Are you planning a trip to Ireland and looking for fun Dublin activities? Keep scrolling to check out the coolest things to do in Dublin with kids!
This list of things to do in Dublin with kids was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Are you thinking of taking a family vacation in Ireland’s bustling capital city? Great! There are tons of things to do in Dublin with kids.
Dublin is mostly known for whiskey tastings and nightlife. It’s understandable if you’re unsure if there are places to go with kids in Dublin, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
There are tons of museums (some free!) with interactive exhibits, exciting kid-friendly tours, lots of parks, and Dublin attractions for kids and adults alike.
Here are some of the most fun things to do in Dublin for families with kids of all ages, rain or shine!
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19 Fun Things To Do in Dublin With Kids
Guinness Storehouse
You might not think that anything to do with alcohol could be suitable for kids, which is fair enough! But the Guinness Storehouse is actually one of the best family attractions in Dublin.
It’s located in the black stout’s old brewery at St. James’s Gate, where the founder of Guinness famously signed a 9,000-year-long lease. Today, it’s a huge interactive experience.
You’ll find exhibitions on the brewing process, old advertising materials, stories from the people involved in the company, and so much more. At the Gravity Bar on the top floor, you can enjoy a pint of Guinness and your kids get a free soft drink.
Plus, there are panoramic views across the entire city!
It’s a lot of fun and the gift shop has everything and anything Guinness-related you might want. Book tickets in advance to avoid long lines. Don’t forget to take a family photo in front of the iconic Irish harp on the black gate.
Trinity College Library and Immersive Experience
It’s a good idea to have lots of Dublin indoor activities on the itinerary of your family trip. The weather in Ireland can turn on a whim!
Luckily, one of the best places to visit with kids in Dublin is Trinity College Library. The college is the oldest (and most prestigious) university in Ireland, and the library is over 400 years old.
While visiting a library might not sound exciting, you’ll change your mind when you see it!
Trinity College Library’s Long Room has over 200,000 ancient books. They’re shelved in row after row of dark wooden bookshelves. It looks like something out of Harry Potter!
You also can’t miss seeing the Book of Kells on display here. It’s one of the oldest – and most beautiful – books in the world.
They recently opened an immersive experience in a nearby building that we thought was pretty incredible! It’s a great way to bring history to life in a way that’s easy to understand!
Temple Bar Neighborhood
Again, you might not think that hanging out in bars is one of the best family things to do in Dublin, Ireland!
But Temple Bar is not just a pub, it’s a Dublin institution. This bright red, 19th-century bar has a whole neighborhood of bars and restaurants named after it! It’s a cobblestone-covered historic district with lots to see.
Luckily, children in Ireland can enter most pubs with their parents up until 9 pm and Temple Bar is one of them. It opens as early as 10:30 am some days, and their traditional folk music sessions start about an hour or so later.
Take your kids in the early afternoon and you can avoid the late-night crowds while still enjoying the Irish music and bar atmosphere.
Phoenix Park
Looking for things to do in Dublin with toddlers? Take them to Phoenix Park on a sunny day!
This sprawling, 700-hectare green space is the perfect place to let your kids wander. There are some fantastic playgrounds and lots of deer thanks to it being a former deer hunting park.
You can stop by the Visitor Center for refreshments, and even see the Irish president’s house and the US embassy.
Dublin Castle and Gardens
One of the top kid-friendly things to do in Dublin is to visit Dublin Castle. It dates back to the 13th century and has an onsite historic library, museums, and preserved staterooms.
While your kids may not be interested in the rare religious manuscripts in the Chester Beatty Library, the gardens and the staterooms are beautiful and regal.
Viking Splash Tour of Dublin
Your kids would never forgive you if you traveled to Dublin without taking them on a Viking Splash Tour.
Commemorating the Vikings who founded Dublin, this tour is an informative yet super fun city tour that covers both land and sea. Yes, you start the tour in an amphibious bus that drives around the streets before transforming into a boat and sailing on the River Liffey!
It’s one of the most crazy things to do in Dublin for children and you won’t regret it. You all get Viking helmets to wear too!
The Ark Cultural Hub
Another place to have fun for kids in Dublin indoors is The Ark. It’s a huge arts organization that offers dance, art, plant, and more workshops for kids.
You don’t need to be a local or attend regularly to drop in for a session. Check their website to see if anything catches your eye.
St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin’s parks are some of the best free things to do in Dublin for kids. While some are huge like Phoenix Parks, others are small city parks like St. Stephen’s Green.
It boasts a pond, statues dedicated to Irish writers like James Joyce, a Victorian bandstand, a playground, and lots of flower beds.
Natural History Museum
One of the best indoor things for families to do in Dublin is to check out the city’s museums.
Dublin has many national museums. Your kids might get a little bored at the National Museum of Ireland for the Decorative Arts, hopefully, they will find lots to pique their interest at the Natural History Museum.
For starters, it offers free entrance! Second, it has lots of stuffed mammals, huge skeletons, and other cool displays in this ornate 19th-century building.
Listen to Music on Grafton Street
Not sure about taking your kids to Dublin pubs so you can listen to music? No sweat. Enjoying the buskers playing music on Grafton Street is one of the best things to do in Dublin for families.
It’s a shopping street near St. Stephen’s Green renowned for its high-caliber musicians playing there all day, every day. You can stop and enjoy the music as much or as little as you want.
Christ Church Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral might be the National Cathedral of Ireland, but Christ Church Cathedral is arguably one of the better things to do in Dublin with kids.
Christ Church Cathedral is around 100 years older than St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It started life as a Viking Church.
It also has two fascinating relics: the mummified bodies of a cat and a rat. The animals were discovered in the church’s organ in the 19th century where it’s presumed they got stuck when the cat was chasing the rat.
It’s also just a beautiful Gothic cathedral with a great museum for kids attached.
Dublinia Museum
Dublinia Museum is Christ Church Cathedral’s museum and it’s specifically targeted at children. Its exhibits are super interactive and cover the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and costumes of the Vikings in Ireland.
There are lots of fun (and funny) models and recreations of houses and farms. It offers some of the best educational activities for kids in Dublin. Plus, there’s even a full-scale Viking ship replica!
Dublin Zoo
If you’re already heading to Phoenix Park, don’t forget to stop by Dublin Zoo. This 19th-century wildlife park has over 100 different species including extremely rare animals like aye-ayes (type of lemur) and fruit bars.
They also have tigers, lions, rhinos, elephants, and other endangered animals. It’s the biggest zoo in the country, so it’s definitely one of the top things to do for kids in Dublin.
National Leprechaun Museum
Folklore is a huge part of Ireland’s culture, and the most famous mythical creature has to be the leprechaun! These are small supernatural beings, some say fairies, that are always looking for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
The National Leprechaun Museum is one of the top fun family-friendly things to do in Dublin. Learn more about the creatures as well as other Irish folkloric characters.
Find out what leprechauns wear, where they live, and much more!
Gaiety Theater
It can be a struggle to know what things to do in Dublin at night with kids. Especially because it’s a city famous for nightlife!
Check out the Gaiety Theater’s program during your trip. It’s a stunning, classical Victorian theater that hosts lots of touring musical performances. If you’re visiting at Christmas, book tickets to a traditional pantomime performance.
Malahide Castle Fairy Trail
Visiting Malahide Castle is one of the top things to do with toddlers in Dublin. It’s a little far north so you will need to rent a car or get the bus, but it’s worth the effort.
This 12th-century fairytale-esque castle is located in around 260 acres of woodland and parkland. They boast a beautiful fairy trail with small houses and signposts which are perfect for little kids.
And if you have older kids, they might still enjoy exploring inside this super old manor house.
EPIC: Irish Museum of Emigration
If you’re looking for things to do in Dublin, Ireland for families with Irish ancestry, you must visit the EPIC Museum! Opening in 2016, this state-of-the-art Irish Emigration Museum has tons of cool displays on the Irish diaspora and history around the world.
Even better, you can chat with an onsite archivist and find out more about your family’s history!
Butlers Chocolate Factory
Again, you may need to catch the bus to visit Butlers Chocolate Factory but it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon in Dublin with kids.
This local chocolatier offers factory tours and chocolate-making workshops for kids and adults alike. It’s a super fun activity that’s suitable for all ages.
And if you can’t make it to the factory, there are lots of Butlers Chocolate Cafés in Dublin city center.
Kilmainham Gaol
If the Dublinia Museum and the Viking Splash Tour sound too young for your kids, take them to Kilmainham Gaol instead.
It’s one of the best things to do in Dublin with teenagers!
This prison dates back to the late 18th century. During the Irish War of Independence, when the Republic of Ireland separated from Northern Ireland, this is where many rebel leaders were incarcerated and executed.
Today, it’s been preserved as a visitor center. You can take tours and find out all about the fascinating history of this former jail.
Things To Do in Dublin With Kids FAQs
Is Dublin suitable for kids?
Yes! Dublin is definitely suitable for kids. It’s a big capital city with museums, attractions, restaurants, and other amenities for all types of visitors, including families.
What area in Dublin is best for families?
The best neighborhoods in Dublin for families to stay in are Portobello, The Liberties, and the area around Trinity College Dublin.
These neighborhoods are in a central location and are away from nightlife around O’Connell Street.
Are children allowed in Temple Bar?
Yes, children are allowed in Temple Bar and most other pubs in the Temple Bar neighborhood! The drinking age in Ireland is 18 years old and children up to this age can enter Temple Bar accompanied by an adult until 9 pm.
However, it can get super busy in the evenings and on weekends. Head there early afternoon for live music and to avoid most crowds.
Things To Do in Dublin With Kids Wrap-Up
Those are all the top things to do in Dublin with kids!
Toddlers will love the parks and listening to music on Grafton Street. Older kids and teenagers will love the fun museums and quirky churches.
Whether you want ideas for family days out in Dublin or you’re in the city for a long weekend, there are lots of family activities in Dublin, Ireland to fill your itinerary.
Looking for more Ireland travel resources? Check out How To Plan a Trip to Ireland: Step-by-Step Guide, Ireland in Summer: Tips + Things to Do, 21 Most Spectacular Hidden Gems in Ireland, 12 Best Day Trips From Dublin by Train, Edinburgh vs Dublin and 10 Best Dublin Hotels for Families Worth Booking!
