Ireland is almost the same size as Indiana and has a population of about 1.8 million people. If you are looking for a relaxed vacation at a slow pace then the Irish have perfected this single-handedly. The country itself is not vast but the roads are not super highways so you need to factor in a bit more time for getting around and sometimes getting lost but the Irish are super friendly and will quickly get you on your way.
Why is Ireland a great destination for families with kids?
There is so much wide open space in Ireland that if your family loves to explore and enjoys the great outdoors then this is a perfect destination. Ireland is a wild, green, wonderful country with sensational scenery. Other than the Scots the Irish are probably one of the friendliest people in the world so this adds another dimension to your time spent there. What is quite unique about Ireland is that In other countries historic landmarks continue to be off limits to inquisitive travellers but the ancient buildings and monuments of Ireland are just waiting to be explored.
Must see places in Ireland
While its not always possible to seeing everything on one visit to Ireland we suggest that the main places to visit include:
a. The Cliffs of Moher
b. Dublin – Grafton Street, Trinity College, St Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stephen’s Green
c. Killarney National Park
d. The Ring of Kerry
e. Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone
f. The Wild Atlantic Way (and the Dingle Peninsula)
g. Wicklow – Powerscourt House and Gardens
h. Connemara National Park
i. Galway Bay
j. Waterford
……I’m going to include it here but it’s not really part of Ireland – The Giants Causeway. The Irish would argue that this is in another country (correctly so) but it can be added on as part of a trip to Ireland, if you must!
How long would you vacation in Ireland?
Here is another destination that needs at least 10 days, allowing you a combination of one city and two country locations. For 10 days we would normally suggest 3 locations with younger kids, 4 with older children . With Ireland it is possible to have a country base and travel to some of the must-see sites around you. Dublin is a must and then we would suggest coupling it with Galway, Wicklow, Wexford, Limerick or Killarney. We’d recommend renting a car to explore the wonderful countryside from east to west, north to south visiting the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Mohar, Connemara, Galway, Wicklow and Wexford, and don’t forget to visit the Blarney Stone or the Giants Causeway.
A short stay of 3 days would have you visit Dublin visiting Trinity College, St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse (for those who like a pint!). Some of our clients will couple Edinburgh (Scotland) and Dublin together in under a week.
Our top 10 reasons to visit Ireland
- People
- Scenery
- Castles – Blarney, Bunratty, Dunluce, Ross
- Scenic roadtrips
- History
- Culture
- Irish Hospitality
- Music
- Whiskey (with an ‘e’)
- Heritage
Top 10 things to do in Ireland with kids
Out top 10 things to do in Ireland with kids are in no particular order and presume that you are visiting the whole of Ireland. Based on our clients feedack and our experiences here is what we suggest:
- Tour the city of Dublin with a local
- Explore the Cliffs of Moher
- Drive or cycle part of the Wild Atlantic Way
- Drink a pint of Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse – yes, it kid-friendly
- Drive the Ring of Kerry
- Enjoy a fun musical evening with an Irish musician
- Visit the Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow
- Kiss the Blarney Stone!
- Enjoy a food tour in Galway (or Dublin)
- Visit Muckross House and Traditional Farms
How can we help?
While we live in Europe (and one of us with an Irish mother!) we believe we are in the best position to speak about it, to advise you and help you to plan a memorable vacation. We know Ireland’s harsh cliff coastlines, music-filled pubs villages, craggy mountains, and cultural highlights in order to keep our clients busy. We look forward to designing a tailored itinerary that will include unique hotels and highlights across all of Ireland. Let us help you by taking advantage of our vacation consulting or itinerary development services. Working to your budget we’ll discuss the best locations, present you with the best family accommodations, family focused tours/excursion/activities and work out the logistics for you.
So if you are planning a vacation to Ireland and you need some help then drop us a line. We’ll set up a time to call you and let you know how we might help.