Are you looking for activities and days out to suit older kids? From wakeboarding and karting to VR and modern art, you won’t want to miss these amazing things to do in Dublin for teens and tweens!

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When your tween is past the soft-play stage or your teen is fed up looking at their phone and wants to do something different, then check out this list of fun things to do in Dublin for older kids and teens.

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Things to Do in Dublin For Teens and Older Kids

Scale the Heights at Croke Park

Visit Croke Park to see the GAA Museum, take a Croke Park Stadium Tour or brave the heights of the Croke Park Skyline Tour. The Croke Park Stadium Tour offers an in-depth behind the scenes look at one of the most historic and modern sporting arenas in the world.

The GAA Museum has a great Hall of Fame – sure to keep your GAA lovers happy!

Walk 44 metres above the ground to take in panoramic views of the Irish capital and find out more about Dublin’s key landmarks on the Skyline.

National Wax Museum Plus

Who wants to get a selfie with 1D? Head for National Wax Museum Plus which presents a snap shot of Irish cultural heritage but with a very modern twist.

Visitors to the museum are taken on a journey through Irish history, Ireland’s only dedicated tribute to our top scientific inventors, a Green screen video room, a recording studio and all the exceptional life-like wax work characters you can expect at the national museum.

Leisureplex Dublin

Leisureplex is the perfect hangout spot for teens, with loads to do, including their awesome Mix-It Combo Deal, which includes both a game of Bowling and a game of Quasar!

Does your teen fancy themselves as a bit of a pro at Call of Duty or Fortnite? Well prove it to their mates by taking the Top Gun crown in Quasar! Perfect for teens looking for something a bit more active. Take your mates down in an epic battle, with cool battlepacks and laser blasters in the fully-UV battle arenas at a Leisureplex near you.

Or how about a game of bowling? Bowling is great for chilling with your mates, having the chats while having a bit of fun as well.

The Little Museum

The award-winning The Little Museum tells the story of the Irish capital. Described as “Dublin’s best museum experience” by The Irish Times, The Little Museum is also the number one museum in Ireland on TripAdvisor.

A brilliant new addition to the cultural map of Ireland, their famous guided tours reveal the history of a city that has undergone remarkable changes in the last 100 years, from the visit of Queen Victoria to the global success of U2.

National Museums of Ireland

In Dublin we are lucky to have 3 National Museums of Ireland on our doorstep so between the 3, your teen must surely find something interesting to look at :).

The National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History is home to a wide range of objects, which include weaponry, furniture, silver, ceramics and glassware; as well as examples of Folklore and costume.

The National Museum of Ireland – Natural History has galleries of animals from Ireland and overseas, also geological exhibits form a total collection of about 2 million scientific specimens which includes a Discovery Zone.

The National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology is the national repository for all archaeological objects found in Ireland and displays artefacts dating from 7000 BC right up to the 20th century. The Irish archaeology collections include The Treasury, featuring outstanding examples of Celtic and Medieval art.

Entry to the National Museums of Ireland is free and there are ongoing free events and workshops to enjoy.

Zipit at Tibradden Wood

Zipit Forest Adventures offers up to 4 hours of tree-top, fun-filled, thrilling experiences in a healthy, outdoor setting. At their location in Tibradden Wood in Dublin, you can climb poles and climbing walls, swing into cargo nets, balance on a rope bridge, hurtle down a zipwire.

From beginners to adrenaline junkies, you can have a fun experience with guidance and encouragement from qualified instructors, knowing you are secure in your harness.

Jump Zone

Jump Zone is an indoor trampoline and inflatable park located in Sandyford, Liffey Valley and Santry.

It offers wall-to-wall bouncy activities, including open jumping, climbing, Ninja, dodgeball, assault course, climbing tower, trapeze and gymnastic airtrack.

The National Gallery

For any art-loving teen, the National Gallery in Merrion Square, Dublin 2 is a must visit to see the collection of Irish and European Art including art by Caravaggio, Canova, Rembrandt, Orpen, Yeats and le Brocquy.

Admission is Free. The Gallery is open 7 days a week, with late opening on Thursdays.

Kilmainham Gaol

Visit Ireland’s largest unoccupied gaol, Kilmainham Gaol. Leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 were detained here. Such names as Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell, leaders of the 1916 Rising and DeValera are associated with the Gaol.

Attractions include a major exhibition detailing the political and penal history of the prison and its restoration. The tour of the prison includes an audio-visual show.

Wakedock

Wakeboarding in Dublin city centre? Strange, but true!

All experience levels will enjoy this unique cable wake park where anyone can go wakeboarding without the use of boat. Essentially, the wakeboard cable replaces the boat and pulls the rider along a course. There are a number of awesome obstacles for beginner and advanced riders alike to pull off their favourite tricks or learn new ones.

Sister business Surfdock is also found at Grand Canal Dock and offers more watersports, including stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing and kayak rentals.

Dublinia

If you’ve a history buff or budding archaeologist on your hands, then Dublinia is sure to appeal. Travel back to Viking and Medieval Dublin, and witness the sights, sounds and smells and unearth the city’s archaeology in the History Hunters exhibition.

And if you’ve a head for heights, Dublinia’s late seventeenth century viewing tower, St Michael’s Tower which belonged to the church of St Michael the Archangel, that once stood at the site now occupied by Dublinia, the Synod Hall. This medieval tower has 96 steps leading to a panoramic view of Dublin. Access to the viewing tower is weather permitting.

The Crypt at Christchurch

You can also get a combined ticket with a visit to Dublinia that allows you to visit Christchurch Cathedral and stop by to explore the medieval crypt which is one of the largest in Britain & Ireland, and the earliest surviving structure in the city.

Be sure to visit the ‘Cat & the Rat’, a mummified cat & rat amongst the most unusual inhabitants of the crypt, but also the most popular. Mentioned by James Joyce in Finnegans wake, they are known locally as ‘Tom & Jerry.’

The crypt also houses fascinating memorials, The Treasury, an audio visual presentation, the cathedral shop and the Cathedral Café.

Go Karting in Dublin

Kylemore Karting in Kylemore Dublin 10 and Kart City Raceway near Dublin Airport both offer go karting tracks for racing fun for teens and tweens.

A junior version of the Kylemore Championship Race is run Mon-Fri 11 am to 5 pm using both Cadet and regular karts and is subject to a minimum height requirement of 54 inches. While at Kart City, ages 8+ can use their Cadet karts.

National Aquatic Centre

A whole host of exciting features ensures that there is lots of fun and thrills at the National Aquatic Centre, especially at Aquazone, the leisure water section. AquaZone Rides include:

• Master Blaster which blasts riders uphill on jetted water and gravity does the rest. With hair-raising drops and thrilling banked curves, Master Blaster uphill water coasters deliver a rollercoaster-style ride that is a proven hair raiser.
• Flumes including the Dark Hole Ride which is a dark flume ride (not for the faint hearted) and the Green Giant Ride.
• Wave Pool and Lazy River
• Flow Rider offering the fun and excitement of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding in one truly interactive ride.

IMMA

If modern art is more up your teen’s street, then the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is home to the National Collection of modern and contemporary art, with over 3,500 artworks by Irish and International artists.

Admission is free.

National Print Museum

The National Print Museum offers a range of guided tours, workshops and educational resources for young people. They have interactive guided tours for young people wishing to visit with their friends or with a youth group.

The Museum’s permanent exhibition is laid out in the same style as an old print shop with a Composing Area, Printing Area and Finishing Area and through this exhibition your tour guide will lead you through the different stages of printing, from the inventions of Johannes Gutenberg to the changes brought by early modern technology such as the PC’s and laptops we all use today.

The Museum also hosts a variety of exciting workshops throughout the year, such as Introduction to Letterpress, Calligraphy, Bookbinding, Printmaking – Etching, Japanese Woodblock Printmaking and many more.

GPO Witness History

Dublin’s GPO is of course an iconic building associated with the 1916 Rising, and the events that led to the creation of an independent Ireland. It also houses a highly interactive and immersive exhibition that puts you right inside the GPO during Easter Week in 1916.

The exhibition allows visitors to experience the events of the 1916 rising from those who actively participated on both sides and gives bystanders and eye witness accounts.

Touch screens, real artefacts, videos, dress sets and memory walls help to enhance the experience and bring history to life.

You’ll be immersed in the action as you compose newspaper reports, examine the original copy of the Proclamation and send Morse code to declare the Irish Republic by radio.

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National Leprechaun Museum

The National Leprechaun Museum is the first ever attraction dedicated to Irish mythology, opening up a fun and magical world full of fascinating folklore, mythology and enchanting stories.

Explore the museum on a guided tour with a storyteller, who will bring you through the spaces and tell you more about Irish folklore and mythology. You’ll explore spaces that reflect these stories, or recreates experiences typically associated with leprechauns. The result is a series of captivating, interactive experiences – from the first ever sighting back in the eighth century, through to modern day representations of the leprechaun in film and popular culture – and plenty of adventures in between.

Feel what it’s like to journey deep beneath the rocks of the Giant’s Causeway, open up your minds to the sights and stories of Ireland’s mythical otherworld on a trip to a fairy hill. Find yourself in a leprechaun-sized world and take a journey to the end of the rainbow to see if the elusive crock of gold really exists.

Epic Ireland

Epic Ireland opened in 2016 and is an interactive visitor experience celebrating the global journeys and influence of the Irish diaspora. Over the centuries, some 10 million people have left the island of Ireland and EPIC Ireland tells the dramatic story of how these people have spread around the globe, and how they changed the world.

Through 20 state-of-the-art galleries, visitors immerse themselves in the stories of some of the most remarkable tales of sacrifice, endurance, adventure, and discovery the world has ever known.

Located in The chq Building in the heart of Dublin‘s docklands, EPIC Ireland brings these amazing stories to life in a unique and spectacular way, never experienced before.

Butlers Chocolate Experience

Most teens I know are a bit mad for the old chocolate. If they have ever wondered what really goes on behind the doors of a chocolate factory or had a hankering to be a bit Willy Wonka-ish why not send them off for a visit to Butlers Chocolate Experience to find out.

Dublin Cinemas

Who doesn’t love some popcorn and a good movie? Head to one of the cinemas in Dublin to take in one of the latest offerings, a classic movie, or even a singalong show!

Awesome Walls Climbing Centre

Awesome Walls is one of the largest and most modern indoor climbing centres in Europe, suitable for 6 to 16 year olds.

Two-hour climbing sessions with an instructor, as well as parties can be booked, to try your hand at something new!

The Rink at D12

The Rink at D12 offers 4,500 sq. ft of family friendly fun, birthday parties, great dance and fitness classes and Ireland’s favourite roller skating rink.

With music blasting and a light show spectacle, get ready to have some rolling fun!

Dundrum Town Centre

Your teen will definitely enjoy Ireland’s largest shopping centre, Dundrum Town Centre, with over 100 stores and popular teen brands such as Hollister, SuperDry and H&M and of course Penney’s.

Plenty of eating options too with over 40 restaurants and cafes. The centre is served by the Luas green line.

Rainforest Adventure Golf

Rainforest Adventure Golf at Dundrum is the only themed indoor mini golf venue of its kind in Ireland, and you can play whatever the weather.

They have two 18-hole South American themed crazy golf courses “deep within the rainforest”.

Trinity College

Get a feel for what it’s like to be a student by having a wander or taking a group tour around Trinity College, one of Ireland’s oldest Universities.

Most people are aware that The Book of Kells is there to visit at Trinity but did you know there is a Zoological Museum with over 25,000 specimens of animals from Ireland and abroad? It also contains a collection of hand-made glass models prepared by the famous Blaschka family (c. 1860), an amazing series of life sized models of plants and animals that were made out of glass to help teach students.

Go Quest

If you like watching The Cube or those types of TV shows or if you like any sort of interactive challenge, then you’ll love GoQuest!

When you enter a room you have a limited amount of time to try and solve the challenge within – succeed and you’ll get the points for that room, fail and you can re-try it or attempt another challenge.

Situated in Carrickmines, Go Quest comprises two separate challenge areans. The GoQuest Arena (suited to adults, teens and families with over-13s) has 29 unique challenges, while the GoQuest Junior Arena is best suited to slightly younger families and ages 9-13, and has 21 unique challenges.

Flynn Park (formerly Courtlough)

Set on over 75 acres in North County Dublin, Flynn Park offers a range of activity options, including an aqua lough with inflatable slides and obstacles, archery, paintball, disc golf, adventure tower and more.

Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum

And last but not least, how about a visit to Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum?  Take a cemetery tour, visit the museum & trace your family tree online.

Led by a team of experienced guides, the famous and very popular tours include the General History Tour or Dead Interesting Glasnevin tour, both giving a valuable insight into this unique Victorian burial place and into the final resting place of the men and women who have helped shape Ireland’s past and present.

The now famous speech delivered by Patrick Pearse at the grave of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa on 1st August, 1915, is re-enacted daily at 2.30pm by an actor dressed as Pearse in full uniform.

Future Shock

An electric mix of world-class Free Roam VR, Escape Rooms, VR Arcade, Racing Simulators and Esports Gaming Centre all joining together in one state of the art venue make a trip to Future Shock an experience above anything else.