How to get around Ireland with kids
When it comes to getting around Ireland with kids, renting a car comes recommended if you have your eye on seeing more of the country, and the countryside.
That way, you’ll have more flexibility during your Ireland itinerary, and will be able to reach rural areas and more remote castles and national parks (for example) with more ease than trying to do so via public transport.
Rental companies operate from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Belfast airports. Pre-book so you can collect your car as soon as you land.
If you’re not keen on the idea of driving unfamiliar roads in unfamiliar conditions, trains are on hand for smooth, family-friendly city-to-city travel if you want to travel between Dublin, Cork, Galway or Belfast, for example.
You can pre-book tickets on Irish Rail (Republic of Ireland) or Translink (Northern Ireland).
In good news, kids under five travel free on trains — book a family ticket for savings.
If you’re on a budget, and your kids can handle longer journeys, buses also run between cities and biggest towns.
Just note there’s limited space for luggage and strollers on buses, and services are often infrequent in rural areas, which means you’ll need to plan ahead.
How to get around the cities
Dublin is well-served by buses, trams and trains to help you get around the city with ease, with handy hop-on-hop-off buses great for sightseeing with young kids.
Just note that public transport buses are tricky to navigate with strollers — space is limited, so you might have to wait for the next one to arrive.
Our tip is to buy a Leap Visitor Card for unlimited bus, tram and train travel.
Meanwhile, the cities of Cork and Galway are small enough to walk, and most attractions in Belfast are easily explored on foot, too, with hop-on-hop-off bus tours also available.