Pet-Friendly Hotels in Dublin: Family Travel With the Dog
5 family-friendly hotels with pet friendly in Dublin . Handpicked for families who want the best.
Travelling to Dublin with the dog and the kids is more workable than most parents expect. Ireland is rabies-free and has a simple Pet Travel Scheme, the Stena Line ferry from Holyhead takes dogs in the car for around 60 EUR each way, and Dublin's city-centre hotels actually allow dogs in the room rather than relegating them to a kennel. We tested five hotels that explicitly welcome pets and that work for families: two with kid-friendly buffets and family rooms, one with babysitting and kids' meals, and two apart-hotels where the kitchenette saves you fortunes on fussy-eater dinners. Pet fees range from free (Dylan) to 25 EUR per night (most others). Walking routes from each hotel to a green space are spelled out below. Prices range from 184 to 444 EUR per night for a family of four in summer.
Dublin with kids and a dog is best done in 30-minute walking loops. The Liffey-side path, Phoenix Park, the Iveagh Gardens — all kid + dog friendly, all flat. The pubs welcome dogs in many beer gardens (try The Brazen Head, the Stag's Head's outdoor area), and you can grab kids' fish and chips from Leo Burdock or Beshoff's. Kids genuinely love Dublin: the Viking Splash tour for 4+, Dublinia Museum for 6+, the EPIC immigration museum for 8+. The dog will be tired by Phoenix Park alone — bring a long lead and a tennis ball.
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🐕Why Dublin Works for a Family Trip With the Dog
The pet-fee ranges matter. Dylan charges nothing for pets (and includes pet bowls and a pet basket on request). Zanzibar Locke and Beckett Locke charge 25 EUR per night and provide pet bowls. Motel One charges 12.50 EUR per night, no extras. Read the fee structure before booking — it can add 75-150 EUR to a 4-night stay. None of these hotels limit dog size, but Dylan and Anantara The Marker have stricter behaviour clauses (don't leave a dog alone in the room).
The Liberties vs Docklands vs city centre. Beckett Locke is in the Docklands (newer, quieter, 25 min walk from St Stephen's Green) and works if you don't mind public transport with kids. Motel One and Zanzibar Locke put you in the heart of the city. Dylan is in Ballsbridge — leafy, residential, 20 min walk from St Stephen's Green and great for dog walks via the canal. Pick based on your kids' walking tolerance.
Real green spaces matter. Phoenix Park is amazing but it's a 25-30 min walk from the city centre with kids. Use it for a half-day outing, not a daily walk. For daily quick walks, the Grand Canal towpath (from Beckett Locke or Dylan) and St Stephen's Green (from Motel One, Zanzibar Locke) are easier. Bring a tennis ball — Dublin Council's Phoenix Park rules allow off-leash where there are no signs to the contrary.
Parent's take
Honestly, travelling with a dog AND kids in Dublin is way easier than Paris or London. The city is small enough to walk most days, the parks are excellent, and Irish people will go out of their way to help with both the kids and the dog. Just budget for the pet fee (25 EUR/night adds up) and bring a basic mat for the hotel room — most don't provide one and the wood floors get cold for older dogs.
Our Top 5 Picks
Hotels in Dublin with pet friendly, sorted by guest rating.
Anantara The Marker Dublin
D2 / Docklands
Excellent
2,274 reviews
The Marker is a modern 5-star on Grand Canal Square in the Docklands, now operating as Anantara The Marker Dublin. Its spa holds an indoor infinity pool, jacuzzi, sauna and eucalyptus steam room, with the rooftop bar doubling as a viewpoint for the Liffey.
From
€595/night
Why families love Anantara The Marker Dublin
Families love the Docklands quiet at weekends and the short walk to the EPIC emigration museum, which genuinely holds kids aged 7 and up for two hours. The pool is spa-style so think calm rather than splashy, which suits older kids. Rooms have city or canal views, ask for canal-side so the stroller terrace stays usable. Check-in is slick, the staff remember kids' names.
Motel One Dublin
City Centre
Excellent
17,317 reviews
A 4-star design hotel on Middle Abbey Street, two blocks from the Liffey and 10 min walk to St Stephen's Green. Pets allowed (12.50 EUR per night), well-priced family doubles or two-bed family rooms, and a buffet breakfast that handles fussy eaters with cereal, pastry, scrambled eggs and beans.
From
€195/night
Why families love Motel One Dublin
Motel One has the budget pet-friendly slot in Dublin and the location is genuinely central — kids can walk to Trinity College, O'Connell Street, the Spire and the Hop-On bus stop. Rooms are small but smart; book the Family Room Comfort Plus for actual space with a dog and two kids. The 12.50 EUR pet fee is the lowest of any Dublin city-centre hotel we tested. Bring a foldable dog mat — the rooms are wood-floor and small dogs slide.
Dylan
Ballsbridge
Excellent
309 reviews
A 5-star boutique hotel in leafy Ballsbridge with babysitting service, kids' meals on the menu and free pet welcome (basket and bowls on request). 20 min walk to St Stephen's Green via the Grand Canal towpath, perfect for morning dog walks before kids are awake.
From
€444/night
Why families love Dylan
Dylan is the upmarket pick that genuinely thinks about family + dog travel. No pet fee, the hotel sets up a basket and water bowl in the room, and the babysitting service (60 EUR for 3 hours, advance booking) means parents can have a real dinner. Kids' menu has plain pasta, mini fish and chips, ice cream. Ballsbridge is suburban-quiet at night, walking distance to the canal but you'll grab a Hailo for trips to the city centre.
Zanzibar Locke
Ormond Quay (City Centre)
Excellent
3,398 reviews
A 4-star design apart-hotel on Ormond Quay overlooking the Liffey, with kitchenettes, family-sized studios and a generous pet welcome (pet bowls, pet basket, treats). 5-min walk across Ha'penny Bridge to Temple Bar and 15 min to St Stephen's Green.
From
€243/night
Why families love Zanzibar Locke
The kitchenette is the family-with-dog superpower at Zanzibar Locke. You can buy groceries from Tesco at Henry Street, cook the kids' dinner and feed the dog without restaurant stress. The 25 EUR pet fee is on the high side but they really do prep the room with bowls and a basket. The Ha'penny Bridge view is great for kids who like watching the buskers. Avoid the studios facing the inner courtyard — quieter but no view.
Beckett Locke
Docklands
Excellent
7,639 reviews
A 4-star apart-hotel in the modern Docklands, with kitchenettes, family rooms and pet welcome (bowls included, 25 EUR fee). The IFSC green space is a 5 min walk and the Grand Canal towpath runs from the door. 15 min by Luas tram to the city centre, dogs travel free on lead.
From
€184/night
Why families love Beckett Locke
Beckett Locke is the quiet residential pick where dog walks are easy from the door. The IFSC park has fenced grass for off-lead time, and the Grand Canal towpath stretches all the way to Mount Street if you want a longer family walk. The trade-off: you'll take the Luas tram into town for sightseeing (15 min, kids find it fun, dogs allowed on lead). Family apartments have a small kitchen and a sofa bed, which makes 4-night stays much cheaper than restaurant meals.
💡Tips From Parents Who Travel Dublin With Dogs
- 1Book ferry tickets early in summer. Stena Line and Irish Ferries accept dogs in the car at no charge but the car-with-pet allocation sells out fast for July-August. The crossing is 3h15 from Holyhead to Dublin Port. The dog stays in the car (which is fine, it's covered parking deck) and you check on them halfway through. Kids LOVE the ferry, treat it as part of the holiday.
- 2Pack a portable water bowl and a microfibre towel. Dublin gets sudden rain showers even in July, and your dog will be wet 3-4 times during the trip. The microfibre dries them in 2 minutes before going back into the hotel room. Most hotels in this list provide pet bowls but not all — pack your own as backup.
- 3Use the DART train for day trips to Howth or Dún Laoghaire with the dog. The DART runs along the coast and accepts leashed dogs outside rush hour (avoid 8-9am and 5-6pm). Howth has a beach for the dog, fish and chips for the kids and the cliff walk for everyone. Round trip is 6 EUR adult / 3 EUR child / dog free.
- 4Phoenix Park is the dog event of the trip. The park is open 24/7 with multiple entrances. The Wellington Monument area has wide flat grass for ball play with the dog while kids run around. The Phoenix Park playground (near Ashtown gate) is fenced — you can let the dog rest under a tree on lead while kids play. Allow 3-4 hours for a full visit.
- 5Restaurants and pubs: many Dublin pubs allow dogs in beer gardens but not indoors. The Brazen Head, the Stag's Head, the Long Hall — all have outdoor seating that accepts dogs. For a real meal with kids and dog, try the Cliff Townhouse on St Stephen's Green (heated outdoor terrace, kids' menu, friendly to leashed dogs). Reserve in advance for July-August.
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