Forest parks, national museums, OPW heritage sites on the first Wednesday of the month and your local library are all free. Here's what each offers families and what to check before you go.
Plenty of great family days out in Ireland are free. Coillte’s forests are free to walk and cycle in, all four National Museum of Ireland sites have free admission, many Office of Public Works (OPW) castles, abbeys and gardens are free on the first Wednesday of every month, and library membership costs nothing at any age. A few need a little planning, such as parking charges or opening days, so here’s what to know about each.
A day out isn’t a cure for screen time, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s simply a good, cheap reason for everyone to put the phones away for a few hours, adults included.
Coillte, the state forestry company, manages more than 260 recreation sites, including 12 forest parks and 3,000km of waymarked trails (Coillte, July 2026). Coillte says entry to all its forests is free for walkers and cyclists, although some of the larger forest parks charge for car parking, paid by card or app rather than cash (Coillte). Charges can change, so check the park’s own page before you go.
Coillte’s own picks for families include (Coillte):
Barbecues and open fires aren’t allowed in Coillte forests, so bring a flask and sandwiches instead (Coillte). The recreation map on Coillte’s website shows the nearest forest to you, and a local wood can be just as good as a famous one for a short walk.
Admission to all four National Museum of Ireland sites is free, and families don’t need to book (National Museum of Ireland):
The Dublin museums open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 1pm to 5pm on Sundays and Mondays (NMI, Collins Barracks). At the time of writing the museum’s pages also mention closures and reduced services because of industrial action, including the Kildare Street museum closing for a day at short notice, and no cloakroom for bags (NMI, Archaeology). Check the museum’s website or ring ahead on the day, and travel light.
On the first Wednesday of each month, many OPW heritage sites offer free admission to individual visitors and families (Heritage Ireland). The list runs to dozens of sites around the country, including Charles Fort, Donegal Castle, Dún Aonghasa, Glendalough, Trim Castle, Cahir Castle, Ross Castle and the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre.
A few things to know (Heritage Ireland):
A Wednesday is a school day, so this works best for younger children, home-educating families or school holidays. The first Wednesday this month is 4 November, and the next is 2 December.
Public library membership is free for everyone in Ireland, at any age, and children under 18 just need a parent or guardian’s permission to join (Libraries Ireland). You can start the form online and then bring photo ID and proof of address to the library to collect the cards. Children under 12 get the children’s library and PG-rated DVDs, and 12 to 14-year-olds get the young adult collection too (Libraries Ireland).
A library trip pairs nicely with any of the days out above: pick up a book about castles, birds or forests before you go. Our guide to getting your child reading has more ideas.
Let them lead, lower the stakes and use what's already near you: youth clubs, Scouts, Gaisce and local sport. Practical ideas for getting a teenager into something off-screen without a row.
Little and often, their choice of book, and a free library card. Practical, no-nag ways to help children of every age enjoy reading, with ideas that suit screen-loving kids.
Go out with them, keep it short and fun, bring other children along and build outdoor time into the school run. Easy, free ideas by age, plus what the HSE says children need.
