Ireland Beyond the Pubs: A Teen-Focused Travel Itinerary

I might be a little biased given how many times I’ve visited the Emerald Isle, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a country that packs more into each square mile than Ireland. While the country has a population of 5.3 million (rising to over 7 million if you were to measure the population of the island of Ireland), it possesses more beauty, history and culture than countries ten times its size.

There’s no doubt that Irish people are known for their love of drink; there are over 6,000 Irish pubs in the world, while the country’s most valuable brand is, you guessed it, Guinness (valued at almost $10bn for those interested!).

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Why Irish History Attractions are Perfect for Kids and Teens

Irish history attractions for kids offer something special – they bring the past to life through immersive experiences rather than dusty displays. From walking through actual prison cells at Kilmainham Gaol to exploring where the Titanic was built, these sites transform history into tangible adventures.

Ireland’s famous storytelling tradition extends to expert guides who use dramatic narratives and hands-on activities to captivate even reluctant young historians. Whether your teens love political intrigue, maritime disasters, or ancient legends, Irish history attractions for kids provide the perfect blend of education and entertainment.

Family Things To Do in Ireland with Teens

Despite this, I implore you not to discount Ireland for a family trip, especially if travelling with teenagers. From scenic walks to ancient landmarks, I’m going to focus on some of the things to see and do with teens and older children on the island of Ireland.

Kilmainham Gaol

The first three locations on my list are all based in Dublin. As most of Ireland’s tourism comes through Dublin, I know there are many people looking for ways to spend 24 hours in Dublin, or simply want an itinerary for an afternoon in Dublin. I think these locations are perfect for anyone who’s making a fleeting visit to Ireland’s capital.

Note: For a longer stay in Dublin, see our suggestions for another full day in Dublin itinerary.

For a city that has a population of under 1.5 million, deciding what to do in Dublin can be surprisingly difficult; there’s simply so much. This includes the world-famous Guinness Factory and Jameson Distillery, which deserve an honourable mention despite not being the most child-friendly locations.

Anyway, on to the locations that do make the cut, and I’d start with a visit to Kilmainham Gaol, located a 15-20 minute drive outside the centre of Dublin, but easily accessible by tram too. The former prison shut its doors back in 1924, before being transformed into a museum in the 60s.

However, I’d think of your visit to Kilmainham more as a tour, as opposed to a trip to a museum. The building itself has been maintained and restored to a point that leaves visitors feeling they’ve been transported back in time. In fact, the prison has been used in many notable films and TV shows, including ‘In the Name of the Father’ and ‘The Italian Job’.

I wouldn’t want to spoil your visit too much, and I’ll leave most of the explaining to the absolutely brilliant tour guides, but you can expect to learn about the role of Kilmainham during the Easter Rising of 1916 while walking in the final footsteps of several famous Irish leaders.

Irish Emigration Museum

As fantastic as Kilmainham is, it’s pretty hard-hitting, so I’d recommend following it up with a more lighthearted activity. The Irish Emigration Museum fits the bill perfectly. Given that over 80,000,000 people claim Irish ancestry, you may even want to enter your own name or an ancestor’s name at the museum to be added to the Legacy Wall.

Don’t worry if you don’t have any Irish in you, the Emigration Museum is still a fascinating place to learn all about famous faces who surprisingly come from Irish roots. Again, I’ll try to avoid spoilers, but expect to see a certain former US president along with one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

General Post Office

My final recommendation for the Dublin leg of your Irish tour is the General Post Office (GPO), which now operates as a museum. If you’re wanting to learn a bit more about Irish history, including events such as the Irish Civil War and the Troubles, the GPO Museum is an absolute must.

I found the GPO super informative, and I think it’s a great option if you’re trying to entertain teenagers. While your visit will cover some of the darker days in Ireland’s history, it offers an in-depth history lesson, which could easily spark a wider interest in history subjects.

Titanic Museum

I’ve given you my guide to spending an afternoon in Dublin with teenagers, so it’s only right to do the same for Belfast. Similar to Dublin, Belfast can be a leg on your Irish tour, or it can be its own holiday. However you’re planning to explore Belfast, I’ve got three places that are perfect for exploring with older children.

The first, and probably the most iconic attraction in Belfast, is the Titanic Museum. Belfast is where the famous ship was built, and Titanic Belfast offers the perfect place to learn all about RMS Titanic.

But it’s not all facts and figures at Titanic Belfast, it’s a truly immersive experience that will give you an insight into what it was like to be a passenger on board the iconic vessel.

Murals Tour

Belfast’s political history is deep, complex, sometimes dark, but extremely interesting. And the city does a great job of explaining events of years gone by in the form of art. In fact, one of the things Belfast is best known for is its murals.

I’ve explored most of Belfast’s murals, some via a walking tour, some by black cab tour and some as my own tour guide. There are tonnes of different tours, so I’d recommend doing a bit of research online to decide which ones will be interesting to you and your teens.

During my last visit to Belfast, I took in Belfast’s political murals via the Conflicting Stories Walking Tour. You’ll spend around 3 hours with your time split between two tour guides, both with differing perspectives on Belfast’s past, which they’ll expand on whilst stopping at famous murals for you to grab a picture.

Giant’s Causeway

If you’ve got enough time to squeeze in a road trip during your time in Belfast, add the Giant’s Causeway to your list. It’s located over an hour from Belfast city centre, but it’s definitely worth the trip if you and your teen are fans of nature or hiking.

You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to scenic spots in Ireland, but you’ll do well to find anywhere that can compete with the Giant’s Causeway’s history, which staggeringly dates back 60 million years.

Ring of Kerry

There’s more to the island of Ireland than just Dublin and Belfast, so I had to include a few recommendations from outside the two major cities. These are perfect for travellers who are looking for more authentic experiences outside of the usual tourist spots. They should also captivate any curious teenagers.

First is the Ring of Kerry, a 179km circular route on Ireland’s coast. Whether you want to drive through this area of natural beauty or spend a day exploring part of it on foot is entirely up to you. Whether you’re looking for greenery, beaches, or challenging mountains, the Ring of Kerry has it all. I’d recommend finishing in Killarney and treating yourself to a meal in a traditional Irish pub.

Galway Races

From Gaelic games to rugby, soccer and boxing, Ireland has a strong relationship with sport. But don’t discount horse racing if you’re looking to get your sports-related fix whilst in Ireland. If you’ve got time on your hands in Ireland, spending a day at the races is a fantastic way to experience Ireland like a local.

When it comes to racing events, it doesn’t get bigger than Galway Races. If you’re visiting in summer, see if your trip lines up with the Galway Races Summer Festival, which usually takes place in late July.

Blarney Castle/Blarney Stone

Last but by no means least, is Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone. While this slab of stone may be renowned across Ireland, visitors from further afield may not be familiar with it, so I’ll give you a brief introduction.

The Blarney Stone can be found in Blarney Castle, an ancient site dating back to 1446 in County Cork. If you’re prepared to scale the steps leading up to the Blarney Stone, 85ft up in the air, you’ll probably be greeted by a queue of tourists waiting for their turn to kiss the stone. Legend has it that kissing the Blarney Stone gives you the “gift of the gab”, a saying often used to describe the charming nature of Irish people, which often comes across in conversation.

Travel Tips

If you’re heading to Ireland from America, it may form part of a wider European tour. If so, Dublin and Belfast airports will likely offer the most affordable prices and the most varied flight times. However, if you’re planning on exploring the whole island, consider flying to Cork or Kerry and working your way north to Belfast.

Ireland is also easily accessible from the UK, perfect for those embarking on a road trip. Many people choose to take the ferry from the UK to Ireland so they can explore Ireland by car. If this sounds like too much driving (or you simply want to sample Ireland’s famous whiskeys), I’d recommend exploring London for a day or two before finding a car park in London and catching a cheap flight over to the Emerald Isle!

Toby Patrick

A freelance writer who loves to travel. Much of his writing covers his UK-based explorations as well as helping readers discover hidden gems across Europe.

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