Ireland Family Travel

Plan your trip to Ireland
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Planning your family trip to Ireland

Take the family to the Wicklow Mountains on a holiday to the Emerald Isle
Map of 1 Week in Ireland - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in Ireland - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

In seven days, you can see three to four areas and many of Ireland's highlights. Consider a road trip, as this makes exploring much easier with kids. Sightsee in Dublin and then enjoy activities beyond the city, like kid-friendly hikes, beach time in the Connemara region, learning about history through castles and museums, a "magical" fairy trail walk in County Offaly, a ghost tour in colorful Kinsale, wandering by old stone structures on the Aran Islands, and taking a less-traveled route to the Cliffs of Moher.

Brace yourselves for experiencing the Cliffs of Moher with the family
Map of 10 Days in Ireland - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas
10 Days in Ireland - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Ten days is enough time to experience five to six destinations in Ireland. With popular stops like Dublin and Killarney, the Family Adventure is great for first-timers. The West Coast Road Trip's treasure hunts and farm visits are a hit with young ones and animal lovers, while the abundance of sports, such as surfing, on the South and West Road Trip makes it ideal for older kids and active families. The variety of the Outdoor Adventure, including toy-making and Celtic hurling, fits families of diverse ages and interests.

Enjoy a seaside escape with the kids to the coast in County Kerry along the Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Map of 2 Weeks in Ireland - 3 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas
2 Weeks in Ireland - 3 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Road-tripping for two weeks in Ireland is manageable, even with young children. You can visit at least six destinations, though focusing on the country's north or south is best. Explore Belfast and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland using Dublin as a jumping-off point. If venturing south, you can drive the Ring of Kerry, and it's easy to include the Cliffs of Moher in every itinerary. You'll surely experience family time at historical castles, on hiking trails, and along stunning coastlines.

Girl taking surfing lessons in Co. Donegal
Family Travel in Ireland

Ireland is full of kid-friendly outdoor adventures, fun ways to interact with ancient history, and cultural activities from falconry to farming. Chase the leprechaun legend in Carlingford, hang out with Ireland's favorite dolphin off the Dingle coast, or learn to surf on beginner-friendly beaches. The best part? Driving distances are short, with plenty of ways to keep little ones engaged along the way.

Ireland family-friendly itineraries

A young family explores beautiful Killarney National Park
Map of Family Adventure in Ireland - 7 Days
Family Adventure in Ireland - 7 Days

Uncover Ireland's unmatched natural beauty with this week-long, family-centered trip to the Emerald Isle. Enjoy a swashbuckling adventure as you venture from colorful Kinsale to Limerick, playing pirates atop a 17th-century fort and learning the art of falconry at Adare Manor. Sail across the waves to the remote Aran Irelands and explore the famous Cliffs of Moher as you and the kids receive the warmest of welcomes on this charming tour.

Make memories with the family in Killarney National Park
Map of Family Adventure in Ireland - 10 Days
Family Adventure in Ireland - 10 Days

Take a 10-day family-friendly tour through some of the highlights of Ireland with travelers of all ages on this itinerary. Start in Dublin before heading down the coast to County Cork, where you'll bike through a medieval city and hear the haunted and natural history of Killarney. Experience a classical manor in Limerick, followed by the landscapes of the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, and Aran Islands, before you and the family return to Dublin for one more full day of urban exploring.

Skellig Michael
Map of Southwest Ireland Family Adventure - 7 Days
Southwest Ireland Family Adventure - 7 Days

Explore villages, islands, peninsulas, and coastlines on this weeklong Irish family adventure through Kinsale and Kenmare. Learn about ancient pirate legends, smugglers, and monks of times past, from Charles Fort to the Skellig Islands. Your personal guide will help you to make the most of your journey by sharing ancient myths and legends and introducing you to local characters. Experience an authentic, off the-beaten-track version of Southwest Ireland together.

Admire the sunset over the Irish coast with the kids
Map of Iconic Ireland Family Road Trip: Dublin, Cork & the West Coast - 10 Days
Iconic Ireland Family Road Trip: Dublin, Cork & the West Coast - 10 Days

Experience the unmatched natural beauty of Ireland with this charming 10-day family trip that takes you from historic Dublin down to Cork, across the Killarney National Park, and through the lush, unspoiled Hidden Heartlands. Along the way, you and the kids will explore castles galore, kiss the Blarney Stone, sail to the Aran Islands, and discover the warmest of welcomes in the country known as the Emerald Isle.

Have fun with the tribe as you explore the "fairy trails" in County Offaly
Map of Family Tour of Ireland: Dublin, Kinsale & Killarney - 7 Days
Family Tour of Ireland: Dublin, Kinsale & Killarney - 7 Days

Immerse your family in the wonders of Ireland on this seven-day self-drive tour. Start in Dublin, where you'll stroll through St Stephen's Green Park and visit the hallowed halls of Trinity College. Then, it's off to Kinsale for the good-luck charms of the Blarney Stone and a kayak tour of Ireland's most infamous pirate routes. Bike through the greenery of Killarney National Park, paint your own toy soldiers at Europe's only toy soldier factory, and commune with the little folk on Offaly's enchanted "fairy trails."

Make memories with your family as you explore Ireland's the Ring of Kerry
Map of Action-Packed Ireland Family Road Trip - 14 Days
Action-Packed Ireland Family Road Trip - 14 Days

Starting in historic Dublin, get ready for a two-week road trip that immerses your family in the best of Ireland. Drive onward to Kinsale, Kenmare, Tralee, Doolin, and Birr to experience unbeatable natural beauty, stately castles, rich history, friendly locals, and cultural experiences. You and the kids will be falconing one minute, sailing the next, whale watching, and hiking—and that's all just in the first few days. Buckle up and prepare to make some memories!

Stop for a photo-op at Antrim's Dark Hedges
Map of Family-Friendly Travels in Northern Ireland & the West - 14 Days
Family-Friendly Travels in Northern Ireland & the West - 14 Days

This two-week family adventure starts with a drive from Dublin to Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital city. Learn about the historic HMS Titanic and see the murals of Belfast's Peace Walls, then visit the natural wonders of the Giant's Causeway and Antrim Waterfalls. Tour a working sheep farm, see wild deer in Glenveagh National Park, and explore the night skies at County Mayo's Dark Sky Park. Your trip ends back in Dublin with the interactive EPIC Museum and the city's many family-friendly parks.

Explore the Killarney National Park with the whole family
Map of Ireland South & West Family Road Trip - 10 Days
Ireland South & West Family Road Trip - 10 Days

This 10-day, self-drive Irish adventure is ideal for families with kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Starting in Dublin, you'll drive west to Athlone and then continue on a loop around western and southern Ireland, visiting the Connemara region, the Cliffs of Moher, Killarney National Park, and other natural and cultural highlights. Along the way, you'll enjoy a range of fun activities and outings—from touring "haunted" castles to sunset kayaking and adventurous hikes.

Ireland's white-sand beaches
Map of Family Road Trip in Ireland: Athlone, Clifden, Lahinch & Dublin - 7 Days
Family Road Trip in Ireland: Athlone, Clifden, Lahinch & Dublin - 7 Days

Take the family on an epic adventure through Ireland on this seven-day self-drive tour. Land in Dublin and hit the road, driving to the town of Athlone for historic castles and gorgeous scenery. Then, set off for the Connemara region, where you'll enjoy a beach day on the beautiful Coral Strand and take a sunset kayak tour of Mannin Bay. Walk the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, learn to surf on the beaches of Lahinch, then head back to Dublin for more castles, parks, and museums.

Snap those family pics as you explore Ireland's great outdoors
Map of Family Outdoor Adventure in Ireland - 10 Days
Family Outdoor Adventure in Ireland - 10 Days

This charming 10-day family tour of Ireland introduces kids, big and little, to a taste of Irish rural life as they explore the country's stunning natural beauty. Let screens and email become a distant memory as you journey from Dublin to the breathtaking scenery of Wicklow and onward to Kinsale, Kenmare, and Doolin. Make memories as you learn bushcraft with the kids, experience the 3,000-year-old Celtic sport of hurling, and discover the myths and legends of the mysterious Cliffs of Moher.

There's plenty of sand and surf as you roadtrip along Ireland's west coast
Map of Ireland Castles & Coast Family Road Trip - 14 Days
Ireland Castles & Coast Family Road Trip - 14 Days

Explore the castles and coastline of the Emerald Isle on this two-week family adventure. Choose your own pace as you wind your way from Dublin to the wild west coast and onto the iconic landscapes of the Ring of Kerry. Along the way, you'll hang 10 in one of Europe's best surf spots, capture the kids' imaginations in historic castles, and hike and bike through scenic national parks before circling back to Dublin for some educational fun at the Epic Museum.

Take family hikes through the Irish countryside
Map of Family Fun in Ireland: Parks, Castles, Lakes & Beaches - 7 Days
Family Fun in Ireland: Parks, Castles, Lakes & Beaches - 7 Days

This fun-filled family tour of Ireland starts in Dublin, where you'll visit some of the city's most iconic parks and say hello to the animals at the Dublin Zoo. Then, you'll pick up your rental car and head to Connemara for hikes in Connemara National Park, a beach day on the peaceful shores of Coral Strand, and a deep dive into the history of castles such as Athlone, Aughnanure, and Clifden. The trip ends back in Dublin, with more castles, museums, and an ocean walk on the city's Great South Wall.