Tips for traveling to Dublin as a family

Dublin is a complete city that offers culture, history and fun in equal measure. Find out in this guide everything you need to plan a family trip to the Irish capital and enjoy its nearby coastline, its balanced environment, its people. We show you the festivities, weather, currency and practical in

We show you the festivities, weather, currency and practical information that will facilitate the preparation of your trip to Dublin.

Tips before traveling to Dublin

Climate of Dublin

The Irish usually say that it is possible to have the four weather stations on the same day. Do not be surprised if it rains when you wake up, the temperature rises a lot at noon and ends the afternoon with a temperate climate typical of autumn.

In general, Ireland has a mild and temperate climate. Rainy days are very common and the average annual temperature is about 10 ° C.

The summer months of June, July and August are the most suitable for traveling to Dublin as the days are longer and warmer. In addition, during this season there are many festivals that travel the Irish geography.

Spring and autumn are also nice seasons for tourism in Ireland, however during the winter the days are very short and gray, which greatly restricts tourists. During the month of December, it dusk falls around 4:00 p.m., unlike the summer, when the light lengthens until 11:00 p.m.

What to bring in your suitcase to Dublin with the children

A trip with children to Dublin will require you to think in advance everything you need so you do not miss anything. Regardless of the time of year in which you travel, it is advisable to always bring a raincoat or umbrella to Dublin.

With regard to clothes, this will depend a lot on whether you go in summer or winter, for example, so check the weather forecast before packing.

Being a family trip you will have to be cautious and wear those things you think may be useful: visors, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, first aid kit, food for the trip, etc. And if, in the worst case, you forget something, do not despair. Dublin is a city where you will find everything at normal prices.

Dublin business hours

Dublin is a city with European timetables in every way.

Most Dublin shops open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Some shopping centers and stores in the most central areas extend their hours until 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. And some also open on Sundays in the middle of the day.

Museums usually open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although on Thursdays the closing hours are usually delayed. Some museums rest on Mondays.

The restaurants have a very long schedule in Dublin, especially for tourists because the Irish tend to eat soon, as in most of Europe, and to dine around 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

The famous Irish pubs open soon, around 10:30 in the morning and do not close until 11:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 12:30 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays they open a little later, around 12.30 and close at 11:30 PM.

The opening hours of the banks are usually from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and from Monday to Friday. Some banks also open on Saturdays and virtually all banks have ATMs where you can withdraw money with credit and debit cards.

The currency of Ireland

As a member of the Eurozone, Ireland has the euro as its official currency.

Euro bills in circulation are: 5 euros, 10 euros, 20 euros, 50 euros, 100 euros, 200 euros and 500 euros.

The euro coins are 1 euro and 2 euros, while the cent coins are: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents.

If you need to exchange currency you can do it in the banks of Ireland or in the establishments destined to change currencies. If you prefer, you can also pay in almost all establishments with credit cards (Visa, Mastercard ...).

In neighboring Northern Ireland, however, the pound sterling is the legal tender.

Language of Ireland

Irish (Gaelic) and English are the two official languages of Dublin and the Republic of Ireland in general.

If you develop a bit in English you will not have any problem to make yourself understood in Ireland, since its people are very kind and patient.

Plugs and electricity in Ireland

The electric current in Ireland is 220 volts, as in most of Europe. However, Dublin plugs are not very common, so it is very likely that you need adapters for your electrical appliances: mobile phones, hair dryers, etc.

As in the United Kingdom, the G-type plug is used in Ireland, consisting of 3 rectangular flat plugs: one vertical earthing system and two horizontal laterals.

Medical Assistance and Police

Complete health care is free in Ireland for Europeans who carry the European Health Card. If this is not your case, it is advisable to hire travel medical insurance, especially for children.

As in the rest of Europe, the emergency telephone number in Dublin is 112, which includes universal medical assistance, as well as emergency services for police and firefighters.

Independently of the European 112, the telephone 999 is also operative in Ireland as centralizer of the emergencies relative to police, firemen and ambulances.

Documentation and visas to travel to Ireland

EU citizens only need a valid passport or ID to enter Ireland, without the need for visas.

Citizens of most developed countries, for example Australia, Canada, New Zealand or South Africa, do not require a visa. When in doubt, it is best to check the documentation necessary for your trip to Dublin at the Irish or British consulate in your country.