Are you debating between a Dublin or Edinburgh vacation? Keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know about choosing a trip to Edinburgh vs Dublin.
This comparison of Edinburgh vs Dublin was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Quick Comparison: Edinburgh vs Dublin for Families
| What You Care About | Edinburgh | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Days You Need | 3-5 days | 2 days max |
| Kid Activities | Tons (castle, Harry Potter sites, underground streets, museums) | Limited (mostly adult-focused breweries/distilleries) |
| Cost | Expensive | More expensive |
| Public Transport | £2.40/adult, £1.20/kid (Feb 2026) | €2 for 90 minutes |
| Weather | Rainy | Also rainy |
| Crowds | Busy but manageable | Temple Bar = chaos |
| Day Trips | Amazing options | Pretty limited |
| Best For | Families who want magic and history | Quick stopover or Ireland road trip |
I’ve taken my boys (currently 3rd and 6th grade) to both cities. Edinburgh kept us busy for five days. Dublin? We saw everything family-friendly in less than two days and honestly got bored.
Why Edinburgh Wins (But Hear Me Out)
Edinburgh has more stuff for kids to actually do. That’s the bottom line.
We had three full days in Dublin and ran out of kid-appropriate things to do by day two. Seriously. Half the top attractions are about beer and whiskey. My kids are 8 and 11. They don’t care about the Guinness Storehouse.
Edinburgh? We spent five days and still didn’t see everything. Edinburgh Castle, underground streets, Harry Potter sites, multiple museums, hills to climb, dungeons, gardens. The list goes on.
But before you book Edinburgh, know this: it rains. A LOT. Pack layers because you’ll get soaked. My younger son had a complete meltdown on our third day because his shoes were wet for the 10th time.
What Actually Goes Wrong in Each City
The guidebooks won’t tell you this part.
Edinburgh problems:
- The rain is no joke. We got rained on every single day in August. AUGUST.
- The Royal Mile is a tourist trap. Overpriced tartan everything, bagpipe players every 10 feet.
- August = Fringe Festival = over 3 million people crammed into the city. Don’t go in August unless you enjoy crowds.
- The hills will destroy you if you have a stroller. Cobblestones + hills + rain + stroller = you questioning all your life choices.
Dublin problems:
- Temple Bar at night is basically one giant outdoor bar. We stayed nearby and regretted it. Loud until 2am.
- It’s more expensive than Edinburgh, which is saying something.
- The family activities feel tacked on. Like the city knows it needs to offer SOMETHING for kids but didn’t really commit.
- We kept wandering around thinking “now what?” after seeing the main stuff.
How These Cities Actually Feel Different
Edinburgh feels medieval. You’re walking on 500-year-old cobblestones (which are terrible for ankles, by the way).
The buildings are dark gray stone. It’s moody and atmospheric and my kids kept saying it felt like Harry Potter (which makes sense since J.K. Rowling wrote the books there).
Dublin feels more modern and international. More cranes, more new buildings mixed with old.
You hear different languages everywhere because Ireland is still in the EU and Scotland isn’t anymore (thanks, Brexit). That’s actually kind of cool for kids to experience.
But honestly? Both cities have friendly people, both have good coffee, both will make you buy rain jackets you’ll never use again after this trip.
The biggest difference is nightlife, which matters more than you think when you’re traveling to Europe with kids. Edinburgh has pubs, sure. But they’re chill.
Dublin’s Temple Bar district is packed with drunk young people from 4pm onward. Every. Single. Day. If you’re trying to have a nice family dinner, avoid that area.
One weird thing: Dublin has Irish Gaelic on all the road signs next to the English. My 3rd grader thought this was the coolest thing ever and tried to learn some words. So that’s a bonus if you have a nerdy kid like mine.
Transport: Getting Around Without Losing Your Mind
Both cities have good buses and trams. You don’t need a rental car, which is a relief because driving on the left side of the road with jet-lagged kids sounds like a nightmare.
Edinburgh Buses Cost More Now
As of February 2026, Edinburgh hiked prices AGAIN. Adult single bus tickets are now £2.40 (kids £1.20). That’s up from £2.20 just a month ago. The trams cost the same.
You can pay the driver with cash or tap your contactless card. Day tickets are £6 for adults, £3 for kids if you’re taking multiple trips.
We mostly walked everywhere because Edinburgh is small and compact. But when it rained (every day), we’d jump on a bus to avoid completely soaking the kids.
Dublin’s Leap Card Is Confusing But Save Money
Dublin has this Leap Card thing that took me forever to figure out. It’s basically a transit pass that works on buses, trams (called Luas), and trains.
The TFI 90-minute fare is €2 for adults using a Leap Card. You can take multiple trips within 90 minutes for that one fare, which is actually pretty smart if you’re hopping around the city.
There’s a Leap Visitor Card that gives you unlimited travel for 1, 3, or 7 days. It costs around €8 for a day pass (this is as of early 2026). Way easier than figuring out individual tickets.
My advice? Just get the Leap Visitor Card at the airport when you land. It’ll save you from trying to figure out zones and fares when you’re tired and cranky.
How Many Days You Actually Need
Dublin: Two Days, Maybe Three If You’re Slow
I’m going to be blunt. We had three days in Dublin and by day two, we were googling “what else is there to do in Dublin with kids?”
Trinity College and the Book of Kells takes maybe an hour. Dublin Castle is cool for an hour or two. EPIC Museum is interesting. The Viking Splash Tour was fun (more on that later). But that’s basically it for kid stuff.
Unless you really want to tour the Guinness factory (which, sure, they give kids soft drinks, but they’re still bored), you run out of activities fast.
Two solid days is plenty for Dublin unless you’re planning day trips out of the city.
Edinburgh: Three Days Minimum, Five If You Can
We spent five days in Edinburgh including two day trips and we STILL didn’t see everything on our list.
Edinburgh Castle alone took us half a day. The Harry Potter walking tour was three hours. The underground streets tour was two hours. Add in museums, Calton Hill, gardens, and just wandering the medieval streets, and you need at least three days.
Five days felt perfect because we weren’t rushing and could take it easy when the kids needed downtime.
What to Actually Do in Each City
Edinburgh: Actually Has Stuff for Kids
Edinburgh Castle – This 900-year-old fortress sits on top of a volcanic rock. My kids loved it, but it’s CROWDED. Go first thing in the morning or late afternoon.
The views are incredible, the history is cool, and there’s an actual dog cemetery that my younger son found hilarious for some reason.
Harry Potter Walking Tour – Okay, this was way better than I expected. You see Tom Riddle’s actual grave (not kidding), visit the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote parts of the books, and walk down streets that inspired Diagon Alley.
My 6th grader loved it. My 3rd grader got bored after 90 minutes. Book the shorter tour if you have young kids.
Calton Hill – FREE. Easy climb (like 10 minutes). Amazing views. We went at sunset and it was gorgeous. This is also where you avoid spending money when you’re starting to panic about your budget.
The Edinburgh Dungeons – My kids are not into creepy stuff so we didn’t go, but my friends did. Actors in costume, jump scares, dark Edinburgh history. NOT for sensitive kids under 8. My friend’s 7-year-old had nightmares.
The Real Mary King’s Close – Underground streets beneath the Royal Mile. This was actually fascinating and my kids were INTO it. The plague stories, the old houses, all of it. Book ahead because it sells out.
Princes Street Gardens – When your kids need to run around and scream, this is where you go. Free. Beautiful. Right below the castle. We ate sandwiches here when we couldn’t handle another sit-down restaurant.
National Museum of Scotland – FREE and huge and amazing. We spent three hours here. The rooftop has incredible views. The dinosaurs kept my 3rd grader happy. Win-win.
Dublin: Limited Kid Options
Guinness Storehouse – Look, it’s Dublin’s most famous attraction. The self-guided tour is actually interesting even for kids. They get a soft drink at the end. Adults get a pint.
But let’s be honest, your 8-year-old doesn’t care about beer barrels.
Trinity College Library – The Book of Kells is one of the oldest books in the world. The Long Room library is STUNNING. Your kids will recognize it from Star Wars. We were in and out in an hour. Worth it but not life-changing.
Viking Splash Tour – This was the most fun we had in Dublin. It’s an amphibious vehicle that drives through the city then GOES INTO THE WATER. My kids screamed with excitement. Book ahead because it sells out fast.
Dublin Castle – Pretty gardens, interesting tour. My kids were bored after 30 minutes. The State Apartments tour is short enough that kids won’t revolt.
EPIC Irish Emigration Museum – This is actually cool with interactive exhibits. Way better than a stuffy museum. My kids learned stuff and didn’t complain, which is the bar we’re working with.
Natural History Museum – FREE. Full of old taxidermied animals. Victorians were weird about collecting dead animals. My kids loved it for an hour, then wanted to leave.
Where to Eat When Everyone’s Hangry
I’m going to be real with you: Scottish and Irish food can be heavy and boring. Lots of potatoes and fried stuff. But both cities have good restaurants if you know where to look.
Edinburgh Restaurants We Actually Went To
The Scran & Scallie – Proper Scottish food with a kids’ menu. Get the fish and chips. It’s not cheap but it’s good.
Edinburgh Street Food Hall – This saved us when my kids couldn’t agree on ANYTHING. Different food stalls, everyone gets what they want, you sit at communal tables. Easy.
Bread Meats Bread – Sometimes you just need a burger. This is where you go.
Mary’s Milk Bar – The ice cream place everyone talks about. Yes, there’s a line. Yes, it’s worth it. My kids tried weird flavors like whisky and marmalade (don’t recommend for kids) and loved the strawberry.
Dublin Restaurants That Worked
Old Mill Restaurant – Traditional Irish food, kids’ menu, nothing fancy. Just solid food when you’re hungry.
PI Temple Bar – Pizza in Temple Bar. Easy, fast, kids will eat it without complaining.
Murphy’s Ice Cream – They let you try as many flavors as you want before you buy. My kids tried like 10 flavors. Try the brown bread one even though it sounds weird.
Honestly? We spent way more on food in Dublin than Edinburgh. Same type of meals, just more expensive. Budget accordingly.
Day Trips: Edinburgh Destroys Dublin
This is where Edinburgh absolutely wins.
Edinburgh Day Trips Are Actually Great
South Queensferry – 30 minutes away by bus. See the massive Forth Rail Bridge (it’s a UNESCO site), take a boat tour, get ice cream. Easy half-day trip.
Glasgow – 45-minute train ride. The Glasgow Science Center is incredible. Kelvingrove Park is beautiful. If your kids are into science, go.
Doune Castle – This is where they filmed Monty Python and the Holy Grail. You can buy coconuts at the gift shop and reenact scenes. My husband was SO HAPPY. The kids thought it was weird but fun.
You can also do day tours to Loch Ness if your kids are good in the car for long trips. We didn’t do this because my younger son gets carsick.
Dublin Day Trips Are…Limited
Wicklow Mountains National Park is about an hour south. Glendalough is gorgeous. The Sally Gap mountain pass is beautiful.
But you really need to book a tour because driving those narrow mountain roads yourself is stressful.
Kilkenny is 90 minutes by train. Nice castle, cute town. Worth it if you have extra time but not essential.
That’s kind of it for easy day trips with kids from Dublin.
Can You Do Both Cities?
Yes, but only if you have at least a week.
There are tons of flights between Edinburgh and Dublin every day. Flight time is only 70 minutes. Moving between Scotland and Ireland is easy because of the Common Travel Area agreement (no extra visa stuff).
But don’t try to cram both cities into less than a week. You’ll spend all your time packing and unpacking instead of actually enjoying anything.
One week = three days Edinburgh, two days Dublin, plus travel time. That works.
Quick Answers to Questions You’re Probably Googling
Same time zone? Yes. They both use GMT in winter, British Summer Time the rest of the year.
When should we visit? Summer (June-August) has the best weather but the highest prices and biggest crowds. Spring break is better. Still rainy but fewer tourists.
DO NOT go to Edinburgh in August during Fringe Festival unless you enjoy being squished by three million people.
DO NOT go to Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) unless you want to pay $500/night for a mediocre hotel.
Which is bigger? Edinburgh is 102 square miles, Dublin is only 45 square miles. But they have similar populations (about half a million people each).
Which costs more? Dublin. Hotels, food, transport, activities all cost more in Dublin. If you’ve been to London, Dublin prices are similar.
Where to Stay
Search Edinburgh hotels on Expedia – Look for New Town if you want to be central but quieter than Old Town. Princes Street area puts you walking distance to everything.
Search Dublin hotels on Expedia – Stay south of the River Liffey near St. Stephen’s Green. Do NOT stay in Temple Bar unless you enjoy drunk people yelling at 2am.
My Honest Recommendation
Pick Edinburgh if you want a magical, history-filled city with tons of kid activities, easier day trips, and that storybook medieval vibe. Edinburgh feels special.
Pick Dublin if you’re doing an Ireland road trip and need a quick city stop, or if you only have a couple days and want to say you’ve been to Dublin.
Both cities are safe for families traveling to Europe with kids. Both have good transport. Both will make you buy rain gear you’ll regret later.
But if someone handed me plane tickets to one city right now? Edinburgh every time.
Want step-by-step help planning your trip? I made free email courses:
Free Ireland Planning Course | Free Scotland Planning Course
Which city are you leaning toward?
