Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2024: Dates + What To Expect

Although they’re still TBC, we can make an educated guess as to when the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2024 will return this year.

One of the only reliable Christmas markets in Dublin, ‘Christmas at The Castle’ is now entering its 6th year.

Below, you’ll find info on the dates and what festive features were at the market in previous years.

Some quick need-to-knows about the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2024

Although a visit to the Christmas market in Dublin Castle is reasonably straightforward, take 15 seconds to read the below points, first:

1. Location

The Dublin Castle Christmas Market, unsurprisingly enough, takes place within the impressive grounds of Dublin Castle. Christmas trees line the entrance to the courtyard and that’s where you’ll find the market.

2. Confirmed dates

Although still TBC, it’s likely that the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2024 will run from 4th December to 19th December from 12:00 to 21:00 daily.

3. Tickets and opening hours

Admission to Christmas at the Castle is completely free – no tickets are needed this year. The markets should be open from 12:00 to 21:00 each day.

4. Nearby parking

If you’re looking to drive to the Christmas market in Dublin Castle, you’ll have to get parking nearby. The nearest car parks are:

• Q-Park Christchurch car park (here on maps)
• Park Rite Drury Street (here on maps)

5. Getting here via public transport

Dublin Castle is well served by public transport and it’s within walking distance of a lot of bus routes, many of which stop at nearby Dame Street, George’s Street and Lord Edward Street. You can also get the Luas to St Stephen’s Green and walk.

About the Christmas market in Dublin Castle

When it comes to Christmas markets Dublin is pretty woeful (we’ve been promised the Mistletown Market for 4+ years now…).

So, it was with great excitement when the Dublin Castle Christmas Market announcement came out of nowhere in 2019, a couple of weeks before Christmas.

The market is contained to the courtyard in the castle grounds and you’d walk around it in well under 20 minutes.

What to expect

In previous years, the Christmas market in Dublin Castle has hosted a wide array of events, with everyone from the Dublin Gospel Choir to local acts taking to the stage.

There’s also all of the usual festive food and crafts, with 26+ vendors in wooden chalets selling everything from burgers and tacos to wooden crafts and jewellery.

Mixed reviews during previous years

People, myself included, visited this market in their droves since its launch and the reviews have been mixed. Many have complained about the cost of food and drink, in particular.

Personally, I enjoyed it. The grounds of Dublin Castle are impressive and the market, although small, brought a lovely festive buzz to the place.

My 2 cents

If you’re looking to visit a market and spend several hours looking around, then the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2024 likely isn’t for you.

However, if you’re happy to have a wander around, soak up the Christmassy buzz and then head into one of the many restaurants in Dublin for a bite-to-eat (or into one of the many pubs in Dublin) you’ve a decent evening ahead of you!

There’s also plenty of festive things to do in Dublin at Christmas in 2024.

What’s on at this year’s Christmas at Dublin Castle

The schedule for the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2024 should follow a very similar format over the last 4 years. Here’s what to expect:

1. The impressive entrance

One of the most notable features of the Christmas market in Dublin Castle during previous years was the entrance.

There were hundreds of Christmas trees lining the path that lead towards the courtyard. Visit after dark if you can.

2. The entertainment

A wide variety of musical acts perform at Christmas at The Castle each year. Last year, for example, the likes of ‘Esker Folk Group’, ‘Meath Childrens Choir’ and ‘The Honeydews’ took to the stage.

As the tunes get played in the historic upper courtyard, you can expect a magical setting to help catapult you into the Christmas spirit.

3. Food and drink

As is the case with every Christmas market in Ireland, food plays a huge part. Many of the wooden chalets at the Christmas market in Dublin Castle sold some form of sweet or savoury treat.

There was also a small enough open-air bar. Here are some of the vendors confirmed from previous years:

• Ciao Cannoli (V)
• Swing Grill & Smoke House
• Sweet Churro (V)
• The Crepe Box (V)
• Mani Pizza (V)
• Beanery 76
• Handsome Burger
• Charly’s Cheesecakes

4. Cribs and carousels

Aside from the food and drink, those that visit will get complimentary access to the beautifully decorated State Apartments.

Christmas at the Castle also boasts a vintage carousel, a Neapolitan crib and an indoor Irish Designer Market.

5. Wooden chalets

The courtyard of Dublin Castle is usually filled with 25+ traditional alpine market stalls buckling under a mixture of food, crafts and gift ideas. Here are some of the stalls from last year:

• Peter Gordon Photography
• Glasnevin Glass
• Inna Designs
• Alphabet Jigsaws
• Purple Cloud Natural Lavendar
• Oileann Jewellery
• Corleggy Cheeses
• The Seaweed Skin Company

More Irish markets like the one in Dublin Castle

There’s plenty of other markets if the Christmas market in Dublin Castle doesn’t tickle your fancy.

In Dublin, there used to be the Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market, but that’s no longer a thing, and we’ve been promised Mistletown for several years. Some of the markets definitely running in 2024 are:

• Wicklow Christmas Market
• Galway Christmas Market
• Kilkenny Christmas Market
• Glow Cork
• Belfast Christmas Market
• Waterford Winterval

FAQs about the Dublin Castle Christmas Market

We’ve had a lot of questions over the last couple of hours asking about everything from ‘Do you need a ticket?’ to ‘What’s on?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.