The Little Museum of Dublin scores big on the world’s best attractions

The popular non-profit attraction was ranked by Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards at number 12 in the world and seventh in Europe based on stellar reviews from the public, just two spots behind the Eiffel Tower.

Situated opposite St Stephen’s Green, the Little Museum of Dublin has been ranked as the number one thing to do in Dublin on Tripadvisor for five years and its entire collection is made up of objects donated by the public.

Visitors to the museum’s famous 29-minute guided tour are shown exhibitions of defining moments in Irish history, from everyday life to pivotal national events like the Easter Rising.

Expect to see the rosary beads worn by Mary McAleese at her communion, a telegram from George Bernard Shaw and a 1948 ration book, among other items.

Curator Dr Daryl Hendley Rooney said yesterday he believes the outstanding reviews are because “we’re a museum that thinks it’s a theatre”.

He added: “We lean into theatricality. It’s like a performance. This ranking is not just a good news story for the museum, it’s also a good news story for the people of Ireland.

“It puts us on an international setting.

“We have people who say “my partner dragged me here and I hate museums, but I loved this”. We focus on the three Hs; history, humor and hospitality.”

Founded in 2011, the museum reached 115,000 visitors in 2019 and reopened last June after a €4.3m redevelopment.

* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.