The colorful doors of Dublin, part of Dublin's Georgian architecture, are by now a well-photographed attraction that has been placed not only on tourist websites but on postcards, posters, placemats, coasters, and other memorabilia.

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They have undoubtedly become one of the must-see Dublin attractions.

But you really must see the doors for yourself and other examples of Georgian architecture in Dublin to get a true appreciation for the building style, which was added to the city's urban landscape during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Here are 15 places around the city where you can see and enjoy its most treasured buildings, all designed in the Georgian style.

1. The Four Courts

You can’t miss this imposing building overlooking the River Liffey in Dublin.

Work began on this Georgian building in 1776 based on architect Thomas Cooley’s original designs. When he died, James Gandon took over.

In 1922 during the Irish Civil War, much of the building was destroyed, including the country’s Public Records Office, and because of that, centuries of public records were lost.

Those records included Irish census returns, original wills from the 16th century, as well as a thousand or more Church of Ireland parish registers that contained baptism, marriage and burial records.

In recent years, however, much of those records have been miraculously recreated, something the Guardian newspaper referred to in a 2022 article as “digital wizardry and academic sleuthing.”

You can search for the once lost records on the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland website.

The Four Courts houses Ireland’s Supreme Court, its Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court.

This impressive building contains a central block with an arched courtyard and an end pavilion on either side.

Its portico is supported by six Corinthian columns and above that, you’ll see statues representing Moses, justice, mercy, authority and wisdom, with a copper-domed rotunda in the background.

In 1932, a restored building was opened.

There are no tours available, but you can visit certain areas of the building.

2. The Custom House

Another notable Georgian-style building in Dublin is the Custom House, which today houses the Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Construction began in 1781 and was completed 10 years later at a cost of £200,000.

The four facades of the building are decorated with various coats-of-arms and an ornamental sculpture representing Ireland’s rivers.

Statues can also be seen on its dome.

On May 25, 1921, the building was burned in an attack, sanctioned by the Irish government at the time and carried out by the Irish Republican Army, with mostly tax records destroyed.

At the time, The Custom House housed important British government entities such as the Local Government Board, the Inland Revenue, the Customs & Excise, Estate Duty, and Stamp Duty departments.

Today, the building has been restored and contains a visitor center and museum that recounts that history.

3. Leinster House

This Georgian-style building is the seat of the Irish parliament/Oireachtas. It was constructed in 1747 on what was then known as Molesworth’s Field.

Designed by Richard Cassels, a sought-after architect at the time, it would later become the inspiration for the creation of The White House in Washington, DC., which was designed by Irishman James Hoban.

Tours of Leinster House are only allowed to those who have been given permission by a TD or Senator, much like the process that works here in the United States if you want to visit The Capitol, The White House or The Pentagon.

A virtual tour will give you an idea of what the building is like.

4. Áras an Uachtaráin

This is another beautiful Georgian-style building that is worth seeing. It is in Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed city park in Europe.

Known as the official residence of the President of Ireland, it was originally called the Viceregal Lodge.

Cassels was also responsible for designing the building along with park ranger and amateur architect Nathaniel Clement, as well as Sir Edward Lovett Pearce.

Guided tours are available every Saturday.

5. Merrion Square

This is one of the city’s largest and grandest Georgian squares, with Georgian houses lining the park on three sides.

Many of the buildings were once the homes of the rich and famous during the 18th century, including the politician Daniel O’Connell and the poet WB Yeats.

Get close enough and you’ll see plaques with their names on the buildings where they lived.

Take the time to cross the street to the park where you’ll find a statue of writer Oscar Wilde reclining on a rock. The statue contains a mix of nephrite jade for his jacket, pink thulite for his cuffs and collar, and blue pearl granite for his pants.

6. The Merrion Hotel

Located in the heart of Georgian Dublin, this luxury hotel includes four beautifully restored 18th-century townhouses as well as a specially commissioned temporary Garden Wing that is arranged around two private period gardens.

The houses were built in the 1760s by Lord Monck for various wealthy merchants and nobility.

The most important of the houses is No. 24 Upper Merrion Street, the birthplace of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, who won the Battle of Waterloo.

Today, this is where the hotel’s main reception rooms are located.

7. Henrietta Street

An 18th-century property boom led to the building of Georgian homes on Henrietta Street, which at the time was a popular area for Dublin's elite, including judges, barristers, and bishops.

A fascinating area of the city, it still has its cobbled surface, and often features as a backdrop for films and TV shows.

Numbers 9 and 10 are the grandest of the houses, designed in 1735 by Edward Lovett Pearce for Luke Gardiner, a property developer and politician.

As the fortunes of Dublin declined in the 1800s, contrasts in the city’s wealth became more distinct.

A museum dedicated to the lives of those who lived in Henrietta’s Street is a popular attraction, containing the most intact collection of early to mid-18th century houses in the country.

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8. King’s Inn Law Library

Another prime example of Georgian architecture in Dublin is the King’s Inn Law Library, which was founded in 1541 by means of a charter from King Henry VIII.

Known as Ireland’s oldest legal institution, its grounds and the statues that you’ll find there are worth checking out, including a large tree that appears to be eating up an iron bench.

Locals call it “The Hungry Tree.”

9. Bank of Ireland Cultural & Heritage Centre

This historic Georgian-inspired building once housed the Irish Parliament.

In fact, it was the first purpose-built Parliament House in the world when it was built in 1803 and a place where the House of Lords met to discuss the political topics of the day.

The exhibition, Listen Now Again, a National Library of Ireland exhibition dedicated to the life and work of poet Seamus Heaney, is currently on display in the Bank of Ireland Cultural & Heritage Centre. It runs through December 2025.

10. Newman House (Museum of Literature Ireland/MoLI)

This Georgian-styled building, once the home of Thomas (Buck) Whaley, the famous gambler and member of the Irish House of Commons, is now owned by University College Dublin.

It houses the Museum of Literature (MoLi).

Newman House is one of Dublin’s most beautiful Georgian buildings, lavishly decorated with some of the finest Baroque plasterwork of its kind in the country.

You can take a guided tour of the historic house when visiting MoLi.

11. Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

Just steps away from Dublin’s Grafton Street is the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre that contains an arcade of shops and cafes that have been integrated into this former city center mansion.

The elegant Georgian house was once the home of Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powercourt, who lived there with his wife, Lady Amelia. The couple bought the townhouse to entertain guests during the parliamentary season.

It is unique in that the interior transitions from the Rococo style to the Neo-Classic, serving as a beautiful setting for shoppers to enjoy.

12. The Hugh Lane Gallery

Formerly Charlemont House, a mansion that was constructed in 1763 for the 1st Earl of Charlemont, this stone-fronted mansion has some incredible architectural details that are worth seeing.

The building on Parnell Square is now the home of the wonderful Hugh Lane Gallery, the first public gallery to show modern art anywhere in the world.

Many of its collections feature Irish artists, such as the stained-glass work of Harry Clarke, but it is also notable for its collection of French art, including works from Édouard Manet, Auguste Renoir and Camille Pissarro.

Francis Bacon’s studio was reconstructed in the gallery in 2001 after being dismantled and moved from London, beginning in 1998.

Free tours are available every Sunday at 2:15 p.m., at which time you can marvel at the building’s architectural details and hear about the gallery’s permanent and temporary exhibitions.

No registration is required. However, the number of people allowed on the tour will be limited in size.

The gallery itself is free to visit.

13. The Gate Theatre

The Gate Theatre is an important cultural landmark in Dublin, operating as a theater since 1928 when it was formed by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir.

The Georgian-style structure was built in 1786 and housed the city’s Assembly Rooms.

It is now a popular go-to for Dubliners and visitors, with a variety of shows running throughout the year.

Go to the Gate Theater to see a show and to marvel at its beautiful Georgian interior. Dancing at Lughnasa, a Brian Friel classic, is currently running through Sept. 21st.

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14. The Rotunda Hospital

Another Georgian treasure in Dublin is the Rotunda Hospital, built in 1750 and Europe’s first maternity hospital.

The Rotunda Hospital was founded in 1745 by Bartholomew Mosse, a surgeon and male midwife, who had lost his first wife and newborn during labor.

Mosse’s goal was to provide medical care for the penniless mothers of Dublin who lived in awful conditions.

Interestingly, it shares the same basic design as Leinster House since the architect of both buildings, Richard Cassels, used the same floor plan to save money.

If you want to take your own unofficial tour inside the hospital, the most notable part of it is the sumptuous Rotunda Chapel, where you’ll see the beautiful plasterwork of the German stuccodore Bartholomew Cramillion.

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Irish history nerds might like to transport themselves back in time in this novel, The Pull of the Stars, which is set in a maternity ward in Dublin during the Spanish Flu.

Most likely, the author, Irish-born Emma Donoghue used The Rotunda as her inspiration.

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15. Marlay House

Located in Rathfarnham, about 9 kilometers/5.5 miles from the city center, Marlay House is a fine Georgian mansion that has many elaborate features, including beautiful interior plasterwork.
It was built in 1764 by David La Touche, a French Hugenot and the first governor of the Bank of Ireland. Today, the 300-acre park that surrounds it is a popular outdoor music venue.

Weekend markets, a craft courtyard, coffee shops, sporting facilities and a miniature railway are added attractions.

Take a free guided tour of Marlay House on Tuesday or Sunday from 11 a.m. The last tour is at 2 p.m. The tours are only available from the end of July through the beginning of September.

You can do a self-guided tour of Dublin's Georgian architecture attractions by using the GPS on your smartphone or by taking a Dublin architecture-focused tour with Dublin Decoded.