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Plan your visit to Guinness Storehouse

The Guinness Storehouse is a self-guided visitor attraction located at St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. Set inside a former fermentation plant, the experience unfolds across seven floors, each focusing on a different part of the Guinness story. Visitors move at their own pace through exhibitions, interactive spaces, and historic brewing areas, finishing at the Gravity Bar with views over the city. Planning ahead helps you manage time, avoid queues, and enjoy each floor without rushing.

Navigating your way

Start at the main entrance 👉

Enter through the main Storehouse entrance at St. James’s Gate. Tickets are checked at arrival, and staff guide you toward the lifts or stairs to begin your visit.

Move through the Storehouse 👉

The experience is self-guided, so you choose your pace. Floors are clearly numbered and flow upward, covering ingredients, brewing, advertising history, cooperage, and more.

Interactive and open spaces 👉

Some floors include hands-on displays, videos, and tasting-style explanations. These areas can get busy, so allowing extra time helps avoid feeling crowded.

Finish at the Gravity Bar 👉

The visit ends at the Gravity Bar on the top floor. This is where you take in panoramic views of Dublin and enjoy your included serve before heading back down through the gift shop.

How to make the most of your time

Visit typeDurationRouteWhat you get

Quick visit

60-minutes

Ground floor to Gravity Bar or participating in your specific experience

A highlights focused walk through the core exhibits, ending with city views from the Gravity Bar

Standard visit

90 minutes

Full self guided route across all floors

A complete look at the building’s architecture, Guinness history, brewing process, advertising legacy, and rooftop views

Handy tips

  • Choose your entry slot with intent: Earlier slots move faster through the lower floors, while late afternoon slots often mean a longer wait at the Gravity Bar. If skyline views matter more than pace, aim for mid-day.
  • Don’t rush the first two floors: Most visitors speed through ingredients and brewing, but these floors explain everything you’ll see later. Spending an extra 5-10 minutes here makes the advertising, cooperage, and tasting sections far more meaningful.
  • Use stairs strategically, not constantly: Stairs are quicker between Floors 1 to 4 during peak hours, but lifts are the better option for reaching the Gravity Bar without queuing fatigue near the end of your visit.
  • Gravity Bar isn’t just at the end: You don’t have to linger immediately. Scan the room, grab your included serve, then circle back to the windows once people move on. Views improve quickly as groups rotate out.
  • Plan photos around light, not crowds: Afternoon light gives clearer city detail through the Gravity Bar glass, while early morning light works better for interior shots of the atrium and exhibit spaces.
  • Save shopping decisions until after Floor 5: Limited-edition items and exclusive glassware make more sense once you’ve seen the cooperage and branding floors, where guides and displays explain why those designs matter.
  • Allow buffer time for exit flow: The final descent and shop can bottleneck during busy periods. If you’re heading to another booking or dinner, plan at least 15 extra minutes after reaching the Gravity Bar.

Before you get there

Here are a few pages worth checking before your visit:

About Guinness Storehouse

Opening hours of Guinness Storehouse

Where is Guinness Storehouse located?

Know before booking your Guinness Storehouse experience

  • Book ahead if timing matters: Online tickets secure your entry time and cost less than buying on the day. Walk up tickets are limited and often sell out during weekends, holidays, and peak afternoon hours.
  • Choose tickets based on how hands on you want to be: Standard tickets suit first time visits, while experiences like STOUTie or Connoisseur add guided moments and smaller group interaction. Combo tickets work well if you are planning a full sightseeing day.
  • Know what your ticket already covers: Entry includes full access to all seven floors, the Tasting Rooms, and one included serve at the Gravity Bar, with soft drink options available if you prefer not to drink alcohol.
  • Understand age access clearly: Visitors of all ages can enter the Storehouse, but alcohol is only served to guests aged 18 and over. Children must stay with an accompanying adult throughout the visit.
  • Plan ahead for allergies and sensitivities: Real barley is used in ground floor displays. Guests with gluten sensitivities can collect protective masks from the lower ground floor information desk before starting the experience.

Guinness Storehouse ticket types explained

Ticket typeDurationRouteWhat you get

Combo: Dublin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour + Guinness Storehouse & Gravity Bar

Flexible over 24 or 48 hours

Open-top bus sightseeing plus self-guided Storehouse visit

Hop-on hop-off access to 25+ Dublin landmarks, multilingual audio guide, live English expert, optional walking/night tour, 90-min self-paced visit, Gravity Bar entry & one Guinness or soft drink

Guinness Connoisseur Experience

Around 1 hour 15 minutes

Specialist-led tasting followed by independent exploration

Small-group guided tasting in the private Connoisseur Bar, curated Guinness selections, expert insight into blends and pouring technique, plus time to explore the Storehouse at your own pace

Guinness Storehouse timings

Opening hours

  • Sunday to Thursday: 9:30 am to 7 pm (last entry at 5 pm)
  • Friday and Saturday: 9:30 am to 8 pm (last entry at 6 pm)

Note: Hours may vary, especially in December and January when Saturday's last entry is 5 pm.

Best time to visit

Weekdays vs weekends

Mornings on weekdays feel calm, letting you explore exhibits, interact with displays, and enjoy the Gravity Bar without feeling rushed. Weekends are bustling and vibrant, full of energy, making the experience lively but sometimes busier at key spots.

Peak vs quieter months

Summer and school holidays draw the largest crowds, so floors and the Gravity Bar can feel crowded. Visiting midweek outside holiday periods gives you more space to move, pause for photos, and take your time without competing with heavy visitor flow.

Where is Guinness Storehouse located?

Address: Guinness Storehouse, St. James’s Gate, Dublin 8, Ireland

The Guinness Storehouse sits within the historic St. James’s Gate Brewery complex, just southwest of Dublin city centre. The surrounding area blends industrial heritage with modern city life.

Closest landmark: St. James’s Gate Brewery

Getting there

By public transportation

  • By bus: Regular city buses, including route 123, stop near James’s Street, just a short walk to the Storehouse entrance. Hop-on hop-off buses like DoDublin or Big Bus also stop directly at the Guinness Storehouse, perfect for combining sightseeing with your visit.
  • By tram: Take the LUAS Red Line to James’s stop. From there, it’s about a 10–12 minute walk to the Storehouse, passing historic streets and city sights along the way, making the journey part of the Dublin experience itself.

By personal transportation

  • By car: Reach the Guinness Storehouse via the 804 route, about a 10-minute drive from Dublin city centre. Nearby parking is available at Crane Street Car Park, with additional paid street parking along surrounding streets for added convenience.
  • By bike: Dublin Bikes offer a quick and eco-friendly option. The nearest racks are on Market Street South or Crane Street, just a short ride from the Storehouse, letting you lock up and explore the attraction at your own pace.

Facilities

  • Audio guides: Explore at your own pace using audio guides available at entry in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese. They add helpful context to each floor without locking you into a fixed route or timing.
  • Toilets: Restrooms, including men’s, women’s, and gender-neutral options, are spread across the ground, first, second, fourth, and fifth floors, so you are never far from one during your visit.
  • Lockers: A luggage storage area is available for bags and suitcases. Coats and jackets are not accepted, so plan to wear or carry outer layers during your time inside.
  • Gift shop: The ground floor retail store houses the largest range of Guinness merchandise. Look out for Storehouse Exclusives or personalise official Guinness glassware for a meaningful souvenir.

Accessibility

Physical disabilities

  • Step-free access is available at the entrance, with ramps and lifts providing access to all levels of the Guinness Storehouse. Wheelchair accessible routes run throughout the experience.
  • Mobility wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge from the Information Desk, subject to availability.
  • Accessible toilets with emergency call buttons are located on the ground floor, at the Connoisseur Bar, and in the Brewer’s Dining Hall. 
  • Accessible parking spaces are available at the nearby Crane Street Car Park.

Carer access

  • Complimentary entry is available for carers accompanying visitors with disabilities when booking standard Guinness Storehouse Experience tickets. Eligibility may be checked at entry. 
  • Guide dogs, assistance dogs, and working dogs in training are welcome throughout all areas of the Storehouse.

Sensory considerations

  • Exhibition spaces feature varying light levels, moving visuals, and occasional audiovisual effects across different floors. Visitors are welcome to pause, step out, or re-enter galleries at any time.
  • Handheld text guides, audio guides, and international sign language devices are available at the Audio Guides Desk, including Irish Sign Language on a portable screen.

Rules and restrictions

  • Age requirements: Certain experiences are limited to guests aged 18 and over. Valid photo identification may be requested before entry to tasting areas.
  • Children on site: Children are welcome throughout the Storehouse but must remain under adult supervision at all times for safety and comfort.
  • Pets policy: Pets are not permitted inside the Guinness Storehouse. Only registered guide and assistance dogs are allowed across all visitor areas.
  • Punctuality: During busy periods, entry is managed by timed slots. Arriving late may result in waiting or refusal of entry.
  • Behaviour policy: The Storehouse reserves the right to refuse entry to guests who are intoxicated, disruptive, or behave inappropriately on site.

Where to eat nearby

1837 Bar & Brasserie

Settle into a relaxed brasserie serving Carlingford oysters, Beef and Guinness stew, and seasonal Irish plates. The menu suits slow lunches or unrushed dinners, with comfortable seating and views across the brewery courtyard outside today.

Arthur’s Bar

Head upstairs for burgers, steaks, and classic sides served beside wide city views. Floor to ceiling windows echo the Gravity Bar feeling, making it an easy spot to linger after exploring the upper floors nearby.

Cooperage Cafe

Perfect for quick stops, this café serves fresh sandwiches, baked cakes, and pastries with hot drinks. It works well before entry or after exiting, especially when time is tight between plans around the city centre today.

Brewer’s Dining Hall

Sit near the open kitchen and order oysters, chowder, seafood pies, or moules frites. The spacious hall feels lively and communal, ideal for longer meals after finishing the full Storehouse route with friends or family nearby.

Where to stay nearby

This neighbourhood places you close to the Storehouse, with walkable streets, historic character, and easy access to central Dublin sights.

  • Maldron Hotel Kevin Street (1km): A modern, reliable hotel offering comfortable rooms, calm interiors, and straightforward access to both the Guinness Storehouse and Dublin city centre.
  • Hyatt Centric The Liberties (850m): A stylish stay with locally inspired design, polished rooms, and a lively atmosphere that reflects the character of the surrounding Liberties area.
  • Staycity Aparthotels Dublin Castle (1.2km): Spacious aparthotel rooms with kitchen facilities, ideal for longer stays or travellers who prefer flexibility and extra space.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Guinness Storehouse

Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2 hours, with extra time at the Gravity Bar if it’s busy.