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Parks with playgrounds and open space make easy family stops.

Greener Dublin, Ireland 3 min read

Family walks: how to plan a route kids will actually enjoy

By (Our writers) · Published

Parks with playgrounds and open space make easy family stops.Photo: James Emmans, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Getting children out for a walk is easy. Keeping them happy for the whole walk is the hard part. A few small planning choices make a huge difference: shorter distances, more stops and a route with something to look forward to. Here's how to plan family-friendly routes, from toddlers to teenagers.

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Stop 1 · Dublin 2 · Play & ducks

St Stephen's Green Playground

Bridge over the duck pond followed by a fenced playground for all ages.

Walk here

Shorter than you think

Adults often overestimate how far children want to walk. Start with routes of about 20–40 minutes for young children and build up from there. Variety matters more than distance: a 3 km walk with a playground, a duck pond and an ice cream stop will feel easier than a flat 2 km walk along a busy road.

Give the walk a mission

Kids love a goal. Turn the route into a quest: spot five dogs, find a red door, count bridges or collect differently shaped leaves. A Sightseer route with statues and landmarks becomes a treasure hunt, and a Greener route is perfect for nature bingo.

Practical tip: let older children choose the vibe in the planner. Having a say makes them much more invested in the walk.

Plan stops every 15–20 minutes

Regular stops keep energy and morale up. Good family stops include playgrounds, parks with open space, benches near water, public toilets and cafés with outdoor seating. The Greener vibe tends to pick up parks and gardens, which often have playgrounds and facilities.

St. Stephen's Green Playground Learning Braille
St. Stephen's Green Playground Learning BraillePhoto: Illustratedjc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A family walk in Dublin

Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe and a great choice for families. There's plenty of space to run around, a herd of wild fallow deer that you can often see from a respectful distance, and Dublin Zoo for a bigger day out. Closer to the city centre, St Stephen's Green has a playground and ponds with ducks. Don't feed or approach the deer, and keep dogs on a lead around them.

Pack smart

  • Water and snacks. Hungry children are unhappy children.
  • A spare layer for each person and something waterproof.
  • Sun cream and hats on bright days, even in spring.
  • Wipes, plasters and any medication you might need.
  • A small bag of "emergency" treats for the last stretch home.
Fallow Deer, Phoenix Park
Fallow Deer, Phoenix ParkPhoto: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Think about buggies and scooters

With a buggy or pram, choose paved routes and avoid steps, steep hills and narrow gates, and check that parks have step-free entrances. Scooters and balance bikes keep younger children moving, but make sure the paths are smooth and that they're allowed.

Safety basics

Agree on rules before you go: stop at every kerb, stay within sight and wait at crossings. Put a card with your phone number in younger children's pockets, and point out staff or uniformed people they can ask for help if you get separated. Near water, keep small children close at all times.

Shelter in Phoenix Park, Dublin
Shelter in Phoenix Park, DublinPhoto: P L Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Teenagers are different

Older kids often want independence and a bit of purpose. Let them navigate, choose the food stop or plan a photo walk. A walk that ends at their favourite café or shop is a much easier sell than "let's go for a walk".

End on a high

Finish at a highlight rather than letting the walk fizzle out on the way back. A treat, a playground or a quick game makes the whole walk memorable, and makes the next one easier to suggest.

Reference & tools:

Dublin through the year

Dublin averages 14 rainy days in Oct and highs of about 14°C. The driest month is usually Apr.

07.5158°9°10°12°15°18°19°19°17°14°11°10°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Days with 1 mm of rain or moreAverage high (°C)

Show the numbers
MonthRainy daysRainAverage highSunshineSunset
Jan1363 mm8°C4.1 h/day16:34
Feb1366 mm9°C5.4 h/day17:33
Mar1580 mm10°C7.1 h/day18:27
Apr1263 mm12°C9.2 h/day20:23
May1365 mm15°C11 h/day21:16
Jun1372 mm18°C11.4 h/day21:54
Jul1579 mm19°C10.1 h/day21:47
Aug1382 mm19°C9.7 h/day20:56
Sep1383 mm17°C8.2 h/day19:44
Oct1488 mm14°C6.2 h/day18:32
Nov1387 mm11°C4.5 h/day16:31
Dec1595 mm10°C3.3 h/day16:07
Averages for 2015–2024 from Open-Meteo historical weather (CC BY 4.0); sun times calculated for the 15th of each month, local time.

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