We spent about two weeks driving Ireland on our last trip, Dublin down to Cork and around the wild west coast. You don’t need all that time to give kids a great trip. A well-planned 7 day Ireland itinerary with kids still gets you the castles, the cliffs, and the trad music.
So is a week enough? Yes, as long as you don’t try to see everything. We covered the whole country and the best days were always the ones where we slowed down and let the kids run around a ruined abbey or a beach instead of racing to the next viewpoint.
We travelled by campervan, but a rental car works the same on this route and is the easier choice for a first trip with young ones. We drove it in autumn, well into shoulder season, so the roads and the big sights were far quieter than they’d be in July.
Below I’ve laid out the route day by day, from Dublin to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway, plus the family tours worth booking, where to stay with kids, and the stops I’d cut first if you’re short on time.
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- 13 Free Things to Do in Galway (Like Actually Free)
Quick Answer:
This 7 day Ireland itinerary with kids runs Dublin, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway, giving each region two nights. Drives stay under two hours a day apart from the Dublin to Killarney leg at about three and a half hours. Pick up the rental car after your Dublin days, and book family rooms and boat tours ahead.
Days 1 & 2: Dublin
Most flights land you in Dublin, so start here and get over the jet lag before you take on any driving. We flew in and took the airport bus straight to the city center, which is the easy move if the kids are wiped out from the flight.
We stayed right in Temple Bar on our last trip. It’s touristy and a bit loud at night, but it puts you walking distance to almost everything, and by day it’s fine for families. Just book a room a street or two back if you want the kids asleep by nine.
What to do with kids in Dublin
The Trinity College grounds are free to wander and easily one of the most underrated things we did in Dublin. Kids can run around Parliament Square and the Campanile while you get your bearings, and it’s a short walk from Temple Bar.
For a proper family day, Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park is the obvious winner with younger ones, and the park itself is huge and free. Dublinia gets you the Viking and medieval history in a hands-on way that actually holds a kid’s attention.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is another good rainy-day option and it’s fully interactive, so nobody’s staring at glass cases. Check current ticket prices before you go, as the family passes work out cheaper than buying individually.
Where to eat
Temple Bar pubs do food all day and most are happy to have kids in before evening. It’s easy, it’s central, and it does the job on a first night when nobody has the energy to hunt for somewhere better.
Two nights in Dublin is enough to shake off the flight, see a couple of things, and pick up your rental car rested. Then you point the car west and the real road trip starts.
Days 3 & 4: Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
From Dublin it’s a long haul southwest to Killarney, so make this your first proper driving day and settle in for two nights. Killarney has a reputation for being touristy, and the town does lean that way, but the National Park right on its doorstep is the real thing for a family.
We stayed at Fleming’s White Bridge Caravan and Camping Park on the Muckross Road and had the place basically to ourselves in shoulder season, with a lovely owner who pointed us to the good walks. If you’re in a car, the town has plenty of B&Bs and hotels, and taxiing in for dinner beats parking in the center.
Killarney National Park with kids
We spent a full day around the Muckross Estate in heavy rain and still loved it. Muckross House is a big Victorian manor you can tour, and the grounds around it are wide open for kids to burn off energy between showers.
Torc Waterfall is a short walk from the road and an easy win with younger ones. Muckross Abbey is a 15th-century ruin you can walk right into, free to visit, and kids love poking around the old cloister and the tower.
If the weather’s better than ours was, book a jaunting car. It’s a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park, and it’s the sort of thing kids remember long after the castles blur together. We ran out of dry weather and missed it, which is my one regret from Killarney.
👉 Read our full guide to Killarney National Park for the walks, the trailheads, and where to park.
Driving the Ring of Kerry
Give the Ring of Kerry your second day. Drive the N70 clockwise out of Killarney, which is the standard direction and keeps you from meeting tour buses head-on on the narrow bits. We did it under low cloud with a named storm rolling in, so our viewpoints weren’t at their best, but even in that weather the coast road is dramatic.
The stop worth planning for with kids is Staigue Fort. It’s an Iron Age dry-stone ring fort hidden up a boreen off the main road, and hardly anyone turns in. We had it almost to ourselves, and the kids can climb the internal steps and walk the walls. Watch for the sign, because it’s easy to sail past the turn.
Break the loop in Kenmare, a colorful little town for lunch. The Bronze Age Kenmare Stone Circle sits just off the main street of shops, so you can see one of Ireland’s oldest sites and grab an ice cream within a few minutes of each other.
Back in Killarney, the town’s music scene earns its keep. We caught a live band at the Killarney Grand and it was one of the best trad sessions of the trip. Pubs like the Grand welcome kids until early evening, so you can get a taste of it before bedtime.
More Ireland Itineraries and Road Trips
- 5 Day Ireland Itinerary: Dublin, Cork & the West Coast
- 10 Days in Ireland: The Ultimate Itinerary
- 14 Days in Ireland: The Ultimate 2-Week Itinerary
- A Photographer’s Definitive Ireland Road Trip
Days 5 & 6: The Cliffs of Moher and County Clare
From Killarney it’s a couple of hours north up to Doolin, the little village that makes the best base for the Cliffs of Moher with kids. The R478 brings you down through the Burren, a strange gray moonscape of limestone that the kids will actually ask about from the back seat.
We camped at Nagle’s Camping and Caravan Park right in Doolin, which is walking distance to the cliff trailhead and the pubs. If you’re in a car, Doolin is full of B&Bs and self-catering cottages, and staying in the village beats staying up by the visitor center.
Walking the Cliffs of Moher from Doolin
We walked the cliff path straight out of Doolin rather than driving to the main visitor center, and it’s the better call with kids old enough to hike. The trail hugs the cliffside with a sheer drop to the Atlantic on one side and farmland with cows grazing on the other. It has far fewer people and no tour buses.
One honest warning: this is an exposed cliff path with no railing on the drop side, so it’s not one for toddlers or kids who bolt. Keep little ones on the inside, hold hands at the edges, and turn back whenever you’ve had enough. We hiked about two hours out and back.
If you’ve got younger kids, the main visitor center at the south end is the safer option, with proper fencing and paved viewing platforms. Check current parking and entry prices before you go. The trade-off is crowds, so aim for a weekday if you can.
We arrived under heavy overcast, which was atmospheric for the cliffs but not great for photos. Dress everyone in layers and expect wind even on a calm-looking day.
Loop Head and dinner in Doolin
With your second day, drive out to the Loop Head Peninsula. It’s wilder and less visited than the Cliffs of Moher, with sheer black sea cliffs and a lighthouse at the tip, and our photos there came out better than anything at Moher. Kids can run the coastal grass while you keep them well back from the edge.
Back in Doolin, we ate at Gus O’Connor’s, a pub that’s been pouring pints since 1832. We had fish, chips, and mussels, and the kids were welcome in early evening while a trad session got going in the corner.
Doolin is also where boats leave for the Aran Islands if you’ve got an extra day. We didn’t make it out, which is the one thing I’d add here if you have the time.
Day 7: Galway
From Doolin it’s about an hour and a half up the coast to Galway, the last stop before you loop back toward Dublin. We’d heard a lot of good things about Galway and it turned out even better than we thought, mostly for the music and the walkable little streets that suit kids.
We stayed at O’Hallorans Caravan Park in Salthill, just outside the city on the bay. If you’re in a car, a B&B in the center or out in Salthill both work. One tip: parking in Galway city center with a bigger vehicle is a pain, so stay nearby and taxi in using the FreeNow app.
Galway with kids
The Latin Quarter is the heart of it, a tight run of pedestrian streets like Shop Street, Cross Street, and Quay Street with buskers on almost every corner. There’s no traffic to worry about, so you can let the kids wander a few steps ahead while you follow the music.
We grabbed chips from Prátaí on Shop Street and ate them standing on the street, which is the right way to do it. The Dough Bros nearby does great pizza if you need a proper sit-down with younger ones.
For a break from the crowds, walk The Long Walk along the harbor and out toward the Claddagh. It’s flat, open, and easy with a stroller, and the row of colored houses along the water gives everyone something to look at.
The night we arrived we stepped off the taxi and heard music coming out of Monroe’s Tavern on Dominick Street. We walked in to find about 20 people mid-session, and that was our first ten minutes in the city. Tig Coilí on Mainguard Street is another small, easygoing spot that welcomes kids in early evening.
One honest warning: the good restaurants book up. We tried to get into Kai and Oscar’s Seafood Bistro and struck out at both, so reserve a table a day or two ahead if you’ve got somewhere specific in mind.
From Galway it’s about two and a half hours back to Dublin for your flight home. Seven days doesn’t cover all of Ireland, but it gives kids the castles, the cliffs, and a proper session, and that’s the trip they’ll remember.
Best Tours to Book for Your 7 Day Ireland Itinerary With Kids
Most of this trip runs on your own two feet and a rental car, but a handful of tours are worth booking ahead. On a 7 day Ireland itinerary with kids, the ones that sell out first are the boats and the ferries, so lock those in before you fly rather than hoping for a walk-up spot.
Here are the ones I’d actually book, and roughly where they fit into the week.
Cliffs of Moher Boat Cruise from Doolin
Boats leave Doolin pier and run along the base of the Cliffs of Moher, so you see them from the water looking up. It’s a good pairing with the clifftop walk and easier on younger kids who can’t do the exposed path. Book it for one of your two County Clare days and check the sailing still runs, as they cancel in rough seas.
👉 Check Cliffs of Moher Boat Cruise from Doolin Availability and Reviews
Aran Islands Ferry to Inis Oírr from Doolin
If you can stretch the trip an extra day, the ferry goes from the same Doolin pier out to Inis Oírr, the closest and easiest Aran island with kids. You get rented bikes, stone walls, and a rusted shipwreck on the beach that they’ll want to climb on. Book the crossing ahead in shoulder season, as sailings thin out and fill fast.
👉 See what’s included on the Inis Oírr Day Trip from Doolin
Original Dublin Walking Tour
Your first two days in Dublin are the ones to fill with pre-booked stuff, because you’re tired and don’t want to figure things out on the fly. This guided walk covers the main highlights on foot, so a local points out the sights while the kids get their bearings on a city that’s easy to walk.
👉 Check dates and prices for the Original Dublin Walking Tour
Glendalough and Wicklow Day Trip from Dublin
If you’d rather get out of the city, this half-day trip runs from Dublin to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains, an easy dose of lakes and monastic ruins the kids can roam. It’s a solid rainy-day backup if the flight has everyone moving slowly.
👉 Check availability for the Glendalough and Wicklow Day Trip
What you can skip booking
Plenty of the best days need no ticket at all. The Trinity College grounds, Muckross Abbey, the Doolin cliff walk, and Galway’s Latin Quarter are all free and unbooked, and they were some of our favorite hours of the whole trip.
So book the boats and the ferries early, keep the walking and the pub sessions loose, and don’t overload the week. Kids remember the ferry and the beach far more than a packed schedule.
Where to Stay Along the Route
- Dublin Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat and Explore
- Where To Stay in Killarney: Best Areas and Accommodations
- The Best Hotels Near the Cliffs of Moher
Where to Stay in Ireland With Kids
The single best thing you can do on a 7 day Ireland itinerary with kids is base yourself in one spot per region instead of packing up every night. We did two nights in each stop, and it meant the kids weren’t living out of a suitcase and we weren’t repacking the car in the rain every morning.
Ask for a family room when you book, as plenty of Irish rooms are built for two. Here’s one family-friendly pick in each of the four base towns, all of them close to the center and rated highly by other guests.
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin
The Merrion Hotel is a Georgian hotel on Merrion Square, a short walk from Trinity College and the museums, so you can do your jet-lag day on foot and skip the driving. Stay this central and you keep the kids off the main Temple Bar drag while still walking to almost everything.
It scores 9.5 across 561 reviews, and the garden and formal rooms give everyone somewhere to unwind after the flight.
👉 View The Merrion Hotel Availability and Pricing
Killarney Lodge, Killarney
Killarney Lodge is a guesthouse a four-minute walk from the town center, with the National Park on its doorstep and its own parking. Killarney is the natural base for Kerry, and staying this close means you walk to dinner and drive out to the Ring in the morning.
It scores 9.6 across more than 1,000 reviews, and there’s a proper cooked breakfast to get the kids going before a long day out.
👉 View Killarney Lodge Availability and Pricing
Atlantic View House, Doolin
Atlantic View House is a guesthouse in Doolin village, so you’re by the trail and the pubs rather than up at the visitor center. Doolin is small and fills up fast, so book this one early if you want to walk to the traditional music.
It scores 9.7 across more than 1,000 reviews, and several of the rooms look out over the coast toward the water.
👉 View Atlantic View House Availability and Pricing
Sea Breeze Lodge, Salthill (Galway)
Sea Breeze Lodge sits in Salthill just outside the Galway city center, with the bay right there for the kids and a short taxi ride into the music. Staying out here suits families with a bigger vehicle, and you get the promenade on your doorstep.
It scores 9.8 across 330 reviews, and the rooms are big and modern with balcony views over the water.
👉 View Sea Breeze Lodge Availability and Pricing
A few things to check before you book
Book Doolin and Galway early. Both are small, popular, and fill up fast even in shoulder season, and the good family rooms go first. We drove it in autumn and still found places tight in the village-sized stops.
Check whether parking is included and free before you book, as town-center spots often aren’t. A place with its own lot saves you the daily hunt and the fees, which matters more than you’d think with kids and bags to haul.
Pick lodging with a bit of outdoor space if you can, a garden, a green, or a beach across the road. After a long day in the car, ten minutes of the kids running around outside the door beats another hour cooped up, and it’s the easiest thing to get right. Filter for family rooms and a parking option when you check family-friendly stays on Booking.com.
Practical Tips for Ireland With Kids
None of this is hard, but a few things are worth sorting before you go so the week runs smooth. These are the ones that actually matter with kids in the car.
Driving and car seats
You drive on the left, and a lot of the good stuff is down narrow country roads with grass up the middle and stone walls close on both sides. Take it slow, use the pull-in spots to let locals pass, and don’t book a car bigger than you need.
Book car seats when you reserve the rental, or bring your own if you’re picky about the fit. Irish law requires the right seat for your child’s height and weight, and hire-company seats can be worn or the wrong size, so confirm what you’re getting before you drive off. It’s worth taking a minute to compare car hire deals on Discover Cars so you can add the seats and see the total up front.
Pack for rain, every day
We drove the west coast in autumn and got soaked more than once, and that’s normal. Pack a waterproof jacket for every kid, layers underneath, and shoes that can handle wet grass, because the good walks don’t stop just because it’s drizzling.
The upside is the rain blows through fast. A downpour at the Cliffs can be blue sky by lunch, so plan an indoor backup for each region and let the weather decide the order.
Money, food, and downtime
Card works almost everywhere, but carry a bit of cash for small pubs, honesty-box parking, and ice cream vans. Ireland uses the Euro, and you’ll want a plug adapter for the three-pin sockets.
Feed the kids early. Pub kitchens fill up from six and many stop serving food by eight or nine, so eat before the evening rush and keep snacks in the car for the long drives between stops.
The biggest tip is to build in nothing days. One afternoon a region with no plan, just a beach or a playground and time to run, is what keeps everyone happy for the days you do want to cover ground.
More to Explore on Your Ireland Trip
- The Best Ruined Castles in Ireland: 12 to Visit
- The Best Beaches in Ireland: 20 Picks for Every Part of the Country
- 7 Best Day Trips From Dublin, Ireland
In short
- Seven days covers Dublin, Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway without rushing.
- Give each region two nights so you move the car once a day.
- Pick up the rental car after Dublin; you do not need it in the city.
- Best months are May, June and September for long days and thinner crowds.
- Book Cliffs of Moher boat tours and family rooms ahead in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions parents ask most before planning a week in Ireland with kids.
Is 7 days enough for Ireland with kids?
Yes, for the south and west it is. A week gets you Dublin, Kerry, the Cliffs, and Galway at a pace kids can handle. It won’t cover the whole island, so leave the north and the far southeast for another trip rather than cramming them in.
What’s the best age to bring kids to Ireland?
Any age works, but the trip is easiest from about five up, when kids can walk a bit of a trail and sit through a short castle tour. Under that, lean on the parks, beaches, and zoo, and keep the driving days short.
What’s the best time of year to visit Ireland with kids?
May, June, and September are the sweet spot: long days, milder weather, and thinner crowds than the July and August peak. We drove it in autumn and had the big sights and campsites nearly to ourselves.
Do you need to rent a car for this trip?
For this route, yes. The Ring of Kerry, the Burren, and Loop Head are all hard to reach without your own wheels. Pick the car up after your Dublin days, since you don’t need it in the city and parking there is a headache.
Are kids allowed in Irish pubs?
Yes, until early evening. Most pubs welcome families in for food and a trad session up to around nine, then it’s adults only. Eat early and you’ll catch some of the music before the kids are ready for bed.
How much driving is involved each day?
The longest single leg is Dublin to Killarney at roughly three and a half hours. After that most drives run one to two hours, plus whatever you add exploring the Ring of Kerry. Keep snacks in the car and plan a stop halfway on the long day.
Final Thoughts on an Ireland Trip With Kids
A week in Ireland with kids works when you stop trying to win at it. We drove the whole country on our last trip and still, the best days were the slow ones, an hour on a beach or an old abbey with nobody rushing anybody.
Point the car west out of Dublin, give each region two nights, and you get the National Park, the coast road, an exposed cliff walk, and a pub with a session going in the corner. That’s a full week without a single dead day.
Book the boats and the good restaurants ahead, pack a rain jacket for every kid, and keep the driving days topped up with snacks. Get those three right and the rest sorts itself out.
If you go, tell me which stop the kids liked best. Mine would have picked the ferry every time, and I wouldn’t argue.
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