Guinness Storehouse in Dublin: Is It Worth It?

If you’re heading to Dublin, then you’ll probably be keen to sample a pint of the black stuff. Even if you’re not usually a Guinness drinker. And if you’re in Dublin, then why not go the whole hog and visit the Home of Guinness? But is the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin worth the hype? And do you REALLY need a self-portrait on top of your pint?

In 1759, Arthur Guinness perfected a dark, dry stout, and the iconic drink was born. Today, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Ireland with over 1.8 million visitors each year. I booked our visit online prior to our trip. I later realised that the Guinness Storehouse tour was actually one of the attractions included in the Dublin Pass. Could have saved me a few euros.

Visiting the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin

We head to the Guinness Storehouse on our first day in the city. We arrive about five minutes before our time slot. Our digital tickets are scanned and we’re instructed to stand in line to receive our vouchers. There’s one for the complimentary drink (included) and another for our “STOUTie” experience. Yes, I paid an additional €8 per person to have a selfie printed on the head of a pint of Guinness.

The tour part of the experience is actually very brief, and we are given the opportunity to make our way through the exhibition floors at leisure. I found the history of the Guinness family, and their impact on the local community interesting, but there’s only so much about the brewing process that you can make interesting. There are plenty of visuals and interactive exhibits, and the exhibition is spread out over five of the seven floors, meaning that it doesn’t feel too crowded. I particularly enjoyed the section of Guinness advertising throughout the years, including the famous “Fish on a Bicycle” and the whistling oyster.

There’s also a tasting experience, and I’ll be honest, I couldn’t work out if this was included in the tour or not. We joined the queue but didn’t want the crushing humiliation of being told our names weren’t down, we weren’t coming in. So we gave it a miss.

There are plenty of places for photo opportunities, including the famous black gates outside (and a replica inside). TOP PHOTO TIP: Make sure there’s an Instagram-savvy younger couple on hand to take multiple photos in landscape and portrait formats. I hope I did okay when I returned the favour.

The Guinness brand is a masterclass in marketing, and that harp is splashed everywhere. The Guinness Store has a beauty-counter-at-a-department-store air about it. I expect an assistant to spritz me with eau-de-Guinness at any moment.

Fascinating facts: the central atrium of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is actually shaped like a giant pint glass. And if it were to be filled, it would hold 14 million pints!

A Self-Portrait on a Pint of Guinness

What wizardry is this?

Our photo shoot is hurried to say the least. We’re bundled in front of a camera and a ring light, ordered to take off our glasses and then – SNAP. No filter. I’m not even given the opportunity to view and critique our pose. Admittedly, we are not looking our hottest. Those chins would DEFINITELY have been photoshopped out if I had my way. But it’s a family portrait for drinking, not for hanging in a gallery.

One of the benefits of the STOUTie experience is use of an exclusive bar to sup your artfully produced Guinness. Whilst busy, it’s much easier to grab a seat than at the Gravity Bar, and we were lucky to get one of the few window seats overlooking the city.

There are a few restaurants and casual eateries on the top two floors of the Guinness Storehouse. There are also water refill stations on every floor.

So, is it worth it?

At €34 per person (including the “STOUTie”) it’s not a cheap tour by any means. And the price rises at peak times (we paid €38 per person for a Friday afternoon tour). The standard tour (from €26) includes a drink at the 7th floor Gravity Bar, which can be used across the Guinness brand range or for a soft drink.

The Stout Selfie experience includes an additional pint – something we failed to take into account after arriving on an empty stomach. We did opt for the zero alcohol version at the Gravity Bar which gives a surprisingly similar creamy mouthfeel to the original. The views from the panoramic bar are wonderful, but sadly it was too crowded for us to be able to find a seat.

As the tour through the exhibition is self-guided, you can spend as much, or as little, time as you want. But for the money paid, we wanted to fit in as much of the experience as possible. We probably spent about an hour wandering throughout the exhibition, and then another hour supping Guinness. Two hours definitely feels about the right amount of time to fit a tour into your Dublin itinerary.

Overall, I think it’s definitely worth visiting the Guinness Storehouse, particularly if it’s your first time in Dublin. The additional €8 for the STOUTie was comparable to what you’d pay in Temple Bar for a pint of Guinness, and it was worth being able to enjoy a leisurely drink in the STOUTie bar as the Gravity Bar was far from a comfortable environment, despite the views. And you definitely don’t need to be a Guinness drinker to appreciate the experience.

You can buy tickets for the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin here. Popular time slots do sell out quickly so make sure you book well in advance.