The Cliffs of Moher on a bright day above the Atlantic Ocean

Ireland · When to Go

The Best Time to Visit Ireland

Quick answer: May to September brings the longest days and the best chance of sunshine. Ireland’s weather is mild all year, so every season has its charms, from spring daffodils to cozy winter pubs.

  • May–Sep best weather
  • 17 hrs of daylight in June
  • March 17 St Patrick’s Day

Hassle-Free Dream Travel!

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Stewart Logan
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Mikaila from The Travel Byrds put together a fantastic trip for us to Vancouver. Everything was arranged to fit our preferences including experiences I would never have known how to navigate myself. What a great way to travel, no stress, all fun — because a professional does the hard part for you.
Karen Terry
★★★★★
Amazing family vacation to Italy * can't wait to go back!
Brandie Penrose
★★★★★
We used CeCe as our travel advisor for our European trip, and she was amazing! She was able to work with a very tight deadline, listened to all of the things we asked for, and executed the trip perfectly. It was exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend her services for anyone looking to plan a trip!
Loida Martinez
★★★★★
I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with Christina Gaspari and The Travel Byrds! She made sure to ask plenty of questions at the beginning, kept in touch while planning to make sure the things she was going to book for us were what we wanted, and made sure we had all info we might need and more before our trip. The trip itself was incredible thanks to her! Not having to worry about anything and having a full itinerary ready full of amazing experiences and even relax time accounted for was wonderful! She really put in so much work for our trip which was to multiple countries! Thanks Christina! <3
Steven Alsip
★★★★★
We have traveled with Travel Byrds 5 times and we love their service, last trip to Costa Rica was amazing. Our every concern was addressed/ all needs were met. Our agent's advice and expertise are much appreciated and we will not travel again without them!
Stephanie Fitzgerald
★★★★★
Paige planned my week-long trip to Greece. From my very first call with her to discuss my vacation “must-haves”, I was impressed with both her knowledge and her enthusiasm. She listened to my wants, made suggestions based on our discussion and then perfectly planned my trip… from the islands we visited to the hotels to the excursions. As my trip got closer, she brought in another team member to do any final bookings and modifications. It was so reassuring to know that she and her team had everything covered. I worried about NOTHING. I cannot recommend her enough.
Alexa johnson
★★★★★
If I could give Sylvie more than 5 stars, I would! Planning our honeymoon to Paros, Greece and Rome and Florence, Italy felt a little overwhelming at first, but Sylvie made the entire process so easy and stress-free. She truly thought of every single detail, and I honestly couldn’t have dreamed up a better trip or a more perfect way to start our marriage. Every hotel, transfer, flight, and excursion was seamless. On top of that, the travel app she created for us was incredible. It had every piece of information we could possibly need all in one place, so even traveling somewhere completely new felt easy and organized. We never had to wonder what was next or worry about missing anything because she had already thought of it. Not only is Sylvie incredibly organized and knowledgeable, but she genuinely cares about creating an unforgettable experience for her clients. Our honeymoon exceeded every expectation, and we made memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. I cannot recommend Sylvie enough. If you’re thinking about booking a trip, do yourself a favor and let her handle it. It was hands down one of the best decisions we made, and we’re already looking forward to planning our next adventure with her!
Todd Brydges
★★★★★
Our trip to the Rockies and National Parks was the second adventure Sylvie planned for us, and once again she knocked it out of the PARK! 🙂 Her recommendations and family excursions were spot-on and perfectly matched our interests and family dynamic. She handled all the details, taking the stress and anxiety out of the planning process. We highly recommend reaching out to Sylvie for your next trip—she’ll make sure you have an amazing experience.
Stewart Logan
★★★★★
Mikaila from The Travel Byrds put together a fantastic trip for us to Vancouver. Everything was arranged to fit our preferences including experiences I would never have known how to navigate myself. What a great way to travel, no stress, all fun — because a professional does the hard part for you.
Karen Terry
★★★★★
Amazing family vacation to Italy * can't wait to go back!
Brandie Penrose
★★★★★
We used CeCe as our travel advisor for our European trip, and she was amazing! She was able to work with a very tight deadline, listened to all of the things we asked for, and executed the trip perfectly. It was exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend her services for anyone looking to plan a trip!
Loida Martinez
★★★★★
I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with Christina Gaspari and The Travel Byrds! She made sure to ask plenty of questions at the beginning, kept in touch while planning to make sure the things she was going to book for us were what we wanted, and made sure we had all info we might need and more before our trip. The trip itself was incredible thanks to her! Not having to worry about anything and having a full itinerary ready full of amazing experiences and even relax time accounted for was wonderful! She really put in so much work for our trip which was to multiple countries! Thanks Christina! <3
Steven Alsip
★★★★★
We have traveled with Travel Byrds 5 times and we love their service, last trip to Costa Rica was amazing. Our every concern was addressed/ all needs were met. Our agent's advice and expertise are much appreciated and we will not travel again without them!
Stephanie Fitzgerald
★★★★★
Paige planned my week-long trip to Greece. From my very first call with her to discuss my vacation “must-haves”, I was impressed with both her knowledge and her enthusiasm. She listened to my wants, made suggestions based on our discussion and then perfectly planned my trip… from the islands we visited to the hotels to the excursions. As my trip got closer, she brought in another team member to do any final bookings and modifications. It was so reassuring to know that she and her team had everything covered. I worried about NOTHING. I cannot recommend her enough.
Alexa johnson
★★★★★
If I could give Sylvie more than 5 stars, I would! Planning our honeymoon to Paros, Greece and Rome and Florence, Italy felt a little overwhelming at first, but Sylvie made the entire process so easy and stress-free. She truly thought of every single detail, and I honestly couldn’t have dreamed up a better trip or a more perfect way to start our marriage. Every hotel, transfer, flight, and excursion was seamless. On top of that, the travel app she created for us was incredible. It had every piece of information we could possibly need all in one place, so even traveling somewhere completely new felt easy and organized. We never had to wonder what was next or worry about missing anything because she had already thought of it. Not only is Sylvie incredibly organized and knowledgeable, but she genuinely cares about creating an unforgettable experience for her clients. Our honeymoon exceeded every expectation, and we made memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. I cannot recommend Sylvie enough. If you’re thinking about booking a trip, do yourself a favor and let her handle it. It was hands down one of the best decisions we made, and we’re already looking forward to planning our next adventure with her!
Todd Brydges
★★★★★
Our trip to the Rockies and National Parks was the second adventure Sylvie planned for us, and once again she knocked it out of the PARK! 🙂 Her recommendations and family excursions were spot-on and perfectly matched our interests and family dynamic. She handled all the details, taking the stress and anxiety out of the planning process. We highly recommend reaching out to Sylvie for your next trip—she’ll make sure you have an amazing experience.

The quick answer

When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?

Ireland is green for a reason: rain can fall in any month. Choose a season to see what to expect.

A lake in County Kerry with boats and green mountains behind

March to May: fresh and green

The countryside turns vivid green, lambs fill the fields and daffodils bloom. Temperatures are mild, around 10–15°C (50–59°F), and the crowds are smaller.

St Patrick’s Day on March 17 is a celebration everywhere, especially in Dublin.

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The Cliffs of Moher rising above the Atlantic Ocean

June to August: long, bright days

Daylight lasts up to about 17 hours in June, perfect for long drives and late evenings in the pub. Days are usually 15–20°C (59–68°F).

It’s the busiest season, so we reserve castles, drivers and island trips well ahead.

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A traveler sitting by a lake among autumn trees and mountains in Ireland

September to November: golden and quiet

September is often lovely, with warm days and fewer visitors. October brings autumn color and cozy evenings.

It’s also festival season, from Galway’s oyster festival to Halloween, which has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

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A snowy forest path lined with tall trees in winter

December to February: cozy and festive

Winters are mild and damp rather than freezing, usually 4–8°C (39–46°F). Days are short, but turf fires, pubs and Christmas markets make up for it.

Some rural attractions close for the season, so we focus on cities and castle hotels.

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Month by month

Ireland Through the Year

JanuaryQuiet

Short days and low prices. A cozy time for Dublin, pubs and castle hotels.

FebruaryQuiet

Snowdrops appear and St Brigid’s Day on February 1 marks the start of spring.

MarchShoulder

St Patrick’s Day on March 17 brings parades and festivals across the country.

AprilIdeal

Lambs, daffodils and longer days. Easter is a lovely time to visit.

MayIdeal

Often one of the sunniest months, with bluebells in the woods and quiet roads.

JunePeak

The longest days of the year. Perfect for the Wild Atlantic Way and island trips.

JulyPeak

Busy and lively, with the Galway International Arts Festival and the Galway Races.

AugustPeak

Summer festivals like the Rose of Tralee. Book castles and drivers early.

SeptemberIdeal

Warm days, quieter roads and the famous matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna.

OctoberShoulder

Autumn color and Halloween, celebrated in style in Derry and across Ireland.

NovemberQuiet

Cooler and quieter, with good value in cities and castle hotels.

DecemberFestive

Christmas markets, carol services and New Year celebrations in Dublin.

Ideal & peak Shoulder Quieter, shorter days

Plan around a celebration

Festivals Worth Timing Your Trip For

The Irish love a good festival. Hotels fill quickly around the big ones, so we plan early.

St Patrick’s Festival · March 17

Parades, music and celebrations across the country, with Dublin’s festival running for several days.

Galway Arts Festival · July

Two weeks of theater, music and street spectacle in one of Ireland’s liveliest cities.

Galway Races · late July

A week of horse racing, fashion and festivities at Ballybrit racecourse.

Rose of Tralee · August

A festival celebrating Irish heritage around the world, held in County Kerry.

Lisdoonvarna · September

Europe’s biggest matchmaking festival, with music and dancing in a County Clare spa town.

Halloween · October 31

Halloween began with the Celtic festival of Samhain. Derry’s celebrations are among the biggest in Europe.

Work with One of Our Travel Experts

The average person takes over 11 hours researching their vacation. Take that time back and let us handle the nitty gritty of reading reviews, asking questions, comparing hotels and more.

The Cliffs of Moher rising above the Atlantic Ocean

After a true deep dive into your requests, your travel agent will come back with a variety of suggested hotels, activities, and surprise experiences. You tell us which ones fit you best and we'll work through the logistics!

The stone bridge and turrets of Ashford Castle surrounded by woodland

You'll be equipped with an itinerary complete with the details of your trip. If anything happens along the way, you can relax knowing your travel agent will take care of everything!

Lough Leane in Killarney National Park beneath the Kerry mountains

Good to know

Best Time to Visit FAQs

What is the rainiest month in Ireland?

Rain is spread across the year, with the west usually wetter than the east. Showers are often short, so pack a rain jacket in any season.

What is the cheapest time to visit Ireland?

November to March, outside Christmas and St Patrick’s Day, usually offers the best value.

Is Ireland good to visit in winter?

Yes, for cities, castle hotels and cozy pubs. Days are short and some rural sites close, so we plan around them.

When can I visit the Skellig Islands?

Landing trips to Skellig Michael run in summer only, weather permitting. We book them early.

Your Dream Ireland Getaway

Not sure when to go? Tell us your dates and dream destinations, and one of our Ireland specialists will build the perfect timing around you.

  • A tailor-made itinerary, designed around you
  • Private drivers, guides and tickets handled
  • Hand-picked castles and hotels with exclusive perks

Start Planning Your Tailor-Made Trip by Contacting One of Our Ireland Specialists

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