Dublin has a great range of festivals, family parks and beaches full of lots of fun family friendly things to see and do for free. Not only are they free but they will help you keep the children occupied and experience outdoor life while getting lots of fresh air.
Have a look at our Family Events section for forthcoming family friendly events and things to do with the kids.
Parks and playgrounds
In the middle of the city centre just at the top of Grafton St there is St Stephen's Green which is a 27 acre park. Children can enjoy feeding the ducks and geese and there is also a playground. It is popular for picnics in the summertime and lunchtime concerts are held also in the summer.
Herbert Park in Donnybrook is also a good option for children and it has a newly refurbished playground as well as an older playground. Again feeding the ducks as a favourite pastime.
In North Dublin you'll find playgrounds in St Anne's Park, Malahide Castle and in South Dublin there are playgrounds in Blackrock Park, the People's Park in Dun Laoghaire, Marley Park and Bushy Park.
The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin is another great outdoor option as is the Phoenix Park located in the city centre. These are ideal for picnics or and generally getting some fresh air.
Beaches
Sitting on Dublin Bay Dublin has the benefit of many beaches within a close proximity to the city centre.
In south Dublin Sandymount Strand is a long stretch of beach perfect for walking a buggy or for an afternoon family stroll. The Piers in Dunlaoghaire are again ideal a family walk any time of the day and is populated by Dublin families, dogs, bikes and scooters.
Sandycove Beach is a small sheltered beach just outside the city and has a safe beach which is great for swimming in the summer. Killiney Beach, Bray Strand and Greystones Beach are stony but will still entertain children and adults alike. A trip out to any of these beaches can be a great day out if you go by Dart as they benefit from stunning coastal scenery on the way.
In north Dublin options include Portmarnock beach and the North Bull Island and Dollymount Strand.
Festivals
Dublin has many festivals and family events throughout the year filled full of fun and things to do for the family. About half of the events are free and there are special activities for children organised.
The St Patrick's Day festival is celebrated around the 17th of March and is a week-long festival of activities. The parade is the highlight of the festival and there are many other events including a firework display. The Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire is generally held in August and features a wide variety of international performers.
The Street Performance World Championship is held in June in Merrion Square Dublin. It is free and brings the best street entertainers in the world to Ireland to compete for the title of the Championship. This free weekend event in Merrion Square sees acts such as sword swallowers, mime artists and award winning clowns come together to entertain all ages. Add in Ireland premier face painters, an international Balloon Artist team, world foods, and much more, this weekend is certainly one al the family will enjoy. See our blog on this for the 2008 event.
Ireland visitor discounts is a fantastic free downloadable discount voucher for leading Irish cultural and heritage visitor attractions. You should download a form for each member of the family and bring this with you when you are travelling. Discounts include two for the price of one in leading tourist attractions, free admission at some attractions and between 10 and 20% off other attractions. This really could make a considerable saving for your family.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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