The 10 best things to do with kids in Athlone

Stopped at Athlone Castle in the way from Galway to Dublin. The site itself is very interesting as it shows one style of castle used to protect an Irish town in earlier times. I did find, however, that the displays and stories were done in a bit of a cartoonist manner. The games were fun but otherwise a little hokey. The views from the top were well worth a climb and it was worth a stop. There is a small parking lot just outside of the castle if you're lucky enough to grab a spot.

Athlone Castle is a fascinating and well-preserved site in the heart of Ireland. The interactive exhibits bring history to life, covering everything from medieval battles to daily life in the past. It’s great for all ages, with friendly staff and lovely views over the River Shannon.

I want to start this review with this is not the first museum castle we have done. The cost is a bit high for something rather small. Kids should be under £5 and adults shouldn’t be more than 10. The interactive kids section should be moved to a larger room with more space. Room 4 needs closed caption. It was actually pleasant to watch the movie with no sound. Very impactful. Would be better if we could read it too. I’m aware the sound was out that day. The dark death room I think was 7 or 8. They should warn you that the sound goes off the second you go into this dark room. I’ve never seen a grown man jump so fast 💀💀💀 Staff were kind. Construction hides the entrance which is the same side as the bridge.

Very nice place to visit it is an interactive place & there is fun for all!! There are such gorgeous views from inside the castle itself when you get up to the top the castle overlooks the Shannon & the city 😀

More fort than castle. The staff were very friendly. There is a great history behind this property, and some fun bits in the various rooms. Great views from the lookout points!

very modern and interactive museum, that tells you the story of the siege very good. In comparison with similar castles on the pricier side (e.g. Cahir castle) Also mostly focused on the museum and not really alot of descriptions regarding the architecure of the castle

38€ for a family ticket is stupid money , visited enniskillen castle for 17£ yesterday , rip off Ireland

Very nice place, it was very busy when we ate there Friday evening. Book your table in advance. It's modern, chic, beautiful. Authentic Italian food, delicious. Pasta, pizza, homemade bread, very tasty . Waiters were on hand and helped with all our requests. Excellent staff. We definitely come back. Main meal with cocktail was 40€.

A delicious meal in a busy restaurant served by efficient staff. What more could you ask for. I recommend you come . We didn't book, and were lucky to get a table, a Tuesday evening in july was very busy, so maybe book a table if you are coming.

I couldn't eat the Caesar salad as CHICKEN OUT OF DATE and yellow iceberg salad leaves, too Mach mayo !!! Was left hungry. The Irish coffee was for 9 euro and in a tiny non standard glass. I didn’t order a desert, as it was enough for me! didn’t show a fuss as I was with a partner didn’t want to spoil his mood.

The food is amazing - full of flavour and decent portion sizes. The staff are incredibly polite and even on their busiest days, the wait time is minimal. We booked a table in advance. Starter: Deep fried Brie with sweet chilli sauce & Goats cheese on a toasted ciabatta Main: Tikka fettuccine & Pasta primavera Dessert: Banoffee pie & Hot chocolate pudding & mint ice cream

A fantastic restaurant, the food was excellent... but the icing on the top of the cake was all the staff, all on top of the media... thanks for the experience.

The pizzas were good. The staff was polite.The atmosphere was nice. You should make a reservation for the weekend.

Gluten Free options for coeliacs! Pizza, pasta, steak and many starters can be done GF. Staff very aware of allergens. Delicious food and very reasonably priced. Would recommend booking table to be sure as it gets busy.

Best food of our Europe and UK trip so far. The open melt with goats cheese was to die for.

Popped in for lunch with our mam on her 70th birthday. Had delicious food. Stand were so friendly and engaging. Lovely birthday cake treat from staff . Worth a visit. Make sure and pop in for lovely food and atmosphere.

We’ve been in Ireland for almost a week, and today we’re heading back to the airport. On the way, we stopped here for a meal—and I am so glad we didn’t come here first. If we had, every other meal on our trip would’ve felt like a letdown in comparison. Absolutely everything was amazing. This place is a true hidden gem, tucked away off the beaten path. If you're in the area and appreciate genuinely great food, trust me—make the stop. Your palate will thank you.

So glad we stumbled upon this place! They were closing as we came in but the host told us to come on in and order. Great service a d food was SO good. Highly recommend. Such a gem!

Best place in town for a fry and the staff are so friendly. Food is served fast and hot. Would recommend everyone to go grab a bit to eat

Great morning spot. French Toast with fresh fruit, bacon, snd maple syrup was yummy. Hubby had omelette and potatoes. The vanilla latte and mochas were also tasty and even seconds to go:)

Great service, food was good, kids say hot chocolate is sooooooooooooo good.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for genuine Italian cuisine and a memorable dining experience. Only got photos of dessert

Nice lovely Italian restaurant in Athlone. Reasonably priced, options available for vegetarians. Food served with minimum salt and spice. The pepper, salt and Parmesan cheese are provided to add to our taste. Tables available for couples and group of 4 or 6. Wine available.

Excellent Italian cooking by a chef who seems to do everything alone and without even breaking a sweat. Gorgeous, perfectly cooked pasta dishes and delicious starters too.

Very disappointing food. I ordered the cannelloni and the picture says a thousand words. Pasta was like mush it had no texture, the meat was dry, sauce has zero depth or flavour to it and the salad looked like it had been out all week. The only reason they get even two stars is because of the staff, the owner was so nice, even gave a free bottle of wine for the table as it was my girlfriends birthday so this makes the review hard to give but I must be honest, the food was very poor. Personally I will not be returning.

Great pizza, great pasta. When the boss is in, expect to hear a lot of Pavarotti. I recommend to ask for the grappa. I did not find it on the menu, and the waitresses did not know about it, but they do have it.

Delicious Halal food. Garlic bread, Pasta and bolognaise is amazing. Worth visit to this place in Athlone .

Nice location, friendly staff and reasonable prices. However food was of poor quality and tasteless. No salt or pepper were on the table. We asked for soft drinks, and we’re served in a glass from an opened large bottle, so it had no gas. I am still waiting for the Parmesan cheese I asked for my pasta.

What an awesome place. Quaint Pub and the interior is just what you would expect in a pub this old. Just the history of this place is amazing. Highly suggest going here if you’re in the area and if you’re not in the area then it needs to be on your list.

being the oldest pub in Ireland, naturally Mrs. A & I had stop in for a pint & we are glad we did. The atmosphere was awesome & Timmy, has many fine stories to tell. While it did not seem like the type of place you go looking to talk with locals, we met people from Canada, AU, US & Scotland, all enjoying the moment. Be sure to check out all of the nooks n crannies, there are many interesting things to see & if inclined: bring a patch - SPA007

The oldest pub in the world!! We knew we had to make a stop here on our way from Ashford to Powerscourt. It did not disappoint. There are wood chips on the floor, great decor everywhere you look, part of the original wall of the building, plus they have a great outdoor-ish area if you walk all the way through. We are so happy that we stopped here to take in this bit of history!!

Visit the oldest bar in Ireland and see an excavated area where its wicker and thatch walls are present. It's a fun stop, especially if traveling between Galway and Dublin. East to grab a pint and just take in the atmosphere. Walls full of the patches that represent law enforcement all over the world. Go to the back and make it to the water or just enjoy a more modern atmosphere.. I chose Harp on a warm and sunny afternoon.

A very neat experience, to say, you've had a pint of Irish's finest at the oldest standing bar in Ireland 🇮🇪 We enjoyed a quite drink in the back booth. Looking at the treasures found on the walls and relishing in the entire experience. Of how many passersby's have come through this place, and how many more to come.

We had such a great time at Sean’s Bar on our first trip to Ireland. We stopped in for a pint of Guinness and ended up having a great conversation with a local couple at the bar. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and it really felt like the kind of place where you can strike up a chat with anyone. Live music from a local Irish band added to the atmosphere in such a memorable way. The old-school feel of the pub made it even more special and authentic. Sitting in a place with so much history while enjoying a perfectly poured Guinness was honestly a highlight of our visit to Athlone. I highly recommend stopping by if you want a warm, genuine Irish pub experience.

Didn't order food, only went for drinks at the oldest pub. Gorgeous atmosphere and excellent service! I will be back for sure!

Mike was so lovely and accommodating. He waited 5 mins for us as we were running late. The experience was brilliant getting to hear the history during the boat trip. Definitely would recommend to visit.

Great experience taking the Viking tour both down the Shannon with our guests from Canada on Saturday. Staff were very helpful. Parked at Hudson Bay went over and popped into Sean’s bar then off for a spot of lunch. Looked into the Gallery and checked out the Castle. Absolutely wonderful experience. Enjoyed seeing all the sail boats whisk around us as we crossed over. Then back on the 2:30pm sailing.

An excellent tour of the River Shannon. Very knowlegable guide in Viking Mike, telling tales of the days when the Vikings invaded Ireland. A great crew member worked the bar and made the best Irish coffee ever. Certainly warmed my cockles! Really helpful when boarding and alighting. Friendliest vikings I have ever met..I recommend this tour 100%. Reasonably priced and you get a free cup of tea or coffee too!

Viking Tours was a fantastic experience, sailing from Hodson Bay to Athlone and finishing with a pint at Sean’s. Viking Mike’s commentary was well-informed and engaging, while the hospitality from Viking George and the crew was outstanding. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable way to explore the area.

Lovely boat trip on the Shannon river. The trip started from in front of Athlone castle and went upriver to Hodson Bay and then back again. It was really lovely getting to see the riverside and Lough Ree from a totally different perspective. The Captain gives a very informative live commentary about the river and some of the land marks. You can buy alcoholic drinks and snacks from the galley. Tea and coffee can be had for free. Thoroughly enjoyed myself and I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Athlone. Or to anyone who lives in Athlone and has never taken a trip on the viking boat!

€15 per person, the tour is approximately 1 hour and a half. The guys working on the Viking ship were very friendly and George does make lovely tea and coffee (which is free / complimentary for all on board which comes in handy for a cold day). They sell snacks, beer and chocolate too so you won’t go hungry 😋 I loved the tour it definitely passed time before we checked into our hotel. Times are 11am or 2:30 from Athlone castle. Parking available all around approximately €3 for 3 hours or so. Highly recommend this tour 🙌🏼

We went on the trip from Athlone to Clonmacnoise. We had 2 ladies over 85 with walking difficulties but we managed to get them on dispite a few quite big steps. We were lucky with the weather but the boat is really well prepared with roll down sides and door. The only problem with that is that you can't see much through the plastic. They also have plenty of blankets so nobody was cold. The tea and coffee is free (they do have so herbal tea too). You can also buy Irish coffee, snacks, and so on in the little shop. The toilet is lovely and clean (though that was also hard on our seniors because there are 4 big steps down but they managed it with help). The commentary is interesting and is just the right amount. Not too much and no to little. A few Italian visitors on the boat with their kids were a little disappointed that the 2 man crew were not dressed as vikings - not something of much interest to us but something to be aware of if you are going with kids. One of the kids on the boat was delighted with her own viking helmet though. Very pleasent trip and well organised with the bus ride back.

You MUST stop here on your way from Galway to Dublin if you haven’t gotten all of your shopping done! 🛍️ This gallery is perfectly curated for you to find something special for everyone on your list. 👌

This shop is a gem on Athlone map. Lovely handmade stuff a bit pricey but you pay for human work. Choose from pencil sharpener through lovely pottery to beautiful traditional Celtic style jewellery. Staff is so friendly and helpful.

this was a very cute and quant shop, many jelly cats but not the grumpy turtle, also Micheal Jackson went here so it ofc is good!

I picked up a beautiful gift in Bastion Gallery, a lovely shop full of treasures and Katie couldn't have been more accommodating and helpful.

I stumbled across this amazing shop for the first time on Sunday and was so impressed. It's the most unusual, intriguing little shop selling all sorts of quirky novelty items at very reasonable prices. The owner was so friendly and helpful that I can't wait to go back another day when I have more time. It is lovely to see a framed receipt of Michael Jackson's visit to the shop in the doorway too...Looking at the length of his receipt is enough to know that this is not a shop to be missed if you're in Athlone....I will defo go back soon..:)

Athlone's Aladdin's cave! One treasure after another, exquisitely sourced from around the world, mostly handcrafted and ethically produced, it never fails to charm and is always worth a visit. Perfect present buying location for all occasions.

Lovely shop, some amazing things to pick up. Perfect when looking for a gift thats a bit out of the ordinary. Very helpful when looking for something too!

We spent some time in Athlone after our tour of Court and Killarney. This Nature tour started near the back entrance to Sean's bar (one of the oldest bars in the world). The Walk follows a trail through a nature area and around the perimeter of the town. The signage hasn't been updated in quite some time, and there are 2 distinct trails. If you take the route we did and go out next to the water up river, it is supposed to take an hour and a half. The trail is said to be a loop, but when we talked to locals we discovered it was not passable. We were getting to the end and it was getting dark. That said the signage was not accurate. The trail comes to an abrupt end, as it hasn't been maintained. You'll have to do some scrambling to get to the end, as you're getting back into town. Turning around and walking in the dark, that walk back would be prohibitive. The trail takes you in some very beautiful natural areas and so there is no street lighting. Just be aware and plan for a three hour walk. The walk was quite nice one areas could do with some cleaning up and fixing of a walkway and bridge. It was a surprise at my age (62) to be traversing walls and balancing on a damaged bridge but also exciting Be prepared my little scouts.

No designated parking, path could do with being cleaned after flooding as it has left a brown "crust" on the surface which sticks to wheels on a buggy. Nice enough walk otherwise but could be far better.

It was fabulous and I really want to visit many more time ahead. Food was awesome . View is really beautiful when you are walking in the trail.

Great place for a walk or run can be quite

Nice one

Lovely countryside walk.

Very good! Exhausting! especially for an old soul such as myself. As one of the dads said to me, ‘It’s a young man’s game.’ You get into a wetsuit, then a life-jacket, then there’s a safety video. One of the staff helped me out very friendlily with my safety jacket when we reckoned it was too small. Then you swim 30 metres or so across the lake to the main water slide area. You climb - and I don’t mean up a ladder or a winding path; this is assault course-kind of climbing up to a slide of your choice, slide down and you’re back in the lake again, having to swim to whatever part of the area you want to do next. Thank Christ for the lifejackets! It means if you’re too knackered for a while to do any more climbing you can just bob there safely while you gather your strength. This was great fun, with friendly yet responsible and attentive staff. Highly recommended!

If your thinking of going to Baysports then get those tickets booked because this is something you don't want to miss! I visited Baysports last Saturday and the demeanor of the staff was amazing. I was greeted by one of their team members Ryan who couldn't have been more helpful, despite a queue out the door! The girls giving out wetsuits and lifejackets were also very friendly and eager to assist us. We then left our bags into the changing room and were directed to the safety tent by a man named Brendan who was very friendly but you could also tell he was keeping a watchful eye on the safety of customers. We then had our safety briefing and made our way to the park. The main park itself has received a major uplift since the last time I was at Baysports and even more impressive were the new tall slides. There were also a large amount of lifeguards present as well as two guys in boats who were circling the park ensuring everyone was okay. I was very impressed by the level of safety which is observed by staff. At the end of our session we exited the park to have hot showers and we then got food in the food truck from a lovely girl called Sarah which was very very good and reasonably priced. The changing facilities and toilets were also very clean and it was clear the staff work hard to pay attention to every aspect of the business. I spoke with Richie at the end who was also very friendly and was very interested to hear the feedback from me. I have to commend all the management and staff in Baysports on running such a steady operation, we will definitely be coming back soon!

First up the staff were great, friendly and sufficient in numbers. We were there for the first session of the day and the wetsuits we were given were wet, not a particularly nice feeling. The obstacles were not well inflated which made climbing them difficult, in combination with many hand grips missing or damaged. It is an outdoor place so exposed to nature but washing off the excessive amounts of bird excrement before opening would be a good touch. It was washed off during our time slot

great place for children lots of fun and activity in the water, very nice service

Brilliant day out. I can’t swim but still had no issues. Staff are really attentive and the other people there were respectful. All had a great time

SauNua ,Great place to relax and rejuvenate after your busy week location is idyllic Hudson Bay, the sauna and hotub is a gorgeous experience! And the lake for a cold plunge is excellent! Highly recommend and the staff are great also !

Water sports for kids and adults, safety conscious and plenty of staff. Well worth a visit

Brilliant day out for families/groups with kids up to probably 12 years of age. Lots to do, we easily spent three hours there today until closing time. Tickets and gift shop were good value. Loads of space to run around and a fantastic playground with an obstacle course (two sides for racing against each other). If it's raining heavily there is also plenty of covered areas including a big sand pit with lots of toys. The staff were very helpful. The 1950's Traditional Irish cottage is gorgeous. We'll be back! 🙂

It is a beautifully maintained place with a wide variety of animals. Visitors have the opportunity to feed and pet them in a clean and well-organised environment. I truly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it.

My parents used to bring me 30+ years ago, and so we brought my son for his first time today along with my Mam. Much has changed of course since the last time we visited in the early 90s, and we had a really lovely day. The admission price was reasonable for 3 adults and 1 child, as were the cafe prices too! (My Mam said it was proper tea, the sandwiches were made to order with actual ham and well filled, they were generous with ice cream portions too) The staff were friendly, the animals looked well kept, pens were clean, and aside from one dramatic bird up near the meerkats (who we thought was not long for this world… but in fact was just lying oddly in the sun until disturbed), we enjoyed everything. It’s encouraged to bring your own picnic (most places won’t allow it), the little handwash sinks at an accessible height for kids, the gated spaces to keep both kids and animals safe, as well as signage as to who to feed and who will bite, made it such an easy day. My only gripe? The fairy trail was a bit lacklustre, with some doors in need of a bit of TLC, and not a lot to see along the walk otherwise - perhaps signs of what native plants and trees are growing in the hedgerows, and some info on the various pieces of farm machinery dotted along the way would be good? We cannot wait to go back - we won’t leave it 30yrs this time!

Very nice farm but much smaller than we thought. Most animals nice. Happy to see babies of different species. I just wish staff didn't let a ton of small children pick up multiple animals, seemed very dangerous. I also didn't like that we bought 5 tickets but only received 3 bags of animal food.

We had a great day at Glendeer. The animals are so well cared for. Very friendly staff. We had a nice picnic, a great day out.

This place is just amazing I was not expecting to be so good . My son was very happy with the visit loads of activities for kids !

Very safe spot for kids to explore with a nice variety of animals to see and feed plus a great play area including sand pit for kids of all ages to enjoy!