Go straight to gaol – but book 28 days in advance

It’s more important than ever to plan ahead for Ireland’s top visitor attractions

Planning a visit to Kilmainham Gaol? It may need more planning than you think. Up to 1,000 people visit Dublin’s historic gaol daily, and a select number of tickets are released at midnight every day for tours up to 28 days in advance. Access is by guided tour only, and tickets must be pre-booked. The advised alternative is to check its website €8 for adults) from 9.15am on the day of visit, when a small number of additional tickets and cancellations may be released.

“There is a very high demand for tickets,” says a spokesperson for the OPW, which manages the heritage site. “For operational reasons, we don’t release tickets for public tours earlier than the 28 days.”

Locals may not visit attractions on their doorstep very often, and so may be surprised at how ticketing has evolved, using technology to manage transactions and demand. Brú na Bóinne, Clonmacnoise, Dublin Castle and the Rock of Cashel are just some of the other OPW attractions with timelines for advance bookings. While Kilmainham was listed as ‘sold out’ for the 28 days I checked, there was availability at these other sites.

Dynamic pricing is now a feature of Ireland’s most visited attractions, with fees varying by the time of day and year. Visit the Cliffs of Moher off-peak, for example (8am-11am and after 4pm), and it will cost €7 for adults booking online. Peak times (11am-4pm) booked online cost €10. Pay at the gate and you’ll cough up €12 — €5, or just over 70pc, more than the cheapest rate.

“Visit outside of peak times for a more pleasant and peaceful experience,” the website nudges. “Sunrise and sunset visits are incredibly special and memorable.”

Basic tickets to the Guinness Storehouse (including a pint) start at €20 per adult, booked online at quieter times. That rises to €30 at its busiest dates and periods, ranking it among Ireland’s most expensive visitor attractions (tickets for Titanic Belfast cost £24.95/€29 for adults regardless of when you visit, while entry to Trinity College’s new Book of Kells Experience will set you back €25).

The prices are eye-watering, but I think these are worldclass attractions, and the rates do compare with similar experiences overseas. Amsterdam’s Heineken Brewery tour costs €23pp, for example; visits to New York’s Empire State Building start from $46/€42, or $56/€52 at sunset, plus a $5 booking fee, before upsells for higher floors. Interestingly, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia recently introduced a €25 visitor fee, while keeping a separate entrance free for Turkish citizens accessing the worship areas.

The best price of all is free. And, thankfully, Ireland still has options at that rate. Our National Gallery and museums don’t cost a cent (unlike other countries), similar to OPW sites like the National Botanic Gardens. The OPW also provides free entry to sites with admission fees for visitors with disabilities and their accompanying carers. On the first Wednesday of the month, almost 40 of its heritage sites are free to all — including Farmleigh House and Gardens (usually €8) and Killarney’s Ross Castle (usually €5).

Tellingly, Kilmainham Gaol is an exception.