Lacing up for Christmas doesn't have to mean a trip to one specific rink — Dublin and Wicklow between them have six real options this winter, from a quick shopping-centre skate to a full Wicklow day out. The trick is knowing which one actually suits your plans: a covered city rink you can walk to, a reliable local option near the Luas, or somewhere worth the drive.
Start here: compare your options
| Rink | Where | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| TwinkleTown | Smithfield Square, Dublin 7 | 20 Nov–31 Dec 2026 | From €10.75 incl. fee |
| Mastercard Ice Rink at Everwinter | RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 | 25 Nov–23 Dec 2026, then skating only 26 Dec–3 Jan 2027 | From €2.50 admission |
| Dundrum on Ice | Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 16 | 23 Oct 2026–24 Jan 2027 | Adult €20 · child €18 |
| Swords on Ice | The Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords | 23 Oct 2026–10 Jan 2027 | Adult €20 · child €18 |
| Ice Skating Blanchardstown | Millennium Park, Blanchardstown | 13 Nov 2026–1 Feb 2027 | See booking page |
| Wicklow on Ice | Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow | 32 selected dates, 14 Nov 2026–10 Jan 2027 | Adult €21 · child (4–12) €19 |
These are the highlights — full details, booking links and what to expect are below for each one.
Ice skating in Dublin city centre
TwinkleTown, Smithfield Square
Date: Sat 21 Nov + 37 more
Location: Smithfield Square, Smithfield
See details
Where: Smithfield Square, Dublin 7
Dates: 20 November–31 December 2026
Tickets: From €10.75 including booking fee — skate hire included
Best for: A covered, central rink you can walk to as part of a wider TwinkleTown trip — easy to combine with the market and Santo Panto on the same visit.
A proper covered rink right in Smithfield Square, with skate hire built into the ticket price and selected sensory sessions for families who want a quieter visit. TwinkleTown itself runs its full festive programme — market stalls, lights and other attractions — around the same dates, so it's worth building a whole visit around rather than just the skate.
Good to know: Confirm the exact first bookable date and any holiday closures (24–26 December, for example) directly on the booking page before you lock in a date — these can shift closer to opening.
Mastercard Ice Rink at Everwinter, RDS
Where: RDS, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Dates: 25 November–23 December 2026 (closed Mondays), then skating only from 26 December 2026–3 January 2027
Tickets: General admission from €2.50 — advance skating tickets include same-day entry
Best for: Families already planning an Everwinter market visit who want to fold the rink into the same trip, or anyone wanting a skate over the Christmas week itself.
A covered rink with 45-minute sessions, running as part of the wider Everwinter event through December and then continuing as a stand-alone skate over the Christmas-to-New-Year week once the market wraps up. Advance skating tickets are worth booking ahead of a visit, since they double up as same-day general admission.
Good to know: Check the organiser's FAQ for session times and any age or height restrictions before booking, particularly for the 26 December–3 January skating-only run.
Ice skating in greater Dublin
Dundrum on Ice
Date: Thu 12 Nov + 68 more
Location: Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum
See details
Where: Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 16
Dates: 23 October 2026–24 January 2027
Tickets: Adults €20 · children €18, 45-minute sessions
Best for: A long, reliable season and an easy trip by Luas — handy if you want options outside the tight run-up to Christmas.
One of the longest-running rinks on this list, giving you far more flexibility on dates than the shorter city-centre options. The Dundrum Luas stop and the usual run of nearby cafés and restaurants make it easy to turn into a half-day out rather than just a quick skate.
Swords on Ice
Date: Thu 12 Nov + 54 more
Location: Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords
See details
Where: The Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin
Dates: 23 October 2026–10 January 2027
Tickets: Adults €20 · children €18, 45-minute sessions
Best for: North Dublin families who want the same straightforward rink format as Dundrum, without the trip into the city.
Run on the same model as Dundrum on Ice — 45-minute timed sessions at the same adult and child pricing — just on the other side of the city, inside the Pavilions Shopping Centre.
Ice Skating Blanchardstown
Date: Fri 13 Nov + 73 more
Location: Blanchardstown Centre, Blanchardstown
See details
Where: Millennium Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 (entrance behind the McDonald's Drive-Thru)
Dates: 13 November 2026–1 February 2027
Tickets: See the booking page for current session pricing — skate hire included
Best for: The longest season on this list, so a good option if you'd rather avoid the busiest December weekends altogether.
A covered, real-ice rink with 50-minute sessions and skate hire built in. The season runs well into February, giving you the most breathing room of any rink here if your diary doesn't suit the Christmas rush.
Good to know: The entrance is tucked behind the Millennium Park McDonald's Drive-Thru — easy to miss if you're not expecting it.
Ice skating in Wicklow
Wicklow on Ice at Beyond the Trees Avondale
Wicklow on Ice at Beyond the Trees Avondale
Date: Sat 14 Nov + 31 more
Location: Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum
See details
Where: The Great Barn, Beyond the Trees Avondale, Forest Park, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow
Dates: 32 selected dates between 14 November 2026 and 10 January 2027
Tickets: Online: adults €21 · children (4–12) €19. Minimum age four.
Best for: Families wanting to turn a skate into a proper Wicklow day trip — especially if you add the ILUMINA light trail on the same visit.
Real indoor ice inside the Great Barn, with 45-minute sessions that include skate hire. Dedicated sensory sessions run at 10am on 5, 12 and 19 December for a quieter visit. Because it's on selected dates rather than a continuous run, check the organiser's calendar for your preferred day before you plan around it.
Good to know: An optional combo ticket pairs the skating session with Avondale's after-dark ILUMINA forest light trail, so you can turn an afternoon skate into a full evening out at the same venue.
DublinGuide listing · Organiser — exact dates and tickets · Skating + ILUMINA combo · Beyond the Trees Avondale
Not running this year
Worth knowing before you go looking: Tallaght and Dún Laoghaire have both confirmed they're skipping ice skating for 2026–27, and Dublin Loves Christmas has no rink this year either. We couldn't find a confirmed rink in Bray, Greystones or Wicklow Town — if that changes, we'll add it here.
Booking tips and FAQs
Which rink is covered, so weather isn't a factor? TwinkleTown, Everwinter and Ice Skating Blanchardstown are all covered or indoor rinks — a safer bet if you're planning around an unpredictable forecast.
Which rink has the longest season? Ice Skating Blanchardstown runs the longest, from 13 November right through to 1 February, giving you the most flexibility to dodge the busiest dates.
Is there a sensory-friendly session? Yes — TwinkleTown runs selected sensory sessions, and Wicklow on Ice has dedicated sensory sessions at 10am on 5, 12 and 19 December. Check each listing for the current schedule.
Can I combine ice skating with something else nearby? Everwinter's rink sits inside its wider Christmas market event, TwinkleTown's rink is part of a full festive programme at Smithfield Square, and Wicklow on Ice can be combined with the ILUMINA light trail at Avondale.
Still deciding? Our quick picks
| Looking for… | Top pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Central and covered | TwinkleTown, Smithfield Square | From €10.75 |
| Longest season | Ice Skating Blanchardstown | See booking page |
| Easiest by Luas | Dundrum on Ice | Adult €20 · child €18 |
| A full day trip | Wicklow on Ice at Avondale | Adult €21 · child €19 |
| Skating over New Year | Mastercard Ice Rink at Everwinter | From €2.50 |
A few general tips
- Book ahead for weekends in December. Sessions at the shopping-centre rinks and TwinkleTown fill up fastest on Saturdays and Sundays closer to Christmas.
- Check skate hire is included before you turn up — it is at TwinkleTown, Blanchardstown and Wicklow on Ice, but worth confirming for the others.
- Dress for the cold even at covered rinks. Gloves make a real difference if you're skating for the full session.
- Double-check dates and prices on the organiser's page before you book — several of these run on selected dates rather than a continuous season, and prices can change closer to Christmas.
More Christmas in Dublin
If you're planning the rest of December, DublinGuide also tracks:
Spotted an error, a sold-out date, or a price that's changed? Let us know and we'll update the listing.