The best time to visit Dublin: a month by month overview of the weather in the city

An insider guide to the best time to visit Dublin and what to expect in each season (no, it is not just rain, rain and more rain!)

Dublin is a great destination for a city break all year round, however, different seasons make for a very different experience.

In spring and summer, Dublin often shimmer under the most amazing sun and blue sky and truly blossoms in its identity as a coastal city. While never proper hot, you can even swim in the (cold) sea at this time!

In winter, the situation is not quite as dreamy… November, January, February, March tend to be hard months of grey, dull sky and low temperature, a time for hiding in cozy interiors and sipping on hot drinks.

Christmas is differnt again as the city really embraces the festive season and the Christmas decorations literally brighten up the darkest of nights.

So, as you can see, the time you pick to come to Dublin determines also what type of experience you will have.

For me, the best time to visit Dublin are the months of May, June and September, followed by July, August and October. Christmsa can be nice for a short break. I do not love the other months in Dublin although of course, they can all work!

I have been living in Dublin for almost 20 years and, based on weather patterns and my own experience, this is what you can expect when visiting Dublin in each season.

I hope it will help you plan your trip to Ireland at best!

Dublin in January and February

January and February are not the best time to visit Dublin.

The post holiday blues hits the city quite hard and the short days and grey weather doesn’t help the mood. However, the city’s museums, the fancy hotels and the cozy pubs offer refuge so it still possible to enjoy the city, if this is time you have to travel.

February is similar yet different as ou never know what February will bring to Dublin.

In theory, February is when the winter starts to lose its grip and blossoms start returning to the city. But February is still cold in Dublin and can get some bitter days: this year we literally went from one super nice, super sunny day that made us think of an early spring to a full on snow storm the day after!

So, if you are planning on coming at this time, i recommend to wrap up well and keep an eye on the weather online. On dry days, it can be a lovely time to be here and even to take day trips to the mountains or to Howth but on wet ones, museums and pubs will be your best friends!

A note about storms in Ireland. The last few years have seen many storms battering Ireland in the winter. They are a recent phenomenon brought

Dublin in March and April

March and April are spring in Dublin and come with changeable weather but longer days. Also, these are the months with two of the biggest events of the year here: St Patrick’s Day and Easter.

St Patrick day is on the 17th of March and celebrates the Saint patron of Ireland with a national holiday and parades across the country.

I will be honest, being in Dublin on St Patrick’s day is a mixed blessing.

On one hand, the atmosphere of the festivities is fun and cool (everyone loves Patrick’s Day). On the other, it is also a time when Dublin gets awfully crowded and there is a lot of drinking going on.

I personally avoid the city center on this day but I am notoriously crowd-averse and many love the buzz so really, it is a personal decision.

Easter is celebrated in Dublin can be a lovely time to be in the city. Tourism is in full swing at this time and hotel prices are high: advance planning is highly recommended. 

Dublin in May and June – The BEST time visit Dublin!

May and June are my favourite months to travel to Ireland and a great time of the year for both a visit to Dublin and the surrounding countryside. 

The weather is often lovely at this time, you are ofren blessed with blue sky yet the city is not yet swamped by the summer crowds, so it is really easy to enjoy!

At this time, you can visit all Dublin’s must-see sites, enjoy the city parks and also venture out of town: May is wonderful for short day trips out of Dublin!

If you are in Dublin in May, I recommend you visit some of the city’s parks such as St Stephens’ Green or St Anne’s and also spend an afternoon at the beautiful Botanical Gardens. 

June is a lovely time to visit Dublin and a month with something special: Bloomsday, on the 16th of June!

Bloomsday is an annual festival celebrating the Ulysses by James Joyce (set in Dublin on the 16th of June 1904) and it is a great day to be in the city.

Many events take place around town, with music and fairs and many locals dress up evoking Joycean times and the atmosphere of the Ulysses. 

This is an easy day to enjoy also if you are not familiar with the Ulysses and a very accessible one for the whole family. 

Dublin in July and August

July and August is the heart of the summer in Dublin and a great time to visit the city except for the crowds.

I highly recommend you book your accommodation early if coming at this time and consider staying in areas a little outside of the center if you want evenings at a more relaxed pace.

Dublin in September and October – The second best time to visit Dublin

September is the month when the Dublin summer ends and the transition towards colder days happens very fast.

If coming to Dublin in September, you can expect some chilly days but overall, you should still get decent weather.

Tourism is limited at this time and especially the start of the month, when you still have the end of summer over the city, it can be a wonderful time to visit. 

October is a lovely month for foliage in Dublin yet it is a time when you feel we are slowly but surely heading towards winter. You want to wrap up well and be ready for rain.

Autumn is also the time for one of Ireland most important festivities, Halloween,

Halloween originated in Ireland: houses and shops take out Halloween decorations and the city organizes several events to mark the occasion and you’ll see decorations on all houses!

Dublin in November and December

November is dark and wet in Dublin and, with January and February, among the worst times to visit Dublin, but it does see the beginning of Christmas, and its extravaganza of lights in the city center, which helos the mood!. 

Shops and streets starting to flaunt beautiful decorations as early as the first week of the month and this makes the dire weather more bearable.

December, in the other hand, is a fun month to be in Dublin. 

Christmas in Dublin is a wonderful extravaganza of lights, cribs and carol singers and exploring the city at this time is a delight.

The best things to do in Dublin in December is to plan for a stay in a nice hotel and embrace indoor attractions and Christmas events (concerts, theaters etc). This is not, however a time for day trips outside of the city. For those, I recommend you wait for spring.

I hope you enjoyed this guide and it helped you decide the best time to visit Dublin for you. Safe travels!