Dublin with Kids: Castles, Coddle, and the Coast

Dublin Castle

Start the trip with a guided tour of Dublin Castle, which has been at the center of Irish history for over 800 years. Kids love the State Apartments and the underground Viking excavations visible beneath the complex.

Fallon and Byrne Food Hall

A short walk away on Exchequer Street, this beloved food hall has hot counters, fresh sandwiches, and plenty of options to please picky eaters and adventurous ones alike. Grab a table in the basement restaurant or eat from the market counters upstairs.

Christ Church Cathedral

Walk over to Christ Church to explore one of Dublin's oldest buildings, dating back to 1030. The crypt is genuinely atmospheric and houses some surprising artifacts including a mummified cat and rat, which tends to delight children aged 6 and up.

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

End the afternoon at this award-winning interactive museum along the Liffey quays, where kids can explore Ireland's global diaspora through immersive rooms and touchscreen exhibits. The storytelling is accessible and engaging for ages 8 and older.

Trinity College Dublin and the Book of Kells

Book tickets in advance to see the illuminated Book of Kells, an extraordinary 9th-century manuscript housed in Trinity's Old Library. The Long Room upstairs, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and 200,000 ancient books, is genuinely jaw-dropping for kids who have never seen anything like it.

Bewley's Grafton Street Cafe

A Dublin institution since 1927, Bewley's serves proper Irish breakfasts, toasted sandwiches, and their famous coffee in a stained-glass-windowed dining room on Grafton Street. It is a good mid-morning or lunch stop before heading to the park.

St. Stephen's Green

Dublin's most beloved city park is a ten-minute walk from Bewley's and has a duck pond, playgrounds, and plenty of open lawn for kids to run around. It is free to enter and a perfect afternoon reset after a morning of museums.

Grafton Street and Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

Spend the late afternoon browsing Grafton Street's buskers and then duck into the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a Georgian mansion converted into an independent shopping arcade with crafts, jewellery, and Irish design. A good spot to pick up souvenirs that are not mass-produced.

Howth Cliff Walk

Take the DART train north to the fishing village of Howth and tackle the shorter loop of the famous cliff walk, which takes about 90 minutes and offers dramatic sea views and heather-covered headlands. The path is manageable for kids aged 7 and up with sturdy shoes.

Howth Harbour Fish and Chips

After the walk, head down to Howth Harbour where several excellent seafood shacks and chippers line the pier. Beshoff Bros on Harbour Road is a local favourite for fresh fish and chips eaten outdoors watching the boats come in.

Howth Castle and Grounds

The castle itself is not open to the public but the surrounding grounds include a ruined Abbey, a transport museum with vintage trams and buses, and extensive rhododendron gardens. The National Transport Museum of Ireland is right on the estate and kids genuinely love climbing around the old vehicles.

Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo

Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe and home to a free-roaming herd of wild fallow deer that kids absolutely love spotting. Dublin Zoo sits inside the park and is worth a half-day visit, with a strong conservation focus and excellent big cat and gorilla habitats.

The Walled Garden Cafe at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre

Tucked inside the park near Ashtown Castle, this cafe serves hot lunches, soups, and sandwiches in a sheltered courtyard garden. It is a peaceful and affordable lunch stop that avoids the need to leave the park midday.

Jameson Distillery Bow St.

A short taxi or bus ride from the park brings you to the Smithfield neighbourhood and the Jameson Distillery, where the family tour covers the history of Irish whiskey through theatrical room-by-room storytelling. Kids are welcome on the tour and get their own non-alcoholic tasting experience at the end.

Smithfield Square Evening Walk

Smithfield is one of Dublin's most atmospheric squares, especially as the light fades and the cobblestones reflect the surrounding lights. Grab ice cream from a nearby shop and walk the square before heading back to your accommodation.