Santa Trains in Ireland 2026
Find 16 Santa experiences for kids that include a train ride for Christmas 2026, from heritage railways and Santa expresses to woodland trams and festive farm trains. Each listing shows the dates and prices published by the organiser, with a link to book directly with them.
Listings on this page were last updated on .
Christmas at Luggwoods
Christmas at Luggwoods is a woodland Santa experience at The Lugg near Saggart, in south-west Co. Dublin. Families set off on a forest journey with festive storytelling, visit Mrs Claus, ride the Luggwoods Express and meet Santa. It runs from 29 November to 23 December 2026.
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Santa Express at Waterford & Suir Valley Railway
The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway runs its Santa Express from Kilmeaden Station. Families take a train ride and meet Santa and Mrs Claus, and every child's ticket includes a present. It runs on 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20, 22 and 23 December 2026, with cheaper child tickets on the Wednesdays.
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Christmas Island at Hidden Valley
Christmas Island at Hidden Valley Resort in Rathdrum is a full Christmas day out. Families take a magical train journey, explore the fairy forest, meet Mrs Claus and the elves, write letters to Santa and travel on Santa's houseboat to a personal visit with Santa himself. There's also face painting and a Christmas cinema room, with tree-house adventure golf, crafts, downhill winter tubing and family photos available as extras. Everyone attending needs a ticket, including adults and infants. It runs from 28 November to 22 December 2026.
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Santa Train at Rathwood
Rathwood, near Tullow in Co. Carlow, runs a Christmas experience built around its Santa train. Families take a train ride, watch a live show, meet the reindeer and visit Santa, and children receive gifts. Rathwood has confirmed its 2026 season; see its website for dates and tickets.
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Santa Train Experience at Amber Springs Hotel
The Santa Train Experience at the Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey takes families on a magical journey through a festive village to a personal visit with Santa. The experience lasts about 45 minutes, and a sensory train is available, booked directly with the train experience team. General sale opens in October, and it runs from 13 November to 23 December 2026.
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The Santa Express at Oakfield Park
The Santa Express at Oakfield Park in Raphoe is a Christmas day out built around a 45-minute train journey and a visit to Father Christmas. There's also a puppet show, marshmallow toasting, gingerbread decorating, crafts and reindeer games, and a calm sensory room for families who need a break. Allow two to three hours in total. Train compartments seat four to six, and compartments with wheelchair access are booked by email. Oakfield has confirmed its 2026 season; see its website for dates.
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Santa's House Express at Palmerstown House Estate
Santa's House Express runs at Palmerstown House Estate near Johnstown, Co. Kildare, from the team behind Santa at Malahide Castle. Families take a train ride, meet Mrs Claus and the elves, enjoy the funfair and visit Santa, and every child gets a cuddly gift. New for 2026 is Merrymyst Hollow. It runs on select dates through November and December 2026, and the organiser advises booking early as popular times sell out.
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Santa Train at Stradbally Woodland Railway
The Irish Steam Preservation Society runs its Santa Train on the Stradbally Woodland Railway, in the grounds of Stradbally Hall. Families take a train ride to meet Santa, and each child receives a gift, with festive entertainment on the platform, games and face painting. All children must be accompanied by an adult. It runs from 5 to 13 December 2026.
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Jingle Fest at Emerald Park
Jingle Fest is Emerald Park's Christmas event in Ashbourne. It includes the Festive Fairy Woods light tunnel, a Christmas sing-along on the Candy Lane train, Christmas character meet-and-greets, posting a letter to Santa and a new live panto show in the Big Top tent, along with the zoo and more than ten rides in the Jolly Junior Zone. Most families spend three to four hours there. These are not sensory sessions, so music and interaction stay at their usual level. It runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026.
View full details →Santa by the Sea at the Diamond Coast Hotel
Santa by the Sea is the Diamond Coast Hotel's Christmas event in Enniscrone, on the Sligo coast. Families visit Santa Claus, play Christmas games, take a festive Christmas train ride and browse seasonal food stands, with Christmas gifts and vouchers on sale. It runs from 17 to 20 December 2026.
View full details →Christmas at Jurassic Newpark
Jurassic Newpark, at the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, runs a Christmas experience with a Santa grotto. Children meet Santa, build a teddy bear, make reindeer food, decorate gingerbread, ride the Jurassic Express train, join the Elf Academy shows and take part in a scavenger hunt. It runs from 21 November to 23 December 2026.
View full details →The Birr Castle Christmas Express
The Birr Castle Christmas Express takes families by train to Santa's grotto at Birr Castle Demesne, where each child receives a special gift. It runs on 28 and 29 November and 4-6, 11-13 and 17-22 December 2026.
View full details →The Christmas Express at Mount Druid
The Christmas Express at Mount Druid Estate in Castletown Geoghegan is a story-led festive experience. It begins with a woodland tram ride through the Elven Wood; families then help the elves at Santa's Present Wrapping Depot, step into Mrs Claus' Kitchen for some baking, visit Santa's Sleigh Port and Sorting Office and post a letter at the Magical Mail Portal. It ends with a timed visit to Santa's Lakeside Village, with hot food in Santa's Lodge, the Light on the Lake show and a gift from Santa himself. It runs from 13 November to 23 December 2026.
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All Aboard for Christmas at Whitehead Railway Museum
All Aboard for Christmas is the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's Christmas event at Whitehead Railway Museum. It includes a short steam train ride within the museum site, meeting the elves and Mrs Claus, writing a letter to Santa, gingerbread decorating, making reindeer food and meeting Santa in his grotto. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot. It runs on 12, 13, 19, 20 and 21 December 2026.
View full details →Christmas at Glenarm Castle
Christmas at Glenarm Castle gives families personal time with Father Christmas on the castle estate in Co. Antrim. Around the visit there's a workshop, story time with Mrs Claus, gingerbread, a letter to Santa, and a festive train and rides. Every child gets a gift and a mounted photograph. It runs from 2 to 20 December 2026, with weekday tickets a little cheaper than weekends.
View full details →Lapland Express Santa Train, Downpatrick
The Lapland Express is the Santa train run by the Downpatrick and County Down Railway from Downpatrick Station. Families ride the train to visit Santa, with a present for each child, festive snacks and drinks, and entertainment from the elves. Allow about an hour and a half. There's level access from the car park to the platform and a ramp onto the train, but pram space on board is limited, so leave the buggy in the car if you can. A quieter, reduced-capacity train runs for families who need it. The Lapland Express runs from 28 November to 20 December 2026.
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Common questions
How many Santa train experiences are there in Ireland for Christmas 2026?
Kids Patch lists 16 Santa train experiences in Ireland for Christmas 2026. Each listing links straight through to the organiser to book — Kids Patch is free for parents to use and takes no booking fee or commission.
Where in Ireland can I find Santa train experiences?
There are Santa train experiences in 13 counties of the Republic, as well as 3 in Northern Ireland. They are in Carlow (1), Donegal (1), Dublin (1), Kildare (1), Kilkenny (1), Laois (1), Meath (1), Offaly (1), and 5 more.
When do Santa train experiences in Ireland run?
13 of the 16 listings have published their dates. The earliest opens on 13 November and the latest runs until 23 December. The dates are the range each one runs within, often on selected days only, so check the organiser’s calendar before you travel.
How much do Santa train experiences in Ireland cost?
8 of the 16 listings publish a headline ticket price, mostly per child: from €20 to €36.95 in the Republic and from £23 to £35 in Northern Ireland. Check what each ticket includes before booking.
Are there sensory-friendly Santa train experiences in Ireland?
Yes — 2 of the 16 listings advertise a sensory-friendly, relaxed or quiet session for children who prefer a calmer visit. The details, and how to book those sessions, are on each listing.
How do I book Santa train experiences in Ireland?
Directly with the organiser: 15 of the 16 listings link to an online booking page, and every listing links to the organiser’s own website. Kids Patch does not take bookings or payment.