Things To Do With Kids

What? Arts and cultural hub for children - music, art, theatre, dance, workshops and exhibitions | Where? 11A Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02A590 | How to get there? It's a quick 4minute walk from the apartment | Cost: Varies, depending on event | Where to see what's on: Details here | Tickets/booking: Can book here | Opening hours? 10am-5pm, Monday to Sunday

Just a few minutes walk from the apartment, the Ark is a children's art venue that showcases theatre, music, literature, art, film, dance and more for children aged 3-12. It has an constantly-changing programme so check online for details of what's on during your stay in Dublin.

What? Great zoo close to the city centre, located in the Phoenix Park | Where? 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, D01HH34 | How to get there? It's a 15 minute walk from the apartment | Cost: Adults, €10; Children (6+), €6; Children (0-6), FREE | Tickets/booking: Book online here | Opening hours? 10am-4pm, Wednesday to Sunday; CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays

Possibly the best insight into the history of Dublin City that you'll find, all through of the history of one address: 14 Henrietta Street. The tour takes you through almost 300 years of history, starting with the house's grand beginnings as a Georgian townhouse built in the 1720s for a wealthy Dublin family. Almost 200 years later, it was a dilapidated tenement that housed more than 100 people in desperate poverty. You'll hear the stories of the former inhabitants.

What? Malahide Castle and Gardens, an 800-year-old castle xxxxx | Where? Malahide Castle & Gardens, Malahide, K36YP65 | How to get there? Take the NORTHBOUND train from Tara Street DART station (a 15-minute walk from the apartment) to Malahide; Malahide is 10 stops from Tara Street, and the entire journey takes just under 30 minutes; from Malahide station, Malahide Castle is a 15 minute walk or you can take a shuttle | Cost: Tour the castle and gardens for €17 (adults), €9 (child), €48 (Family, 2+3); access gardens, fairy trail and playground only for €10 (adult), €8 (child), €34 (family, 2+3) | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Opening hours? 9.30am-4.30pm, April to October; 9.30am-3.30pm, November to March

Malahide Castle is a magnificent 800-year-old castle located around 14km or 9 miles north of Dublin City. You can get there easily using Dublin's commuter rail system (details above). As well as the medieval castle, there is a 260-acre estate of parkland, gardens, the amazing playground, a fairy trail and fairy village, and a butterfly house.

Merrion Square Park is one of Dublin's finest Georgian garden parks, with Merrion Square - one of Dublin's finest and most intact Georgian squares - surrounding it. There are several notable buildings within the square, including the Government Buildings, the Parliament, the Natural History Museum, and the National Gallery of Ireland. Within the park itself, you'll find a sculpture trail and the playground. The playground is one of the best in Dublin. It's based on the Oscar Wilde story The Selfish Giant. (Oscar Wilde lived for much of his life on Merrion Square).

What? A replica of the Jeanie Johnston famine ship that now serves as a museum, telling the story of those who fled the Great Famine of 1847 for a new life in the United States | Where? Custom House Quay, Dublin 1| How to get there? It's a 21-minute walk from the apartment | Price? €15, adults; €10, children; €34, Family (1+2); €39, Family (2+2) | Tickets? Can book tickets online here | Times? Tours at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, Monday to Sunday

The Jeanie Johnston is a direct replica of a famine ship of the same name built in 1847 in Quebec, Canada. The original ship made 16 transatlantic voyages between Kerry in the south of Ireland to North America, carrying more than 2,500 people fleeing the famine. It sank in 1858 when carrying a cargo of timber between the UK and Canada. The tour takes you deep inside the ship and transports you back in time to hear the real life stories of those who made the treacherous trip. You can also combine the Jeanie Johnston tour with entrance to the EPIC Emigration Museum directly next to it. The EPIC museum tells the history of the Irish diaspora and emigration. Both experiences are particularly interesting and poignant for anyone with Irish ancestry.

What? Scenic cruises from the quays of Dublin City along the coast - either north to Howth or south to Dun Laoghaire | Where? The cruises depart from Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2 | How to get there? It's a 30+ minute walk from the apartment or a roughly 20 minute trip (in total) by bus | Cost: Dublin City to Dun Laoghaire, €28 per person; Dublin City to Howth (via Dun Laoghaire), €38 per person | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Times? Departs from Dublin City at 11am, Tuesday to Sunday (April to September only)

What? A guided tour that goes through the streets of Dublin and also along the river on a DUKW (an amphibious vehicle used by the US military during WW2 and the Korean War) | Where? Pick-up and drop-off point is at St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, D02N960 | How to get there? It's a 18 minute walk from the apartment | Cost: Adults, €35; Children, €29; Family (2 + 2), €110; Family (2 + 3), €135 | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Times? 9.30am to 5pm, with tours departing every 30 minutes

You get into a bright yellow WW2-era amphibious DUKW, out on a plastic Viking helmet and maraud through Dublin City on a sightseeing tour through the streets and waterways of the city. You'll learn about Viking Dublin and also see historic sites such as St Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedrals, Trinity College Dublin and Georgian Dublin. The best part is when you literally splash into the water at the Grand Canal basin for a short cruise, passing by the recording studios of U2. The whole experience takes around 90 minutes. Note that children under the age of 3 are not permitted, unfortunately.

What? An experience that gives you an insight into Celtic folklore and culture | Where? 2-3 Mary's Abbey, Dublin 7, D07X6R6 | How to get there? It's a 5 minute walk from the apartment | Cost: Adults, €18; Children, €11 | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Opening hours? 10am-6.30pm, Sunday to Thursday; 10am-8pm, Friday & Saturday

What? Dublin Discovered Boat Tour - a river cruise that gives you a different perspective on the city and unique views of the quays | Where? Sean O'Casey Footbridge, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1 | How to get there? It's a 23 minute walk from the apartment | Cost: Adults, €20.50; Children, €13.50; Family (2 + 2), €62.50 | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Times? Sailing times as follows: March & April (11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm & 4.15pm); May to September (10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm & 4.15pm); October (11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm & 4.15pm); November (11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm & 3.15pm on Weekends only); December to February (NO SAILINGS)

Dublin Discovered Boat Tours is a fun way to see Dublin from the River Liffey. The tour starts at the Sean O'Casey Footbridge on the north side of the river (opposite the CHQ Building). It goes from here all the way to Grattan Bridge (which is the bridge that the apartment overlooks), and then back to the Thomas Clark Bridge on the periphery of Dublin Port. So you get to see the old city and the more modern docklands. During the cruise, you'll get a close-up view of the Ha'penny Bridge, O'Connell Bridge, the Custom House and the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship. The entire trip takes around 45 minutes.

What? Kayaking experience on the River Liffey with City Kayaking | Where? Liffey Boardwalk, Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1 | How to get there? It's a 9 minute walk from the apartment | Cost: Adults (16+), €49; Children (12-16), €45 | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Times? Times vary from 10am to 6pm; check online here for up-to-date details | Ages? For 12 years and older

Operating just a minutes from the apartment, City Kayaking gives the opportunity to explore the River Liffey and view many of Dublin's iconic landmarks. Each tour last around two hours, with around 90 minutes on the water. During high tide, the tours pass through the city centre, while low tide tours explore the docklands area and almost as far out as Dublin Bay. Although there is an age requirement of 12+, this is fine for everyone - there is a safety boat that accompanies every tour (which will give you a tow if you need it!).

What? Bicycle rental in the Phoenix Park with Phoenix Park Bikes | Where? Gate House, Chesterfield Avenue, Dublin 8, D08DF88 | How to get there? It's a 29 minute walk from the apartment or around 10 minutes in a taxi | Cost: Standard bicycle: €7 per hour, €14 for 3 hours, €20 for full day; Electric or Tandem bicycle: €15 per hour, €25 for 3 hours, €50 for full day | Booking: Book online here | Times? 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday; 9am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday

What? The National Convert Hall, which is Ireland's national cultural institution for music, and home to Ireland's National Symphony Orchestra and a host of other musical music organisations such as Ireland's Chamber Choir | Where? NCH, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02N527 | How to get there? It's a 27-minute walk from the apartment or approximately 12 minutes in a taxi | Cost: Varies, depending on event | Where to see what's on: Check all events online here and can check family events here | Tickets/booking: Get tickets here | Times? Depends on event