The Top 10 Family Days Out in Ireland That’ll Create Stories You’ll Laugh About for Years
When I think back on my favorite times, it’s usually the little family trips that stand out! Whether it was a picnic by the sea, getting lost in a castle, or just walking through a park, those moments always stayed with me.
So to help you make your own memories, I’ve put together a list of the best family days out in Ireland that everyone can enjoy!
1. Experience the Cliffs of Moher
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Website: https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/
Address: Lislorkan North, Co. Clare, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 65 708 6141
Operating Hours:
- January to February – 09:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- March to April – 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- May to August – 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- September to October – 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- November to December – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed – December 24th, 25th, and 26th)
Admission Cost:
- Adults: €15
- Students & Seniors: €12 each
- Family Ticket: €30 (covers a family group)
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most famous sights. They rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean on the west Clare coast and stretch for 18 kilometres.
Families can walk the safe paths and visit different viewing platforms. You can see puffins on Goat Island and enjoy wide views of Hag’s Head and Galway Bay.
Climbing O’Brien’s Tower, built in 1835, gives even higher views, reaching the Aran Islands on a clear day. The Visitor Centre also has fun exhibits, a 4D theatre, food, and gifts.
Booking tickets online not only saves money but also helps you skip long queues! Visiting in the morning means quieter paths and better opportunities for photos. Finally, wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring a jacket, as the cliffs can be windy!
Pro Tip:
Bring binoculars to see puffins and other seabirds up close, especially at Goat Island.
2. Explore the Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
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Website: https://www.bunrattycastle.ie/
Address: Bunratty East, Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 61 711 222
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5:30 PM
Admission Cost:
- Adult – €18
- Child (4 to 18) – €12.60
- Student/Senior – €13
- Family – Starts From €48.60 (2 adults + 2 kids)
- Child (0 to 3) – Free
Bunratty Castle is the most complete medieval castle in Ireland. Inside, you can see furniture and decorations from the 15th and 16th centuries. You can walk through the rooms, climb spiral stairs, and enjoy views from the top of the castle.
Kids and adults will enjoy spotting small details like spy holes and hidden staircases.
At the foot of the castle, you’ll find Bunratty Folk Park, a 26-acre village with more than 30 old-style buildings. On Village Street, you can visit shops, a schoolhouse, a doctor’s house, and even a pub. Friendly costumed characters bring the village to life.
Children will love the Viking Playground and the magical Fairy Trail, where they can spot fairy houses and solve puzzles. The park is also home to rare animals such as Irish Red Deer, ponies, and pygmy goats.
Pro Tip:
Take a break at the café for fresh food, coffee, or desserts, then browse the craft store for handmade Irish gifts. You’ll find items like glassware, jewelry, and the famous Aran knitware—perfect as souvenirs!
3. Spend a day at Fota Wildlife Park
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Website: https://www.fotawildlife.ie/
Address: Fota Wildlife Park, Fota, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, T45 CD93, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 21 481 2678
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 6 PM
Admission Cost:
- Adult – €19.50
- Student/Senior – €14.60
- Child (3–16) – €13.50
- Child (0–2) – Free
- Family – Starts from €59.10 (2 adults + 2 kids)
Fota Wildlife Park in Cork is one of Ireland’s top attractions and a favorite place for families. The park is different from a normal zoo because many animals live in wide open spaces. You can see them up close in a natural setting.
The park is home to giraffes, cheetahs, penguins, and many other animals and birds. A special highlight is the daily Cheetah Run at noon, where the cheetahs run at full speed to catch their food.
Families will also enjoy the safari train! The new panoramic wheel gives great views across the grounds.
The park can be enjoyed for a few hours or for a full day. There are cafés, food stalls, and a restaurant beside the penguin area.
Make sure to swing by the gift shop, as it offers plenty of souvenirs for the little ones.
To make the most of your visit, book tickets online in advance for a discount and to skip the queues. Comfortable shoes are a must, though the park is mostly flat and easy to walk.
Pro Tip:
Take the train from Cork Kent Station, which stops right at Fota. It’s an easy and direct way to reach the park without needing a car.
4. Have some outdoor fun at Phoenix Park
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Website: https://www.phoenixpark.ie/
Address: Dublin 8, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 1 820 5800
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 Hours
Admission Cost: Free
Phoenix Park is one of Dublin’s treasures. It is one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe, open every day of the year, free to enter, and filled with nature and history.
Families can enjoy many sights inside the park. Dublin Zoo is always a highlight for children. Adults can explore landmarks such as the Wellington Testimonial, the Papal Cross, or the medieval Ashtown Castle.
The People’s Gardens and the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden are peaceful spots with flowers, trees, and open space. Fallow deer moving freely through the park are always a special sight to see!
The park is perfect for walking, cycling, or enjoying a picnic. Wide paths and green areas give plenty of room for families to spend time together.
Bikes are available to rent at the gates. After exploring, the Phoenix Café is a welcoming stop for tea, coffee, and fresh scones.
Pro Tip:
Respect the deer by not feeding them crisps, bread, or other human food. They stay healthy by eating the natural grass, so it’s best to just watch them safely from a distance.
5. Learn about animals at the Dublin Zoo
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Website: https://www.dublinzoo.ie/
Address: Phoenix Park, Saint James, Dublin, D08 AC98, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 1 474 8900
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Admission Costs:
- Adults €20.20 to €23.80
- Children (3–15) €14.90 to €18.00
- Children (0-3) – Free
- Family – Starts From €57.20 (2 adults + 2 kids)
- Student/Senior – €15.40 to €18.50
Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park first opened in 1831 and has grown into one of the country’s most popular attractions, with more than a million visitors each year. The zoo is not only a place to see animals but also a place that protects wildlife and teaches people to care for nature.
It covers 28 hectares and feels more like a walk through the woods than a normal zoo. Families can see animals from all over the world, such as elephants, wolves, giraffes, and zebras—with each of them living in a large space that looks like its natural home.
One of the biggest highlights is Zoorassic World, where life-size dinosaurs make the walk exciting and fun. Younger children will enjoy the family farm and the many playgrounds spread around the zoo.
The visit is made easier with cafés, snack areas, rest stops, and plenty of toilets. The paths are stroller-friendly and simple to follow. To enjoy the full experience, it is best to spend at least half a day here.
Pro Tip:
Visit on weekdays when the zoo is quieter and easier to explore! Still, even on busy days, the zoo’s big layout spreads visitors out, so it rarely feels overcrowded.
6. Learn about art and history at The Book of Kells Experience
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Website: https://bookofkellsexperience.ie/
Address: Trinity Long Room, The University of Dublin Trinity College, College Green, South-East Inner City, Dublin, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 1 896 2320
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 6:30 PM
Admission Costs:
- Book of Kells Experience – From €26 (Old Library + digital exhibition)
- Trinity Trails (guided) – From €16
- Self-guided tour: From €5 (campus only)
- Bundles
- Trails + Book of Kells from €33.50
- Trails + Old Library from €31
A visit to the Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College Dublin is a journey into the past. Trinity is Ireland’s oldest university, and it holds its greatest treasure–the Book of Kells, a 9th-century manuscript of the Gospels.
It’s a great way to introduce Irish history to the family!
The exhibition begins with clear displays that explain the story of the book before leading visitors into the Long Room of the Old Library, a grand hall filled with shelves, wood, and history.
The experience continues with Gaia, a glowing artwork of Earth made using NASA images. In the Pavilion beside the library, interactive exhibits and the Book of Kells 360 show bring history to life with sound, light, and stories.
Sculptures of famous figures such as Jonathan Swift and Ada Lovelace add to the exhibit. To complete the visit, a Trinity Trails walking tour led by students and graduates gives a closer look at the different parts of the campus.
Pro Tip:
Viewing time for the Book of Kells is short, so read the panels and look at the enlarged images first. This will help you notice more details and enjoy the manuscript even more.
7. Explore the Rock of Cashel
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Website: https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/the-rock-of-cashel/
Address: St. Patricksrock, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 62 61437
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 4:45 PM
Admission Costs:
- Adults – €8
- Seniors – €6
- Students – €4
- Children under 18 – Free
The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most famous landmarks. It’s a place where families can enjoy time together, learn about history, and see some of the most impressive ruins in the country.
Standing high above the town of Cashel in County Tipperary, this limestone hill was once home to kings, saints, and stories that shaped the country. It was the seat of the Kings of Munster and is known as the place where St. Patrick converted King Aenghus to Christianity.
You can walk through a Gothic cathedral without a roof, enter Cormac’s Chapel to see the only Romanesque frescoes in Ireland, and explore a graveyard filled with old stone crosses and headstones.
There’s a guided tour that tells the story of Brian Boru’s crowning as High King in 978 and the site’s rise as a centre of power. Children can explore the ruins, while adults take in the 12th-century sarcophagus, the round tower, and the wide views of the Golden Vale.
Pro Tip:
Walk carefully in the graveyard and avoid stepping on the headstones. Many of the graves are old and fragile, so treating them with respect helps protect the history of the site.
8. Relax at St. Stephen’s Green
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Website: https://www.ststephensgreenpark.ie/
Address: St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 1 475 7816
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM
- Sunday – 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM
Admission Costs: Free
Right in the centre of Dublin’s busy shopping district is a peaceful escape called St Stephen’s Green. This 9-hectare park has been open to the public since 1880 and still follows its original Victorian design.
With colorful flower beds, shaded pathways, and wide open lawns, it’s a favorite spot for both locals and visitors. It’s perfect for a picnic, a quiet stroll, or for resting between sightseeing.
Families can spend time by the ornamental lake with ducks and swans, while history lovers stop at Fusilier’s Arch, marked with bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Rising. All around the park are sculptures, including the moving Famine Memorial and a statue of James Joyce.
Children can play in the safe and well-kept playground, and during summer, visitors can enjoy free lunchtime concerts.
Pro Tip:
Seagulls in the park can be quite bold and may try to steal food like snacks or ice cream. Keep a good hold of what you are eating and do not leave it unattended.
9. Take a Break at Eyre Square
Address: Eyre Square, Galway, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 91 536 400
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 Hours
Admission Costs: Free
In the heart of Galway City, Eyre Square is a busy and historic place where families can relax, explore, and enjoy the city. The square was created in 1710 when Mayor Edward Eyre gave the land to the people.
Since then, it has become one of the main gathering spots in Galway.
Children can play in the playground while parents enjoy the green lawns and the monuments that share the story of the city. The Browne family doorway from 1627 and the Quincentennial Fountain shaped like the Galway Hooker boat are two highlights.
A bust of President John F. Kennedy marks the spot where he spoke to 100,000 people in 1963, adding to the history of the square.
In summer, visitors can enjoy open-air markets, and in winter, the Christmas Market brings lights, food, and fun for all ages. Nearby, the Eyre Square Centre has over 70 shops and cafes.
Gift shops, such as Treasure Chest and Fallers Sweater Shop, offer Irish crafts, knitwear, and other local pieces.
Pro Tip:
Join one of the daily walking tours from the Tourist Office beside the square. The guides share stories about Galway’s history, culture, and hidden places you might not find on your own.
10. Explore Muckross House & Gardens
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Website: https://muckross-house.ie/
Address: Muckross, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Contact Details: +353 64 667 0144
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:15 AM to 6 PM
Admission Costs:
- Adult – €9 (House), €9 (Farms), €16 (House + Farms)
- Senior, Student, Groups – €7.50 (House), €7.50 (Farms), €13 (House + Farms)
- Child (ages 3 to 5) – Free (House), €6 (Farms) , €6 (House + Farms)
- Child 6 to 18 €6 (House), €6 (Farms), €10 (House + Farms)
- Family – Start From €26 (House), €26 (Farms), €33 (House + Farms)
Muckross House in Killarney National Park is a large Victorian mansion, once visited by Queen Victoria. The rooms are furnished to show the life of the gentry, while the servant quarters downstairs tell the story of those who worked in the house.
The gardens are a highlight. Bright flowers and tree-lined lawns will give families a peaceful walk, with lake views all around.
The Muckross Traditional Farms add even more charm. On this 70-acre site, you can see how people lived in rural Kerry in the 1930s and 1940s.
A visit here can easily fill a whole day. Skilled craftspeople show weaving, pottery, and bookbinding. Horse-drawn buggy rides offer a scenic trip through the park. Nearby Torc Waterfall and Muckross Abbey give more places to explore.
Pro Tip:
The last entry to the house is at 5:40 PM, but it’s best to arrive earlier so you have enough time to see the house, gardens, and farms without rushing. Visiting in the morning or early afternoon will make the experience more relaxed and enjoyable.