Interactive Guided Tour of Printing History
Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
Discover Ireland's printing heritage on a guided tour of the collection, and learn how printing has evolved over the centuries. This fun, factual and interactive tour also gives you the chance to compose your name in type and print your own souvenir poster to take home!
As well as a huge collection of printing blocks, books, pamphlets, and periodicals, the museum is also home to a rare original copy of the famous 1916 Proclamation, drafted by revolutionaries during the Easter Rising, and is undoubtedly one of the most important pieces of print in Ireland's history.
After the tour, you can also check out the museum's temporary exhibition. Past displays include deep dives into political prints, theatre posters, and bottle label designs.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
National Print Museum
Learn how the printing press, invented in 1439 by Johannes Gutenberg, changed the world. View an original 1916 Proclamation, Ireland’s most important historical printed document, and marvel at the artefact’s fascinating story of production. Your guide will demonstrate how printing was done throughout most of the last few centuries. The main collection is not behind glass or rope, but is instead an example of a working collection. Interact with this collection by composing your own name in type and printing a personalised poster to take home.
What‘s Included
A personalised poster to take home
Options
Interactive Guided Tour of Printing History
Reviews
16 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best stop of my Dublin Visit!
maysannem2026,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My museum experience and tour with Cieran was simply the highlight of my visit in Dublin! The staff is all welcoming and friendly, and the museum is thoughtfully laid out with video demonstrations of the different presses. For €6, I got a hands on demonstration and tour with Cieran, who was knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. It’s clear that the staff is passionate of their work and love spreading this art form. 11/10 can’t recommend enough!
The world, in a word
evansK2238UJ,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gorgeous grounds and beautifully maintained facilities, kept by INCREDIBLY friendly and knowledgeable staff. Definitely worth a stop.
A Memorable Tour
chenghaom2023,,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Ciarán did an amazing job showing us the history and cool demos. Very attentive and enthusiastic. Ann also showed me her favourite typefaces and they are absolutely stunning!
Our fun family guided tour
NorthStar306453,,Aug 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We attended a family friendly tour yesterday afternoon.Having read other great online reviews I decided this might be something different from the norm and something the 9 year old hadn't managed to do yet. We were lucky to have the best tour guide with Ciaran. Ciaran was really engaging with his younger audience and managed to capture their attentions for the entirety of the tour. The tour was incredibly interactive and fun and Ciaran is a wealth of information that he shares in the most captivating way. I highly recommend this tour for all ages but recommend to try catch Ciaran as your tour guide. we had the best afternoon in his company and thank him for his expertise and enthusiasm. We will definitely be back and highly recommend visiting this museum in it's beautiful surroundings. Rachel and Bowie
Can't Miss This
998tarjah,,Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was one of the most memorable stops I did while in Dublin. I have a printmaking background but still learned a lot from Antho and the rest of the staff here. It is small but packs in a lot of great history and interactive aspects. Antho made the whole tour unforgettable, he was personable and brought the group into the tour on each one of our levels, remembering small chitchat from walking in to the very end. The museum is full of wonderful, well-kept equipment and at the end you can even make a small print! Again, I went to a lot of the touristy places in Dublin but The National Print Museum is the one I tell everyone in detail about my trip. Just going in is free but the guided tour is worth the time and interactions.
Family tour
Journey299107,,Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed the family tour immensely. Our tour guide Suzanne was absolutely brilliant and so knowledgeable. She was so patient with my boys and kept them interested for a full hour. She let them touch and try the machines and explained everything so well. I have been recommending the tour to all of my friends. The cafe also has delicious food so all in all we had a very enjoyable few hours
Very interesting
O6905FYevelyno,,Aug 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00There were only 2 of us, so we had a very personal tour. Ciaran was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject. The hour passed very quickly. He answered all our questions and we felt he could have charged double the amount. Thank you.
Printing technics history
Noghnosh100,,Aug 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We visit the museum during one of the free days open for family with kids. The team so friendly and provided plenty of informations about printing technics history. Good to know about it. But the place is medium maintained and can be better
amazing!
elizacG5834FH,,Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00staff were so informative and enthusiastic about their work, definietly worth visiting so much to learn and see in this place!
Back in Time.
yummymayo,,Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00By chance, I was greeted outside the museum by the guide Antho, who knew me by name when I said I was doing the tour. Okay, there were only four of us, but top man for being on the ball. Antho was very personable and asked us bits and bobs, remembered this information, and used it against us as the hour went by. As mentioned, it was a small group (as it should be) for the small space. A small space crammed with beautiful old equipment! They don't make em like they used to... seriously, these are priceless relics and such a wonderful part of history. Antho knew his history very well, he kept us all engaged with his charm and wit. The time just flew by, and we were even able to print ourselves a little souvenir to take home. Really fun and intimate experience. Oh, if only we could hop in a DeLorean and lay witness to Gutenberg and the development of his wondrous machines!
Related Experiences
Operated by National Print Museum