Is there anything more beautiful than Ireland in Summer? We don’t think so. The days are long and bright, the weather is warm, and the citizens are cheerful. Dublin has long held a piece of my family’s heart, and summer is our preferred time to visit.
Our three favorite Dublin hotels for families
If you’re considering taking a vacation to Dublin, Ireland, this summer, you’ll have many choices in accommodations. Hotels in Dublin are plentiful, and while you can’t really go wrong with any of the significant options if you’re planning to visit with your kids, we have a few of our favorites to share.
First things first, though, if you’re traveling to Dublin with your family this summer, avoid staying in the middle of the Temple Bar area. Don’t get me wrong; the Temple Bar neighborhood is lovely and great to visit on summer.
It is filled with old architectural buildings, flowers draped from balconies, many open-patio dining options, frequent live music, and art. Two of our top 3 recommendations are technically even IN Temple Bar but don’t stay in the thick of the neighborhood.
Temple Bar is ground zero for the party crew. After consuming way too much alcohol, the younger local tourists can be found loudly wandering the streets in the early morning hours, trying to remember where their hotels and hostels are located.
No judgment from me; we’ve all been there. It’s not the Dublin experience you’ll want your kids to remember. However, as I said, it’s a beautiful and centrally located neighborhood in Dublin, and that’s where you’ll find our first two picks.
The Grafton Hotel – City Center
The Grafton Hotel in Dublin is located right on the southern tip of Temple Bar in Dublin, 2. You’ll find easy access to things like Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Temple Bar, and Dublin’s primary shopping district here. It’s also very close to several tram stops, should you like to take the Luas around the city.
Accommodations at the Grafton Hotel are well suited for families and offer a variety of different options depending on your needs, from classic doubles, connected suites, and their unique family and sharing rooms which come with a king-sized bed for parents with bunk beds for the kiddos.
What’s super special about this hotel is its decor. The hotel has truly done an out-of-this-world job in bringing modern art deco decor to life for its guests. Rooms patterned with geometric thrills and sumptuous fabrics bring the style of the era front and center, making every visit feel like the party of the century.
The Clarence Hotel – Temple Bar
The Clarence Hotel, also sometimes known as the U2 Hotel, is one part historical icon and one part modern luxe landing pad. Recently renovated, the hotel is a 4.5-star, 51-room hotel located on Wellington Quay, with wonderful views of the River Liffey.
While not my favorite hotel in Dublin for families, primarily due to its proximity to Temple Bar, I do still believe its spacious family rooms can be a great option for travelers with larger budgets and older children.
The Penthouse Suite at the Clarence is a two-bedroom, 2,000 SQFT townhouse style accommodation with two king beds, an in-room bar, and a large entertaining area, which makes it compelling for larger families or families staying for a longer period of time.
What makes this room a favorite of our family is its central location. While still hovering at the edge of the Temple Bar neighborhood, The Clarence is slightly out of the thick of things, as we can see below.
Family guests at The Clarence can safely stroll the Quay while also easily crossing any of the bridges to access quieter areas of Dublin North. In addition, the penthouse’s outdoor space allows guests to fully enjoy the downtown views of Dublin from a private veranda.
If you have slightly older children who can tune out the noise, this hotel definitely has something to offer. One note about The Clarence, they do note in their bookings that it can get loud there at night.
The Spencer Hotel – Dublin 1
The Spencer Hotel is my favorite hotel in Dublin, not just when traveling with my kids. Located at the far edge of Dublin 1, in the North Docklands neighborhood, it’s the perfect balance for me between city life and quiet respite.
Location, location, location! The Spencer is unbelievably convenient for families that want to see the city. Exit the building, turn right, and walk 500 feet; the Luas is right at your door. This above-ground inner city “subway” system is easy to navigate, safe, and cheap.
Whether you want to jot down to the shops by Trinity or you want to catch a lift to the Euro Rail, the Luas from this point will get you where you need to go with no muss and no fuss.
The Mayor Square stop is within a well-lit town square filled with working professionals and local eateries, so no worries that you’ll be in some deserted locale here.
If you love Italian cuisine as much as my family does, be sure to make a stop at Il Fornaio’s during your stay. You won’t regret it.
Family accommodations at The Spencer, Dublin, Ireland – if you’re traveling to Ireland and you’re looking for the best family-friendly Hotels in Dublin, this is it! The Spencer not only offers your standard Delux Room, where you’ll get a king-sized bed and a full-sized fold-out couch…
The Spencer also offers families triple room layouts, with at least one queen and two doubles so parents can rest peacefully at night without one fighting about whose pillow belongs to whom.
But the real star of the show for us when visiting The Spencer Hotel in Dublin is the two-bedroom family suites with balconies overlooking the River Liffey. There’s nothing quite like sitting outside on your balcony on a warm sunny day and watching the city hum, and there’s so much space to stretch out, with the accommodations having 1 Queen bedroom and another Queen (or one Queen and 2 Kings).
If you are traveling with younger children, who benefit from naptime, this hotel is quiet, and you’ll have no difficulties closing the blinds and helping the kiddos get the sleep they need to tackle your planned adventures.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our reviews of these three unique hotels in Dublin, and if there’s anything else you’re curious about or learn, let us know. It’s truly a gem of a city for traveling with kids, and we can’t wait to go back again.
Until next time!