Travelling with children isn’t always easy for parents, but with the right preparation it can be a wonderfully fun trip for the whole family. Dublin has plenty of interesting attractions in the surrounding area, exciting excursions and museums, as well as great parks, one of the largest zoos in Europe in the Phoenix Park, kid-friendly restaurants and various workshops.
Family Day Trips from Dublin
Within an hour and a half drive from Dublin there are several fun places for kids to visit, including the famous Irish castles of Kilkenny and Malahide, as well as an amusement park with numerous rides and a zoo.
Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle is located in the city of the same name on the banks of the River Nore. It was built in the 12th century by the Earl of Pembroke and has been perfectly preserved to this day. Inside, you can see the stone cellar, the ground floor with a vestibule, dining room and Chinese room, the first floor with a tapestry room, a library and a drawing room. On the second floor there is a children’s room, bedrooms and a Moorish staircase, and in the east wing there is an art gallery. For children, the castle grounds offer open-air master classes, archeology classes, Victorian tea parties and puppet shows.
Tayto Park
In the town of Kilbrew in County Meath is the Tayto Park amusement park. It has entertainment for all ages. For the little ones there are carousels, a train, playgrounds, a crisp factory, a tunnel with interesting lighting, go-karting and a climbing wall. Older children will love the roller coaster, free fall rides, rope course and high-altitude carousels. Teito Park also has a zoo with exotic birds, tigers, leopards, lions, lemurs, monkeys, jackals, raccoons, otters and other animals. In addition, children can visit the petting area where they can interact with alpacas, goats, donkeys and sheep.
Malahide Castle
Another location that the whole family will enjoy is located 14 km from Dublin. Malahide Castle was built in the 12th century and has experienced a lot of historical events throughout its history. But children will be interested in Not everyone likes it. The Malahide Castle grounds feature Ireland’s only Butterfly House, home to over 20 species of these insects that you can touch. Young visitors will also appreciate the fairy-tale Fairy Trail, where sculptures, houses of these little creatures and other mysterious mysteries are hidden.
Dublin History for Children
The best way to see the sights of the Irish capital is a bus tour. It allows you to do this at the most convenient time and at a speed that suits children. Those who like a more active pastime will enjoy a fun treasure hunt.
Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
The best way to see the sights at a comfortable pace for the whole family is the Hop-on Hop-off tour. It is held on double-decker buses with an open top. Tourists can get off at any stop to see everything, explore and then board a bus with the same markings. There are tickets for 1 and 2 days, as well as seasonal and special offers.
The Big Little Treasure Hunt
The Little Museum of Dublin, in collaboration with the Literary Museum of Ireland, organizes treasure hunts almost daily. All participants are given a map of St Stephen’s Green, which shows the locations of the clues. This is a great way to learn about Irish history in a fun and active way. The ticket price includes admission to the museums that are hosting the event.
Museums of Dublin for Children
In There are several museums in Dublin where little visitors will definitely not get bored. These are not only classical institutions, but also places with original exhibits and programs.
The Little Museum of Dublin
The Little Museum of Dublin is well described by its slogan: “Boring museums are ancient history.” During excursions there, guides pay special attention to children, answering any, even the most unusual questions about the exhibits. Today, there are more than 5 thousand artifacts related to the history of Dublin. At the reception, little visitors will find pleasant gifts in the form of puzzles and notebooks.
Dublinia
Dublinia is a historical museum that is unlike any other. Entering the building, visitors are transported to ancient times. The first zone is dedicated to the Vikings and their way of life. In it, anyone can try on warriors’ clothes, go into their home and walk along a noisy street. The second zone teleports you to medieval Dublin. Here you can also walk, inhaling the specific aromas of those times, learn the rules of ancient games and visit the kitchen of a rich merchant. At the end of the visit, you should definitely climb the tower to see the city from above.
National Leprechaun Museum
At The National Leprechaun Museum, you can not only learn all about the little fairy-tale creatures – leprechauns, but also feel like one of them. There is a tunnel with optical illusions, a room with giant furniture that you can climb on, a room with artificial rain, a rainbow and the legendary pot of gold.
National Museum of Ireland. Department of Archaeology
On Kildare Street is the archaeological branch of the National Museum of Ireland. It houses ancient Irish artefacts, jewelry, Celtic clothing, and forged items. Inside you can also see the Iron Age mummy of Clonycavan Man, the Broyter gold hoard and ancient Egyptian exhibits. Interesting quests and treasure hunts are organized for children.
Dublin Parks and Zoo
There are several parks in Dublin where both adults and children will enjoy relaxing. You can also visit a wonderful zoo in the city, where exotic animals live.
Phoenix Park
One of the largest green areas in the world, Phoenix Park, is located 3 km from the center of Dublin. It has everything you need for a great time – bike paths, an extensive network of walking paths, picnic areas. In addition, it is home to Ashtown Castle, a zoo, the residence of the President of Ireland and several other historical buildings. Children will be delighted to see deer roaming freely on the grounds. Phoenix Park also has playgrounds that attract with bright colors and interesting elements.
Fairview Park
Fairview Park is located in the north of the city. There are children’s play areas, a rope park and skate parks. There are also several excellent football pitches where youth teams train and play.
St Stephen’s Green Park
St Stephen’s Green is a large park in the city centre, opened during the reign of Queen Victoria. In its northern part there is a large lake where waterfowl live. It feeds a beautiful artificial waterfall. In the middle of St Stephen’s Green Park there is a playground, divided into areas for older and younger children.
Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo has been welcoming visitors since the early 19th century. It is located in Phoenix Park and gives all visitors the opportunity to see inhabitants living in conditions as close to natural as possible. Children will be curious to see orangutans, wolves, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, elephants, gorillas, lions and other interesting animals. For the little ones, there are playgrounds on the territory of Dublin Zoo. A small farm has also been created for children, where cows, sheep, pigs, goats, ducks, rabbits and chickens live. Everyone can try their hand at milking milk from a full-size model of a cow.
Merrion Square Park
In the central part of the city there is another beautiful green area – Merrion Square Park. Until 1974, only locals who had a key to the gate had access here. On its northern side is a beautiful playground called The Giants Garden. It is made entirely of natural wood.
Practical Activities for Children in Dublin
There is a unique cultural center in Dublin where kids can have a great time doing interesting activities.
The Ark
In the Temple Bar area there is an interesting cultural center The Ark, which was built specifically for children from 2 to 12 years old. Here kids can study theater, music, literature, dance, design, science and visual arts. It hosts various creative workshops. For example, children are offered to create crafts from scrap materials, they are taught to sculpt, make toys, stained glass and much more. The center also hosts interesting exhibitions.
Kids Food in Dublin
In the capital of Ireland, there are several restaurants and cafes where the menu is ideal for children and conditions are created so that they do not get bored.
Milano
Milano is a chain of Italian restaurants located throughout the city. They have a special children’s menu called Piccolo. It consists of a starter in the form of bread balls, one pizza of your choice (margherita, with chicken, with ham and mushrooms, and pepperoni), one pasta (bolognese, with tomatoes and béchamel sauce, and the same sauce and mushrooms), a salad with chicken, greens, baked sweet peppers and mozzarella, dessert (vanilla gelato, brownie, and fruit ice), and a drink – milk or fruit juice.
Captain Americas
On Grafton Street there is another place that kids will love – Captain Americas. Since 1971, it has been famous for its excellent burgers. In addition, there are great sets for children. One main dish to choose from – chicken breast, cheese burger, hot dog, chicken nuggets, fish strips, cheese pizza or pepperoni, dessert – milkshake, ice cream with chocolate sauce or jelly, drink – sweet soda, lemonade or juice.
What you need to know when vacationing with children in Dublin:
- Children under 5 years old are entitled to free travel on public transport.
Source: travelworld.biz