Halloween in Dublin 2025: Spooky Things To Do, Festivals, Tours & Nightlife
Dublin
Halloween in Dublin 2025: Spooky Things To Do, Festivals, Tours & Nightlife
Date: 20 October, 2025
The birthplace of modern Halloween, what could be a better spot to celebrate this spooky autumn holiday? Halloween takes its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan holiday honoring the end of summer and the harvest. At that time, the Celts believed that during the festivities on Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead thinned, allowing their deceased ancestors to enter our realm. Later, the holiday was adopted by the Catholic church and became All Saints Day. To this day, Halloween in Dublin and beyond remains one of the most important events in the calendar.
Halloween activities paired with incredible culture, mesmerizing nature, and fascinating history have made Dublin among the top destinations for travelers worldwide. In fact, in 2024, roughly 6.6 million people visited the country, spending over €6 billion. And that’s despite the fact that Dublin is an increasingly expensive place, where an average night out is estimated at €100 per person.
In this guide, we will investigate Halloween Dublin things to do, including family-friendly events, intense horror experiences, and edifying walking tours.
Key Dates & Must-Book Early
Let’s begin with the major Halloween activities Dublin has to offer. In this particular guide, we’ll focus on Dublin Halloween Weekend 2025. It’s hard to tell exactly when to buy the tickets, as the sale begins at different times from year to year, but I’d suggest making your purchase about one to two months before the events.
Bram Stoker Festival
Between October 28th and 31st, the city of Dublin hosts an annual Bram Stoker Festival, a four-day Halloween celebration. The festivities include film screenings to put you in a spooky mood, various art events, and numerous parties. The National Gallery of Ireland also joins the holiday with guided tours, exposing the darker side of Irish art. For literary enthusiasts, the Marsh’s Library invites guests to listen to the iconic horror stories like Dracula.
Outside, you’ll see processions with elaborate costumes, moody tunes, and dramatic installations. The last day of the festival features a grand parade with acrobats and pyrotechnics, as well as exciting fireworks, offering a memorable conclusion to the event.
Ticket prices: The festival features a series of events, with some free ones and some paid. The average ticket price for paid events ranges from €18 to €34.
Time: Depends on the event you’re going to, check the website.
Directions: The location of various events also differ, check the official website.
Púca Festival
Puca Festival celebrates the pagan holiday of Samhain, a Celtic festival that inspired modern Halloween across the world. Running over four days, this major Halloween festival in Dublin offers an authentic experience, featuring historic sites, Irish folklore, and traditional musical performances. Unlike modern variations, Puca is about honoring the spiritual significance of Samhain, with ceremonial rituals, workshops, and supernatural traditions.
Ticket prices: €50 per person.
Time: Consists of several events across four days, check the website for more information.
Directions: The locations are also different from activity to activity.
Nightmare Realm
Nightmare Realm takes place in the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) and provides a truly haunting experience for horror lovers. The festival features Hollywood-quality sets with trained actors and professional props, creating a scary and dark atmosphere. From classics like apocalyptic wastelands and zombie-infested hospitals to new themes created every year, the experience is not for everyone. Beyond the main attraction, the venue offers rides, street food, and various less intense entertainment zones.
Ticket prices: Ranging between €24 and €40 per person.
Time: When booking your ticket, you’ll be able to select your preferred timeslot.
Directions: 35 minutes with the Red Line from the city center.
Family-Friendly Halloween
In this part, we’ll focus on Halloween activities for kids, from bus tours and pumpkin patches to retro movie experiences. Much like with aforementioned events, I’d recommend booking early, at least one month in advance, to guarantee a ticket. However, the activities we’ll cover in this section are smaller, meaning you might get lucky and find a last-minute ticket.
K2Alpacas Pumpkin Patch
One of the most beloved kid-friendly events for Halloween is the K2Alpacas Pumpkin Patch, taking place in the scenic Wicklow countryside. The festival combines harvest with a small petting zoo, allowing children and adults to interact with alpacas, llamas, and other farm animals. The fields are covered in Halloween decorations, inviting visitors to explore the massive farm land, select the perfect pumpkin, and learn how to carve it. K2Alpacas Pumpkin Patch also provides an educational element, where kids can learn about alpaca fiber, agriculture, and farm life in general.
Ticket prices: €12.40 for adults and €14.50 for children, with discounted family tickets available.
Time: When booking your ticket, you’ll be able to select your preferred timeslot.
Directions: The farm is located about an hour south of Dublin, reachable by DART train and car.
Luggwoods Forest Pumpkin Experience
In the gorgeous Dublin Mountains, you will discover the enchanting forests of Luggwoods, providing an outdoor Halloween experience. This rather secluded place invites guests to immerse themselves in the magical woodland, where children can hunt for the perfect Luggwoods pumpkin. The show is accompanied by numerous Halloween characters, including witches, fairies, and other spooky classics, creating an uneasy yet kid-friendly atmosphere.
Ticket prices: €16 for adults and €20 for children.
Time: When booking your ticket, you’ll be able to select your preferred timeslot.
Directions: Luggwoods Forest is a 40-minute car ride or an hour-long bus ride from Dublin city center.
Slieve Aughty Centre
Another mystical forest experience takes place in the Slieve Aughty Centre, delivering an authentic Irish countryside celebration. The festival emphasizes the traditional Celtic Samhain festivities, offering educational fun in a kid-friendly setting. The activities feature storytelling, allowing guests to learn ancient Irish myths about spirits, changelings, and fairy folk. Children can also participate in arts and crafts, taking home a unique souvenir that will forever remind them of this spooky experience.
Ticket prices: €5 for adults and €15 for children.
Time: From 12 pm to 4 pm
Directions: The venue is about 2.5 hours west of Dublin.
Macnas Halloween Parade
Although based in Galway, the Macnas parade brings productions to Dublin, offering dancing and musical performances. One of the best Halloween activities for kids, the parade features intricate costumes, fire dancers, and acrobatic performers accompanied by spooky music and professional actors. Themes usually focus on Irish folklore and mythology, telling fantastical narratives that engage children and adults of all ages.
Ticket prices: free
Time: tbd, possibly on October 26th, in the evening
Directions: Across Dublin, multiple locations
Retro Halloween Movies
Movie buffs cannot miss the Halloween film screenings at the massive Leopardstown Racecourse. The lineup changes from year to year, but mostly focuses on spooky but innocent classics like Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family. You may even catch a pre-show entertainment, featuring food trucks with Halloween-themed snacks, costume contests for kids and adults, and other fun activities.
Ticket prices: €32.50 per car.
Time: depends on the screening, check out the information on the website.
Directions: From the Dublin center, about one hour by subway.
Malahide Castle
Set inside one of the city’s most historic landmarks, the Malahide Castle Halloween party invites children and adults to participate in a treasure hunt. Additionally, the event features a theatrical performance, designed for younger viewers. This family-friendly show is also interactive, encouraging children to take part in solving the mystery and unlocking puzzles along the way. Castle history is typically interwoven into the narrative, helping kids learn about the medieval past and Irish heritage.
Ticket prices: €13.50 for adults and €17.50 for children.
Time: You’ll be able to choose the timeslot when purchasing the ticket.
Directions: From Dublin center, about one hour by DART to the north.
Ghosts, Ghouls, and Goodie Glover Day
The Irish Emigration Museum (EPIC) hosts a range of Halloween events, commemorating the celebration and the Irish tradition. This year, the institution teams up with the Samhain Festival to deliver a performance, exploring the ancient roots of Halloween. This family-friendly Ghosts, Ghouls, and Goodie Glover Day event features ghostly tales, folklore, and the dark history of Irish mythology. You’ll hear the stories of the Dullahan who inspired the headless horseman, learn about the local traditions of burying corpses with a stake through the heart, and get a glimpse into the story of Goody Annie Glover, who was tragically executed for witchcraft.
Ticket prices: €23 for adults and €15 for children.
Time: The performance begins at 2 pm.
Directions: Central location, minutes away from Trinity College.
Ghostbus Kids Tour
Finally, the Ghostbus kids tour is specifically designed for younger audiences, offering spooky storytelling inside a retro double-decker. While the adult version of the ride can be quite intense, the kids' tour focuses on theatrical performances and age-appropriate tales. The performances are created and delivered with humor, making them more light-hearted and fun, rather than genuinely scary. On the tour, you’ll explore this beautiful city in the dark, including the Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Christ Church Cathedral.
Ticket prices: €20 for adults and children, family discounts available.
Time: Several options available.
Directions: Meeting point is at the intersection of O'Connell Street and Middle Abbey Street.
For Thrill-Seekers & Night Owls
Looking for more intense and adrenaline-pumping things to do on Halloween? In this part, we will look into more gruesome and scary Halloween events Dublin hosts this year. The activities in this part are not for the faint of heart, so do some deeper research before going to make sure it’s something you can handle. Many events are accompanied by loud music, bright visuals, and interaction with actors, which can be overwhelming for a lot of people with various sensitivities.
Gravedigger Bus Tour
The Gravedigger bus tour is one of the most well-known Halloween attractions in Dublin, but be prepared to get really spooked. The first stop takes place at St. Audoen’s Church, where you will hear ghost stories and be taken to the area known as Hell. Next, you’ll make a stop at Kilmainham Gaol to meet the ghostly prisoners and learn about the somber past of this iconic landmark. Before the tour’s conclusion at the Gravediggers Pub, one of the best Halloween pubs Dublin has, you’ll explore the largest cemetery in Dublin, Glasnevin. All in all, the bus tour offers a scary yet fun experience, blending ghostly stories with actual Irish heritage.
Ticket prices: From €35 per person.
Time: The bus ride starts at 7:45 pm.
Directions: Bus stop College Green near Trinity College.
Murder Mystery
If you’re in the mood for some mental stimulation and enjoy whodunnits, the Murder Mystery is the perfect event to celebrate Halloween. Armed with your phones, you’ll get to walk the streets of evening Dublin, discovering clues and putting the pieces of the story together. As you progress, the story becomes more and more detailed and engaging until you cannot wait to learn who the murderer actually was. Not only is it a fun way to bond with your friends and family, but the event also gives you an opportunity to explore the city from a different angle.
Ticket prices: From €10 per person.
Time: When booking your ticket, you’ll be able to select your preferred timeslot.
Directions: Meeting spot at 3 St Stephen's Green.
Soho Costume Contest Party
The Soho Club in Dublin hosts one of the largest Halloween parties Dublin 2025, inviting locals and tourists to dress to impress and get rewarded for it. This iconic club venue offers Halloween-themed drinks, various music genres across its several floors, and special prizes for costumes.
Ticket prices: From €11.70 per person.
Time: October 31st at 10 pm.
Directions: Soho Dublin, minutes from Trinity College.
Walking Tours are Always a Must
Halloween Dublin is not only about partying and spooks, you can also learn a lot about Irish history and folklore on the best free walking tour in Dublin. Where else would you rather get educated on this fun holiday than in the country that originated it? Before heading to a Halloween party Dublin, hop on a guided tour to expand your knowledge and get chills from a few true horror stories.
Original Dublin Mythology & Folklore Tour
This two-hour-long free Halloween walking tour Dublin unveils the mysteries behind Dublin mythology and folklore. With stories and real and fictional characters, this guided tour will take you to more hidden spots in the city, sharing the fascinating and tumultuous history of the country. On the Original Dublin Mythology and Folklore tour, you’ll hear tales and superstitions, stories from ancient times, and learn more about the national identity of Ireland and the Irish people.
Self-Guided Mini-Route
If you’d like to create your own adventure, Dublin is accessible and safe enough to enable you to hop on a self-guided tour. Begin at Dublin Castle, whose history includes a royal crypt that stored bodies and alleged ghost sightings in the Record Tower. In just a few minutes, you can reach the Christ Church Cathedral that holds ancient crypts with mummified cats and rats, as well as the heart of St. Laurence O'Toole.
Next on the route is St. Audoen's Church, the oldest church in the city, with roots dating back to 1190. The premises of the church are home to a yard where victims of the deadly plague have found their final resting places. Another notable spot with dark history is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, home to Jonathan Swift's tomb.
Costumes, Makeup & Last-Minute Shopping
Before heading to a cool Halloween festival Dublin, you need to come up with an eye-catching outfit. In this part, we’ll go over some top locations to procure a last-minute costume.
Where to Buy & Thrift Near City Centre
If you're already in Dublin on Halloween and do not have an exciting costume to wear, no worries, the city offers plenty of shopping opportunities for locals and tourists. The biggest selection can be found at The Silly Shop, which remains the city's premier costume destination, offering thousands of ready-made outfits, as well as makeup, prosthetics, and various accessories. For family-friendly options, head to Smyths Toys on Jervis Street, where you can find a wide range of character costumes for children of all ages. Those looking for a more unique makeup and special effects should stop by beauty retailers like Boots provide an array of Halloween-specific face paints, fake blood, prosthetics, temporary tattoos, and other details.
If you want to have fun on a budget, visit thrift shops around the Temple Bar area, where you can find a decent selection of vintage clothing that can be used to create your own costume. While you will not find ready-made pieces at these shops, you'll be able to discover some unusual items perfect for costume building. If money is really tight, head to the Euro Shop along Henry Street to purchase props, masks, and other designing elements for as low as 1 Euro.
Packing & Weather-Proofing Checklist
Located in the northern part of Europe, Dublin's weather in late October and early November can become quite uninviting. With temperatures getting as low as 11° to 15°C, continuous rains, and strong winds, a trip to the Irish capital requires strategic packing. First and foremost, pack warm underlayers, such as leggings, pantyhose, and even thermal underwear. Additionally, bring raincoats or other outerwear items that protect against rain and snow. If you want to be extra creative, incorporate weather-appropriate elements into the design of your costume. For example, vampires wear capes, which can also act as rainshields.
As for footwear, pack something comfortable to be able to explore the city on foot, specifically on walking tours. An umbrella is a must; however, you may also need to acquire waterproof bags to protect your phone and wallet, but simple ziplock bags can also work. Most importantly, be open-minded and flexible, as the Irish weather can change rapidly.
Practical Tips
Especially if you’re planning to visit Halloween events for kids, planning in advance, figuring out the transport, and packing properly is imperative for a calm and fun vacation with your little ones. In this part, you’ll hear some advice that’ll help you avoid devastating mistakes and enjoy your stay to the fullest.
Booking & Time-Blocking
Halloween takes place over the span of a couple of days, which is why it's highly recommended to start planning two to three months in advance. Especially if you want to get early bird discounts that offer savings of up to 20% to 30%, planning ahead is imperative. Visit the official pages of events, check out event dates, and monitor prices in order to get the best deal. Prioritize must-do experiences, such as Bram Stoker Festival and Nightmare Realm Dublin tickets, to make sure you make it to the most exciting and spectacular celebrations.
Refrain from scheduling back-to-back events across the city, as Dublin is a major megapolis requiring 30 to 60 minutes for transit times between locations. Additionally, going to event after event may be quite tiring, so choose the best area to stay in Dublin that's central to your planned activities. Also, don't forget to meal plan and schedule gaps for lunches and dinners.
Transport After Dark
While Dublin's public transport system is very extensive and modern, getting around the city after dark on major holidays like Halloween may pose a challenge. The tram and subway systems operate until midnight, with extended services added for Halloween weekend. Take advantage of Dublin's night bus services that run all night. If using public transport feels too overwhelming, download ride-sharing apps like Uber, but be mindful of surge pricing during holidays.
Weather & What to Wear
As already discussed, late October in Dublin will not pamper you with a lot of sunlight and warmth. Typically, temperatures range from 11° to 15°C, with winds and frequent rains. Layering is absolutely essential, which is why it’s recommended to pack thermal underlayers, sweaters, gloves, and warm shoes.
Accessibility & Age Guidance
In terms of accessibility, Dublin city center presents a challenge. Cobblestone streets paired with the absence of elevators in historic buildings make it difficult for people with disabilities to explore the city. However, modern venues like the EPIC Museum and Malahide Castle do provide ramps, elevators, and designated areas for people with accessibility needs. Additionally, for travelers with autism spectrum and other sensory challenges, many haunted attractions might be overwhelming. If you're looking for events with sensory-friendly entertainment, family events like the Ghostbus Dublin Kids Tour and Malahide Castle's experience.
2-Day Sample Itinerary
Finally, here is a two-day Dublin Halloween itinerary to make your stay less stressful and more organized.
Day 1 (Saturday)
After a hearty breakfast, begin your Halloween extravaganza with an afternoon exploration at K2Alpacas Pumpkin Patch in Wicklow.
Try to be back in the city by afternoon to grab lunch and join the Free tour of Dublin for atmospheric historical context.
In the evening, head to the Bram Stoker Festival's procession to admire the elaborate costumes, exciting performances, and spooky tales.
After hours, if you still have energy left, cap the night with Nightmare Realm at RDS to experience the scariest and most impressive attraction, full of thrills, spooks, and darkness.
Day 2 (Sunday)
Use Sunday morning to discover the city by hopping on a self-guided tour through Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral crypts, and St. Audoen's Church while daylight illuminates architectural details.
After visiting one of the best brunch places in Dublin for a delectable Irish lunch, head to Malahide Castle's theatrical Halloween experience to learn more about the history of the holiday and partake in a mystery-solving adventure.
In the evening, join the Dark Side tour to explore the haunted locations after sunset, when the city takes on a spooky glow.
End your night with a party or a Pub Crawl event to meet locals, exchange your impressions, and share a pint of Guinness.
Recommendations from Generation Tours
Amid the spooky season, do not forget to explore and take in the natural and architectural beauty of the city. Go on an afternoon stroll to marvel at the Ha’Penny Bridge, Trinity College, and the iconic Georgian doorways on Marion Square.
In addition to booking Halloween events for kids and adults in advance, consider accommodation location and availability. During such a major holiday, it might be difficult to find proper lodging, especially when traveling with a group of people. Furthermore, research the restaurants and cafes in the area to make sure you can find something budget-friendly and nutritious. Many restaurants might temporarily increase their prices during Halloween, so consider dining at more local venues as opposed to tourist spots.
