The Guinness Storehouse In Dublin: Which Tour Is Best + The Story Of St. James’s Gate

Located at St James’s Gate, the Guinness Storehouse sits on the site where Arthur Guinness famously agreed a 9,000-year lease in 1759.

For many tourists spending one day in Dublin or a weekend in Dublin, a visit to the Guinness Factory is at the top of their to-do list, and for good reason.

Those who embark on a Guinness Brewery tour (book it here) are immersed in the brand’s history, the stout’s creation process, and, of course, enjoy a pint in the Gravity Bar.

Some quick information about the Guinness Storehouse

Although the Guinness tour 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 a link 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 Guinness factory is located slightly off Dublin’s south quays at St. Jame’s Gate. It’s a 15-minute walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a 20-minute walk from Kilmainham Gaol and very short walk from some of the best whiskey distilleries in Dublin.

2. How to get there from Dublin City Centre

Getting around Dublin is handy once you know how. You have 5 options to get from the city centre to the Guinness Storehouse:

• Walk (40 minutes): From O’Connell St
• Public Bus (15 minutes): Get the 123 from Dame St or O’Connell St in direction of Walkinstown and get off at James’s Street
• Hop on/off Bus: If you plan on visiting multiple attractions, the hop on/off bus goes to the Storehouse
• LUAS (15 minutes): Take the Red Line in the direction of Tallaght
• Taxi/Uber (25 minutes): A taxi or one of the ride share apps will cost around €15

3. Book online to avoid the queues

While you can buy tickets at the door, you’re better off buying online in advance. The reason for this is:

1. The time slots may be full when you arrive
2. You’ll avoid the often lengthy queues 

4. Parking

So, there’s some very limited free parking at the Guinness Storehouse on Crane Street, (see it here on Google Maps). There’s paid parking near the Four Courts here (15-minute walk away).

5. 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.

The History of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin

When you visit the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, you’re treading on hallowed ground! It was the original site where Arthur Guinness began his brewery business in 1759.

Planning for the future, he signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum and started brewing his dark porter-style ales.

He used dark malt to create his stout, which was instantly a favourite with river and street porters, among other local workers.

Then things escalated

10 years later, he decided to begin exporting, shipping a modest 6.5 barrels to England, and the rest, as they say, is history.

By 1886, Guinness sales reached 1.13 million barrels a year, and the company was floated on the stock market.

That was in spite of the fact that Guinness owned no bars or pubs and refused to advertise (this changed drastically over time). The product spoke for itself.

The decline and joining up with Diageo

In the 1970s, Guinness sales had declined, so the owners had to relaunch it and introduce pale malt.

The company merged with Diageo in 1997 but retained the Guinness brand’s rights and trademarked the Irish harp logo.

Now, in 2024, Guinness is a roaring success both at home and overseas, with the factory firmly establishing itself as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland.

However, not all pints are equal – see my guide to finding the best Guinness in Dublin for more.

Things you’ll see on the Guinness Factory tour

There’s plenty to see on the Guinness tour in Dublin, regardless of which tour you take.

Behind those sturdy black gates, the Guinness Storehouse offers a memorable and educational experience that any ale drinker or Guinness aficionado will remember for years to come.

1. The brewing process

Stroll through the historic Guinness Brewery, see the hops and learn about the specialist strains of yeast used in this unique brewing process.

See the rushing waters that are a vital part of the Guinness brewing process.

2. Fittings from the original brewery

You’ll often see the Guinness Factory mentioned in guides to the best museums in Dublin. This puzzles some, but it is a museum of sorts.

The Storehouse is home to fixtures from the Guinness Brewery’s original days. Interestingly enough, some of these are from over 250 years ago.

3. Old-school Guinness ads

Immerse yourself in 80 years of Guinness advertising – you’ll be surprised at some of the memories it brings back!

Interact with the ads and take photos that put you in your very own Guinness ad.

4. The journey to greatness

Track the four key ingredients that go into every pint of Guinness in Ireland’s #1 tourist attraction.

Once the brew is completed, learn about the coopers and the epic sea voyages that led to Guinness becoming an international brand in 150 countries.

Things to do near the Guinness Storehouse

There are endless things to do near the Guinness Storehouse – in fact, many of the best things to do in Dublin are a short walk away!

Here are some of my go-tos:

1. Whiskey distilleries (3 to 6-minute walk): Some of the top whiskey distilleries in Ireland are a short walk away. Roe and Co (6-minutes), Pearse Lyons (5-minutes) and the Teeling distillery (15-minutes)
2. Dublin’s Oldest pub (10-minute walk): The reigning champion of ancient pubs in Dublin is the Brazen Head which dates to 1198. See my guide to the oldest pubs in Dublin for more
3. Phoenix Park (15-minute walk): Dominated by the 200ft tall Wellington Monument, the Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe
4. Kilmainham Gaol (20-minute walk): Infamous for being the site of incarceration for many Nationalist leaders, Kilmainham Gaol is one of the city’s top attractions

FAQs

I’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is it worth the money?’ to ‘How long is it?’.

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