Once you move to a stage where your child is no longer excited by the promise of a visit to the playground to whizz down the slide or soar on the swings, a new need for entertainment options and days out arises. We’ve picked 40+ ideas for activities and days out in Ireland, ranging from creative to exhilarating, that your tweens and teens will love!
Whether you decide to take part as a family, or organise a group of their friends to come along, there is plenty of fun to be had. Swap soaring on the swings for some treetop ziplining or thrilling coasters, feed the need for speed with a trip round the go karting track, or get set for water-based fun with river rafting, paddle boarding, surfing, kayaking and a whole host of other ideas!
Activities for Tweens and Teens Around Ireland
Baysports Waterpark, Athlone

Baysports is Ireland’s largest inflatable waterpark, and incredibly accessible from all parts of the country.
The original and award-winning floating slides, rockers and challenges include the Round Tower slide which holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest floating slide in the world!
But the fun doesn’t stop there – try out the giant Tír na nÓg slide, the multi-slide Isle of Saints and Scholars, and the Athlone Castle jumping platform.
Strandhill Surf School, Sligo
Beginner lessons are the best way to learn the basics of surfing. Start with learning the basics on the beach, then hit the water and try to get upright!
Each lesson takes three hours with all wetsuit gear and equipment provided.
Skypark at Carlingford Adventure, Louth
Skypark is Ireland’s biggest adventure park, complete with the longest aerial adventure course in Ireland! There’s a 460ft zipline, cargo nets, giant log swings, monkey bars and up to 3 hours of fun on the course.
If heights aren’t your thing or you just want to extend your day, ground activities include footgolf, frisbee golf, Quasar, archery, climbing wall, gyro, and aeroball.
Editor’s Note: We love that the 460ft zipline can be experienced by everyone, thanks to an accessible zipline harness which allows disabled and wheelchair users to experience the same thrill! Contact Skypark in advance to make arrangements.
Smuggler’s Cove, Cork

Hit up the summer tubing park at Smuggler’s Cove, with 4 tracks varying from 50m to 100m, where you can experience a real thrill. The biggest track is the Tubby Jump, which is a steep run where the rider is propelled into the air before landing onto a giant freestyle ski bag!
But that’s not all that’s on offer – there’s also a huge maize maze, crazy golf, a timber maze, and a golf range.
We Are Vertigo, Belfast

Get ready to hit new heights and feel the thrill of full power winds up to 120mph propelling you into the air as you visit Ireland’s only skydiving centre.
When you come back down to earth, have a go on the adrenalin-pumping Ninja Master course to tackle obstacles and see if you can make it up the warped wall.
Wakedock, Dublin

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.
Dunmore Adventure Centre, Waterford

All your favourite water- and land-based activities are on offer here, including SUP, kayaking, archery and climbing walls. You can also try your hand at sailing with 2-hour and 1-day sailing courses to offer you a great introduction.
And let’s not forget The Wibit – an obstacle course on the water, with swings, slides, cliffs, spinners, a huge action tower to slide, climb and jump from, as well as two water trampolines to jump around on.
Go With the Flow River Adventures, Carlow
Do something unique and go where few others get to experience. Choose a half- or full-day activity excursion and spend some time paddling some of the most enchanting waterways in Ireland.
Instructors will guide you along exclusive trails and show you how to shoot weirs and ride the rapids – you can even take a swim in remote pools along the way.
Wildlands, Galway

Wildlands has something for everyone, whether you want to hone your archery skills or become the ultimate daredevil weaving 49 feet above the ground on the Zip n Trek course. Tickle your brain in the Crystal Maze-style Challenge Rooms, where you’ll need more than just physical skills to solve the puzzles. Conquer your fears on the eye-catching indoor fun walls, or learn bushcraft skills in the woods.
For something a little different, the disc golf course is waiting to be discovered, and tag archery is an adrenaline-fuelled activity to playfully test your skill and endurance as you hunt your friends through the trees!
Lahinch Surf School, Clare
Established in 2002 by former Irish Champion and Pro Surfer John McCarthy, Lahinch Surf School was the first of it’s kind on the West Coast of Ireland.
Whether you are an absolute first-timer or a seasoned professional, you can expect to have a safe and fun time in the surf and learn how to perfect your “POP UP” to your feet in 1,2 or 3 steps!
Each lesson is 2 hours long, with 80-90 minutes spent in the water. Lessons are held in waist deep water so you don’t need to be an amazing swimmer to take part.
Kiltorcan Raceway, Kilkenny

Have you tried karting yet? This award-winning 1,000m circuit with 18 corners of various difficulty is a great place to start!
Try a 30- or 60-minute Sprint session which allows drivers new to the venue to acquaint themselves with the karts and learn the circuit, as well as allowing those with more experience to hone their driving technique.
Over 16s can also take part in the Grand Prix. Drivers take part in practice, qualifying and a grand finale to take the all-important first place position and top spot on the podium.
Future Shock, Dublin

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.
Dingle Sea Safari, Kerry

The Dingle Sea Safari Rib Experience has been voted the number one activity to do while visiting the Dingle Peninsula.
Take this unique boat tour to see the breathtaking coastline of Dingle Bay, get an up close view of the Great Blasket Island, see the rock formations, seals and caves. Keep an eye out for puffins, whales and dolphins during this 2.5-3 hour tour.
SummerSUP, Cork and Mayo
Summer SUP & Kayak school is based in two stunning locations on the Wild Atlantic way. Try your hand at stand up paddle boarding and kayaking with lessons, rentals, tours and summer camps.
Lessons are run on a daily basis at each location and are suitable for complete beginners, and then rentals are available by the hour once you have completed the pre-required lesson. All gear and equipment is provided so all you need to worry about is having fun.
Kylemore Karting, 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.
Basecamp Adventure Park, Limerick

If you eat, sleep and breathe adventure, you will definitely want to visit Basecamp Adventure Park. This 80-acre action adventure park contains the newest and most exciting outdoor activities, including 3D archery, paintball, splatball, survival challenges and bushcraft.
The Combat Zone paintball arena is set amongst 25 acres of natural woodland and includes some of the best paintball missions in Europe. Meanwhile, Forest Archery will thrill all ages from 8+. Armed with a bow and arrows you will work your way through the purpose-built forest archery course looking for targets hidden deep in the woods. A range of targets at various skill and distance levels are placed along the course to test your aim – will you be able to shoot the maniac bear that stalks you in the woods or the terrifying zombie?!
Kinsale Pottery, Cork
Feeling creative? What about a spot of pottery, glass fusing, jewellery-making or mosaic-making? Kinsale Pottery and Arts Centre provides arts and crafts courses for adults, teens and children that are suitable for beginners and enthusiasts.
The weekly classes, one-day or weekend classes, and camps all explore a range of facilities and techniques. The pottery includes electric and raku kilns, stoneware and earthenware clays, and your can try the different styles of throwing, hand-building and all varieties of glazing.
Lough Key Forest Park, Roscommon

Whether you are an adrenalin junkie or are just looking to try something different, the Zipit high wires experience at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park is an outdoor adventure for everyone. Zip between the treetops, crash into cargo nets or ride a BMX across a bridge, the choice is yours!
But Zipit isn’t the only exciting option to choose from – Lough Key is packed with entertainment options for all ages. Climb to new heights on the tree top canopy walk, cycle and explore more than 8km of traffic-free trails in the Park, explore the lake by kayak or paddle boat, brush up on your navigation skills with orienteering courses. or tackle the innovative Boda Borg with its 15 quests, 47 challenges…and no instructions!
Squirrel’s Scramble, Wicklow
Squirrel’s Scramble is an adventure tree park in Bray, set in the ground of Kilruddery House. With tree-top challenges from 2m to 12m in height, there are five levels and many different challenges to traverse from tree to tree, including 16 zip lines, rope bridges, magic carpets and lots more!
Killary Adventure Centre, Galway

Sweeping down to the fjord through ancient woodland with spectacular mountain and coastal scenery all around, Killary is a place like no other. Here, you can stay in eco-friendly accommodation and make the most of a range of both land and water activities.
Land activities include tree top ropes course, skyfall, archery, clay pigeon shooting, climbing tower, electronic orienteering, giant swing, bushcraft and survival skills. Water activities include kayaking, fishing, bog obstacle course, gorge walking, ringo rides, and giant SUP.
National Snowsports Centre, Dublin
Get ready to hit the slopes and develop your skiing and snowboarding skills with a trip to the The Ski Club of Ireland, based in Kilternan, where it operates the National Snowsports Centre for Ireland.
Classes and training facilities are available for everyone from the complete beginner to the more experienced enthusiast.
Zipit Forest Adventures, Roscommon, Dublin and Cork

Zipit Forest Adventures offers up to 4 hours of tree-top, fun-filled, thrilling experiences in a healthy, outdoor setting. 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.
Tayto Park, Meath

With adrenalin-fuelled rides that definitely aren’t for the faint-hearted, Tayto Park is Ireland’s only theme park.
From the Cú Chulainn Rollercoaster, Europe’s largest wooden coaster, to exhilarating rides such as Air Race, Power Surge, Endeavour, there is plenty to keep thrill-seekers happy.
Go Quest, Dublin

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.
Delphi Adventure Centre, Galway
Located in the heart of the breathtaking Delphi Valley near Leenane in Connemara, Delphi Resort’s on-site adventure centre offers both land and water based activities, including kayaking, archery, climbing, surfing, zip wires, high ropes course, bushcraft survival and orienteering, bog obstacle course, abseiling, tunneling, mountain biking, SUP, raft building, surfing, and much more.
Liffey River Rafting, Dublin

Did you know that you can go rafting on the Liffey? Opened in 2009 by the team at the Canoe Centre in Palmerstown, Rafting.ie was established to give clients a unique, fun and safe way to discover the hidden gem that is the the Strawberry Beds and Liffey Valley area from a unique vantage point on the River Liffey.
All equipment is provided, including wetsuits, helmets and PFDs. Then it’s time to start your paddling adventure where four weirs, numerous rapids and beautiful scenery awaits.
Colin Glen Adventure Park, Belfast

Colin Glen is a spectacular 200-acre Forest Park at Stewartstown Road, just 5 minutes from Belfast City Centre. Here, tweens and teens will enjoy Sky Trek high-ropes, Ireland’s first Alpine Coaster and Ireland’s longest zipline!
As well as nail-biting adventure, there’s also an awesome sports facility, home to Ireland’s first TrackMan Driving Range, 9-hole golf course, Belfast’s first state-of-the-art indoor 3G Sports Dome, top class gym, outdoor pitches and more.
Flynn Park (formerly Courtlough), Dublin

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.
Zone Extreme Activity Centre, Meath

You will easily spend a few hours at The Zone Activity Centre in Navan, a 24,000 sq. ft. purpose built facility, where there are a huge range of exhilarating things to do, including karting, bowling, laser combat, laser maze, XBOX One gaming area and virtual reality experiences.
Jumpzone, Dublin

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.
Footee, Dublin

Are you ready for something new? Footee offers a range of fantastic hybrid sports experiences at a flagship course set in the foothills of the Dublin mountains.
FootGolf, which mixes the technique of football with the style of golf, is the original flagship game and you can play a full 18-hole course. It’s basically football played on a golf course to the rules of golf: where each hole carries a par and the aim is to get the football into the hole in as few shots as possible.
Other hybrid sports include Bubble Football, where your head and upper body are enclosed in an inflatable zorb while you (hilariously!) try to play football; battlezone archery; human foosball; and RugbyGolf.
Awesome Walls, Dublin and Cork

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!
Ballyhass Adventure Centre, Cork

Two Ballyhass locations in Mallow and Coachford offer a range of activities, including an inflatable water park, kayak rental and expeditions, SUP, wakeboarding, ziplines, high nets course, archery, axe throwing, and more!
Incognito Escape Room, Dublin
Escape Rooms are a type of immersive adventure game in which people are “locked” in a heavily themed or decorated room with other participants and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles, find clues, and escape the room within a set time limit. Incognito offers a choice of three themed rooms – Game of Stones, Baker Street Mystery, and The Cabin in the Woods.
Lough Derg Aqua Splash, Tipperary

Lough Derg Aqua Splash is a floating playground for adults and kids on Lough Derg, right in the heart of Dromineer. Ireland’s very own version of Wipe Out challenges you to jump, climb, bounce and slide your way around the inflatable course.
If jumping off inflatables doesn’t float your boat, you can entertain yourself with kayaks, pedal boats or stand up paddle boarding.
Pottery Workshops at Arran Street East, Dublin

Arran Street East School of Pottery is located within Dublin’s old Fruit and Vegetable Market area, and offers classes and workshops for people interested in exploring pottery, or those who wish to continue developing their skills on a wheel or hand-building process.
Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin

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 Penneys.
Plenty of eating options too with over 40 restaurants and cafes. The centre is served by the Luas green line.
Vintage Tea Trips, Dublin and Cork

In Dublin, board your vintage Routemaster bus in historic Temple Bar. Soak up the nostalgia as your host gets the conversation started, the 1950s jazz starts up, and a classic afternoon tea is served. Savour all your afternoon tea favourites as your bus travels past sights such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the grand buildings of Georgian Dublin.
In Cork, hop aboard a 1960s vintage Routemaster bus and enjoy an exclusive menu, handmade each morning by Mags from The Pastry Fork. Sit back, relax and be regaled with tales about Cork.
Dingle Horseriding, Kerry

See the stunning Dingle peninsula on horseback with treks that range from 2.5-6 hours, either through the hills behind Dingle with stunning views over the Atlantic or along the beaches and Great Blasket Island trails.
If one afternoon isn’t enough, take your pick of 3- or 7-day trail riding holidays.
Pallas Karting, Galway

Push your driving skills to the absolute limit at Pallas Advanced Karting Centre. The mammoth 1500m karting track is the longest in Europe, allowing drivers go wheel to wheel with the 85kph Thuderkarts. Novices and younger drivers, meanwhile, can start their journey to stardom on the custom 500m Beginners Track, hitting speeds of up to 55kph.
Aquaholics, Donegal
Have you always wondered what it’s like to breathe underwater? If you want to try scuba diving, but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience is for you.
Alternatively, if you’ve always wanted to learn how to scuba dive and see the wondrous world beneath the waves, the PADI Open Water Diver course is your best choice and will teach you all you need to know to become a certified diver. During the course, you’ll make at least five confined dives and four open water dives at local dive sites under the supervision of your PADI Instructor.
Croke Park Skyline Tour, Dublin

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.
The Rink at D12, Dublin

The Rink at D12 is Dublin’s only roller disco and dance studio and offers lots of fast-paced fun with great music and lighting. Book a midweek 90-minute skating slot or a weekend 2-hour session and make the most of the 4,500 sq. ft roller disco.
