Hotels near St Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral, founded in 1191 on the spot where the patron saint is said to have baptised converts at a well, is the largest church in Ireland at 91 metres long and the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Its 43-metre spire dominates the skyline of the Liberties just south of the medieval core.

Inside, the cathedral is a national pantheon as much as a working church. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels and dean here for 32 years, is buried in the south aisle alongside his companion Stella, and his death mask, pulpit, and library all survive on site. The cathedral choir, founded in 1432, took part in the world premiere of Handel's Messiah in 1742 and still performs sung Evensong on most weekdays.

Pro Tip: Time your visit to catch the 17:30 weekday Evensong, when the choir sings under the medieval banners of the Knights of St Patrick - no separate ticket is required and the standard cathedral entry fee covers it.