14 Dec Spending Christmas in Dalkey — Top Festive Activities

The Christmas spirit in Ireland is so original that nobody can resist it.

Imagine shimmering landscapes and buzzing Christmas markets. Plus, picture people in a festive mood that come from all over the world to celebrate the season. That is what makes Ireland a unique Christmas destination.

Explore the Christmas Markets

If you like mulled wine, hot cocoa, fairy lights, mince pies, and shopping, you’ll love spending this December in Dalkey. The Christmas markets in Ireland feature general merriness and carol singing and are famous for their magical atmosphere.

Don’t Miss The Dún Laoghaire Christmas Market

The Metals walkway is a link between Dalkey and Dún Laoghaire and it is around 3.5km long. On it, there is one of the best Christmas markets — the Merry Christmas Market on the Metals.

The market features delicious Christmas fare, a funfair with a children’s carousel, handcrafted gifts and decorations, and many more treats. The whole market is a part of the Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival. If you want to avoid the crowds in the city centre, you will love this!

The event is organised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. It features the biggest ever exhibit of Christmas lights in the area, as well as a Vintage Funfair. Also, there is the famous Ferris Wheel from “Grease”, Santa’s Post Box, and the above-mentioned Christmas market.

The Dún Laoghaire Christmas Market is many people’s favourite because it is a true celebration for the Christmas senses. Carefully selected traders sell only authentic and hand-made delicious treats and gifts.

You can wander through it while carrying handcrafted decorations and gifts. Buy jewellery, sculptures, metal art, photography, and many more special, unique, high-quality gifts and treats that have been handcrafted with love.

Plus, do all of that while enjoying the aromas of crepes, gourmet sausages, baked goods, German Gluhwein, Hungarian beef goulash soup and Lángos, and steaming hot chocolate.

There are more than 280 retail outlets at this Christmas market; so why not escape the crowded city and head to an out-of-town shopping centre? You can relax, browse, shop, and enjoy the festive spirit of this magical seaside town.

Visit this amazing market every Friday from 12:30 PM to 7 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM, until December 23rd.

Go on One of the Castle Christmas Tours with Santa

But throughout all of December, families can enjoy multiple Christmas activities in Dalkey. Some of them include the Castle Christmas Tours with Santa at the Heritage Centre and Dalkey Castle.

These original Christmas Castle tours with Santa are especially fun for the little ones who are waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. However, adults can participate in these interesting events as well.

The children join the Jingle who prepares the food for Santa and the reindeer while singing Christmas riddles. Moreover, Jingle takes them to the battlements to chant to the North Star that leads the reindeer all over the world.

Also, the Christmas elf Twinkle joins the show by telling famous Christmas stories in an exciting way. Also, he helps Santa deal with his suit that the elves, who are now all asleep in the Garderobe, had shrunk. Twinkle worries if the children will succeed in making the suit big enough for Santa.

The biggest moment is, without a doubt, when Santa Claus himself appears in front of the children!

Tours start at 11.00, 12.00, 14.00, 15.00, and 16.00.

Come to Dalkey in December — you won’t experience such seasonal cheer anywhere else in the world!