Dublin is a city we are very fond of having lived there for 4 great years. At the time we did not have kids of course and were more into the wonderful nightlifethe city has to offer : fancy company get-together, trendy modern bars, and traditional cosy pubs. Since that time alot has changed and we (as Im sure many ofour readers) obviously look at cities in a different manner - how are we going to entertain the kids ? Dublin has the particularity of being a bite sized capital with most things within a short commute. Its location right on the coast and not far from the wicklow mountains ensures there is an abundance of free things todo.Here is a little guide we have put together for the Irish capital on the best free things to do in and around Dublin.

Trinity CollegeStarting right in the middle of the city the must visit Trinity College occupiesa good portion of space in the center of Dublin city. It is surrounded on all sides by high wrought iron fencing so you will know when you have reached the permitter. The famous giant wooden door acts like a customs house for the city hustle and bustle.You can take a guided (paid) tour hosted by Trinity College history majors if you wish. However the free experience is very sufficient as you simply wander yourway through the grounds. You can visit the campus art gallery and even catchinga cricket match on a Sunday afternoon - delightful when the sun shows up !Temple bar Farmers market.If you happen to be in the centre on the weekend then head over to MeetinghouseSquare in Temple Bar early Saturday morning. It transforms into a farmers marketwith stalls packed full of fruit & veg, cheese, baked goods, olives, and even oysters. Its great for getting the kids to taste local foods. Meetinghouse Squarehas a permanent umbrellas setup (good thinking dublin city council :) , making it a great destination even on traditional irish rainy days.Grafton StreetWe are not the biggest fans of commercial shopping streets, especially with kids, but Grafton street is rather nice to experience for the buskers and street performers.As you stroll down the wide pedestrian street you will come across a fire-breathing strait jacketed unicycling magician , a classical pianist with his full sizepiano and even talented children irish folk singers. Beware Bono has been known to pop out for a few chords especially around christmas.DocklandsThe Docklands in themselves are not really worth a visit as they house the central financial district, within which i spent a few years : ( However in summer there can be alot going on around there.Docklands summer festival takes place at Grand Canal Dock in mid may ( this yearit was 16-17 May) It is a free great weekend out with loads of entertainment. There are open air DJs getting everybody in the vibe : ) It has loads of markets and a whole host of entertainment, including a golf water challenge, canal bargetours, raft races, duck races, world class street performers and more. Kayaks we

re also available this year. It was interesting to kayak on the inner canal dock! This festival has something for all the family to enjoy and its free! so definitely recommended to visit if you are around this weekend.The Dublin Port River Festival happens every year on the June bank holiday weekend. There is a wide array of activities all weekend including of course the epicarrival of ten tall ships and schooners which berth at North Wall Quay for the weekend. There are amusements, tug boat dancing, kayaking and more, sothere is something for all the family to enjoy! This year the festival had a pirate theme so it was great for the little onesPhoenix ParkThe Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. Over the years organised sporting events are an importantfeature of the Park like national and international athletics including duathlons, triathlons, cross-country events, cycling events and community sports days.The parks authorities are now focused on promoting a range of passive rather than active recreational pursuits that broaden interest in the Park and are in keeping with the peaceful ambiance of the Park. There are extensive walking trails throughout the Park which are great for families. Deer watching is a great activity for the younger ones.Be sure to check out the visitor centre that has an interesting 20 minute audiovisual presentation on the Phoenix Park through the ages.On a sunny day this place is buzzing withfrisbee and all sorts of games. Once itsout of the city to breathe some fresh airke sure they dont make too much noise ase irish president lives)

activity with people playing football,dry then this is worth the short tripand leave the kids run riot : ) But maras an Uachtarin is nearby (thats where th

http://www.phoenixpark.ieras an UachtarinEntrance to ras an Uachtarin (Irish for The President s House) is possible and free, so check that out whilst you are in the Phoenix Park. This building is charged with history and official State business still takes place here.

Bray walkBray is a small seaside town south of Dublin. Getting to Bray is very easy - Just jump on the DART in the city centre and it takes about 40 mins. The trip downis very nice as the Dart hugs the coast most of the way down.There is a great walk from Bray to Greystones along the coast and winds along the side of Bray Head. It has some of the most stunning views of the East Coast orIreland so this must beThe Cliff Walk is about 7 kilometres, starting from the bandstand on the Bray Promenade and ending at Greystones harbour. The walk takes about 2 hours to complete and is suitable for all abilities - however do mind the kids as it is a cliff walk . Whilst doing the Cliff Walk you can see loads of types of seabirds and v

arious types of colourful wildflowers. If you are real lucky you might spot dolphins, black harbour porpoises and basking sharks swimming in the waters around the Cliff. We have not personally seen any of these but they do appear on a regular basis.Once you arrive in Greystones be sure to have a hard earned xxx in xxxx. You canjump on the Dart in Greystones to bring you back to dublin.

Wicklow mountainsThe wicklow mountains are not actually in dublin (even if they do start on the edge of the city) and they do necessitate a blog post of their own, but Im addingthem in here anyhow as everyone should get out there for at least a day trip.[need to put more info here]http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/

Call for comments :Have you been to dublin ? Can you comment on any of the above or can you suggestany other ideas for free activities to keep families active and busy on their trip to the Irish capital