5 Free Activities for Families in Dublin
1. Pheonix Park
One of the biggest parks in Europe in the North of the Liffey, Phoenix Park It’s 707 hectares (1,750 acres) of recreational space. This free-access park is a wonderful place to spend time, for example, playing football and volleyball on the large lawns. And if you are lucky between two games you could see some deer. In this park, there is also a polo area, cricket, and hurling grounds. About the cultural aspect, the Phoenix Park welcomes the Áras an Uachtaráin i.e., the house of the president which is open to the visit on Saturday. You can visit it in about 1h15 minutes and it is free of charge (we recommend you visit this place if you have children at least in High school). You can walk around the Ashtown Castle, a rediscovered medieval gem, and have a look at the Wellington Monument, a tall obelisk commemorating the victories of the Duck of Wellington. And after this free tour, you can have a picnic or go to one of the cafés in the area.
2. National Gallery of Ireland
On a rainy day, you should visit the National Gallery of Ireland. This museum located in the center of Georgian Dublin will welcome you to take part in some talks, events, and tours as well as the audio guide, everything is free of charge. This museum is really invested in opening its door to every age, the youngest can enjoy the visit with the free art pack. You can have this pack at the entrance for your kids and leave them to create their own art during the visit. Moreover, during the weekend there are free family workshops and tours! So, it’s time to discover the Irish and European art!
3. National Botanic Gardens
The second most visited free attraction in Dublin, the National Botanic Gardens is a botanical garden found in the north city centers. It’s about 19 hectares of free space. Founded in 1795 by the Dublin Society, there are approximately 20,000 living plants and few greenhouses. This park takes part actively in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. It’s the perfect place to let your kids run and discover the natural world. Most weekends you can access free kids’ art and nature classes and some workshops. From the Botanic Gardens you can now access the Glasnevin Cemetery by walking through a gateway above the trees. From this gateway you can see O’Connell tower built to commemorate this important figure of Ireland.
4. Bull Island
Everyone knows Dublin as a big city but that does not exclude a little trip to the beach. A National Nature Reserve called Bull Island is situated in Dublin Bay’s northern region. The north bull wall of Dublin Port, which was built 200 years ago, gave birth to Bull Island, a haven for countless birds. This location was the nation’s first recognised bird sanctuary when it was established in the 1930s, and it has been a component of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1981. It’s the ideal location to swim, walk, make sand-castles and take gorgeous photos, you can travel by bus or car to get here and walk the remainder of the way.
5. National Print Museum
The national Print Museum is one of Ireland’s sole institutions of its kind. The suggestion is to go inside and look at the collection of old compositors’ and printers’ printers. The museum makes a great effort to attract families to its exhibits. Origami with Japanese Craft can therefore be made as part of a “Family guide tour” utilising objects from the museum’s collection. You can also access the education area. Numerous free, self-guided activities, such as alphabet games and arts and crafts, are available in this area designated for families. All of these activities are intended for children between the ages of 3 and 7.
The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m., making it easy for you to plan your day. You can now take the family on a tour of Dublin! Don’t forget to fill up on breakfast at the Clayton Hotel Liffey before venturing out to explore the city!
