Viking Family Day at Dublinia

Dublin was founded by Vikings (literally, the name comes from the Norse), and Dublinia is where that history comes alive for kids and adults alike. Their Viking Family Day turns the museum into a full day of hands-on, noisy, brilliant fun that will have your children talking about it for weeks.

What to Expect

Dublinia sits right next to Christ Church Cathedral in one of the oldest parts of the city, and the museum is purpose-built to make history feel real rather than dusty. On Family Day, they ramp everything up. Kids can try on replica Viking armour and helmets, learn to write their names in runes, handle replica tools and weapons, and listen to costumed storytellers bring Dublin’s Norse and medieval past to life. There are Viking cooking demonstrations showing what people actually ate a thousand years ago, craft workshops where children can make their own shields, and interactive exhibits that let you experience what life was like in a medieval Dublin street, smells included. The museum’s permanent exhibitions cover Viking Dublin, medieval Dublin, and the history of the city through the ages, with life-size reconstructions and archaeological finds that are genuinely fascinating. It is one of those rare museums that works equally well for a five-year-old and a curious adult.

Good to Know

All Family Day activities are included with standard museum entry: twelve euro for adults and eight for children, with family tickets also available. The activities run throughout the day from 10am to 5pm, and most are walk-in, first come first served, so no need to book specific time slots. The museum is fully accessible and has baby-changing facilities. There is a small gift shop with Viking-themed toys and books that your kids will absolutely drag you into. Allow at least two hours to do the museum and activities justice. If the weather is good, Christ Church Cathedral and the surrounding area are worth exploring before or after. You are standing on ground that has been continuously occupied for over a thousand years.

Getting There

Dublinia is on St Michael’s Hill, right beside Christ Church Cathedral. It is about a fifteen-minute walk from O’Connell Street or Temple Bar. The nearest Luas stop is Four Courts on the Red Line, roughly a ten-minute walk. Dublin Bus routes 49, 54a, and 77a all stop nearby on Thomas Street and High Street. If you are driving, the closest car parks are on Christchurch Place and Werburgh Street. The area is very walkable and you will pass through some of the most historically rich streets in the city on the way.