24 Indoor Activities in Dublin for Rainy Days in 2025

When it comes to indoor activities Dublin has its fair share to offer.

They tend to fall into two categories:

• For those visiting Dublin: There’s plenty of indoor tourist attractions, e.g. the National Gallery
• For those living in Dublin: There’s a mix of ‘old reliables’ and other indoor attractions you likely won’t have tried

Below, you’ll find a heap of rainy day activities in Dublin worth considering. Dive on in!

The best indoor activities Dublin has to offer

There’s plenty of things to do in Dublin on a rainy day that’ll help you fend off the dreaded cabin fever.

Below, you’ll find everything from chill out experiences and unique and unusual tours to indoor activities in Dublin for families.

Note: if you book a tour through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Zero Latency Dublin

Zero Latency Dublin is arguably one of the most unique indoor activities Dublin has to offer.

You’ll find it in Sandyford and the reviews online are top-notch.

Zero Latency combines imagination with technology and transports players (10 years +) to a whole new world.

Game wise, there’s everything from the Haunted House and Zero Gravity Space Explorer to Rollercoasters and more.

2. Escape Boats

If you’re looking for indoor activities in Dublin for families, head on out to Grand Canal Dock and climb aboard the Escape Boat.

Moored on the Grand Canal, this experience requires 2 to 10 players to take part. The aim of the game is to solve the mysteries, repair the boat and escape the perils of the Zorg Ella boat!

There’s two games to choose from – SOS (escape the sinking boat) and CONVICTS (you and your team are prisoners – escape before you get locked up).

Few rainy day activities in Dublin are as well suited to a big group. Just make sure to book in advance.

3. The River Liffey Cruise

There’s plenty of things to do in Dublin but rainy days can make getting around a bit of a pain.

If you fancy seeing the city from a unique perspective, take the highly reviewed (4.5/5 from 1411+ reviews at the time of typing) River Liffey Cruise.

It takes 45 minutes, costs around €18 and you’ll be given an insight into the history of Dublin, from the arrival of the Vikings more than 1,000 years ago.

On the tour, you’ll also see where Oliver Cromwell landed in 1649, discover how much of Dublin sits on reclaimed land and discover facts about Dublin that often get missed.

4. Afternoon Tea on the Vintage Bus

Afternoon Tea on the Vintage Bus is another of the more unique indoor activities in Dublin that’s well worth a look.

Climb aboard a vintage 1960s double-decker bus and head off through the city, taking in the likes of Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral and the Phoenix Park.

You’ll listen to 1950s jazz, munch away on afternoon tea and hear stories from your wonderful hosts.

A very unique way to see the city. The reviews for this tour are exceptional (4.8/5 from 466+ reviews at the time of typing).

5. Kilmainham Gaol

If you’re looking for touristy things to do in Dublin on a rainy day, Kilmainham Gaol really is hard to beat.

Kilmainham opened in 1796 and it served as a prison for Dublin City and the wider county. It’s within the walls of Kilmainham that leaders of the 1798, 1803, 1848,1867 and 1916 rebellions were detained.

Many members of the Irish Republican movement during the Anglo-Irish War (1919-21) were also held in Kilmainham Gaol.

The tour is fantastic from finish to end and the guides are knowledgable and entertaining in their delivery.

6. GoQuest

GoQuest is another of the more popular indoor activities in dublin for families, and you’ll find it in Carrickmines.

There are 2 sections to GoQuest: 

• An ‘Arena’ for ages 13+
• A Junior section for ages 9-12

Kids are given a time limit (90 mins for the Arena and 75 for the junior) and then they need to tackle physical, mental and skills-based challenges.

GoQuest Arena has 29 challenges set inside a huge arena while GoQuest Junior has 22.

7. Incognito Escape Rooms

Few rainy day activities in Dublin provide a setting for the whole family to work as a unit.

However, the folks at Incognito Escape Rooms on Usher’s Quay provide just that. There are several themed escaped room games on offer here (e.g. ‘Cabin in the Woods’) and each lasts for 1 hour.

Visitors need to ‘Get lost in the beauty of the cabin, but don’t get lost in the game! Escape the deadly clutches of StitchFace and flee Cabin in the Woods before time runs out’,

Age limits: Kids under 8 play free. Kids 15 or younger need a participating adult

8. Marsh’s Library

If you’re looking for interesting things to do in Dublin on a rainy day, Marsh’s Library is well worth exploring.

This is Ireland’s oldest library and it’s located just behind St Patrick’s Cathedral.

The library is incredibly impressive and it is home to over 300 manuscripts and well over 25,000 books.

It was founded in 1707 and over the years it has been visited by everyone from Bram Stoker and Jonathan Swift to James Joyce and more!

9. Rainforest Adventure Golf

The next of our rainy day activities in Dublin is Rainforest Adventure Golf in Dundrum.

Surprisingly, this is only one of a handful of places to place crazy golf in Dublin.

There are two 18-hole courses here (one has a Mayan theme while the other is kitted out in an Aztec theme) and they take around 45 minutes to complete.

Now, it’s worth keeping in mind that, if it’s lashing down, Dundrum Shopping Centre will be wedged, so plan accordingly.

10. The Ghost Bus Tour

If you’re looking for unique things to do on a rainy day in Dublin, you won’t find much quirkier than the the Ghost Bus Tour.

Explore Dublin’s haunting sights on a thrilling ride, including the Hellfire Clubroom, the haunted museum and the Victorian Theatre.

Visit St. Kevin’s Graveyard and hear the restless ghost story of Darky Kelly, the infamous Maiden Tower madame.

A sinister guide and driver will lead you through this eerie adventure, ensuring an unforgettable and unsettling encounter.

11. Butler’s Chocolate Experience

We’re onto one of the more unique indoor activities in Dublin for families, next, with the Butlers Factory Tour.

It’s here that you’ll get to see what happens inside a real-life chocolate factory and how, since long ago in 1932, the Butlers chocolate masters have been whipping up a storm.

During the 90-minute tour, you’ll see the process involved in transforming a variety of ingredients into some very tasty chocolates.

There’s also a movie, a glass-panelled walkway that offers a view into the factory and complimentary chocolates.

12. The National Museum of Ireland

If you’re looking for touristy things to do in Dublin on a rainy day, the National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology) is both free and interesting.

One of the main attractions is the preserved remains of mummies (part of the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition – not the one pictured above).

These well-preserved remains were human sacrifices who were then mummified deep inside the Irish bogs they were buried in.

This is one of the more popular museums in Dublin, so it really is great that it has remained free of charge all of these years!

13. The Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Tourists looking for interesting (and mostly covered) things to do in Dublin on a rainy day should check out the Hop-on Hop-off Tour of the city.

If you don’t fancy traipsing around in the rain from place-to-place, you can either stay on the bus and see the likes St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ha’penny Bridge, Temple Bar and the Guinness Storehouse.

Oooooor you can jump on and off at the different attractions as you please.

You can grab a 24 or a 48-hour ticket and it’ll set you back around €30. The reviews speak for themselves.

14. AquaZone

One of the more reliable indoor activities in Dublin for families is AquaZone (a handy option if you’re looking to tire the kids out!).

AquaZone is Ireland’s leading waterpark and you’ll find it in the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Blanchardstown. It’s home to:

• 8 rides, slides and experiences
• The ‘FlowRider’
• The gravity-defying ‘Master Blaster’
• the ‘Green Giant’

Now, if you’re looking at the above and thinking ‘God, that all sounds a bit mental!’ then worry not, there’s something for all ages to enjoy.

15. The Chester Beatty Library

Once described by Lonely Planet as ‘not just the best museum in Ireland but one of the best in Europe’, the Chester Beatty is one of the more unique free attractions in Dublin.

The museum, which can be found in Dublin Castle, is packed with the collection of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (a successful American mining engineer, collector, and philanthropist) – one of the greatest collectors of the 12th century.

Visitors can appreciate a vast number of world cultures through manuscripts, rare books, and other treasures from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

Fancy exploring on foot? Follow our self-guided walking tour of Dublin!

16. Sterling Silver Ring Forging Workshop

We first mentioned the Silver Works ring making workshop in a guide to date ideas in Dublin a while back.

Since then, we’ve heard rave reviews from those who tried it. At €80, it isn’t cheap, but you’ll come out with a sterling silver ring at the end.

This is a 2-hour workshop where you’ll create a personalised sterling silver ring with the help of an experienced guide.

The end result is a very individualised ring that you’ve cut, shaped and hammered to your own design.

If you’re looking for things to do in Dublin on a rainy day with your other half, or a pal, this is a very unique experience.

17. Jump Zone

The next of our indoor activities in Dublin for families is the brilliant Jump Zone. You’ll find it in Santry, Sandyford and Liffey Valley.

This is the first of its kind indoor trampoline park not only in Ireland but in the whole of Europe.

It’s suitable for children over 5 years and 1 meter in height to adults of 55+ years. Visitors can try the free jump, dodge ball, aerobics and plenty more.

If you’re looking for active things to do in Dublin on a rainy day, Jump Zone is well worth considering.

18. Dublin’s whiskey distilleries

If you’re looking for things to do in Dublin on a rainy day with a group of friends that like a tipple, head to one of the many whiskey distilleries in Dublin.

Although the Jameson Distillery on Bow St. is the best known, Dublin is far from a one-horse-town when it comes to whiskey.

The Pearse Lyons Distillery is well worth considering while both the Roe and Co Distillery and the Teeling Distillery have rave reviews online.

It can be tricky to find rainy day activities in Dublin that’ll suit big groups. Each of these tours can accommodate – just book in advance to be sure.

19. The Guinness Storehouse

A visit to the Guinness Storehouse is one of the best things to do in Dublin on a rainy day for visiting tourists (just make sure to book in advance).

You’ll find it standing proudly at St James’s Gate on the site where Arthur Guinness set up shop with a 9,000-year lease in 1759.

There are several tours that you can head off on here but, if you can, opt for the guided tour as you’ll get a better insight into the history of the factor.

The tour finishes with a pint in the Gravity Bar where you’ll be treated to a superb view over the city.

20. The ‘Dead Zoo’

The Dead Zoo is the nickname given to Dublin’s Natural History Museum, located on Upper Merrion Street.

It’s here that you’ll discover a vast collection of taxidermied animals and fossils.

The Natural History Museum has four floors of exhibits, including Irish Fauna, Mammals of the World, Fish Birds and Reptiles, and finally, Insects Shells and Crustaceans.

A visit here is one of the more popular free things to do in Dublin for good reason!

21. Bounce n Beyond

Bounce n Beyond in Ballyboughal is one of the more popular indoor activities in Dublin for families (for kids 5 to 17-years-old).

This is Ireland’s largest indoor trampoline and ninja park and, if you’re looking to tire the kids out, they’ll burn plenty of energy here.

Visitors get 1 hour in the Ninja Bounce Park which is home to a trampoline park, a gymnast’s floor, a ninja wall and plenty more.

There’s also Europe’s Largest Virtual Arcade where you can get immersed in a whole new world courtesy of VR. There’s 1-player, 2-player and 6-player VR simulators so it’s good for small groups.

22. The ‘old reliables’

If you’re looking for handy things to do in Dublin on a rainy day, the ‘old reliables’ are hard to bate.

We’re no stranger to rainy days in Dublin, and the likes of the Leisureplex (bowling, snooker, games, etc) and the various cinemas in Dublin are easy options.

If you fancy catching a movie, it’s always worth looking at the Irish Film Institute and the Stella for a cinema experience with a difference.

23. Dublinia

Although there are plenty of great museums in Dublin, few offer an experience as immersive as the brilliant Dublinia near Christ Church.

It’s here that you’ll be taken on a journey through Dublin’s Viking past along with life in Medieval Dublin.

Dublinia is an interactive museum that boasts engaging exhibitions, displays, and hands-on activities.

You’ll explore the Dublin’s ancient streets, learn about its inhabitants, and experience what life was like.

24. The Irish Whiskey Museum

And last but by no means least in our guide to the best things to do on a rainy day in Dublin should appeal to all of you whiskey fans.

The Irish Whiskey Museum tour, located a stone’s throw from Trinity College, is a 60-minute experience that includes 3 Classic or 4 Premium Irish whiskeys to taste.

You’ll learn about the history of Irish whiskey and how it’s made while discovering interesting facts along the way.

As this is nice and central, you can easily pair it up with a visit to one of the best restaurants in Dublin where you can polish off your evening!

What things to do in Dublin on a rainy day have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant indoor activities in Dublin for families and friends from the guide above.

If you have any rainy day activities in Dublin that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about rainy day activities in Dublin

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are some unique indoor activities for kids in Dublin?’ to ‘What’s good and free?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.