When is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?

When is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?

It’s never too hot, never too cool. Green year round from consistent rainfall, Ireland is known for being comfortable in whatever season you visit. Even better, there are great deals right now on tours and travel packages for 2019. If you’ve always dreamed of visiting the Emerald Isle, this is a great year to do it!

Best Things To Do in Ireland

Take an 11-day Total Ireland Experience Tour that includes the country’s many natural wonders. See Giant’s Causeway, an awe-inspiring formation of over 40,000 basalt columns, and the Cliffs of Moher, Europe’s highest sea cliffs. This tour also includes stays in quaint Irish towns such as Derry, Donegal, Killkenny and more. Head to Blarney Castle on a five-day West Coast Ireland Tour from Dublin and kiss the famous Blarney Stone to receive the gift of eloquence.Then, take a scenic ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands.

If you’d like to combine your stay in Ireland with a trip to the United Kingdom, there are a variety of tours that visit both countries. Enjoy tours to these wonderful island nations that last eight days, nine days, 12 days, 13 days and more!

The Four Seasons in Ireland

If you know which season in which you’d like to visit Ireland, check out our guide below for more tips!When to Visit Ireland

Spring

Polnabrone ruins in the Burren
Polnabrone ruins in the Burren

Stretching from February to April, Ireland is at it’s greenest. Shoulder season for most travelers, Spring is a great period to experience the beauty of the Emerald Isle while avoiding most tourist crowds. Enjoy relative solitude as you look out over the Cliffs of Moher at the beautiful Altantic Ocean. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, travel along the King’s Road through the Dark Hedges with a day trip from Dublin.

Dare to experience the revelry of St. Patrick’s Day in it’s home country? Expect large local crowds in Dublin come mid-March as this national festivals brings out the lively spirits of Ireland.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing visit, take in the beauty of nature with the Burren in Bloom Spring Festival.

Summer

The cliffs of Inishmore Aran Islands
The cliffs of Inishmore Aran Islands

Peak travel season runs from May to July, drastically increasing hotel prices and airfare to the Emerald Isle. Despite this, summer is a beautiful time to experience Ireland, so dodge the big cities and get out into nature with a camping trip or self-drive itinerary.

The Wild Atlantic Way will be crowded at the hot-spots, but it’s such an expansive route that you can enjoy a variety of off-the-beaten path attractions.

You can also get away from the mainland with a visit to the Aran Islands, a stunning trio of islands featuring natural and archaeological wonders. This is also the last major season to visit Skellig, the island made famous by in Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi.

Combine nature and music at Sea Sessions, a fantastic Summer music festival in June that celebrates 3 days of sun, surf, and music!

Summer is also the season of literary festivals, celebrating Ireland’s rich literary history, from Oscar Wild to James Joyce. Make sure to slip in Belfast for a variety of events come June, including the Belfast Book Festival.

Autumn

Autumn Leaves on the Trinity College
Autumn Leaves on the Trinity College

Autumn colors settle in between August and October, turning the Emerald Isle a shade of bronze. With the Summer crowds trickling away, this shoulder season lets you really experience the major cities, from Dublin to Belfast. Brook a roomy pair of pants to enjoy the harvest spoils with a series of delicious and tantalizing food festivals.

Enjoy the Autumn leaves in Phoenix Park, Dublin, or take to the countryside with a rental car on a fall foliage road trip. Surfers will also love this season as the Atlantic swells bring the best waves to Ireland’s shores.

Don’t forget to pack a costume, as Ireland is the home of both Bram Stoker and Halloween, making it one of the spookiest countries to visit.

Winter

Christmas in Dublin
Christmas in Dublin

Though the temperature drops throughout Ireland, the Emerald Isle still enjoys comfortable weather in winter, so long as you pack gloves and a jacket. Take this time to enjoy low prices at most major city hotels, enjoying city breaks in Dublin and Belfast while warming up in charming pubs or strolling through Christmas markets.

If you’re okay with daring the cold, head out to Connemara National Park, where you can enjoy panoramic views of this snow covered park from Diamond Mountain and explore Kylemore Abbey with few crowds.

Those looking for a spiritual experience should definitely head to Bru na Boinne for the Winter Solstice. Stick around into late January for TradFest, one of Ireland’s largest music festivals to experience traditional music.

For more travel ideas and things to do in Ireland, click here.

3 thoughts on “When is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?

  1. Everything here is welcoming and interesting for people to see and take pictures for their remembrance.thanks for sharing this wonderful post.

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