5 Free Things to do in Dublin With Kids

Ireland’s capital may be small but it is full of history, culture and many unique attractions. The city’s 1000+ pubs and bars may seem like an adult destination but we found Dublin as a family-friendly city. Here are five free things to do in Dublin with kids (or without too).

Like many city centers, it can get a bit pricey when traveling as a family. But, we found some things that can help with the budget.

1. Explore Green Spaces

While most of the Emerald Isle’s nickname is mostly for the rolling green hills in the Irish countryside, there are some green spaces inside the city center. We really enjoyed walking around St. Stephen’s Green which was located in the center of Dublin.

This Victorian park, by the Grafton Street shopping, area, had many walking trails, fountains and little lakes with ducks to entertain the kids. It was a great way to beat jet lag.

Phoenix Park is dubbed as one of Europe’s largest urban park. It is the site of Dublin Zoo but the herd of wild deer roaming here for years is a highlight.

There were plenty of play areas, walking and biking trails and even weekend craft shops for kids. The area has many elegant homes including where the President lives. If you’re here on a Saturday, there is a complimentary tour of the President’s house.

2. Visit Museums, Galleries, Libraries

Want to have some educational fun or even something to do on a rainy day? Luckily, all museums run by the Irish government are free to the public. There are many museum options for families to enjoy.

The Natural History Museum, also known as the Dead Zoo, has a vast zoological collection of taxidermies and skeletons that kids will find fascinating. It has a Discovery Zone with several interactive and hands-on exhibits.

Visitors can also meet Spotticus the giraffe who is the museum’s mascot. The museum also offers free workshops and tours geared towards families.

Do you have any budding artists in the family? Visit the National Gallery of Ireland which has about 15,000 artworks in various mediums.

The gallery also offers free tours or free audio guides to get to know European and Irish artists here. They also have free art packs with activity kits to keep kids busy and keep the creative juices flowing. There is also “Family Day” with workshops and tours on Sundays.

For those interested in other art forms, there is also the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) located in an old hospital building. The IMMA also offers free workshops, family events and the IMMA Explorer family activity pack that includes an art trail and activity booklet. The Dublin City Gallery: The Hugh Lane gallery offers Sunday concerts, free public tours and children’s workshops.

While Dublin castle is now largely a government complex and tourist attraction, the area also has some free things. The Revenue Museum is free and filled with interesting exhibits and even an interactive video game. The Garda Museum offers an interesting insight and exhibits on policing in Ireland for the past two centuries.

The adjacent Chester Beatty Library has a wonderful collection of medieval art and books which are sure to be a treat for bibliophiles. They also have a great collection of cultural artifacts. Do not miss the garden outside for a nice stroll.

The Science Gallery Dublin, located in Trinity College, is more for teens and young adults but worth a visit to see their rotating exhibits on current and hot science topics. There are activities and interactive displays to engage everyone. Please keep in mind that there may be additional charges for special exhibitions in many of these museums.

3. Find Some Entertainment

It was easy to walk down many of Dublin’s streets and hear some type of live music coming from the pubs. We were even entertained while eating lunches at a couple of pubs/restaurants around the Temple Bar area. Dublin has some great musical talents.

We enjoyed walking around the pedestrianized shopping area of Grafton Street where many buskers set up throughout the day. Window-shopping with some fantastic traditional Irish music in the background made us not want to leave. The Temple Bar area also had some talented street performers.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during certain months, check on specific festivals like the Temple Bar Tradfest in January, St. Patrick’s Festival in March or the World Street Performance Championship in July.

4. Do a Self-guided Walking Tour

One of the best ways to get to know Dublin is by exploring it on foot. It was compact enough to see many attractions with a limited time.

The Tourist Information centers offer free maps to easily take a self-guided walking tour depending on one’s interests. We were staying by the Temple Bar so started our self-guided walking tour there over a course of two days.

We took our time to get to Trinity College, Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Ha’ Penny Bridge and O’Connell Street. The architecture on many of these buildings was amazing.

If you have a high schooler, Trinity College offers free tours for students and their families that gave insight into attending the university and life on campus.

Just reserve your spot online. My daughter enjoyed this college tour a lot. You can also just walk around the beautiful campus.

There is also a free audio walking tour app for smartphones called Dublin Discovery Trails. The app has four built-in tours with different routes based on interests. The “Story of Dublin” is a great start as an orientation into the city and its history.

If you’re more comfortable with guided tours, there were some free ones too. Check out Sandeman’s New Dublin Walking Tours. The tour last about three hours and meets twice a day at 11 AM and 1 PM beside the City Hall. Tips are highly recommended though.

The Yellow Umbrella/Dublin Free Walking Tour is also tips-based and offers more frequent tours throughout the day. Reserve your spot and meet at The Spire on O’Connell Street.

5. Look for Street Art and Famous Statues

Dublin is one of the most colorful cities to explore. Many of the most photographed Georgian Dublin doors are located on the south side. Places like Merrion Square, along St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, Henrietta Street and Leeson Street are some of the best areas to see these colorful doors.

Walk around the Temple Bar’s side alleys and you are bound to see some interesting street art including very cool building facades. For that Instagram and Snapchat worthy shots of colorful umbrellas overhead my teen really liked the one by Zozimus Bar on Anne’s Lane near Grafton Street.

Some of Dublin’s famous attractions are actually statues. If you’re a fan of Oscar Wilde, the playwright and author, don’t miss his colorful statue at Merrion Square Park. He was born across the road from the statue.

You can’t visit Dublin and not see Molly Malone. She was the heroine in the popular song ‘Cockles and Mussels’ which seems to be Dublin’s unofficial song.

She was a fishmonger who sold her produce from a cart, died from a fever, and said to have haunted the city. The bronze statue is quite popular among tourists and I guess rubbing part of her cleavage means good luck?

*Have you visited Dublin?

Where to Stay in Dublin

We lucked out and stayed at some great lodging with excellent location for a decent price. Of course, it helped to travel during low season.

Temple Bar Inn, Dublin – We stayed three nights here and it was an excellent location with Temple Bar, River Liffey, Trinity College and many restaurants and stores right around the corner. We had a spacious quadruple room with four single beds and two bathrooms. They offered a buffet breakfast for purchase but there were plenty of bakeries and coffee shops nearby.

If you have a bigger budget, the Temple Bar Hotel across the street looked great too. If you have Starwood/Marriott points to use, then The Westin Dublin nearby is also a great option.

We stayed for one night at the Hilton Dublin Airport since we had a morning flight the following day. This was located about 10 minutes drive from the airport. They provide a shuttle (with a fee but free for Gold and Diamond members).

Their buffet breakfast was great with a lot of variety. There weren’t many things around the are but a couple of restaurants, a grocery store and a shopping center..