Things to do with kids in County Sligo
Sligo gives families Yeats country: Benbulben looming over everything, Strandhill's surf and dunes, and Lough Gill's wooded islands — dramatic scenery with genuinely free ways into it.
Ideas here work for families in Sligo town, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballymote.
Popular with families in County Sligo: Strandhill beach and dunes, Benbulben forest walk at Gortarowey, Sligo town and the Garavogue riverwalk.
Toddlers & preschoolers (2–4) in County Sligo
Short, sensory and close to a toilet and a snack. Buggy access matters more than distance.
Strandhill beach and dunes
OutdoorsFreeBig surf beach (paddle rather than swim) with dunes to explore and a promenade of cafés — teens watch the surfers, toddlers dig.
Benbulben forest walk at Gortarowey
OutdoorsFreeFlat forest loop under the great table mountain — the county's most famous view with buggy-friendly access.
Sligo town and the Garavogue riverwalk
IndoorsCompact town with a riverside path, the Model arts centre and cafés — the wet-weather base.
Lough Gill and Hazelwood trails
OutdoorsFreeWooded lakeshore sculpture trails and boat trips past Innisfree — a gentle, pretty outing for mixed ages.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Young children (5–7) in County Sligo
Big enough for playgrounds and trails, still happiest with a clear task and a bit of story.
Strandhill beach and dunes
OutdoorsFreeBig surf beach (paddle rather than swim) with dunes to explore and a promenade of cafés — teens watch the surfers, toddlers dig.
Benbulben forest walk at Gortarowey
OutdoorsFreeFlat forest loop under the great table mountain — the county's most famous view with buggy-friendly access.
Sligo town and the Garavogue riverwalk
IndoorsCompact town with a riverside path, the Model arts centre and cafés — the wet-weather base.
Lough Gill and Hazelwood trails
OutdoorsFreeWooded lakeshore sculpture trails and boat trips past Innisfree — a gentle, pretty outing for mixed ages.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Older children (8–11) in County Sligo
Ready to lead the map, take on a challenge and be given real responsibility.
Strandhill beach and dunes
OutdoorsFreeBig surf beach (paddle rather than swim) with dunes to explore and a promenade of cafés — teens watch the surfers, toddlers dig.
Benbulben forest walk at Gortarowey
OutdoorsFreeFlat forest loop under the great table mountain — the county's most famous view with buggy-friendly access.
Sligo town and the Garavogue riverwalk
IndoorsCompact town with a riverside path, the Model arts centre and cafés — the wet-weather base.
Lough Gill and Hazelwood trails
OutdoorsFreeWooded lakeshore sculpture trails and boat trips past Innisfree — a gentle, pretty outing for mixed ages.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Teens (12–15) in County Sligo
Give them a role that isn't babysitting — photography, navigation, or a proper physical challenge.
Strandhill beach and dunes
OutdoorsFreeBig surf beach (paddle rather than swim) with dunes to explore and a promenade of cafés — teens watch the surfers, toddlers dig.
Benbulben forest walk at Gortarowey
OutdoorsFreeFlat forest loop under the great table mountain — the county's most famous view with buggy-friendly access.
Sligo town and the Garavogue riverwalk
IndoorsCompact town with a riverside path, the Model arts centre and cafés — the wet-weather base.
Lough Gill and Hazelwood trails
OutdoorsFreeWooded lakeshore sculpture trails and boat trips past Innisfree — a gentle, pretty outing for mixed ages.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Free things to do in County Sligo
- Strandhill beach and dunes — Big surf beach (paddle rather than swim) with dunes to explore and a promenade of cafés — teens watch the surfers, toddlers dig.
- Benbulben forest walk at Gortarowey — Flat forest loop under the great table mountain — the county's most famous view with buggy-friendly access.
- Lough Gill and Hazelwood trails — Wooded lakeshore sculpture trails and boat trips past Innisfree — a gentle, pretty outing for mixed ages.
Rainy day in County Sligo?
Sligo town's Model gallery, leisure centre and cinemas cover a wet day; Strandhill's cafés work for showers.
Getting there
Trains from Dublin to Sligo town; Benbulben, Strandhill and Lough Gill are short drives with parking at the trailheads.
Nearby areas
Planning for two very different ages?
Tell the matcher your children's ages and it finds activities where each one has a real job — plus check the partner directory for family discounts near County Sligo, and the party planning FAQ if there's a birthday coming.
Find activities for your ages