No tricks, just treats.
It can be a struggle keeping little ones occupied for a whole week - especially after they've eaten their weight in trick-or-treat loot post-Halloween. Luckily there are no shortage of great activities for families across Dublin, and we've taken it upon ourselves to round up 8 of the best in town.
Music Workshops at the Ark
The Ark Theatre is located on Eustace Street, Temple Bar.
Drop into The Ark Theatre over the mid-term where kids can enjoy innovative song-writing workshops by electronic musician Elaine Mai and MayKay of Fight Like Apes (the perfect chance for millennial parents to thrust their love of noughties Irish alt-rock onto their kiddies). For smaller tots, musician Ríona Sally Hartmanon is embarking a song hunt to create music and sounds from everyday objects at workshops suitable for 2-4 year olds and 5-7 year olds. More information is available via The Ark WEBSITE.
EPIC Irish Emigration Museum
The EPIC Irish Emigration Museum is located on Custom House Quay.
EPIC have gone all out with family friendly activities to suit all interests and ages for the mid-term break, including a Beware of Dracula! Halloween Family Tour where with the help of a guide, you and your family will locate and solve clues and discover Dracula's hidden whereabouts. Outside of the world of vampires EPIC have a wide range of tours and exhibitions suited for kids big and small - more info on individual events is available via the EPIC website.
Family tours at the National Gallery
The National Gallery is located on Merrion Square.
Ireland's National Gallery runs free guided tours for younger children, and kids can avail of free art equipment to create their own masterpieces anytime at the Atrium Creative Space. Online resources like the gallery's What is a Portrait? encourages budding artists to get creative at home, and audio tours for children and families run regularly, too. More info on visiting the National Gallery with kids is available right here.
Airfield Estate
Airfield is located on Overend Avenue in Dundrum, Dublin 14.
This working farm allows guests of all ages to learn about food, farming and nature in a relaxed urban setting in Dundrum. Kids can explore at Naturescape with interactive play area for 4-12 year olds which is located in the woodland walk area. A zip wire, balance beams, climbing structure and willow tunnel are proving to be great additions to the estate.
Younger kids will be kept busy in the soft play area for 0-4 year olds - an imaginative play area for budding little ones to take on the role of being a farmer, a gardener or chef at Airfield.
You can find out more and plan your trip right here.
SeaLife Bray
If you're more interested in what lies beneath, just over the Wicklow county bounds in Bray is SeaLife where you can meet over a thousand underwater creatures. SeaLife also announced this week that they'll be closing at the end of this year after 25 years in business - so this could be one of your last chances to head along and acquaint yourself with some of their watery residents.
Fairy trails
If you'd like to get your little ones out in the open air, burning off a bit of excess energy why not follow one of the many fairy trails across Dublin? You can find fairy trails (and great playgrounds) at the following locations:
- Malahide Castle
- Ardgillan Castle
- Marlay Park
- Tymon Park
- Corkagh Park
St. Annes City Farm
St. Annes City Farm is home to an array of friendly farm animals and is a great place to visit for kids interested in animal care. They're open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm - find out more via their website.
St Annes City Farm is located in St Annes Park, Raheny.
Your local library
Libraries can often be overlooked as a great place to take kids - obviously, in all libraries there's a dedicated children's area for young book worms to immerse themselves, but Dublin libraries also hold regular touring performances, workshops and events for kids to enjoy - pop into your local one to see what's on!
Aqua Zone at the National Aquatic Centre
This is like an underwater playground for kids: there's a pirate ship and wave pool as well as a few water slides, so there's plenty of things to do.
The National Aquatic Centre also has some pretty badass water slides for grown ups, if parents want to take turns on babysitting duties. Alternatively, most local pools do family hours early on weekend mornings, so definitely worth checking out if you've got any children fond of swimming.
Rainforest Adventure Golf
Dundrum Town Centre.
Think mini golf, but in a rainforest.
Have a family friendly activity in Dublin we should add to the list? Let us know!
Header image via Instagram/Malahide Castle/EPIC Museum
READ NEXT:
- Dublin's first indoor golf centre now open in Sandyford
- Dublin 2 restaurant wins award for Best Luxury Seafood in Europe
- UK friends flew to Dublin for less than 24 hours for a night out without booking hotel