Rainy day activities for kids in Dublin
Dublin has plenty of dry places to take children, but the opening hours and prices are scattered across dozens of websites. This guide collects the indoor options we have checked, with what each one costs and when it opens. To see them all in one list, use the Rainy day filter on Nipper's days out page.
Free indoor options
The National Museum of Ireland has two branches that are free to enter: the archaeology museum on Kildare Street and the decorative arts and history museum at Collins Barracks in Stoneybatter. Both suit a wet afternoon when the budget is tight. Check the museum's website for opening days, since the hours differ between the two sites.
Science, climbing and trampolines
Explorium, Sandyford. The National Sport and Science Centre has a Junior Explorium for ages 2 to 7, booked in timed 2-hour slots, and a science area recommended for ages 8 and up, with a ticket that lasts all day. Climbing (1 hour) and VR (30 minutes) are booked separately. Children under 2 are free, but you need to reserve a free ticket online.
Jump Zone, Santry, Liffey Valley and Sandyford. Trampoline and adventure parks with opening hours that change by day. Midweek they open in the afternoon, and at weekends they open from the morning. Check the booking page for session prices.
Rainforest Adventure Golf, Dundrum Town Centre. Two indoor, air-conditioned crazy golf courses, with each round taking about 45 minutes. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm.
Museums that work for children
EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum. Open daily from 10am to 6.45pm, with last entry at 5pm. It also runs family tours, including a Halloween one.
Dublinia. A museum of Viking and medieval Dublin beside Christ Church Cathedral.
The Little Museum of Dublin, on St Stephen's Green, and the National Leprechaun Museum, a storytelling tour near Mary's Abbey, are both short visits that fit a morning.
The GPO Museum on O'Connell Street tells the story of the 1916 Rising. It is closed on Sundays.
The Illusion Museum on College Green is open until 6pm Monday to Thursday and 7pm from Friday to Sunday.
An aquarium in Bray
Marine Life Aquarium sits on the seafront in Bray and is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
Pools and soft play
Family swims run at pools across Dublin every week. See the full timetables on our open and family swims page, or browse soft play centres for toddlers.
Which to pick
For children under 3, soft play, a parent and toddler swim or Explorium's Junior area are the easiest fits. For ages 4 to 7, the aquarium, a trampoline park or indoor golf work well. Children of 8 and over do well with the science area at Explorium or one of the museums.
Frequently asked questions
What is free to do with kids in Dublin when it rains? The National Museum of Ireland branches at Kildare Street and Collins Barracks are free to enter.
Are there indoor activities for toddlers? Yes: soft play, parent and toddler swims and Explorium's Junior area for ages 2 to 7.
Can I book Explorium on the day? Junior Explorium uses timed entry slots, so book online before you go.