Plan Your Visit
Discover over 800 years of history on a guided tour of Malahide Castle, meander down the winding pathways of our enchanted Fairy Trail, get up close and personal with rare species in our Butterfly House, discover the rare collection of plants and flowers in the Walled Garden, enjoy a browse in Avoca and picnic in the park, let the kids loose in the state-of-the-art playground, find some peace and quiet on a woodland walkway, and lots more…!
We recommend allowing a minimum of two hours in order to fully enjoy all that Malahide Castle and Gardens has to offer but with so much to see and do, it’s easy to spend a full or half day here. We look forward to welcoming you very soon.
Opening Times
Malahide Castle and Gardens is open daily to visitors from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
CHRISTMAS HOURS:
Christmas Eve – Closed for Garden Tours and Castle Tours. Retail shop open
Christmas Day – Closed
St Stephens Day – Closed
December 27th – back to regular operational hours.
Open on New years day.
Malahide Castle
First tour at 9.30am
Last tour at 4.30pm in summer (April to October), 3.30pm in winter (November to March).
Fairy Trail and West Lawn
Open from 9.30am.
Last entry at 4.30pm in summer (April to October), 3.00pm in winter (November to March).
Butterfly House and Walled Garden
Open from 9.30am
Last entry at 4.30pm Summer time. 3PM winter ( November-March)
We recommend allowing a minimum of two hours for a visit to Malahide Castle and Gardens in order to fully enjoy all the site has to offer.
Also at Malahide Castle:
Avoca Store, Cafe and Food Market
Open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday
Open from 9.30am to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays
Avoca Cafe
Open 7 Days a Week
Open from 9.30am to 5.30pm (coffee and cakes only from 4.30pm)
Malahide Outdoor Store
Open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday
Open from 10.30am to 5.30pm on Sunday
Getting Here
Visit our Location page for more information on how to find us.
Book Tickets
Tickets for the castle tour, gardens and Fairy Trail are available for purchase from our Visitor Centre. During the summer months, advance booking online is recommended to ensure you secure your preferred castle tour times.
Groups are always welcome and group rates are available. For more information, please email events@malahidecastleandgardens.ie
Malahide Village
A picturesque seaside village, and a designated Heritage Town, Malahide village is hugely popular with Dubliners, day-trippers and overseas visitors.
The historical and modern collide in Malahide as award-winning contemporary bars, restaurants, cafes, boutiques and gift shops sits alongside traditional shop fronts on cobble-lock side streets.
Considered a gourmet capital of the East Coast, Malahide boasts an impressive range of restaurants offering the best of Irish and international cuisine. Lively pubs with live traditional music will take you well into the night and a wide range of leisure and sports activities will get you up in the morning.
Malahide’s stunning sandy beach offers a huge expanse of velvet strand at low tide and is a mecca for boating and water sports enthusiasts. Walk the sand dunes, take the coastal route to Portmarnock or simply enjoy the views.
Your tour of Malahide Castle will provide an insight into the influence the Talbot family and the castle itself has had on the development of Malahide village.
Learn more on the Enjoy Malahide website.
Malahide Demesne
Fingal County Council manage and maintain the 200 acres of lush, green parkland surrounding Malahide Castle, called the demesne.
A well-maintained and extensive network of paths makes exploring the demesne accessible for all. There’s plenty of outdoor activities on offer with a 9-hole golf course, 18-hole pitch and putt course and several tennis courts located on the grounds.
The historic Malahide Cricket Club is also based in the demesne. The complex includes two playing pitches, one of which serves as the International ground for the Irish national team, Cricket Ireland, with capacity for over 10,000 spectators.
The children’s playground on-site is legendary among our smallest visitors! With separate sections for toddlers and older children, no visit to Malahide Castle is complete without a pit stop here.
Beyond the castle itself, the demesne contains a number of other historical sites and treasures, including the ruins of Malahide Abbey and graveyard. Located just outside the Visitor Centre, parts of this structure stretch back to 1450. As you look at the bell turret and old holy water font, imagine the Talbot family worshipping here for hundreds of years.
Learn more on the Fingal County Council website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What time do the castle and gardens open?
A. 9.30am daily. We are closed on 24, 25 and 26 December.
Q. What time is the last tour of the castle?
A. The last tour is at 4.30pm in summer (April to October) and 3.30pm in winter (November to March).
Q. What time do the gardens close?
A. Last entry to the Fairy Trail and West Lawn is at 4.30pm in summer (April to October) and 3.00pm in winter (November to March). Last entry to the Butterfly House and Walled Garden is at 4.30pm all year round.
Q. How much time should we allow to see Malahide Castle and Gardens?
A. We recommend allowing two hours to fully enjoy all the site has to offer. The castle tour takes approx. 45 minutes.
Q. Are dogs allowed?
A. Dogs are not permitted in the visitor centre, castle or gardens. Dogs are allowed in the wider demesne and parkland but must be kept on a lead at all times unless you are in the dedicated ‘off leash’ areas. Guide dogs are permitted.
Q. Do you supply wheelchairs?
A. No, we do not.
Q. Is there somewhere to eat in the castle?
A. Renowned Irish retailer Avoca have a cafe and food hall in the Visitor Centre with a range of hot and cold, sweet and savoury options to eat in or take away.
Q. Is Malahide Castle and Gardens accessible for wheelchair users?
A. Yes, the site is wheelchair accessible. There is a lift to the first floor of the castle but the second floor (where the bedrooms are located) is only accessible by stairs and so wheelchair users will be unable to visit this part of the building. The gardens are full accessible. We can only accomodate one wheelchair per castle tour due to capacity restrictions. There are two disabled toilets located in the Visitor Centre. If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Q. Do you have an ATM/cash machine?
A. There is an ATM located in the retail store by our Admissions Desk.
Q. What constitutes an adult/student/senior ticket?
A. An adult ticket is for anyone aged over 18 and under 65. Students may be asked for a student card or proof that they are in education. We happily accept international student cards. Senior tickets are for those aged 65 and over.
Q. How long does a castle tour take? Is it all standing?
A. The tour of Malahide Castle takes approx. 45 minutes. There is seating in the waiting area but while on the tour, visitors will be moving around and walking from room to room and there will be no seating available.
Q. Do I have to book a tour or can I walk around the castle myself?
A. If you’d like to see the interior of the castle, you can only do so on a guided tour.
Q. Are there guided tours of the gardens?
A. Yes, you can book HERE.
Q. Do I have to book my tickets in advance or can I pay on the day?
A. While our Admissions Team will always do their best to accommodate you, we recommend booking castle tour tickets in advance to ensure you get a spot on the tour of your choice. There are limited tickets available for each tour and they can fill up quickly in the summer months. Garden tickets can be purchased on arrival.
Q. What language is the castle tour available in?
A. Tours are usually conducted through English. Audio guides are available in Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Mandarin. Tours can be booked in other languages for group visits on request.
Q. Is the castle tour suitable for children?
A. Yes, of course! Our guides will make sure that the tour content is tailored for any younger visitors.
Q. Is there parking on-site?
A. Yes, we have lots of free car and coach parking available and there are disabled parking spaces allocated in the main car park.
Q. Can I book a group online?
A. Groups of 10+ can be booked by emailing events@malahidecastleandgardens.ie
Q. Is it free to visit?
A. The demense and park are free to enter and walk around. However entry to the castle and gardens is ticketed and there is an entry fee. Concession rates are available for students, seniors and carers. Group rates are also available.
Q. Can I stay the night in the castle?
A. The castle is a daytime attraction only and no overnight accommodation is available.
Q. Is there accommodation available nearby?
A. There are a number of hotels in Malahide and the nearby coastal village of Portmarnock.
Q. I want to visit on my way from/to the airport. Can I store my luggage at Malahide Castle?
A. Unfortunately we do not have any luggage storage facilities on-site and so you will need to make alternative arrangements to store your baggage for the duration of your visit.
Q. How can I buy tickets to the summer concerts at Malahide Castle?
A. The outdoor summer concerts are organised by MCD Productions. Tickets go on sale in advance via Ticketmaster. All queries about the summer 2020 concerts should be sent directly to MCD.
Q. Can I bring a picnic?
A. Absolutely. We have plenty of parkland where you can enjoy your own picnic or pick up some food to go from Avoca to eat outdoors.
Q. Is there a playground on-site?
A. Yes! There is a fantastic kids playground tucked into the woodlands just outside the Visitor Centre, near the main car park.
Q. Can I camp or overnight on the grounds?
A. No camping or overnight stays are permitted.
Q. I lost something on my visit. Do you have a lost property section?
A. We do. If you message us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know what you lost, we’ll do our best to reunite you with your items.