around the campus, but I think a self-guided tour of the Old Library plus a stroll around the campus is the perfect amount of time to spend.

How long is a tour of Trinity College Dublin campus?

Not including the Book of Kells Experience, which takes about thirty minutes, not including wait times, I would recommend that you plan another thirty minutes to one hour to wander around campus and see the sites. This depends, of course, on how fast you walk and how much you like to smell the roses, so to speak. If you are crunched for time, you can plan an hour for the whole Trinity College visit, as long as you have a timed-entry ticket to the Book of Kells.

All in all, Trinity College Dublin is definitely worth a visit. Be sure to pass through campus on a walk through Dublin, even if you don't plan to pay for a formal tour of any kind. It's a beautiful space in the heart of the city, bustling with students, tourists, and all sorts of historical importance for Irish culture.