10 things to do at Easter in Dublin

If your kids love animals, Dublin Zoo is a great place to spend the day. The good news is it’s open throughout the school holidays (including Easter Sunday) from 9:30am-6pm and is running a series of workshops during the break, including a Junior Easter Workshop for kids aged 6-12. Keep an eye on the daily schedule of keeper talks while you’re there, so you can learn about the Asian elephants or gorillas from the experts. It’s worth visiting the Southern white rhinos too, to catch a glimpse of the cute female calf born on January 2.  

Media captionDublin Zoo is a great family day out, for all members to enjoy.

Set in the Dublin Mountains just outside of Saggart, Luggwoods Forest is a place where kids can run wild and explore the great outdoors. During the Easter holidays, there’s extra entertainment laid on, with a puzzle to be solved on the trails and a chocolate egg for those who crack the code. There are fairytale characters along the way to lend a helping hand, and kids will be able to see the alpacas, goats and pigs in the petting farm. It’s running from April 1 and 2, then from April 6 – 10.  

Family friendly activities are often geared towards older kids, but the Hugh Lane Gallery is holding a workshop on April 8 that’s specially designed for 1 to 3 year olds. Artist Ashleigh Downey is leading the Magic of Colour session, and the kids will get to play and experiment with paint under her watchful eye. Who knows? You might just discover your little one is a budding Monet. If your kids are older, head to the free Sunday Sketching workshop on April 9, where children aged 6 and up are guided around the gallery by an artist who will show them some creative tricks.   

Spring is a great season to visit Newbridge House & Farm – the bluebells are in bloom, the animals are spending more time outdoors and you may even see some ducklings or piglets running around. On April 4 and 5, they are running an Easter Camp for children where they can feed the animals, do some arts and crafts, explore the house and the grounds and see the nature trails as well. The camp runs from 10am to 2pm and includes a light lunch.  

Media captionFrom bluebells to foals, Newbridge House & Farm Easter camp is great for kids.

Over the school holidays, the Fairy Trail at Malahide Castle & Gardens becomes the Easter Trail, with a series of clues, puzzles and jigsaw pieces along the way. When you’ve completed the trail, stick around and wander around the gardens or book tickets to the Butterfly House, where over 20 species of butterflies flutter between the plants and over your head. Easter Saturday features an egg hunt that also includes games like pin the tail on the bunny, an egg and spook race and face painting. Don’t forget that the Casino Model Railway Museum is just around the corner, if you have any train fans in your gang. The Easter Trail is running from April 1 to 10.  

Media captionFollow the Easter trail through Malahide Castle and Gardens.

Sometimes, all you really need is a place where kids can run around and blow off some steam. KidsZone Tallaght is an indoor play centre where kids can go wild, whatever the weather is doing outside. At Easter, they’re running a Kids Showtime event with a Willy Wonka theme, including appearances from the Easter Bunny and Pixie the Clown. There’s 30 minutes of play time included and it’s running from March 25 to April 10, though not every day.  

There’ll be plenty going on in the Airfield Estate over the holidays, from nature walks and scavenger hunts to storytelling activities. As well as the organised fun, there’s loads to keep everyone occupied at this urban farm, with sheep, pigs, goats and chickens, as well as a herd of Jersey cows. Kids can help collect the eggs and watch the cows being milked, and there are several gardens to explore too. Be sure to grab a bite in the Overends Kitchen, a restaurant overlooking the grounds serving up dishes made with ingredients plucked from the garden.  

Media captionThe Airfield Estate is packed with fun.

Out in Ballymun, The Rediscovery Centre is part of a creative movement to encourage sustainability, and they have two days of fun planned on April 4 and 6. These Easter Activity Days feature themed happenings like egg science experiments and games, as well as the chance for kids to get outside and enjoy nature in the spring. The events are running from 9am to 2pm.  

There’s loads going on at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, alongside the usual exhibits. On April 10, there’s an interactive storytelling experience called Tiny Tots: Easter Around the World, with the playful Easter Púca telling the story of how Easter is celebrated in other countries. The same event will be held for babies and for 1 to 3 year olds on April 11. There’s also a fun family tour on April 10, where the whole gang heads around the museum playing games and working as a team.  

If you’re a family of adventurers, the ziplining and climbing course at Zipit in Tibradden Woods is a great day out. Set among the pine trees in the Dublin Mountains, the series of circuits range from one to 20 metres high, increasing as your skills (and confidence) build. If you have some residual adrenaline afterwards, go for a hike at the Hellfire Club which is a ten minute drive away. It’s suitable for kids from the age of seven and is open every day of the school holidays.  

Media captionFor the adventurous family, zipit in Tibradden wood is a great day out.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the capital with the kids, so here’s our guide to the ideal family day out in Dublin.