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Visiting the Guinness Storehouse

The Guinness Storehouse sits at the heart of the St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin 8 — one of the city’s most visited attractions and, for many travellers, a genuinely memorable few hours. Seven floors of interactive history, sensory experiences, and a rooftop bar with a 360-degree view of the capital. Whether you drink stout or not, the building and the story it tells are hard to resist.

What Is the Guinness Storehouse?

Opened to the public in 2000, the Storehouse occupies a cast-iron and brick building dating from 1904, originally used to ferment yeast. The atrium is shaped like a giant pint glass — hold that thought until you reach the Gravity Bar at the top and you’ll understand why.

The experience runs across seven floors. You move through the history of the brewery, the ingredients that go into Guinness (water from the Wicklow Mountains, roasted barley, hops, yeast), the brewing process itself, and then into areas covering advertising, cooperage, and tasting. It is structured as a self-guided walk, so you set your own pace.

Tickets and Opening Hours

Book online in advance — the Storehouse is busy year-round, and pre-booked tickets are cheaper and skip the entry queue. Standard admission includes one complimentary pint of Guinness (or a soft drink) at the Gravity Bar.

Opening hours: Generally 09:30–17:00 daily, with extended hours during summer. Check the official site before you visit as seasonal hours change.
Getting there: The brewery is a 20-minute walk from Dublin city centre or a short Luas Red Line trip to James’s Hospital, followed by a five-minute walk. Taxis and rideshares drop directly to the main entrance on Thomas Street.
Duration: Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours inside.

The Gravity Bar: Worth the Climb

The top-floor Gravity Bar is reason enough to visit. Floor-to-ceiling glass wraps the entire space, giving uninterrupted views of the Dublin skyline — the Wicklow Mountains to the south, the port to the east, Phoenix Park to the west. Sip your included pint here and take your time. The bar tends to fill up in the early afternoon, so arriving at opening or after 15:00 is sensible if you want breathing room.

The Tasting Rooms and Academy Experience

On the fifth floor, the Guinness Academy lets visitors pour their own pint under guidance from a trained host. It takes about ten minutes and ends with a certificate. It sounds gimmicky but landing a proper head on a stout — flat on one side, dome on the other, settled in the right time — is genuinely satisfying.

The Arthur’s Bar on the ground floor offers food pairings: Guinness with oysters, chocolate, and aged cheese. This is available separately from the main ticket and worth adding if food is part of your plan.

When to Visit and When to Book

The Storehouse is open every day of the year except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Demand is highest between June and August, and queues without pre-booked tickets can stretch outside on busy days.

January to March is the quietest period — useful for those visiting Dublin on a city break out of season. Booking even a day or two ahead during this period is usually sufficient.

St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) is the one exception: the Storehouse typically hosts special events and capacity sells out weeks in advance. Book early if your trip coincides.

If you are combining the Storehouse with other Dublin attractions — EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Trinity College Library, or a walking tour of the Liberties neighbourhood — build a full day around it.

Where to Stay Near the Guinness Storehouse

The Storehouse is in Dublin 8, west of the city centre. Most visitors stay in the city centre — the north or south of the Liffey — and travel in by Luas or on foot.

For accommodation options across the capital, our Dublin where-to-stay guide covers every budget from hostels to luxury hotels. If you are travelling as a group or planning a longer stay, self-catering properties in Ireland give you more flexibility than a hotel room.

Prefer a hotel with a spa after a day of sightseeing? See our picks in spa hotels across Ireland. Travelling on a tighter budget? Hostels in Dublin are a strong option within walking distance of the Storehouse.

Combining the Storehouse with the Rest of Ireland

Dublin makes an excellent base for the first night or two of a wider Irish trip. From the city, you can head south into County Wicklow — the Wicklow Mountains supply the water used in Guinness, which makes a pleasant footnote to the tour — or west toward Galway and Connemara.

If you are planning a longer journey, our 7-day Ireland itinerary and Ireland road trip guide both route through Dublin and suggest how to sequence the rest of the country. For the full two-week version, see the 14-day itinerary.

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FAQ

Do I need to book the Guinness Storehouse in advance? Advance booking is strongly recommended. Online tickets are typically cheaper than walk-up prices and allow you to bypass the entry queue — especially useful during summer and around public holidays.

Is the Guinness Storehouse suitable for children? Yes. The Storehouse is family-friendly and children are admitted throughout (under-18s do not receive the complimentary pint). The interactive exhibits and scale models hold attention well for older children; younger ones tend to be less engaged by the brewing history sections but enjoy the building itself.

How long does a visit to the Guinness Storehouse take? Most visitors spend between 90 minutes and two and a half hours inside. Add time for the Gravity Bar and, if included, the Guinness Academy pint-pouring experience.