Summer Holiday in Killarney with a Toddler

Holidaying in the post-Covid world is definitely not the same, but it sure can be fun. For us, traveling outside Ireland is complicated in current Covid times. However, that doesn’t stop us from exploring this tiny island. We have traveled to Killarney before and that was one of our first trips within Ireland. This Summer Holiday in Killarney with our Toddler was memorable in many other ways, as we witnessed our kiddo really enjoying every second of the trip. Traveling with kiddo has also taught us to slow down, relax and enjoy our vacation on a whole lot different level. 

Summer Holiday in Killarney with a Toddler

Here are some toddler-friendly activities you can do in Killarney. 

Stay in an Organic Farm

This stay was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. When we were planning our trip, we were also looking for a unique stay. We chanced upon these stunning cabins in Gortbrack Organic Farm. It was such a lovely stay and our kiddo enjoyed every second here. There were donkeys and dogs for her to pet, butterflies & beautiful flowers everywhere to admire, and blueberries to devoured fresh off the plant. We got fresh veggies from the farm and cooked some delicious dinner. Our dinners and breakfasts were on the porch, admiring everything around. We can’t recommend this place enough!

Rent a bike with kids trailer attachment

Picnic by Muckross Lake in Killarney National Park

We got so lucky with the weather during this trip, as Ireland was on a heatwave and the weather was just lovely for a picnic. We had packed our lunch, and a picnic blanket before starting the biking trip and looked for a nice stop by the lake to rest and eat. Our kiddo absolutely loved playing in the water and getting dirty in the mud. There were so many people swimming in the lake and the water was at such a lovely warm temperature.

We ate our little lunch, rested, and then went to the garden in front of Muckross House to rest some more in the shade. Yes, it was that warm in Ireland 🙂

Hike the Gap of Dunloe

When we had visited Killarney 5 years back, we really wanted to bike the Gap of Dunloe. But as luck had it, it poured cats and dogs on the day we planned our biking trip. This time around, we decided to just visit the Gap of Dunloe and just do some hiking instead. The Gap of Dunloe hike starts from Kate Kearney’s Cottage and ends at Lord Brandon’s Cottage and it takes about 2.5 hours one way. Since it isn’t a looped walk, you need to retrace your steps back to the starting point. Also, the car park is just opposite Kate Kearney’s Cottage and it’s free.

The last time we hiked in Donegal, we used a baby carrier for our kiddo. The Gap of Dunloe hike is buggy-friendly, so very handy with small kiddos. Had it been a pre-kiddo hike we would have completed the entire stretch. However, this time around we decided to only hike until Fern Height and retrace our steps back. There were a lot of stops in between to eat snacks, throw stones in the lake near the wishing bridge and see the sheep and horses around. It was another very warm day in Ireland but we all really enjoyed our time. After the hike, we enjoyed some lunch and iced tea at The Coffee Pot Cafe next to Kate Kearney’s Cottage

Visit a Petting Farm

We really wanted to include a visit to the Petting Farm in our itinerary for Summer Holiday in Killarney with our Toddler. Kennedys Pet Farm looks absolutely amazing, but we didn’t make a booking sooner. The slots we were getting weren’t suitable, so we didn’t do this. The farm is just 10 minis from the Killarney town center and has a lot of animals like goats, donkeys, ducks etc. 

Also, read about our other trips within Ireland

Having lived in Ireland for more than 5 years now, we have traveled around a good bit. Some of our favorite Irish destinations are listed below if you would like to take a look. 

• Dingle is very close to Killarney, and a beautiful destination for a day trip
• 5 Toddler-Friendly Activities to do in Donegal
• One of the most touristy sites in Ireland – Cliffs of Moher
• 10 Awesome things to do in Dublin
• Drive through Dublin Mountains
• Connemara National Park will give you all the Scottish feels
• Drive through the Giants Causeway and beyond