Sligo, on Ireland’s west coast and part of the Wild Atlantic Way, brings together dramatic scenery, sandy beaches, layers of history and plenty of fun places to keep the kids entertained. Whether you’re planning a weekend break, filling a rainy day, or looking for something new to try in the sunshine, Sligo has something for every family.
In our guide to Sligo for families, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite things to do around the county — from free days out to cosy rainy-day options, family-friendly places to eat and stay, and a few spots you really shouldn’t miss.
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Family-Friendly Things to Do in Sligo
Take a trip down memory lane at Sligo Folk Park to experience rural Irish life at the turn of the 19th century. Show the kids what it was like before the age of laptops and phones, see Constance Markievicz’s old uniform and step into an old school house. You’ll also find one of Ireland’s largest model railway exhibits. Admission fee, café on site.
Enjoy splashing fun at Waterpoint Aqua Park in Enniscrone, where you’ll find a heated pool, a 65-metre flume water-slide, a separate children’s pool and inflatables for little ones. Afterwards, there’s a soft play area and climbing wall to enjoy too.
At Gillighan’s World you’ll discover a natural world enhanced by “faeries” in miniature model villages and enchanted glades. Streams and secluded seating areas create a magical atmosphere, while a visit to the faerie fort offers spectacular panoramic views. There’s also a wildlife pond, an aquatic cove, and an informal guided tour around the Pet Village.
The Sathya Sai Sanctuary Trust for Nature sits in magnificent surroundings next to the Carrowkeel Megalithic Site (also well worth a visit) at Castlebaldwin. It’s a place of peace and refuge for old, injured, unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused donkeys. Bring waterproof boots, enjoy your visit, and give these gentle animals the love they deserve.
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Free Things to Do in Sligo
A free guided walking tour of Sligo town usually runs between June and September, starting from the Tourist Information Office on Temple Street. Tour times can vary from year to year, so it’s worth checking locally before you go. You’ll see places of historical, musical, sporting and cultural interest across a couple of hours, and you can join or leave whenever suits — handy if little legs (or patience) run out.
Bring the kids to one of the libraries in Sligo. Most have children’s sections where they can settle in with a great selection of books, games and puzzles, and some run weekly story times too.
There are some wonderful playgrounds in Sligo, dotted throughout the county. Why not head for one you haven’t visited before? The novelty factor alone is usually enough to win the kids over. We love the playgrounds at Calry, Ballinafad and Grange.
Visit Ireland’s tallest waterfall, Sruth in Aghaidh An Aird — better known as the Devil’s Chimney — on the Sligo/Leitrim border, near its more famous neighbour, Glencar Waterfall. The waterfall’s Irish name means “stream against the height”, based on the folklore that in certain weather (when the wind blows from the south) the water is blown upward and back over the cliff it falls from.
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Outdoor Activities in Sligo
At Hazelwood Demesne you’ll find picturesque walks suitable for the whole family around the shores of Lough Gill. There are several different routes, including the Sculpture Tour, where wooden sculptures from Irish and international artists line the track.
Sligo is spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches. Enniscrone has 5km of sandy beach, while Mullaghmore Beach is another stunning stretch in north County Sligo (about 25km from Sligo town via the N15, beside the town of Mullaghmore).
Doorly Park sits along the riverside in Sligo town, about a ten-minute walk from the centre — perfect for some outdoor time. You’ll find a children’s playground, a green area, games space and exercise equipment. Bring a ball and a picnic, then take a stroll along Lough Gill and feed the ducks.
Union Wood is a haven for wildlife, including fallow deer, red squirrel, buzzards, swans and pine marten. There are two woodland trails to enjoy: the easy Oakwood trail (4km), which takes in views of the Ox Mountains, Knocknarea, Ballygawley Lake and the surrounding countryside, or, for families with older kids, the more strenuous Union Rock trail (5.5km), which includes a climb rewarded with fantastic views.
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Family-Friendly Museums & Galleries in Sligo
The Model, home of The Niland Collection, is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary arts centres. It’s a bright, open, welcoming space for children, with frequent workshops and programmes for all ages. They also show family films from time to time and have activity sheets to help younger visitors get the most from their visit.
At Sligo County Museum you can explore exhibits detailing Sligo’s rich Stone Age history, including a large firkin of 100-year-old bog butter. The Yeats Room holds manuscripts, photographs, letters and newspaper cuttings connected to local poet W.B. Yeats, alongside a display of artefacts linked to Countess Constance Markievicz and her sister Eva Gore-Booth. The museum is free to visit.
The Hawk’s Well Theatre on Temple Street runs children’s and family events alongside visual arts, film and more.
Step back in time at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, home to the oldest and densest concentration of Neolithic tombs in Ireland — remains of over 35 passage tombs, built almost 6,000 years ago. A restored cottage houses an exhibition to help set the scene before your tour of the site. Wear sturdy footwear, as paths cross grass. Worth checking opening days and hours before you travel, as these can vary seasonally.
Lissadell House and Gardens is famous as the childhood home of Constance Markievicz, her sister Eva Gore-Booth and her brother Josslyn Gore-Booth. Constance was one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, and the first woman elected to Dáil Éireann and the House of Commons in London. House tours run during the summer months, with gardens and a café to enjoy too.
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Rainy Day Activities in Sligo
Head to Strandhill People’s Market, which usually runs out of Hangar 1 at Sligo Airport on Sundays. It’s a child-friendly market with local crafts, food and textiles, and stalls that cater well for little ones — worth checking current days and times before you go.
Enjoy some swimming and splashing time at Waterpoint or Sligo Regional Sports Centre.
For some bookshop browsing, head to Eason or Liber Bookshop on O’Connell Street, or Booksmart on Bridge Street.
For indoor soft play, try:
- Five Star Fun in Grange
- Funny Bones in Collooney
- Happy Days at Cleveragh Business Park
Catch a movie at the Omniplex, or check what’s on at The Model, which occasionally screens family films.
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Family-Friendly Hotels & Accommodation in Sligo
The Diamond Coast Hotel in Enniscrone sits above the beach and offers a variety of accommodation, including family rooms for up to eight people. There’s a kids’ club during school holidays, family-friendly dining, and a tennis court, playground, astro pitch and basketball court for older kids and adults.
The Ocean Sands Hotel, also in Enniscrone, offers large family rooms as well as self-catering apartments with a fully equipped kitchen and lounge area. There’s an indoor playroom with supervised sessions, in-house activities including face painting, and a children’s library for night-time reading. A dedicated toddler play area sits alongside indoor football, a games area with its own pool table, and a separate TV area for tweens and older children.
The Sligo Southern Hotel offers family rooms with a double bed, a single bed and a sofa bed, plus a leisure centre with a pool and separate children’s pool. A limited number of rooms are dog-friendly, and their family mini-breaks include pizza and board games with hot chocolate.
The Pier Head Hotel in Mullaghmore is a family-friendly hotel in a beautiful coastal setting. They offer family rooms, children’s menus and a leisure centre with a pool for rainy days, and it’s less than five minutes to the beach when the clouds clear.
Check out more of our favourite family-friendly hotels and accommodation in Ireland — from luxury breaks and hotels with kids’ clubs to self-catering choices and family camping and glamping.
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Sligo
There are plenty of good restaurants in Sligo to choose from — here are a few recommended by parents:
- Davis’s Restaurant at Yeats Tavern in Drumcliffe has a nice children’s menu and is always busy — expect a warm welcome and award-winning food in a beautifully decorated, modern restaurant.
- Eala Bhán in Rockwood Parade has a great children’s menu with healthy options such as sweet potato fries, tempura hake fish and chips, and a fresh fruit kebab with chocolate sauce.
- Shells Bakery and Café in Strandhill is a lovely spot for morning coffee and bakery treats, or lunch. Their kids’ menu includes fun options like a lamb stew, fish and chips, a burger, or a grazing plate for little ones.
- Áit Eile at Gilroys Bar in Enniscrone is known for great food in a lovely setting where kids are very well looked after.
Things to Do in Sligo for Older Kids and Teens
For ten-pin bowling, head into neighbouring County Donegal to Bundoran Glow Bowl.
Enjoy a game of pitch and putt at Bertie’s, just off the N15. Equipment is supplied, and there are refreshments too.
Try rollerblading, skateboarding, scooting and BMX at Zero Gravity Skatepark at Cleveragh Business Park, while Vertigo@Funny Bones in Collooney has an adventure zone for older children with a climbing wall and a high ropes course.
Head to Wild Wet Adventures at Temple House Lake near Ballinacarrow, on the N17 Sligo–Galway route, for kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and hiking.
Try surfing at one of Sligo’s fantastic beaches — Strandhill Surf School, for example, offers beginner lessons with wetsuits and equipment provided.
Have a go at pottery with David McLoughlin, who runs workshops at Benbulben Pottery in Rathcormac.
Need a retail blitz? The Quayside Shopping Centre has Lifestyle Sports and River Island, while Penneys is on O’Connell Street.
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Don’t Miss!
Image courtesy Fáilte Ireland
Head to the Gleniff Horseshoe, a hidden valley with stunning scenery in north County Sligo, for a memorable family walk. At the base of the Horseshoe route, you’ll find a renovated Millsite with a lovely nature walk and sculpture trail, plus picnic tables to stop and refuel.
This area is also home to Sligo’s famous “Magic Road”, where your car appears to roll back up the hill.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sligo a good destination for a family trip in Ireland?
Yes — Sligo combines beaches, forest walks, museums, castles and history with plenty of family-friendly places to eat and stay, making it an easy county to explore with kids of any age.
What are some free things to do in Sligo with kids?
Sligo’s libraries, playgrounds, town walking tour, and natural attractions like the Devil’s Chimney waterfall are all free (or low-cost) ways to fill a day out.
What can we do in Sligo on a rainy day?
Sligo has several soft play centres, swimming pools, a cinema, bookshops and an indoor market, so a wet day needn’t get in the way of your plans.
Are there activities in Sligo for teenagers?
Yes — older kids and teens can try surfing, kayaking, climbing, skateboarding, pitch and putt, or pottery workshops around the county.
Where can we stay in Sligo as a family?
Sligo has a good spread of family-friendly hotels, particularly around Enniscrone and Mullaghmore, many offering family rooms, kids’ clubs and leisure centres.
More Sligo Ideas to Explore
If you enjoyed this guide, you might also like:
- 10 Memorable Things To Do in Sligo with Kids
- 9 Stunningly Scenic Places for Family Walks in Sligo
- Best Outdoor Places in Sligo for Families to Enjoy
- Rainy Day Activities for Kids in Sligo
Save This Guide for Your Next Trip
Sligo has enough family-friendly spots to fill several weekends, so it’s worth bookmarking this guide or saving it to Pinterest for the next time you’re planning a trip.
Don’t Miss a Family Day Out
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