When is the best time to visit Ireland?

The best time to visit Ireland is between March and May, and September to November, when it’s not as crowded as it is in summer, or as cold as it is in winter. That said, Ireland has a mild, temperate climate and although it’s rainy at times, you can visit all year round. The changes in weather are not normally extreme.

Summer (June, July and August) is the warmest time of year, when Ireland’s landscapes are at their most vibrant and the days are at their longest. However, it’s also crowded and prices are at a premium.

Some sites close from late October, and temperatures drop, but on average, they remain above freezing even in winter. This can be a wonderful time to see Ireland at its most calm.

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While many visitors aim to see Ireland during its summer months (late June to August), for me, the ideal time to visit is around May. This time of year brings comfortable temperatures, with Ireland’s trademark green countryside and wildflowers in bloom. It also means you have a bit more of the island to yourself, pre-empting the biggest crowds and getting there before the local schoolchildren break for summer. While nobody can predict the weather flawlessly, the locals commented during my most recent May visit that I’d picked the ideal time to drop by.

Andea, UK, Ireland & Iceland Specialist

Ireland Climate Guide

Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Belfast	43°F 4"	45°F 3"	48°F 3"	52°F 2"	57°F 3"	63°F 3"	64°F 3"	64°F 4"	61°F 4"	55°F 4"	48°F 4"	45°F 4"
The Burren	46°F 4"	46°F 3"	50°F 3"	54°F 2"	59°F 3"	64°F 3"	66°F 3"	66°F 4"	63°F 4"	57°F 4"	50°F 4"	46°F 4"
Cork	46°F 5"	48°F 4"	50°F 3"	54°F 2"	59°F 3"	63°F 2"	66°F 2"	66°F 3"	63°F 4"	57°F 4"	52°F 4"	48°F 5"
Dingle Peninsula	48°F 7"	48°F 5"	50°F 5"	54°F 3"	57°F 4"	61°F 3"	64°F 3"	64°F 4"	61°F 5"	57°F 6"	52°F 6"	50°F 6"
Dublin	46°F 3"	46°F 2"	50°F 2"	54°F 2"	59°F 2"	64°F 2"	66°F 2"	66°F 3"	63°F 3"	57°F 3"	50°F 3"	48°F 3"
Kilkenny	46°F 4"	46°F 3"	50°F 3"	54°F 2"	59°F 3"	64°F 2"	68°F 2"	66°F 3"	63°F 3"	57°F 4"	50°F 3"	46°F 4"
Limerick	46°F 4"	46°F 3"	50°F 3"	54°F 3"	59°F 3"	63°F 2"	66°F 3"	66°F 3"	63°F 4"	57°F 4"	50°F 4"	46°F 5"
Waterford	46°F 4"	46°F 3"	50°F 3"	54°F 2"	59°F 3"	63°F 2"	66°F 2"	66°F 3"	63°F 4"	57°F 4"	52°F 4"	48°F 4"

Month-by-month guide to traveling in Ireland

January - February Jan - Feb
March Mar
April - May Apr - May
June Jun
July - August Jul - Aug
September Sep
October Oct
November Nov
December Dec

Visiting Ireland in January - February

Temperatures are at their lowest but still hover around 5.5°C (42°F). Many hotels in rural areas will be closed but it’s still possible to base yourself in large towns or cities and explore from here. Towards the end of January, a traditional music and culture festival is held in the Temple Bar district of Dublin.

Events & Festivals

Tradfest music festival celebrates traditional Irish music. One of the highlights of the festival is the historic venues, from St Patrick’s Cathedral to Dublin’s City Hall.

Visiting Ireland in March

St Patrick's Day is on 17th March and is a national holiday for the Irish. Expect crowds in all the cities and a party-like atmosphere over the whole weekend, with live music and dancing, and the streets awash with people in green.

Events & Festivals

On the 17th March Ireland erupts in festivities to celebrate St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Visiting Ireland in April - May

Temperatures get warmer and spring flowers reach their peak. Vivid fuchsias lining the roads along the west coast, particularly around Kerry, begin to flower. In May, summer visitors start to flock to Ireland and prices rise accordingly.

Visiting Ireland in June

Gardens throughout Ireland sing with vibrant hues and temperatures are pleasantly warm, averaging at around 13°C (56°F). In mid-June, Bloomsday is celebrated in Dublin, focused on the life of poet and novelist James Joyce.

Events & Festivals

Bloomsday is a cultural festival with performances and readings marking the day when Ulysses, a novel by James Joyce, was completed.

Visiting Ireland in July - August

This is the busiest time of year for visitors, coinciding with the schools finishing for the summer. Temperatures are at their warmest and, in theory, these are the driest months, although visitors to Ireland should really expect rain at any time of year. Galway International Arts Festival is held during mid to late July, while the Dingle Regatta (a water festival of boat races), is held in early August.

Events & Festivals

At the Dingle Regatta spectators gaze at the rowers as they navigate their way around the course in traditional Namhóg canoes, jostling for first position.
From 17th to 30th July, the small Irish town of Galway hosts an international arts festival. Expect live music, theatre and art.

Visiting Ireland in September

This is the last month possible to visit the Skellig Islands, as between October and April the weather is deemed too unpredictable. This also tends to be the last month most wildlife boat tours operate as beyond September a lot of marine wildlife journeys to warmer climes. The deepening foliage of the season spreads from mid-to late-September and the hillsides turn purple as the heather flowers. A number of food festivals are held in September, including the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival.

Events & Festivals

Feast on fresh, native Galway Oysters in the longest standing oyster festival in the world.

Visiting Ireland in October

The changing hues of the season reach their peak in October, and the mountains take on russet shades as the bracken dies. Some sites close towards the end of October as visitor numbers and temperatures decrease. The Kinsale Gourmet Festival is held in early October, a celebration of local produce, and Cork's International Jazz Festival is usually held towards the end of the month.

Events & Festivals

Jazz lovers flock to Cork in late October, and with good reason. This international festival boasts an impressive list of past performers, with Ella Fitzgerald and Herbie Handcock topping the list.
Kinsale Gourmet Festival celebrates local, fresh food in ten restaurants around the seaside town.

Visiting Ireland in November

This is when Ireland truly begins to quieten, and some hotels outside the cities may close for annual renovations. It’s also typically the wettest month and temperatures average around 10°C (50°F) in the south and 5°C (45°F) in the east and north.

Visiting Ireland in December

Christmas festivities start at the beginning of the month, with decorative lights in towns and cities, plays and Christmas markets. December is a fairly cold month, but this can result in beautifully picturesque landscapes of frost-covered hills and trees. It's fairly windy along the coast, but those hotels that remain open often welcome guests with roaring log fires and hearty food.