All you need to know to plan a family trip to Ireland: info, recommendations and insider tips by a local mum to help you plan your perfect family vacation in Ireland.
I love traveling around Ireland with my kids.
We live in Dublin and even if Ireland is home for our family, we seem to never tire of admiring it with the eye of the visitor.
After 15 years here, I still explore with the same awe I had when I first set foot on Irish soil and my husband and kids, both born and raised here, seem to share the same experience.
It is from this specific point of you, that of the visitor turned local, that I write this post today.
It is my family guide to Ireland and contains all my best tips for visiting Ireland with kids.
Wishing you a wonderful Ireland family vacation!
Table of Contents
The best time to visit Ireland with kids: Ireland in each season
If you are planning a family trip to Ireland, you may have to arrange it around school holidays and if that is the case, you will be happy to hear that no matter when the school break falls, it can be a good time for visiting the Emerald Isle!
Ireland has a reasonably temperate climate, considering how far North it is, and while your experience of the place will be very different if you come in summer or winter, there is something fun to do in all seasons.
If you can choose, however, without a doubt some times are better than others to plan a trip to Ireland. In particular, it is useful to know the following.
The best time to visit Ireland is the spring / summer, and specifically the months between May and August.
At this time, Ireland his reasonably dry, you are likely to get nice sunny, bright days and the days are long, meaning you get a good amount of light for sightseeing well into the evening.
The summer is a great time to visit Ireland with kids who love sports and outdoor pursuits; hiking, zip-lining and adventure centers here abound!
Another fun time to visit Ireland with kids can be Christmas.
Christmas in Dublin, Galway and Cork, in particular, is lovely as they have some of the best Christmas markets in Ireland.
While undoubtedly a cold time, the cities dress up with Christmas decorations and it can be a fun time for shopping, meeting Santa, indoor play centers (there are many in the big cities) and hot chocolate!
Documents needed to enter Ireland with kids
The documents you need to enter Ireland depend on your country of origin.
Ireland is inside the EU but outside the Treaty of Schengen and this may affect your travels and require additional paperwork.
The best source of information for documents needed to enter Ireland is your nearest Irish embassy or consulate. You can find the complete list here (official sire of the Irish departments of Foreign affairs).
Good to know: if you are traveling to Ireland alone with a child with a surname different from yours, you may be asked to show their birth certificate stating you are their parent or an equivalent document that proves you are their legal guardian and are allowed to travel with them. I have been asked this document occasionally only but since it can happen, I believe it is important to know about it and be ready.
How to get around Ireland with kids: car, train or bus?
By far the easiest way to travel around Ireland with kids is by car.
Ireland has an ok network of buses and trains.
However, without your own vehicle, you are very much limited in your choice of accommodation.
In many cases, the most atmospheric and budget-friendly accommodation options in Ireland are a little away from the main centers and they can be hard to reach if you are relying on public transport and trains only.
If you can, a car in Ireland is your best friend!
You can find my tips for driving in Ireland here
If you prefer not to drive, another good alternative is taking day trips and day tours.
Ireland has a very good selection of days tours offered by several companies that allow you to visit many of Ireland’s main attractions without having to get behind the wheel.
In many cases, you can even choose a home base and simply take day trips from there: Dublin, Cork and Galway are all good options for this type of trip.
This is a quick selection of some of the most interesting offers.
Need to know: rules for the use of car seats in Ireland. The use of car seats in private cars is mandatory in Ireland for kids up to age 12. Make sure you book one when renting a car or bring your own! Taxis are exempt from this rule: if you only need to hop on a taxi on arrival, you may want to consider going without a seat. However, please be advised that the transfer from the airport to your hotel is likely to involve motorway driving.
Ireland sightseeing with kids: tackling Ireland’s main sites as a family
Ireland is very kid-friendly and many of the places you are likely to have on your Irland bucket list are easy to visit even with kids in tow.
Visiting Dublin with kids
Dublin is a very family-friendly city and I know its kid-friendly side very well, Dublin being our city!
If this is your first time visiting, I highly recommend you find a hotel in the city center and explore some of the city’s main sites as well as plan additional time just for the kids.
My tops things to see in Dublin with kids are Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Dublinia (interactive Viking Museum), Dublin castle and maybe surprisingly, the Guinness storehouse!
Kid specific attractions to seek out, in my opinion, are Stephen’s green park, the Dublin splash tour, the zoo and Imagnosity, Dublin’s children museum (outside of the center but great for a rainy day!)
Dublin has also many parks and playgrounds, perfect for a break from sightseeing.
Exploring Glendalough with children
Glendalough is a gorgeous monastic site only 40 Km from Dublin, in Country Wicklow.
It is a lovely place for sightseeing with kids as it has a lake and ample space to run around.
The best way to reach is by car. With kids, I suggest you skip the visitor center and simply walk towards the lakes and the monastic site.
The visit is free, the forest is lovely for a walk or a picnic (it is also stroller friendly if you have younger kids) and the Glendalough hotel has a decent, kid-friendly restaurant for food and facilities.
You can find mi tips for visiting Glendalough here.
The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous attractions in Ireland and while they may not strike you as the most ki-friendly place (350 mt cliffs plunging into the ocean anyone?), they actually are a bit of a treat with kids.
The area is very well equipped for small visitors (they have a nice visitor center and cafe) and the cliffs are protected by tall slabs of rock that make them safe.
However, cautious here is needed: if you have over-enthusiastic kids, make sure they don’t run too far ahead and make sure they do not go on the parts of the path that are marked as unmanned!
While you ill see a string of adult visitors ignoring the warning signs, these paths are not safe and especially for kids, they can pose a real danger.
Good to know: not fr from the cliffs there are the Ailwee caves, a wonderful place for kids. Here, you can go on a guided tour of a real cave (easy, no experience necessary) and experience what total darkness is! It is slightly scary but also cool. You also have a falconry center in the same complex with really fun and educational flight displays of falcon and owls.
Driving the Ring of Kerry with children
The Ring of Kerry is a wonderful drive following the coast of the Kerry peninsula, in the West of Ireland and it is one of the most famous places and drives in the whole of Ireland.
It is indeed a lovely area and it can surely be visited with kids. However, it can also be hard to take.
The problem here is that the road is long and winding and while the scenery is stunning, you find yourself in the car a lot – this can be too much for many kids and frankly awful if they suffer from motion sickness.
If you want to visit Kerry with kids, I recommend you take a few days and break up the drive as many times as you need. Even better, you can explore the National Park with a home base in Killarney, which is lovely and family-friendly.
If you prefer not to tackle it at all but still see nice scenery, I would recommend considering Dingle or the Beara peninsula instead: they both have amazing scenery and require less time in the car.
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is one of the most famous attractions in Ireland and one of my favorite.
The castle itself is atmospheric, imposing and romantic, and towers above a stunning estate with gardens, forests and grottoes.
It is a fantastic place to spend a day outside with the kids and it is packed with stories and things to see: you will learn stories of the local witch and you will also have the chance to visit a poison garden. Super fun!
You can read our guide to visiting Blarney Castle with kids here.
Connemara
Connemara is an area of great natural beauty and a very popular destination in Ireland not just for visitors but for local families.
It is an area many Irish people use as a base for the summer as it is remote, beautiful and not too awfully expensive.
Visitors usually want to see Kylemore Abbey and Clifden but families should also add a stop in a farm.
A stop in one of the local farms can be really fun for the kids and it can also be a way to tap into a slightly more local experience than what you get in main tourist sites.
You are also likely to meet many Irish families having a fun day out, which can be a fun way to make local friends and play for a few hours!
A fantastic place for families in Connemara is the Delphi centre and resort: this is a hotel and adventure center with lots of activities for kids and adults, in one of the most stunning locations in Ireland!
Newgrange
Newgrange is an incredible place for adults and kids and one I recommend visiting especially if you have school-age children who can appreciate the marvel of it.
A passage tomb dating back to the neolithic, Newgrange can only be visited by booking a guided tour.
I do not recommend it with little kids, who may find the dark and small space distressing, but it is a place school kids tend to love.
Good to know if you have toddlers with you: almost in front of it there is a nice farm open to visitors with animals and a nice cafe.
Please note: in 2020, visiting inside the tomb are suspended for health and safety reasons.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a small city in the center of Ireland with a lot on offer for kids: a castle (with amazing playground), a city train for tourists, lots of shops and restaurants and a plethora of outdoor certifies in the area such as kayaking!
We go to the city often, sometimes as a day trip from Dublin and sometimes for a weekend and the city never lets us down.
You can read why we love it and the best things to see in Kilkenny here.
Kids attractions in Ireland
As well as kid-friendly sightseeing, Ireland has many kid-centered attractions that I highly recommend you add to your Ireland itinerary.
Among the many, I recommend
Farms, castle and manor houses
Ireland has many castles, farms and manor houses now open to the public and often offering kids’ activities. Some we know and love are:
- Killruddery House and gardens (amazing play area and activities), Co Wicklow
- Russborough House (maze, falconry center, fairy walk, playground), Co Wicklow
- Avondale house (forest walk and playground), Co Wicklow
- Wells house (forest Gruffalo walk, archery, playground), Co Wexford
- Ardgillan castle (a fairy walk, playground), Co Kildare
- Malahide Castle (amazing playground), Co Kildare
- Birr Castle (playground, walk, an amazing science center and a historic, record-breaking telescope), Co Offaly
- Trim Castle (castle visit to feel king for a day), Co Meath
- Powerscourt House and Gardens (lovely manicured gardens with lots of space to run and Santa visits at Christmas), Co Wicklow
Parks and Adventure centers for kids
Over the last few years, adventure centers have pen up in several parts of the country and they can be real fun for kids.
Tayto Park is a theme park while the others are adventure centers with outdoor adventurous activities such as ziplining, treetop rope course and more.
Some we love are:
- Tayto Park, a kids favorite, super fun theme park (think rollercoasters etc)
- Castelcomer Discovery Park, Co Kilkenny
- Lough Key camping and adventure center, Co Roscommon
- Delphi Adventure Resort, Co Galway (great for a family weekend getaway too!)
- Kippure Adventure Center, Co Wicklow
Where to stay in Ireland with kids
Ireland has a vast choice of accommodation choices for families ranging from hotels to holiday rentals to guesthouses etc.
Hotels tend to be the most expensive option. They come in all shapes and sizes and often have good facilities for families including indoor pools, kids’ activities and restaurants onsite – very handy!
You can find here >>> our selection of the best family hotels in Ireland.
Guesthouses and B&Bs are smaller and have a more personal feel. They are usually in local homes and kids are welcome, although not all can accommodate 3 or 4 people in a room. My favorite website to book guesthouses and B&Bs is booking.com which allows choosing the best rooms for your party taking your kids’ age into account and also has good cancellation options. You can find deals and options here
Rentals can be a good option for longer stays
For all these bookings I usually trust booking.com which has always served us well and has amazing free cancellation policies on most properties. See all they have in Ireland here
Visiting an Irish pub with kids in tow
if you are in Ireland, chances are you may want to experience a real Irish pub and there is no need to skip on this just because you have kids.
While not all pubs are kid-friendly, many are: pick those that serve food and ask for a kids menu – many will surprise you with a good one!
Please note: In 2020, new rules have been introduced with timed slots for meals and pub visits. Make sure you make dinner plans in advance by ringing the pub or making a reservation online to secure a table.
What to pack for visiting Ireland with kids
You can find my packing lists for Ireland here, however, these are the main things I suggest you add if coming to Ireland with kids:
- Stroller for babies and toddlers. I recommend one with bigger wheels, so it can tackle country paths and longer walks. All terrain strollers are the best in Ireland as they seamlessly go from town to country.
- Car seat
- An extra change of clothes and shoes for rainy days
- Books about Ireland they can read as the go
- A small pair of binoculars for birds and wildlife
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to visiting Ireland with kids and it helped you plan your Ireland family vacation. Safe travels!
