If you’re thinking about a family trip to Dublin, don’t wait for the crowds to return in summer. Winter is a fantastic time to visit Ireland’s capital city and enjoy exploring under the glow of the festive lighting. There is just as much to do in winter with museums, parks, the zoo, activities and so much more open and less busy. Best of all, you can enjoy the over-the-top Christmas decorations, marking off your Santa list and some of the best Panto in Ireland. Family hotel accommodation in Dublin can be expensive, especially over the weekends. DCU Rooms offers an alternative to a hotel stay with great value, and affordable accommodation on the skirt of the city. Enjoy a Friday trip to Dublin with your family and enjoy.
Christmas Lights in Dublin
From early November, the entire City is illuminated with thousands of twinkling fairy lights. The main shopping streets and almost every shop window has a Christmas display to excite and amaze your little ones. There are huge Christmas trees dotted around the city with the largest on Grafton Street, Smithfield, and O Connell Street, ideal for a festive family portrait. Some of the city’s most notable buildings like City Hall, Dublin Castle and the Convention Centre, as well as some of our beautiful bridges, are illuminated in festive colours to mark the season too.
Christmas Panto in Dublin
The highlight of many family trips to Dublin is a visit to the Panto. We are spoiled for choice with dozens of shows happening in theatres and community halls around the island, Dublin has the biggest and best shows. The talent of the performers and the quality of the shows improves every year. The Year The Helix, our on-site theatre on the DCU campus, is home to Treasure Island, a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. They promise the young and the… not so young will be equally entertained by this magical show. If you stay with us at DCU rooms, you won’t have far to travel home on a cold winter evening.
Christmas Shopping in Dublin
Exciting for some families and torture for others, Christmas shopping in Dublin is always an experience. Whether you’re entertaining teenagers helping them add to their wish lists or taking younger children to spend time in toy shops for Santa inspiration, we have endless shopping options in Dublin City. You’ll find everything from high street to high end of Grafton and Henry Streets and boutiques and independent shops around the side streets. Many of the larger department stores andcentres like Arnott’s and the Jervis Centre have Santa visits set up, the perfect way to create magical memories with your little ones. Dublin is the ideal place to start or finish, your Christmas shopping in Winter.
This year, we’re delighted to see the return of the magical Christmas Market in Dublin Castle, where local and independent retailers sell their wares in a beautifully festive atmosphere. You don’t need to book in advance this year, but it is first come, first served, so if you’re planning a trip get there early!
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Dublin
Forget mid-afternoon McDonalds to keep them quiet. Dublin has dozens of truly family-friendly restaurants to choose from to keep even the fussiest eaters happy without a happy meal in sight. You could go for a delicious burger in Bobos, Eddie Rockets, or Bunsen. If you want something a little unusual, Lucky Tortoise Temple Bar, Krewe on Capel Street and Full Moon Thai are ideal for adults and children, with accessible menus for adventurous eaters. If you’re staying in DCU, our main restaurant has a variety of breakfast, lunch, and snacks with something for everyone.
Family-Friendly Accommodation in Dublin
DCU offers budget-friendly accommodation in Dublin, an ideal alternative to overpriced Dublin hotels. We have 16 visitor suites which are available to book for your long or short break all year round. Our suites have everything you need for a successful family trip to Dublin, with the facilities of a home-from-home so you can settle in quickly. Enjoy one or two-bedroom suites with a small kitchen and a living space for you to unwind after a busy day. Our complimentary Wi-Fi means everyone’s devices are always connected. Our location is ideal for the Helix Panto,for exploring the attractions in Drumcondra and for a short commute to and from Dublin city centre.
Book your accommodation in DCU on our website and we guarantee to be €10 cheaper per night than any other booking agent. We also offer a flexible cancellation policy because we know with families, things change! We look forward to welcoming you for a fun Friday night in Dublin this Winter.
