Book Tour

About Artful Tours

Walking tours with creativity at their heart.

Our Guides
Our Mission
Smiling woman in floral top inside a store with display shelves and a person in the background.

What we do

Artful Tours

An Artful Walking Tour is a fun activity for small groups of family, friends or tourists and is the perfect healthy way to explore and experience Dublin and Ireland with an expert guide. An Artful Walking Tour of Dublin is a great way to keep discovering Dublin City. Enjoy walking around Dublin city seeing it from a new perspective. Open your eyes to Street Art and Dublin’s beautiful squares, greens and parks, where each season of the year has its own charm.

Our Guides

Artful Tours Founder

Nicola Carroll

Artful Tours is the offspring of all my personal interests and passions. I grew up in Dublin and studied History and Politics. I lived in Barcelona, Spain for 10 years where I developed my interest and knowledge in art and architecture. On my return to Dublin I went on to complete a Masters in Art in the Contemporary World at the National College of Art and Design and I am now a qualified Irish National Tour Guide. 

I feel passionately about making art and history accessible to everyone through storytelling and discussion and nothing delights me more than watching how interest grows in our beautiful city and country by showing and telling people the little known stories that the public art found around the city can tell.

Our Wonderful Guides

We work with a vibrant collective of artists, historians, writers, and cultural experts who bring each tour to life. They’re more than guides—they’re storytellers, makers, and locals who care deeply about the places they share.

Man in a blue cap stands against a colorful graffiti wall, wearing a lanyard and black jacket.

Tour Guide / Artist 

Conor Hegarty

My walks are light-hearted and introduce people to the Irish sense of humour while taking in some Irish history & street art. I particularly like to tell people about the nicknames we have for our various statues and monuments around the city.
Man wearing glasses in front of a bookshelf filled with colorful books.

Tour Guide / Artist 

Séamus O’Flaherty

I have an academic background in history, art history and international relations. Informed by my deep understanding of, and passion for, Irish history, the arts and culture my focus, in my tours, is on providing insights into the evolution of Irish history and its political, social and artistic development.

why artful?

What Inspires Us

Our tours are shaped by the cities we love and the people who bring them to life. We draw inspiration from:

  • Independent galleries and hidden creative spaces
  • The rhythm of neighbourhoods and local voices
  • Art in all forms—on walls, in workshops, or spoken aloud
  • The power of walking slowly, looking carefully, and asking questions
Book a Tour
Woman smiling next to colorful painted utility box on city street.

Why Culturally Curious Travelers Choose Us

Tailored Tours

Bespoke itineraries to match your interests

Small Groups

Intimate tours, no crowds

Art History Experts

Knowledgeable, passionate local guides

English & Spanish

Tours available in both languages

Dublin Artful Tours

Uncover Dublin’s Creative Soul

Woman smiling next to a vibrant street art display on a utility box in an urban setting.

Street Art Tour of Dublin

This is a tour packed full of stories that overlap with Irish literature and music. It takes you on a journey of Dublin’s vibrant street art scene around Temple Bar and Portobello and some lesser known spots in between.

Book Now
Details
Statue of a man with a cane outside shops on a city street.

The James Joyce Tour

This tour takes you on a meandering walk through the city of Dublin and places associated with Joyce’s life in Dublin his birthplace, his school, and the hotel where he and Nora Barnacle spent the night.
Book Now
Details
Man speaking outside a building with a bright pink door and decorative trim.

Irish History & Culture Walk

This walking tour will take you around the streets of Dublin while your guide introduces you to important places, buildings and monuments. Your guide will tell you the fascinating story of Dublin City.
Book Now
Details
Sculpture of a large head with curly hair in a park setting, people nearby, industrial backdrop.

Modern & Contemporary Public Art in Dublin

This walking tour starts on the Northside of Dublin’s famous river Liffey at the CHQ building at the Docklands and beside the pedestrian Sean O’Casey bridge. This tour focuses on the more modern and also contemporary public art that adorns our city.
Book Now
Details
O'Connell Monument in Dublin, Ireland, against a bright blue sky, featuring detailed statues and architectural design.

Historical Public Sculpture

This tour is the perfect way to discover and discuss modern Irish history right up to the present day using public sculpture as a reference point. The nineteenth century saw “Statuemania’ thrive across Europe, particularly in the big cities such as Paris, London and Dublin.
Book Now
Details
Portrait of a woman in an elegant dress against a dark background, exuding a serene and contemplative expression.

The Forgotten Women of 1916 Rebellion

This tour tells the story of the women who took part in the Easter Week 1916 rebellion. Only one of them is truly remembered and commemorated by two statues in the city. The other 76 women have been largely forgotten and this tour aims to address that by taking you to the main locations.
Book Now
Details
A couple taking a selfie in front of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring painting in a museum setting.

“Just a fabulous guide – the sort you hope you’ll get!”

“I’ve done street art tours around the world, and this one was one of my absolute favorites. Some of this is because of the intersection of street art in Dublin with the rich music and literature culture here, and some of it was Nicola, who is just a fabulous guide- the sort you hope you’ll get but can never be sure when you sign up for these experiences!”

Ben, Chicago USA

See Google Reviews

“An eye-opener even for someone who lives in the city.”

Nicola’s Dublin Street Art tour was that rare thing: an eye-opener even for someone who lives in the city. I found my mind was unlocked about a whole unknown culture and politics that it’s easy to miss or ignore but is all around us. Informed and infectiously passionate, Nicola leads a lively group in an interactive celebration of the underground, fresh and entertaining but also edifying.

Michael, Dublin

See Google Reviews

“Witty Dublin Secrets: Nicola’s October 2020 Tour”

Nicola designed a fabulous themed tour for us during October 2020. Masked up and togged out, we paid homage to some forgotten gems of our beloved city. We visited some old haunts and made some new discoveries that we will definitely revisit. It was a treat to see Dublin through Nicola’s witty, creative and storyful lens. Dublin born and raised, I still felt like I was sharing its secrets. The time zipped by but the memory of a special shared experience lingers.

Dee, Dublin

See Google Reviews

“September Tour with Nicola: Education, Exercise & Picnic”

I booked a tour with Nicola at Artful tours for my book club in September during the more relaxed phase of Covid time. We really enjoyed the tour – it combined history/education with fun and exercise. We walked and talked our way around the city centre. Nicola imparts her vast knowledge with ease and good humour. We ended with a picnic in Stephen’s Green. Highly recommend Artful tours as a great experience. We loved feeling like tourists in our home-town. Will definitely pick a new theme and do another tour soon.

Aisling, Dublin

See Google Reviews

“Outdoor Street Art Fun with Nicola – Dublin Made New”

I loved this street art tour with Nicola — she’s fun, enthusiastic and deeply knowledgeable about Dublin’s vibrant murals. In these unusual times, it was wonderful to enjoy something outside that felt safe and fresh. I even plan to bring my nieces on the Spanish-language version when they start their school Spanish! Thanks for a fantastic day out. Lisa, Wexford
See Google Reviews

Artful Blog & News

Group admiring vibrant mermaid mural on city building, colorful street art, bright day, cobblestone street.

Artful Tours is featured as the perfect Christmas gift in THE GLOSS magazine Christmas 2020

Artful Tours is featured as the perfect Christmas gift in THE GLOSS magazine Christmas 2020 Earlier this year...

Read Now
Invitation for a private Art and History Walking Tour of Dublin by Artful Tours. Contact Nicola to book.

A last-minute Christmas gift for art and history lovers!

Artful Tours presents an unforgettable last-minute Christmas gift for art and history lovers: a unique Gift Voucher for...

Read Now
Narrow European alley with colorful buildings and two people walking toward a scenic ocean view.

Explore the Charm of Mahon Menorca with a Local

Explore the Charm of Mahon Menorca with a Local Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey...

Read Now

Join Our Cultural Explorers Newsletter.

Get insider updates on new tours, cultural events, and exclusive offers.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Consent*

Follow us on Instagram

Artfultours
Artists in safety vests paint a colorful mural on a street utility box, enhancing urban landscape with vibrant art.
Group standing by colorful You Are Alive mural in urban street, with parked bikes in foreground.
Colorful street mural depicting a nun, adorned with Celtic patterns and a visible QR code for more details.
Artists in safety vests paint a colorful mural on a street utility box, enhancing urban landscape with vibrant art.