Natural History Museum

Home to galleries of animals from Ireland and overseas

Founded by famous Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone in 1857. The National Museum of Ireland – Natural History is home to galleries of animals from Ireland and overseas, also geological exhibits from a total collection of about 2 million scientific specimens.

Also known as 'The Dead Zoo', the Museum's 10,000 exhibits provide a glimpse of the natural world and is a ‘cabinet-style’ museum designed to showcase a wide-ranging and comprehensive zoological collection and although it was refurbished in recent years has changed little in over a century.

Open year round, except 25 Dec & Good Fri. Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm & Sun 2pm-5pm. Closed Mon (including bank hols)

Free

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Dublin Zoo
• Dun Aonghasa
• National Library of Ireland
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Ceide Fields
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Kilkenny Castle
• Ferns Castle
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Parkes Castle
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Desmond Castle
• Clare Museum
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Florence Court
• Glenveagh National Park
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Thomond Park Stadium
• Malahide Castle
• Skellig Michael
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Adare Castle
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• Blarney Castle
• Listowel Castle
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Emo Court
• The Science Gallery
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Guinness Storehouse
• King House
• Eagles Flying
• Chester Beatty Library
• Russborough House
• St Marys Abbey
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Aillwee Cave
• Caherconnell Fort
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Glasnevin Museum
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Battle of the Boyne
• Reginalds Tower
• National Sea Life Centre
• Famine Warhouse
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Donegal Castle
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Burren National Park
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• Government Buildings
• Bushmills Distillery
• Crag Cave
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Castletown House
• Phoenix Park
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Tintern Abbey
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Armagh County Museum
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Tayto Park
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• National Concert Hall
• St Stephens Green
• Rothe House & Garden
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Scattery Island Centre
• Ennis Friary
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Aughnanure Castle
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Tower Museum
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• The Ark
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Trim Castle
• Kerry County Museum
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Barryscourt Castle
• Casino Marino
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Belfast Zoo
• Fort Lucan
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Giants Causeway
• Armagh Planetarium
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Dublinia
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Skerries Mills
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Garylough Mill
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• King Johns Castle
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Galway City Museum
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Hill of Tara
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• National Photographic Archive
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Natural History Museum
• Ballycroy National Park
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• National Transport Museum
• Glendalough
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Desmond Hall
• National Leprechaun Museum
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Cahir Castle
• Dromore Wood
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Donegal County Museum
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Rock of Cashel
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Ulster Museum
• Clonmacnoise
• Queens University
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Viking Splash Tours
• Athenry Castle
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Derrynane House
• Coole Park
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Ballyhack Castle
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Ormond Castle
• The Main Guard
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Boyle Abbey
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Swiss Cottage
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Maynooth Castle
• Charles Fort
• Dunmore Cave
• Museum at the Mill
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Titanic Belfast
• Sligo Abbey
• Iveagh Gardens
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Ross Castle
• Aviva Stadium
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Dungarvan Castle
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• St Marys Church
• Dublin Castle
• Killarney National Park
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Adare Heritage Centre
• The Hunt Museum
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• Connemara National Park

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
  (0.1km)SW
• The Merrion Hotel and The Garden Room Restaurant
  (0.1km)SW
• Pearl Brasserie
  (0.2km)SW
• Hugo's
  (0.2km)SW
• Doheny & Nesbitt
  (0.2km)SW
• O'Donoghue's
  (0.2km)SW
• ETTO
  (0.2km)SE
• Cirillos
  (0.2km)SE
• Bang Restaurant
  (0.2km)SW
• ely winebar
  (0.2km)SW
• Toners
  (0.2km)SE
• Unicorn
  (0.2km)SW
• The Shelbourne
  (0.2km)SW
• Buswells Hotel
  (0.2km)NW
• The Mont Hotel
  (0.3km)NE
• Chez Max
  (0.3km)SE
• The Davenport
  (0.3km)NE
• Matt the Thresher
  (0.3km)SE
• Pig's Ear, The
  (0.3km)NW
• Cliff Town House, The
  (0.3km)SW

Self Catering

• The Merrion Mews & Stables
  (0.2km)SE
• No. 25 Eustace Street
  (1.0km)NW
• The Cottage
  (12.9km)SE
• Castletown Gatelodges
  (18.8km)NW
• Avon Ri Blessington Resort
  (28.1km)SW
• The Cottages
  (39.2km)NE
• Wicklow Lighthouse
  (44.7km)SE
• Tankardstown House & Cottages
  (50.0km)NW

Farmers Markets

• Coppinger Row Outdoor Food - Thursdays
  (0.7km)NW
• Mespil Road Gourmet Food - Dublin 4 - Thursdays
  (0.8km)SE
• Pearse Street - Saturdays
  (0.8km)NE
• Grand Canal Village - Dublin -
  (0.9km)SE
• Harcourt Street - Dublin 2 - Thursdays
  (0.9km)SW
• Temple Bar Food - Dublin City - Saturdays
  (1.0km)NW
• Ranelagh - Dublin - Sundays
  (1.5km)SW
• Dublin Food Co-op - Dublin 8 - Thursdays & Saturdays
  (1.6km)SW
• Point Village - Dublin - Saturdays & Sundays
  (1.9km)NE
• Smithfield Outdoor Food - Dublin 1 - Fridays
  (1.9km)NW
• Honest2Goodness - Glasnevin Dublin 11 - Saturdays
  (4.4km)NW
• Ballymun - Dublin - Every Thursday
  (6.3km)NW
• Red Stables Food - Clontarf Dublin - Saturdays
  (6.4km)NE
• Marlay Park Food - Co Dublin - Saturday & Sunday
  (7.0km)SW
• Castleknock Village Food
  (8.5km)NW
• Leopardstown - County Dublin - Fridays
  (9.3km)SE
• Liffey Valley Shopping Centre - Dublin 22 - Fridays
  (9.3km)NW
• South Dublin Co Co Tallaght - Dublin 24 - Friday
  (9.8km)SW
• Dun Laoghaire - Peoples Park - County Dublin - Sundays
  (10.0km)SE
• Cabinteely Park - Co Dublin - Sundays
  (10.7km)SE
• Citywest Shopping Centre - Dublin
  (12.9km)SW
• Portmarnock - Co Dublin - Sundays
  (13.0km)NE
• Howth - County Dublin - Sundays
  (13.1km)NE
• Fingal - Swords Co Dublin - Saturdays
  (13.5km)NE
• Malahide - County Dublin - Saturdays
  (14.2km)NE
• Bray - County Wicklow - Saturdays
  (17.9km)SE
• Celbridge - Village at Lyons - Co Kildare - Fridays
  (18.2km)SW
• Fingal Food Fayre - Rush - County Dublin
  (22.6km)NE
• Skerries - Skerries Mills - County Dublin
  (27.3km)NE
• Naas - County Kildare
  (30.1km)SW
• Balbriggan Fish & - Co Dublin
  (30.3km)NE
• Laytown - Sonairte Co Meath - 1st & 3rd Sunday each Month
  (37.6km)NW
• Drogheda - Co Louth - Thursdays
  (42.3km)NW
• Kells - Co Meath - Saturdays
  (59.6km)NW
• Kells - County Meath - Saturdays
  (59.9km)NW

Tourist Attractions

• Natural History Museum
  (0.0km)NW
• Government Buildings
  (0.1km)NW
• National Gallery of Ireland
  (0.2km)NW
• National Library of Ireland
  (0.2km)NW
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
  (0.2km)NW
• Little Museum of Dublin
  (0.4km)NW
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
  (0.4km)NW
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
  (0.4km)NW
• Viking Splash Tours
  (0.4km)NW
• St Stephens Green
  (0.5km)NW
• The Science Gallery
  (0.5km)NW
• Iveagh Gardens
  (0.7km)NW
• National Concert Hall
  (0.7km)NW
• National Wax Museum Plus
  (0.8km)NW
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
  (0.9km)NW
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
  (0.9km)NW
• Chester Beatty Library
  (1.0km)NW
• Dublin Castle
  (1.0km)NW
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
  (1.0km)NW
• The Ark
  (1.0km)NW
• National Photographic Archive
  (1.1km)NW
• Christ Church Cathedral
  (1.3km)NW
• Clare Museum
  (1.3km)NW
• Dublinia
  (1.3km)NW
• National Leprechaun Museum
  (1.3km)NW
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
  (1.3km)NW
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
  (1.4km)NW
• St Marys Abbey
  (1.4km)NW
• Aviva Stadium
  (1.7km)NW
• Hugh Lane Gallery
  (1.8km)NW
• The Old Jameson Distillery
  (1.8km)NW
• Guinness Storehouse
  (2.3km)NW
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
  (2.3km)NW
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
  (2.4km)NW
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
  (3.2km)NW
• Dublin Zoo
  (3.7km)NW
• Kilmainham Gaol
  (3.8km)NW
• Casino Marino
  (3.9km)NW
• Glasnevin Museum
  (4.0km)NW
• Aras an Uachtarain
  (4.8km)NW
• Rathfarnham Castle
  (5.1km)NW
• Phoenix Park
  (5.4km)NW
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
  (5.8km)NW
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
  (6.6km)NW
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
  (7.3km)NW
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
  (7.5km)NW
• Farmleigh House & Estate
  (7.7km)NW
• Leopardstown Racecourse
  (9.2km)NW
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
  (10.2km)NW
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
  (11.9km)NW
• National Transport Museum
  (12.6km)NW
• Fort Lucan
  (12.8km)NW
• Malahide Castle
  (13.0km)NW
• National Sea Life Centre
  (18.3km)NW
• Castletown House
  (18.5km)NW
• Lusk Heritage Centre
  (21.5km)NW
• Maynooth Castle
  (23.1km)NW
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
  (25.2km)NW
• Tayto Park
  (26.5km)NW
• Skerries Mills
  (27.8km)NW
• Russborough House
  (30.3km)NW
• Hill of Tara
  (35.6km)NW
• Glendalough
  (37.0km)NW
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
  (37.1km)NW
• Funtasia Bettystown
  (40.0km)NW
• Funtasia Waterpark
  (41.3km)NW
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
  (41.5km)NW
• Trim Castle
  (42.8km)NW
• Battle of the Boyne
  (43.6km)NW
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
  (46.7km)NW
• Old Mellifont Abbey
  (46.9km)NW
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
  (47.0km)NW
• Avondale House & Forest Park
  (47.5km)NW
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
  (48.4km)NW

Golf Courses

• Castle Golf Club
  (4.5km) SW
• Royal Dublin Golf Club, The
  (5.8km) NE
• Grange Golf Club
  (6.8km) SW
• Saint Annes Golf Club
  (8.6km) NE
• Castleknock Golf Club
  (9.3km) NW
• Forest Little Golf Club
  (11.1km) NE
• Portmarnock Golf Club
  (11.6km) NE
• Malahide Golf Club
  (12.6km) NE
• Saint Margarets Golf Club
  (12.9km) NW
• Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
  (13.0km) NE
• CityWest Golf Club
  (14.1km) SW
• Island Golf Club, The
  (15.5km) NE
• Dun Laoghaire Golf Club
  (16.2km) SE
• Roganstown Golf & Country Club
  (16.4km) NW
• Woodbrook Golf Club
  (16.6km) SE
• Balcarrick Golf Club
  (16.8km) NE
• Powerscourt Golf Club
  (17.7km) SE
• South County Golf Club
  (18.0km) SW
• Beaverstown Golf Club
  (18.8km) NE
• Carton House Golf Club
  (21.6km) NW
• Hollywood Lakes Golf Club
  (23.7km) NW
• K Club, The - Ryder Cup 2006
  (25.0km) SW
• Killeen Golf Club
  (25.0km) SW
• Palmerstown House Golf Club
  (26.0km) SW
• Naas Golf Club
  (27.4km) SW
• Millicent Golf & Country Club
  (29.6km) SW
• Druids Glen Golf Club
  (29.9km) SE
• Tulfarris Golf Resort
  (31.3km) SW
• Royal Tara Golf Club
  (38.0km) NW
• Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club
  (40.7km) NE
• Rathcore Golf and Country Club
  (40.8km) NW
• Knightsbrook Golf Club
  (41.1km) NW
• Curragh Golf Club
  (43.1km) SW
• County Meath Golf Club
  (43.2km) NW
• Wicklow Golf Club
  (43.3km) SE
• County Louth Golf Club (Baltray)
  (44.3km) NW
• MoyValley Golf Club
  (45.4km) NW
• Seapoint Golf Club
  (46.6km) NW
• Blainroe Golf Club
  (46.8km) SE
• Rathsallagh Golf Club
  (46.9km) SW
• Headfort Golf Club
  (57.7km) NW
• Kilkea Castle Golf Resort
  (61.1km) SW

Gardens

• Dillon Garden, The
  (2.1km)SE
• National Botanic Gardens
  (3.7km)NW
• Glendale Gardens
  (4.4km)SW
• Airfield Gardens
  (5.9km)SE
• Carysfort Lodge
  (6.6km)SE
• Burton Hall
  (7.9km)SE
• Grasse Cottage
  (9.9km)SE
• The Talbot Botanic Gardens
  (13.0km)NE
• Primrose Hill
  (13.3km)NW
• Knockrose Garden
  (13.7km)SE
• Rathmichael Lodge
  (14.1km)SE
• 21 Library Road
  (14.4km)SE
• Corke Lodge
  (15.8km)SE
• Knockmore
  (17.5km)SE
• Powerscourt Gardens
  (17.6km)SE
• Killruddery House & Gardens
  (19.8km)SE
• Hunting Brook Gardens
  (20.8km)SW
• June Blakes Garden & Nursery
  (23.0km)SW
• Lodge Park Walled Gardens
  (24.6km)SW
• National Garden Exhibition Centre
  (27.5km)SE
• Ardgillan Castle & Demesne
  (28.2km)NE
• Warble Bank
  (29.0km)SE
• Mount Usher Gardens
  (37.9km)SE
• Beaulieu House, Gardens and Car Museum
  (43.0km)NW
• Listoke Gardens
  (45.4km)NW
• Kilmacurragh Arboretum - National Botanic Garden
  (45.8km)SE
• Grove Gardens
  (56.8km)NW
• Burtown House Gardens
  (57.1km)SW
• Rockfield House
  (58.4km)NW

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Dublin 2
  (0.5km) NW
• Dublin 1
  (1.4km) NW
• Dublin 6
  (1.7km) SW
• Dublin 7
  (2.0km) NW
• Dublin 8
  (2.3km) NW
• Dublin 4
  (2.3km) SE
• Dublin 12
  (3.7km) SW
• Dublin 6W
  (3.7km) SW
• Dublin 9
  (4.1km) NW
• Dublin 3
  (4.4km) NE