Real Dublin Traditional Music Pub Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
THE BEST RATED TRADITIONAL MUSIC EXPERIENCE IN DUBLIN!
Get away from tourist traps and staged performances.
Experience REAL TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC in its natural habitat.
We are musicians and are immersed in the music scene..
Raised on songs and stories, we live and breathe Irish music. We have been an integral part of the local music scene and will bring you into the heart of the traditional music scene.
We love meeting new people and introducing them to Irish culture and to Dublin city. We are deeply passionate about the story of Irish music and the shared experience of live traditional Irish music.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
No children allowed on evening tours
Not suitable for children (except on the afternoon tour)
Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues as there is lots of walking involved.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Dublin
Traditional Irish music in its natural habitat - THE PUB! I'm a LOCAL MUSICIAN so with me as your guide you'll experience THE REAL DUBLIN TRADITIONAL MUSIC scene. I'll take you OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK to visit THREE live music sessions in THREE REAL DUBLIN MUSIC PUBS... where you'll enjoy THREE drinks with NEW FRIENDS. You'll learn the HISTORY of our music - giving you A REAL CONNECTION to Irish music. We'll share a GREAT NIGHT filled with FUN, MUSIC and SONGS. You'll MAKE NEW FRIENDS and along the way you'll learn about and hear DIFFERENT STYLES of Irish music, the INSTRUMENTS played... and you'll even learn the difference between a JIG and a REEL! You will be doing lots of walking across the city between pubs so please wear suitable shoes and clothing.
What‘s Included
The pub crawl is more about MUSIC than drinking... BUT... there are drinks included too. Each guest is provided with THREE DRINKS - one small Guinness in each bar we visit.
Guide
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Real Dublin Traditional Music Pub Tour
Reviews
40 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Neil was a fantastic tour...
Bernie D,,Jan 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Neil was a fantastic tour guide. Delivered a personal, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path experience we were looking for. Highly recommend!!
Always coming back for more Trad music!!!
Darby M,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took this tour with my family 2 years ago and loved it so much I came back with my partner!!! The guides are musicians themselves that are extremely thoughtful and know a lot about Trad music.
An Evening of Music, Pubs, and the Real Spirit of Dublin
Eric B,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My experience with Real Dublin Traditional Music Pub Tour was an exceptional way to experience Dublin and Irish culture through the lens that matters most here: music and pubs. From the start, the tour carried great energy and a sense of fun that immediately brought the group together. The guide struck an ideal balance—sharing cultural insight, history, and local knowledge without ever overloading the experience. There was always ample space to simply listen, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy the music in the moment. Stopping for a beer at each pub only added to the camaraderie, creating a relaxed, social rhythm that felt genuinely Irish rather than staged. By the end, it felt less like a tour and more like an evening out with friends who know the city well. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand Dublin beyond the surface and experience its living musical culture in an authentic, joyful way.
Dublin Irish music
G8627YUrayd,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Sean, our guide, was very enthusiastic and educational. Great group of off the tourist path to experience Irish culture and music. Recommend the experience.
Best Music Experience in Dublin
Gerrid V,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I booked this experience as a honeymoon gift for my wife. All her life, she had dreamed of sitting in an Irish pub, listening to traditional Irish music. What I expected to get and what we actually experienced could not have been more different. I went in bracing for a typical pub crawl—a tour guide hustling us along to crowded rooms, flat beers, and loud pubs where the music felt like background noise. Instead, we were given the tour of a lifetime, one that far exceeded anything we could have imagined. From the first moment, Ciaran’s love for Ireland and its musical roots poured out of him. He spoke with passion about how Irish music nearly disappeared under British rule and occupation, and how it was revived by artists like Luke Kelly, The Chieftains, The Pogues, and others who carried the tradition forward. Our first stop was the Cobblestone. We stepped into a pub packed wall to wall, the air alive with sound. A seven-piece band filled the room, their instruments weaving together in harmony over the low hum of conversation in the back room. Some of the instruments were unfamiliar to us, yet their sounds felt instantly recognizable—like they had always belonged to the countryside. Behind the bar, Guinness flowed steadily, quietly fueling the night. As we moved on, Ciaran explained how music played a vital role in Irish independence and how younger generations continue to carry the tradition—learning instruments like the uilleann pipes, mandolin, tin whistle, and button accordion. Our next stop, Piper’s Corner, felt more intimate. Here, Ciaran taught us how to tell the difference between jigs and reels. The fiddlers had clearly settled into jigs, their rhythm slower and more deliberate, pulling passersby into the room as rosin warmed on bowstrings. When the pub filled to capacity, we headed to our final stop—and easily our favorite of the night. McNeill’s Pub is unassuming and tucked away, but the moment you walk inside, you’re transported. A six-piece group played as if each musician could have commanded the room alone. Together, they were mesmerizing—true minstrels holding the entire pub in their grasp. When Tony began to sing softly, accompanied by a lone guitar, conversation stopped. A hush fell over the room as this grandfatherly figure sang a sorrowful love song, heavy with memory and emotion. Ciaran proved he was no slouch himself, stepping in with a song of his own that had everyone leaning forward, hanging on every word. If given the chance to do this tour again, I would do it a hundred times over without hesitation. This was one of the best excursions we have ever experienced, and Ciaran was an extraordinary host—truly a gem and an Irish treasure.
Epic Music Tour with Ciarán
Erin O,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We booked this tour for our first night in Dublin and we are SO GLAD we did!! Ciarán was such a great host… such a kind, fun, and humorous guy! And we had a great, small tour group of 7 who were all lovely… so it was like we made new friends to hang out with on our first night. Everything was amazing, but the best part was the music!! We got to learn about Traditional Irish Music, some musicians, and a bit of Irish history! Ciarán took us to 3 different pubs, two of which you will never find on Google, even if you’re searching for the live music scene in Dublin. The three we visited were all excellent. Two of them so epic that we repeated visits to those two in our trip! The traditional instruments, the sessions, the songs, and the musicians were amazing! We really enjoyed this tour! If you only book one tour in Dublin, make it this one!!!
Bomb dot com
Taylor M,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Neal was amazing!! He was very informative and amicable. He went out of his way and gave us some great recommendations for the rest of our trip. Definitely happy we did this tour!
One of my favorite experiences!
Erin H,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is one of my favorite tours I've ever done! Especially for anyone interested in music and more 'local' vibes, this was a great experience and almost felt like a nice night out with friends -- got to know our small group well and appreciate the traditional music!
Amazing music tour!!
Lindi B,,Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a spectacular tour! Neil was super knowledgeable and took us to great pubs for a trad music experience. Really, it was a fun, authentic Dublin experience and we highly recommend it.
Book the tour!
Jennifer B,,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Ciaran was fantastic. His knowledge about music and pride for Irish culture was evident throughout. I would not have found the spots we visited on my own, and it was so nice to get outside of the tourist traps and learn more about the real Ireland. The tour really made the my trip! He kindly offered tips for other parts of Ireland as well and I'm excited to check out his recommendations for Galway! The entire experience was lovely from start to finish and I would highly recommend it for solo travelers like myself! If you're debating booking the tour, just do it!
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Operated by Real Dublin