A visit to the EPIC museum in Dublin really is hard to beat.
And, while there are endless museums in Dublin, few bring to life Irish history in such a unique and fascinating way as does EPIC the Irish emigration museum.
Located on Custom House Quay, the EPIC museum was voted ‘Europe’s leading tourist attraction’ at the World Travel Awards in 2019 and 2020.
In the guide below, you’ll find info on everything from where to grab EPIC museum tickets to what to expect when you arrive.
Some quick need-to-knows about the EPIC Museum in Dublin
Although a visit to EPIC the Irish emigration museum is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
Note: if you book a tour through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.
1. Location
The EPIC museum is at Custom House Quay in Dublin 1, right in the city centre and close to various other well-known tourist attractions such as the Famine Memorial, the Jeanie Johnston and Grand Canal Dock.
2. Opening hours
The museum is open seven days a week from 10am to 6.45pm, with the last entry at 5pm. As you might imagine, weekends are busier than through the week, so if you want a quieter experience try to time your visit out with Saturday or Sunday.
3. EPIC Museum tickets
EPIC Museum ticket prices vary depending on age along with the number of people you’re visiting with (note: prices may change).
- Adult tickets for those aged 18-64 cost €16.50
- Teenagers (13-17) are €10.50
- children aged 6-12 are €8.00
- Concessions for students and seniors are €15.00
- Family pass for two plus one is €36.00
4. Europe’s leading tourist attraction
EPIC was voted ‘Europe’s leading tourist attraction’ at the World Travel Awards in 2019 and 2020. When you visit, it’s easy to see why, as this place is a must-do for visitors and locals to gain a deeper understanding of Irish history.
5. Home to the Irish Family History Centre
Want to find out about your own Irish roots? Why not undertake a personalised consultation with an expert genealogist? The experience will point you in the right direction should you wish to discover where to research your family tree and the consultations can be done in person or online.
6. Part of the Dublin Pass
Exploring Dublin over 1 or 2 days? If you buy a Dublin Pass for €70 you can save from €23.50 to €62.50 on Dublin’s top attractions, like the EPIC Museum, the Guinness Storehouse, The GPO, the Jameson Distillery Bow St. and more (info here).
About EPIC the Irish emigration museum
Photos by The Irish Road Trip
Why did 10 million people leave Ireland and what impact did that have on the country and the rest of the world?!
This and questions like it are what EPIC the Irish emigration museum explores through its hands-on approach to Irish culture and its past in a fully interactive experience that brings everything to vivid life.
You will discover the far-reaching influence of Irish history and the impact those Irish emigres who left the country in search of a better life had on the world.
What to expect from a visit to the EPIC Dublin
One of the reasons that EPIC Dublin is widely regarded as one of the best places to visit in Dublin is due to the experience it offers.
Below, you’ll get a sense of what to expect at EPIC the Irish emigration museum, from its digital galleries to the often harrowing story it tells so well.
1. A 100% digital museum
Photos by The Irish Road Trip
Visit EPIC Dublin and you will swipe through video galleries, dance to motion sensor quizzes, listen to remastered audio that dates back 100 years and watch videos.
There are touch screen exhibits, where visitors can read digital copies of emigrants’ letters sent home to Ireland describing their experiences in the new countries where they settled, to watching film presentations of emigrants recounting their lives and what pushed them into leaving Ireland.
The exhibition consists of 20 galleries that are individually themed, and come under the headings of Migration (Galleries 1 to 2), Motivation (Galleries 4 to 7), Influence (Galleries 8 to 18) and the Diaspora Today (Galleries 19 to 20).
2. Discover why 1,000,000 people left the island
Photos by The Irish Road Trip
What does it mean to be Irish? This question expands far beyond the country’s borders—the millions of emigres who left over the centuries desperate to escape poverty and hardship and make something of themselves elsewhere.
They became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the globe. The EPIC museum will uncover adventure, adversity and triumphant stories.
3. A plethora of exhibits
Photos by The Irish Road Trip
Inside EPIC the Irish emigration museum you will see why we recommend allowing plenty of time for your visit. The Migration galleries are all about the migration patterns from Ireland as far back as the 6th century.
You will see the religious missionary work, religious and social persecution, criminal transportation, the Irish famine and Irish involvement in foreign wars.
In the Influence galleries, notable Irish immigrants who went into business, politics, sports, music, dance, literature, dance and entertainment and more are highlighted, along with a rogue’s gallery of those troublemakers with Irish heritage who ended up in other parts of the world.
Places to visit near EPIC Dublin
One of the beauties of EPIC the Irish emigration museum is that it’s a short spin away from many of our favourite Dublin attractions.
Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from EPIC Dublin (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).
1. The Famine Memorial (2-minute walk)
Photos via Shutterstock
Make sure you visit the Famine Memorial nearby if you visit EPIC Dublin. The statues of men and women clutching their meagre belongings and children represent those forced to flee the country in the wake of the 19th century famine that devastated Ireland’s population.
2. The Jeanie Johnston (2-minute walk)
Photos via Shutterstock
The Jeanie Johnston is a restored passenger ship that shows you the reality of what those passages overseas were like—cramped, insanitary but so necessary. It began its first journey as a famine ship in 1848 with 193 passengers on board (194 by the time it arrived in Quebec thanks to the arrival of a baby boy during the crossing.
3. Trinity College (15-minute walk)
Photos via Shutterstock
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth 1 and modeled on Cambridge and Oxford, Trinity College is one of the seven ancient universities of Britain and Ireland. Home to the stunning Long Room Library and the Book of Kells, a visit here is a must.
FAQs about visiting EPIC the Irish emigration museum
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where can you buy EPIC Museum tickets online?’ to ‘Is the EPIC emigration museum worth visiting?’
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.
Is the EPIC Musuem in Dublin worth visiting?
Yes, yes and yes! EPIC the Irish emigration museum is an incredible place to spend a few hours. It’s beautifully done, informative and a joy to ramble around.
What is there to see at EPIC Dublin?
At EPIC the Irish emigration museum you’ll discover why 10 million people left Ireland and the impact it had on the country and the rest of the world.
Emma Baird is a lifestyle editor and novelist. She has worked in the communications industry for more than 25 years, and loves animals, the countryside and lingering in a great pub for the food and the craic.