Best time to visit Ireland
April to May and September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
April to May and September
Late spring (April and May) and early autumn (September to early October) are named most often for comfortable weather and fewer crowds than summer.
- “The best time to visit Ireland and Scotland is in the spring, around April and May, or in the early fall, from September to October.” celebritycruises.com
- “the best time to visit Ireland is late spring (April–May) or early autumn (September–early October)” gocollette.com
- “Go in the shoulder season, May June and September so much quieter than August especially.” responsibletravel.com
4 of the 11 travel guides we read name these months.
Ireland month by month
Average high and low in Dublin, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…Ireland sees the most rain in December and January, per one source.Winter is low season with short days and fewer crowds.TradFest Dublin
FebruaryChecking fares…A forum poster calls February crisp, with restaurants and attractions nearly empty.Winter sights may open only on weekends or close entirely.Six Nations rugby at Aviva Stadium
MarchChecking fares…Mid-March is busy because of St. Patrick's Day.Spring brings St. Patrick's Day celebrations, hiking and cycling.St Patrick's festival
Best timeAprilChecking fares…April is generally the driest in most parts of Ireland, with low crowds while school is in session.Wildflowers appear along coastal plains from late April.Punchestown Festival
Best timeMayChecking fares…May and September are the busiest months for tour guests, ahead of July and August.In May it stays light very late, handy for driving.Burren in Bloom
JuneChecking fares…June is generally the driest month in parts of southern Ireland, with many sunny days.June starts the summer peak season.Bloomsday Festival · West Cork Chamber Music Festival
JulyChecking fares…July is the third-quietest month of the tour season for shared tours.July and August are named the best months for weather in Cork.Puffin nesting season · Galway Races Summer Festival
AugustChecking fares…Summer weather is described as the best of the year, with 16 to 18 hours of sunlight.Kerry and the Antrim Coast are busy in July and August.Puck Fair
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…Crowds thin after kids go back to school in mid-September.September and October bring fewer crowds at popular sites like the Cliffs of Moher.Galway International Oyster Festival · Ryder Cup
OctoberChecking fares…October is the end of the tourist season, with fewer crowds, per forum posters.Cork hosts a jazz festival in October.Guinness Cork Jazz Festival
NovemberChecking fares…November is generally the wettest month of the year, per one source.Low season runs November through February.Dublin Christmas Markets · Galway Christmas MarketDecemberChecking fares…On the winter solstice the sun sets just after 4pm in Dublin.December brings Christmas markets.
Weather: Dublin averages from Met Éireann (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Dublin from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in Ireland
Festivals and seasons through the year
- TradFest Dublin
- Six Nations rugby at Aviva Stadium
- St Patrick's festival
- Punchestown Festival
- Burren in Bloom
- Bloomsday Festival
West Cork Chamber Music Festival- Puffin nesting season
Galway Races Summer Festival- Puck Fair
- Galway International Oyster Festival
Ryder Cup- Guinness Cork Jazz Festival
- Dublin Christmas Markets
Galway Christmas Market
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- June through early SeptemberLongest days and school holidays; summer crowds affect Dublin, Cork and Belfast.
- June to AugustWarmer weather, long light days and school vacations.
- May and SeptemberOne tour operator reports these as its busiest months, ahead of July and August.
Quietest
- November through FebruaryShort, often rainy days, but big attractions are easy to get into.
- WinterNo crowds and soft room prices, but colder rain and shorter sightseeing hours.
Watch for
- Year-roundExpect rain whenever you go.
- WinterExposed sites like the Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway are not much fun in winter.
- Edges of shoulder seasonSmaller countryside sights may be closed.
- Mid-MarchSt. Patrick's Day crowds.
Questions people ask
- What is the best time to go to Dublin, Ireland?
- One source says summer, though it is also the busiest; another says spring and autumn feel more manageable.
More about Ireland
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