Summer camp in Ireland: what it costs and what you get

A summer camp in Ireland costs anywhere from under €200 for a week of local day camp to well over €2,000 for an all-inclusive programme for an international teenager. For a family travelling from abroad, our own 2027 camps in Ireland are priced at €2,280 in Cork, €2,310 in Limerick and €2,330 in Dublin, per person. The gap between the cheap and expensive ends comes down to one question: is the price for activities only, or for a whole stay with accommodation, meals, supervision and support?

This guide sets out the main types of camp, what each tends to cost, what is and isn't normally included, and how to compare quotes fairly.

TL;DR

• Day camps for local children are the cheapest option, but they sell activities only. Accommodation, meals and travel are your problem.
• Residential and Gaeltacht-style courses for teenagers typically run from about €700 to over €1,400 for two or three weeks, and some specialist camps start at €699 per week.
• Our all-inclusive summer camps in Ireland cost €2,280 to €2,330 per person in 2027, and our UK camps cost £2,480 to £2,590.
• Check what the price covers (host family or residence, meals, excursions, airport transfers, insurance, support) before comparing headline figures.
• Budget for flights, spending money and travel insurance on top of almost any camp fee.

Table of Contents

• The three kinds of summer camp in Ireland
• What camps in Ireland cost: published figures
• Why prices differ so much
• What our summer camps cost and include
• The costs that are not in the camp fee
• A quick way to compare two quotes
• Summer camp or a longer stay?
• Our view: pay for what removes risk
• Book a camp with everything handled
• FAQ
• Sources

The three kinds of summer camp in Ireland

When families search for "summer camp Ireland", they are really looking at three quite different products, and the price depends on which one they mean.

Day camps. These are built for children who live nearby. They run Monday to Friday, usually from morning to mid-afternoon, and cover sports, drama, crafts or outdoor activities. The family handles the rest: where the child sleeps, how they get there, what they eat in the evening. Prices are quoted per day or per week and are low because nothing else is bundled in. They suit local families and visitors who already have somewhere to stay.

Residential and specialist camps. A child stays away from home, often for one to three weeks, with accommodation, food and supervision in the fee. The Irish-language Gaeltacht courses are the best-known example, but there are also camps built around a subject, such as sailing or marine science.

Immersion camps for international students. These combine English-language learning, cultural activities and excursions with a host family or residence stay, and they are designed for teens coming from another country. The price is higher because it replaces several separate bookings: tuition, accommodation, meals, transport and a staffed support team. This is the category we work in.

What camps in Ireland cost: published figures

Irish media give a useful picture of what families pay for residential programmes. These are the numbers worth anchoring on.

The first line comes from a 2026 Irish Times feature on a marine-themed camp for 13 to 17-year-olds, which says fees start at €699 per person per week and cover the ferry, accommodation, food and supervision. The same piece notes sessions are capped at 25 participants.

For language courses, Irish Country Living reported that Gaeltacht courses for secondary students cost roughly €700 to more than €1,400 for two or three weeks in 2026, with most falling between €1,100 and €1,200. A 2024 Newstalk discussion put the combined cost of summer camps and childcare at around €1,500 for a family, which shows how quickly many separate weeks of day camp add up.

Two things stand out. First, a single week of residential camp and three weeks of a subsidised Gaeltacht course land in a similar range. Second, an international immersion camp is priced above both, because it is a different product. It is aimed at a child travelling from abroad rather than a local or a student in the Irish education system, and it carries logistics that those camps leave to parents.

Why prices differ so much

Duration

Most camps sell by the week, and the cost per week often falls as the stay lengthens. A two-week stay is rarely half the price of a four-week stay once fixed costs such as airport transfers and registration are spread across more days. Compare the price per week and not only the total.

Accommodation

Accommodation is usually the largest single cost after tuition. A host family is generally cheaper than a residence, and it brings language practice at the dinner table. Irish Country Living attributes rising course fees largely to higher accommodation and staffing costs, and notes a strict 4:1 student-to-staff ratio on residential language courses. As of May 2026, the same article reports, the government raised the subsidy for recognised host families under the Irish Language Learners Scheme to €16 per student per night. That scheme is aimed at Irish-language courses, so do not assume it lowers the fee for an international English-language camp.

Location

Dublin camps tend to cost slightly more than Cork or Limerick, and our own 2027 prices follow that pattern: Cork €2,280, Limerick €2,310, Dublin €2,330. The difference is small, so choose the city for the experience rather than the price. Cork suits a quieter, coastal feel, Dublin offers the most to see and do, and Limerick sits close to the west of Ireland.

Age group and staffing

Younger children need closer supervision, more staff per child and tighter safeguarding. Camps that keep ratios low charge more, and that is money well spent.

What's bundled

A cheap-looking fee may exclude lunches, excursions, airport pickups or the activity programme itself. An expensive-looking fee may include all of them. This is the main reason headline prices are hard to compare.

What our summer camps cost and include

Here are the published prices for our camps. They are one-off prices per person.

You can see the Irish options on our summer camps in Ireland page, and the Cork camp and Leeds camp have their own pages with package details.

What sits behind the price is the way we work. We match each student to a programme, vet host families, manage visas and accommodation, and provide 24/7 local support during the stay. For a parent sending a 12 or 15-year-old to another country, that support is much of what the fee pays for. For details on how families are checked before a placement, see our guide to host family checks.

Our programmes are for students aged 10 to 18. Exact dates, number of weeks and what is included in each camp are on the camp pages, and we recommend reading those before booking, as they are the current source for schedules.

The costs that are not in the camp fee

Budget for these on top of almost any camp, ours included. We do not publish a figure for them, as they depend on where you travel from and how your child spends money.

• Flights or ferry to Ireland, and return. Ask whether an unaccompanied-minor service is available on your airline for younger children.
• Travel insurance covering medical care and cancellation.
• Pocket money for snacks, souvenirs and optional outings.
• Visa or travel authorisation, if your family's nationality requires one. Rules differ by passport and by length of stay, so check with the Irish immigration authorities, or ask us to guide you.
• Phone and data, since many families want a local SIM or roaming plan so teens can call home.
• Optional extras such as additional excursions or a stay either side of the programme dates.

If your child will carry a card abroad for a longer stay, our guide to a student bank account in Ireland explains the options for families.

A quick way to compare two quotes

Quotes arrive in different shapes, so put them on the same footing. Work through this list for each one.

1. Number of nights and weeks. Divide the total by weeks to get a weekly cost.
2. Accommodation type. Host family or residence, single or shared room.
3. Meals. Are all three included, or only breakfast and dinner?
4. Tuition or activity hours. How many hours a week, and who delivers them?
5. Excursions. Are weekend trips and entry fees in the price?
6. Transfers. Are airport pickup and drop-off included?
7. Supervision and support. What is the staff ratio, and is someone reachable at night?
8. Cancellation terms. What happens if your child falls ill or plans change?
9. Registration fees. Some providers add these on top.

A €1,200 camp that includes none of items 5 to 7 can cost more in practice than a €2,300 one that includes everything. The reverse is also possible, so do the sum.

Summer camp or a longer stay?

Some families begin by pricing a summer camp and end up considering a full school year. The two are very different commitments, so it helps to see them side by side.

A camp is a low-risk way to find out whether your child enjoys living abroad. If it goes well, it is a natural first step towards an academic year in Ireland or an academic year in the UK. Families who plan early can look at our early bird academic year options. Our shorter mini stays at €740 to €1,150 per person suit school groups and families who want a taste of Ireland over a few days. If you are organising for a class, our guide to school group trips to Ireland covers planning and costs.

Older teens who want work experience can see the options in our article on teen work experience abroad.

Our view: pay for what removes risk

We have placed thousands of students, and the same pattern comes up in conversations with parents. The first question is always the price. The question that decides whether the trip is a success is who looks after their child at 9 p.m. on day three, when they feel homesick or a plan falls through.

Our advice is to spend your budget on three things in this order: the quality and vetting of the accommodation, the reachability of local support, and only then the activity list. A camp with a spectacular programme and a thin support structure is a poor deal for a 12-year-old. A simpler programme with a well-vetted host family and a staff member on call is the better one.

We also suggest not choosing on the lowest price alone. Cheap day camps are excellent for what they are, but they were designed for children who go home each evening. If your child lives abroad, you need to buy the evening as well as the day, and that is what an all-inclusive camp is.

Finally, book early. Popular weeks fill, and families who commit sooner have more choice of city and dates, as well as more time for visas and flights.

— Eugeni

Book a camp with everything handled

If you want a fixed price covering the stay, the programme and local support, look at our summer camps in Ireland for 2027. We take care of the visa paperwork, accommodation and placement, and our team is on call throughout the stay, so you can concentrate on getting your child ready.

Tell us your child's age, interests and preferred dates, and we will suggest the right city and programme.

FAQ

How much does a summer camp in Ireland cost?

It depends on the type. Residential camps for teens in Ireland were reported from €699 per person per week in 2026, and Gaeltacht courses mostly cost €1,100 to €1,200 for two or three weeks. Our all-inclusive international camps cost €2,280 to €2,330 per person in 2027, depending on the city.

What is included in the price of a camp for international students?

That varies by provider, so always ask for a written list. For our camps, the package covers the programme, accommodation, local support and the logistics we manage for families. Check the camp page for the exact inclusions and dates.

Are flights and insurance included?

Flights and travel insurance are normally paid separately, and you should plan for them on top of the camp fee. Spending money and any visa costs are also separate. Ask any provider to confirm in writing what is outside the price.

Is a day camp cheaper than a residential camp?

Per week, yes, as day camps do not include accommodation or meals. But a child travelling from abroad still needs somewhere to stay, so the true cost of a day camp for a visitor is the camp fee plus accommodation, food and supervision. For overseas teens, an all-inclusive camp is often simpler and safer to budget.

What age can a child attend a summer camp with you?

Our programmes are designed for students aged 10 to 18. We match each child to a programme by age, interests and English level, so contact us with your child's details and we will recommend a suitable camp.

Sources

• Maratacht: Like the Gaeltacht but about everything marine, The Irish Times
• Using your cúpla focal: Gaeltacht summer courses, Irish Country Living
• How much do you pay for summer camps? Newstalk

Recommended

• Summer Camps in Ireland 2027
• Summer Camp Cork 2027 | Premium Irish Cultural Immersion
• School Group Trips to Ireland: Planning, Costs and Itineraries
• Summer Camps Ireland 2027 | Premium Immersion Programmes