Outdoor Activities in Dublin with Kids
Kids go Free throughout September, terms and conditions apply.
Come on a journey and follow in the footsteps of those who fled the famine! The Jeanie Johnston tells the story of the thousands of Irish people who fled the Famine and embarked on a voyage in the hope of a new life in North America. Step on board and you will be transported back in time to join them on their journey across the sea.
Find out how they paid for their tickets for the Jeanie Johnston. Hear the true stories of people who travelled on the ship, including many children travelling alone. See what they looked like and how they dressed with realistic life-sized wax figures. Imagine what the journey was like. Find out about the harsh conditions on board. Learn what happened when they reached their destination. Explore a Tall Ship and marvel at the craftsmanship involved in building it and the skill it took to sail it.
⌂ Custom House Quay, Dublin 1
Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo is such a fun-filled, stimulating day out for all the family. It’s a place to learn about wild animals, especially those which are endangered. Located in the Phoenix Park in the heart of Dublin city, Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s most popular family attraction.
⌂ Phoenix Park, Dublin 8
Phoenix Park
Visitor Centre
The Phoenix Park Visitor Centre displays
temporary exhibitions and is very family friendly. Beside the Visitor Centre is the fully restored Ashtown Castle, a medieval tower house, and a maze which is perfect for the little ones to run around and explore.
There is the gorgeous Phoenix Park Cafe which serves fantastic food and is one of my family favourites in Dublin. Across the court yard and you can visit the Victorian walled kitchen gardens, and best of all is a brilliant kiddies playground, located beside the visitor center.
⌂ Phoenix Park, Dublin 8
✉︎ phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie
Farmleigh
A historic house holding important collections, an art gallery, a working farm, and the official Irish State guest house, Farmleigh House and Estate is open seven days a week, all year round.
Visit and experience the regular Sunday Farmers Market, which is located in the Farmyard behind the Farmleigh Gallery. The market offers its visitors a wide variety of products and treats, such as award winning cheeses, organic vegetables, meats, fish, and so much more.
The Boathouse Restaurant with its deck overlooking the ornamental lake at Farmleigh, is such a gorgeous setting in a landscape unchanged since the nineteenth century. Lose yourself in one of Dublin’s best kept secrets, and experience food and nature together.
⌂ White's Rd, Phoenix Park, Dublin 15
Wooly Wards Farm
Wooly Ward’s Farm's aim to educate and entertain families. Mary & her family have expanded their operation into a mobile petting farm with 3 units on the road attending children’s parties, family fun days, educational events such as schools & montessori’s, nursing homes & corporate visits.
The activity farm is closed to visitors this year but opens its gates to the public for three themed events each year including Easter Extravaganza, Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Halloween Experience. Each event is packed with fun activities for all of the family! Halloween is one of our most popular events.
⌂ Whitestown, Oldtown, Co. Dublin
Dublin Discovered
Boat Tour
Head to Bachelors Walk to cruise in style on the Dublin Discovered Boat Tour. They run a 45 minute guided tours 7 days a week, showing you the best of Dublin city sights. A Liffey Tour is the ideal way to bring important aspects of Ireland’s history and heritage to life for kids. Their guides entertain, and enlighten you about Dublin past and present.
Suitable for kids of all ages, Infants under 3 go FREE but ensure you reserve their place when booking.
⌂ Bachelors Walk, North City, Dublin 1
☏ (01) 473 0000
Cost + Info
Viking Splash
Join Viking Splash Tours on a thrilling tour around the main sights of Dublin City - by land and water! Let the Vikings show you the sites and scenes of the capital city from a World War II amphibious vehicle – all whilst their Viking guides deliver an entertaining and engaging commentary. From kids aged 2+ and they're very strict about the age policy. We did it on my little girl's second birthday and the kids absolutely loved it, as did we!
⌂ St Stephens Green North, Dublin 2
ChildVision
ChildVision is a non profit organisation dedicated to the education and therapy needs of blind and multi-disabled children. It has the sweetest little petting farm, garden centre, pre-loved shop and horse riding. It’s small enough to let the little ones run free and has the coolest kids library. There's a cafe and best of all, it's free to the public. You can chose to donate or buy food to feed the animals.
Killruddery
House and Gardens
Often described as a wonderful place to escape for a great day out, Killruddery is conveniently located on the outskirts of the capital where Dublin meets Wicklow. There’s so much to see and explore. Nature has never been more relaxing with leisurely walks in one of Ireland’s most renowned gardens, filled with beautiful planting and wooded areas, water features and distinctive outdoor rooms.
A gorgeous Tea Room and guided tours are just some of the other treats on offer.
⌂ Southern Cross, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Zipit Forest Adventures
Zipit is a high wire forest adventure park with a difference. A place for young and old, where
kids can let their imagination run. You can climb high into the treetops, swing into cargo nets, even ride a bmx across a bridge, before zipping down one of their many ziplines.
Children from age 7 to adults can enjoy up to 4 hours of excitement and adventure.
⌂ Cruagh, Co. Dublin
Hop on Hop Off
- Bus Tours
Explore Dublin at your own pace with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour! Pick and choose the attractions you wish to visit from Guinness Storehouse to Trinity College. Kids love this tour, especially when they get to sit on top of the open top bus and if you're feeling a bit lazy, like us, you can just stay on it and admire the views!
Dublin Bay Cruises
This idyllic cruise offers views of the stunning landscapes of the Dublin Mountains, Ireland’s Eye, Lambay Island, Dalkey Island, Joyce’s Martello Tower, the Baily Lighthouse to name but a view, ad is a really fun family day out. Take a trip on Dublin’s beautiful living bay and enjoy the city from a truly unique perspective.
They sail between Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire and Howth 7 days a week between April and October.
⌂ Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, (Dublin’s Convention Centre), Dublin 2
✉︎ booking@dublinbaycruises.com
Airfield
House and Gardens
Airfield Estate is very much a family destination and Dublin’s only 38 acre working farm, gardens, kitchen education and food destination. Located in Dundrum, just a 5 minute walk from the Balally Luas stop, it's an urban farm and gardens where kids can explore the gardens and farm with Jersey cows, sheep, Connemara ponies plus much more. We are regulars for the egg collection at 10am followed by cow milking. Most days the kids even get to try the milk from the previous day which has been pasturised. It's such a fantastic experience for kids and we LOVE it.
Food in the Overends Restaurant is amazing and they've a great kids menu.
Each day you are invited to join their farm activities:
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10am Egg collection at hen houses
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10.30am Jersey Heard Milking in the farmyard
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11am Calf feeding in the farmyard
⌂ Airfield Estate, Overend Way, Dundrum, Dublin 14
Malahide
Castle and Gardens
Malahide Castle offers a fantastic visitor
experience, incorporating a visitor centre, interactive exhibition areas and walled botanical garden. The Avoca Cafe is super kid friendly with lots of space, great food and high chairs. The outdoor terrace is a beautiful vantage point to enjoy the gardens…just watch out for the Peacocks which like to show off to our visitors from time to time!
Located only a short walk from the castle is a wonderful children's playground, it was recently renovated and consists of various types of swings, slides, climbing frames and imaginative contraptions to suit children of all ages.
⌂ Malahide Demesne, Malahide, Co. Dublin
Ardgillan Castle
Ardgillan Castle, located about 30 minutes drive from Dublin centre, is definitely worth the drive. It's a stunning visitor attraction with a range of facilities families can enjoy, including castle tours, theatre events, afternoon tea, children’s parties plus much more.
The playground alone is worth the trip! They recently created a magical Fairy Tree Trail which is dotted around the woodland area of the walled garden and offers families a chance to learn about the different varieties of trees growing at Ardgillan. A map and quiz has been created to coincide with the trail and is available here or at the reception.
After all of this, you can enjoy lunch or afternoon tea on their gorgeous terrace which is set in their private rose garden.
⌂ Strifeland, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Free Admission + Info