guides & tips

Best Time To Visit Dublin

By Holly Stark
21 September 2021

Enjoy the unending delights and year-round charm of Dublin as you stroll through the cobbled streets, rest by the Iveagh Garden and waterfall, and soak up the historic scenic spots. Typically, the best time to visit Dublin is during the summer months of June, July and August. During this time, the temperature is relatively warm, with inevitable rain, and festivals in Dublin fill the streets. However, it is also the most pricey time to visit, with high hotel and flight prices. It can be fairly crowded, so steer clear of these months if crowds aren’t your thing. Whatever the weather, there are plenty of things to do in Dublin, from ancient, gothic castles to live music and art. If you’re looking for a deal and fewer tourists, bundle up in your best warm coat and head to Dublin in November, December or January. The winter season is the cheapest time to travel to Ireland. Autumn and Spring offer a happy medium, moderate temperatures, crowds and prices, and beautiful seasonal foliage. Ireland’s temperature by month fluctuates, so it’s best to be ready for anything; rain or shine. Regardless of the best time to visit Dublin, Ireland’s capital is a vibrant city with fairytales, folklore, political revolutions, poetry and great pubs to be explored.

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Summer

The best events in Dublin occur in the summer months. The city’s festivals span music, literature, film, theatre, food and dance and are dotted around the city’s streets, parks and unique spaces. If you name it, Dublin probably has a festival for it. Music lovers will be spoiled for choice with live music options across the melodic city; from street buskers to small gigs in pubs to big open-air festivals. Forbidden Fruit, set in the scenic grounds of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, takes place every June and exhibits some of the best upcoming artists. In July, Longitude evolves over three beautiful days in Marlay Park and features world-renowned musicians and weekend camping. Trinity College holds a series of small concerts, with upcoming bands and artists in the leafy retreat of the city centre. September is considered one of the cheapest times to travel to Ireland, and the capital during the month is not short of great festivals. The Grand Canal provides the setting for Canalaphonic, a charming get-together celebrating the best of local Dublin artists. The summer months, especially July and August, correlate with significantly higher airfares than the flights available in off-peak seasons and winter.

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Autumn

Autumn is a great season in Dublin; the summer crowds have thinned out, many days are fresh and sunny and the nights begin to draw in, meaning cosy fires, experiencing the hearty Irish cuisine and folk music in pubs. Dublin in October kicks off with Oktoberfest. The German festival is really popular in the city and makes its way to Dublin in the form of great Bavarian beer and delicious German food. The month also hosts Ireland’s biggest architecture festival, the Dublin Theatre Festival and the annual Bram Stoker festival at the end of October - the perfect place to don your vampire cape for the Halloween weekend. Events in Dublin in November are a little quieter and the weather is a little colder, but there is still lots going on. As one of the top things to do in Dublin, a visitor walking tour around Trinity College is not to be missed. Trinity College Library is the largest library in Ireland, home to a colossal amount of old books and fused with history. Part of its magic comes from the fact it is home to the Book of Kells; the 1000-year-old manuscript of the Gospels of the New Testament. Enjoy the crimson-tinged trees as you wander around the stunning campus.

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Winter

Dublin in December is chilly, and winters can be rainy, grey or snowy, so make sure to pack a waterproof warm winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Visitors can usually get pretty good deals on hotels and airfare over winter. Head to Mulligan’s for a pint of Guinness; the perfect antidote to chattering teeth and goosebumps. The Mulligan family opened their first Dublin pub in 1782, and despite the establishments changing of hands in the 1930s, Mulligan’s is still known for having the best beer in town. It’s a genuine, quirky, vintage bar, with memorabilia from the nearby Theatre Royal which burned down in 1880, including an autographed photograph of Judy Garland, covering the walls. A Dublin pub is a must-see, so be sure to speak to a local for the best Irish hidden gems. If that’s not your cup of tea, head to the iconic St Patrick's Cathedral - Ireland's largest church. The cathedral is steeped in history and was built between 1191 and 1270 on the site of an earlier church that had stood since the fifth century. Under twinkling Christmas lights, the cathedral is a winter treat not to be missed.

Spring

Dublin has an abundance of beautiful, scenic parks with natural views and peaceful surroundings. During the spring months, the city’s green spots are perfect for picnics, hanging out with friends and enjoying the growth of the days. If you’re visiting Ireland in March, head to the Iveagh Gardens and Waterfall. Sometimes referred to as Dublin’s secret park, the gardens are located close to Stephen’s Green and are a sublime secret sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of the daily Dublin life. The park is home to rustic grottos, fountains, woodlands and rooteries. A five-minute walk away and you will be spoilt for choice with an array of cafés and sandwich bars in the foodie haven of Camden Street. Spring holds the most famous Irish festival; St Patrick’s Day. It’s the highlight of Ireland’s social calendar; bringing the whole island to life in an explosion of parades, music and green celebrations. It’s one of the more costly times to travel, but worth it if you love to party. The weather in Dublin in April is unpredictable. But with spring starting to show its bright, sunny face during this time of the year, the city warms up and lush green and bright, pretty colours start making their presence known. The average temperature during this time of the year in Dublin is about 8 degrees Celsius, so it’s still good to pack a coat.