Visiting Dublin with children: the must-sees

Dublin isn't necessarily a city you'd think of visiting with children. And yet, Ireland's capital has plenty to offer the youngest travellers, including some famous tourist spots! Here are the best tips from the writer of the site Bonjour Dublin. He gives us the best places to visit in Dublin for a successful family trip.

The great Dublin classics to visit with children

Don't worry if you've never been to Dublin and want to see the must-sees… You'll be surprised, and so will your children!

• Trinity College is a must-see, and your children shouldn't get bored there. The place is simply magnificent, and the atmosphere is so special… The library, in particular, charms children with its Harry Potter-like feel.

Dublin Castle

Kilmainham Gaol and Dublin Castle can be very interesting for older children… Just like at Trinity College, they'll probably be captivated by the atmosphere of these two unique places.

• The Natural History Museum will no doubt delight them, with its dozens of stuffed animals… The museum is right in the city centre, and admission is free. It's a lovely little break to consider after a visit for the grown-ups (e.g. to Temple Bar, St Patrick's Cathedral, the Jameson Distillery…)!
• Explorium is a centre dedicated to science, technology and sport, designed to be both educational and fun for children of all ages. It offers more than 300 interactive exhibits that let children discover science hands-on. They can experience physical, chemical or natural phenomena through captivating demonstrations. What's more, for young children (under 6), there's a specially designed area called Mini Explorium, with age-appropriate activities.
• Finally, note that Saint Stephen's Green, a lovely park in the city centre, has a large playground for children. It's the ideal spot for a family picnic between two visits.

A few activities especially for children in Dublin

Let's now look at a few activities specifically aimed at children that you can organise in Dublin.

1. The Viking Splash Tour

The first original activity to do with children in Dublin is the Viking Splash Tour, a tour of the city and all its points of interest aboard an amphibious bus. During the ride, passengers turn into fierce Vikings and have to scare passers-by!

The tour lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and passengers must be at least 3 years old. Expect to pay €35 per adult and €29 per child.

2. Phoenix Park and its zoo

Phoenix zoo

Phoenix Park is a great Dublin classic that children love enormously. It's one of the largest urban parks in Europe… The park is so big that you can spot deer roaming freely there. Imagine how much fun that is for little ones!

Phoenix Park is also home to a lovely zoo housing more than 400 animals, including the most popular ones (giraffes, rhinos, lions, elephants…). Admission is free for children under 3. After that, expect to pay €18 up to age 15, and €24 for adults.

3. Dublinia

Dublinia is the perfect cultural activity for children! It's a museum entirely dedicated to the Vikings. You'll learn everything you need to know about this people and their influence in Ireland… Everything is designed to make the visit enjoyable and fun. Streets from the era have even been recreated, and staff dress up in costume! Admission is €15 for adults and €7.5 for children.

4. Airfield Estate

Airfield Estate is home to a working farm where children can get up close to animals such as cows, goats, sheep and hens. They can watch the cows being milked and the eggs being collected. It's both fun and educational, ideal for learning about animals!

What's more, the vast gardens and open spaces let children wander, discover plants and play in a natural setting.

Admission is €15 for adults and €8 for children (under 17).

5. The beach!

We don't often think of it, but Dublin is right next to the sea. There are several beaches not far from the centre…

The closest beach is Sandymount. It's only half an hour from the city centre by public transport. The beach is large, even if slightly rugged.

Howth harbour

For a bigger outing, Howth is a lovely little coastal town about an hour from Dublin by public transport. Children love it for several reasons. First of all, it has a lovely sandy beach (Claremont). What's more, the town has a fishing harbour with restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops… It's a great spot to enjoy some good fish and chips as a family… Even if you can trust Bonjour Dublin's picks for the best fish and chips in Dublin! And above all, know that there are loads of seals at Howth! Yes indeed, these wild animals take advantage of the scraps from Howth's fishing to feed without much effort… So you can spot them fairly easily.

Saint Patrick's Day: a special day

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He's commemorated every year on Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March, which is also a public holiday in Ireland. On that day, a magnificent, colourful parade winds through the streets of Dublin. Many people don the famous green hat (cover photo). On this day, many activities are organised for young and old alike.

Article written in collaboration with “Bonjour Dublin”.

Bonjour Dublin is a travel blog that shares handy tips about Dublin and gives good advice.

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