Hello, I will be heading to Dublin in 4 days and I was wondering how long the lines are to see the Book of Kells? When is the best time to go to see the book? How much does it cost? How much time should I spend at Trinity College? Also what else should I see at Trinity College? Does the school offer cheap tours of the Campus and the Book of Kells?
Posted by
NYC
922 posts
Most of your questions are answered on the Trinity College website for the Book of Kells exhibition, especially the 'Plan Your Visit' and 'Book Online' pages off the menu on the left side. Google 'Book of Kells Trinity College' and it will pop right up first in the search results.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
I don't know firsthand how it is at other times, but when I saw it I was there on a midweek morning in February (definitely off-season). I got there about 45 minutes before it was supposed to open. By the time it actually did open, about 10 min. late, there were probably 20 people in line. When I came out, the line was maybe 30 people waiting to get in after buying tickets.
Posted by
Spring, Texas
635 posts
My wife and I were on the first tour of the college (a few euros or free, I can't remember) and were deposited at the Book of Kells line afterwards. There were about 50 people in the line and we waited about 20 minutes to get in. I don't remember paying anything but we also had the OPW card which was a big financial winner on our 12 day visit. When we got out about an hour later the line was much longer. The wait could have been well over an hour. The wait will change with the seasons. In June you will be in prime time so expect crowds at their highest. Your best bet is to get their early in anything resembling good weather or the prime tourist season. After the campus tour, the Kells and the library exhibition, you are done with Trinity (IMHO).
Posted by
Mission Viejo, Calif., USA
1010 posts
My husband and I just visited Ireland, a year ago. We were on a TAUCK tour. Our tour director took us to the college and to see the Book. Frankly, we weren't impressed. We thought it was kind of boring. The college was nothing to write home about. The college was closed off to people anyway. It doesn't take that long to see the grounds, so to speak. I wouldn't even classify the college having "grounds". We all (26 of us) got there early, but it didn't take too long to see everything. We couldn't get up too close to see anything very well. As the other person said, it doesn't take more than maybe two hours and you are out of there. People on our tour thought it was over rated in tour books. Everybody has a different opinion though.
Posted by
NYC
922 posts
Like anything else that goes back well over a thousand years, if a person doesn't know what they're actually looking at and its historical and cultural significance, it may not mean much. Apart from the fact that the Book of Kells is probably Ireland's greatest treasure, it has a fascinating history and it's practically a miracle that it survives in its present state. Down through the ages real people protected it and brought it more or less safely into our own time, despite the impact of wars and other cataclysmic events. Or, just go to see it for the sheer beauty of the calligraphy and the illuminations. It is one of the world's greatest Western masterpieces.