Best Time to visit Ireland
Ireland the birthplace of writers like Oscar Wildeand home of Guinness beer.
As of now fully vaccinated U.S. travelers can now travel to Ireland without having to quarantine. However, vaccinated travelers must show proof of their vaccination. The country will also welcome unvaccinated tourists, but they must arrive with proof of a negative COVID-19 test and self-quarantine for five days upon arrival.
The enchanting country lures you with wild and rugged beauty, with relaxing drives and breathtaking views of the majestic cliffs. Be amazed by the stunning natural beauty of the lakes and hiking trails that run through beautiful mountain passes. You can definitely top all this up with a must-do brewery tour of the country.
You need to consider three important things while deciding on the best time to visit Ireland – Your budget, what you are visiting for and whether you are fazed by the weather.
This article will provide all the information you may require to guide you in planning the perfect Ireland vacation for you and your family.
One thing you should consider when planning to explore Ireland is how popular the country is during the peak summer season which is between June and August.
The best time to visit Ireland is at the end of the spring and autumn shoulder season. If you need it spelled out then more specifically it would be the months of May and October. The main reason for choosing these two specific months is that there will be fewer crowds and you may find it easier to get hotels cheap and available.
Understandably, the best time for me may not be the best time for you and would depend entirely on what you like and don’t like. The choice is going to be completely subjective and can vary from person to person based on their interests.
If you want peace and quiet and want to avoid the crowds then the summer months should be skipped all together.
Why are May and October the best months to visit Ireland?
Let’s go with May first. Well, you have the advantage of longer days. The weather is finer and with less chances of rain. The plane and hotel prices have not shot up as yet for the busy summer season. For the same reason you will be lucky to experience less crowds in May rather than a month later.
In October, there is a bit of a chill but it still hasn’t reached the freezing points of winter. You can also take in the beauty of the fag end of fall. Again, like in May the accommodation is cheaper and more freely available. The flight tickets will also be cheaper than it was during the peak summer months.
As you would have guessed by now,the weather is the deciding factor when you plan a visit to Ireland. The peak season sets in with the advent of summer. The definition of an Irish summer may differ from our own understanding of the summer months. In Ireland, summer brings the best temperatures but what you the Irish consider warm could be pretty cold for you. So just don’t get done and prepare well cause it may not be the same as the summers her in America.
Nevertheless, the summer months are perfect if you are looking to explore the outdoors. The other advantage of visiting in summer is also the fact that you could come across a wide variety of music, food and poetry festivals. Summer does offer much more than the other seasons in Ireland and hence the influx of droves of tourists from England, continental Europe and the world over.
So if you want to avoid the crowds then you would want to avoid the peak summer months from June to September. If bustling crowds is not your scene then you may also want to avoid visiting the country during the middle of March, when the celebrations begin for St. Patrick’s Day.
Since we have already established that the best time to travel to Ireland is in May and October, let us see what these two months have to really offer.
Ireland in May
The days are nice and long. You can smell summer but it’s still a few weeks away from the peak season. The average temperatures range from a high of 59 degrees F to lows of 44 degrees F and can dip further at night. The crowds that descend in droves during the summer have still not made their way. You may get some showers of rain but the chances are lower in May.
Ireland in October
This may just turn out to be the best month to explore the beautiful Emerald Isle. The weather in October is crisp but it is not too cold and there is a load to see and do besides the beautiful fall colors.The temperature in October averages around 55 degrees F and there are more chances of rain during this time in Ireland. I really do love Ireland in autumn. There’s something incredibly special about it.
When is peak season in Ireland?
Ireland can be considered a year-round destination due to its diverse offerings, beautiful sights and a temperate climate. However, like many other European destinations, it is the summer months that see the most visitors and tourists in Ireland. The months from April through September also see the rates of accommodation going up due to the summer crowds. During the peak season, the busiest months are July and August. Apart from these summer months the shoulder months of May and October are also very popular where you can still enjoy the wonderful weather with a much lesser crowd. Days and weeks around St. Patrick’s Day which falls in March is also busy, especially in Dublin.
When is the best time to visit Ireland for the weather?
If you fear the cold, then for the best weather you definitely would want to visit Ireland during the spring and summer.The summer is ideal as it is dry and warm between May and September. You can enjoy the advantage of the warm temperature and the longer days that provide more hours for the best sightseeing and to take advantage of all the summer activities, festivals, and attractions.
Summer is also the perfect season to drive around the country. The longer hours of daylight provide more time to enjoy convenient road trips around Ireland. To visit some of the remote Islands like Aran or Skellig Michael, then summer is the time to plan your visit.
Summer is also a preferred season for visitors as some museums, distilleries and historic sites have restricted hours during the winter season and some are even closed completely after October.
If you are familiar with the UK weather then you would know that like many northern European countries, Ireland is also rainy through the year. If you are lucky enough, you may encounter the incredible experience of seeing rain, sunshine and wind all within one day. The changing weather would require you to be prepared at all times. It is highly recommended to carry a few layers of clothing on you always. The weather conditions might be windier on the western coast facing the Atlantic, hence always carry a windbreaker or a jacket.
IRELAND IN WINTER
The cold weather does not deter many people to come to this beautiful country. Some even come for the weather. The winter months in Ireland roughly extends from October through March. Even though it sits higher up latitudinally, but because of Ireland’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream, the local temperatures average 39 degrees to 47 degrees F.
For a taste of the local culture, you may really get to see it up close and personal during the winter. It is the best time to nurse a glass of Irish whiskey and listen to some traditional Irish music.
The winter in Ireland is characterized by wind and rain and it hardly snows other than in the high mountains. The biggest advantage of choosing the winter months to travel to Ireland is that you will get no crowds and uninterrupted view of the Irish landscape. So do not get deterred by the thought of the cold and make use of the low season toreally enjoy the different perspective.
The flipside of visiting Ireland during the winter is thatthere are fewer activities available at that time of year. There are many attractions that have restricted opening hours or are closed for the winter.
FAQs
Even though rainfall is extremely common throughout Ireland, the wettest months are December and January. Hence it may not be the best time of year to visit Ireland.
Ireland can be considered a year-round destination due to its temperate climate and beautiful natural sights. However, summer attracts the most visitors. The best months to visit Ireland, is usually from April until September.
The months either side of July and August still enjoys good and mild weather and have cheaper accommodation and fares. Consider traveling in May and June, or in September and October. These slightly off-peak times will offer you much better travel deals and reduced packages.
Temperatures start to drop from October in Ireland but it may still be the best time to go to Ireland. The temperatures are low but remain above freezing even in the winter.
Usually, casual and polished is the general Irish style. However, make an effort to always look presentable and avoid anything too revealing. It would be inappropriate and not to mention that you will be cold.
