Typically, July and August offer the warmest weather to travel throughout Ireland, but the shoulder seasons see less tourist crowds and cheaper prices.
Ireland Travel Information
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Best Time to Visit
Experience Ireland's charm through its ever-changing climate and landscapes.
With its vibrant cities, dramatic coastlines, lush countryside, and abundance of history, Ireland is truly a year-round destination. The long, warm days of summer (June to August) are perfect for sightseeing in cities like Dublin and Cork or driving along the Wild Atlantic Way, while the cool nights of winter (December to February) are best spent with a drink in a traditional Irish pub or bedding down in a luxurious country hotel.
In the fall (September to November), harvest festivals are enjoyed throughout the island, while spring (March to May) sees the landscape erupt with greenery. No matter when you visit, the Emerald Isle is sure to enchant. Speak to one of our Destination Specialists about the best time to go based on your interests.
Planning Travel Around Ireland’s Seasons
As the temperature begins to rise and the island awakens from its winter slumber, spring (March to May) is the perfect time to indulge in scenic country drives or enjoy a pint of Guinness during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin.
The summer months (June to August) see hotter weather and longer days, making them the perfect time to engage in all types outdoor of adventures, whether it’s visiting some of Ireland’s many historical sites, hiking along the Cliffs of Moher, or playing a round of golf at one of its famous courses.
As summer drifts into autumn (September to November), national parks and forests explode with colour. Many of the tourist crowds fade away and travellers can take advantage of lower prices and shorter queues at popular sites. Festivals also abound at this time of year, including the Kinsale Gourmet Festival in County Cork and Galway’s International Oyster and Seafood Festival.
During winter (December to February), cozy pubs are the places to be, with a roaring fire and a glass of whiskey. Prices and crowds during this time reach their lowest level and vacationers can enjoy Ireland’s winter wonders at their leisure. December ushers in the Christmas season and across the island Christmas markets abound in both cities and small towns alike.
For the ideal season to make your visit, consult with one of our Destination Specialists today.
The Best Times to Visit Ireland According to Your Interests
Although it’s a year-round destination, many of Ireland’s sights and attractions are best experienced at different times throughout the year. Culinary buffs will find that the fall may be the best time to indulge their passion for food and drink at one of the myriad harvest festivals that dot the country, while the shoulder seasons of fall and spring offer history and culture aficionados the chance to enjoy such sites as the Rock of Cashel or Bunratty Castle without the long lineups and tourist crowds.
Visitors who wish to take in the Irish countryside or wander the rugged coasts can be assured of a perfect experience from May to September. Scenic drives along the Ring of Kerry or bicycle adventures around the Aran Islands are guaranteed to wow at this time of year.
Whatever your travelling passion, Ireland has the perfect season for you. Visit our full list of destinations and packages for more inspiration.
Regional Highlights to Plan Your Ireland Trip Around
Ireland’s diverse regions offer a wealth of unique experiences, with each one taking on a distinct personality during the varying seasons.
The country’s historic capital, Dublin, offers a year-round array of sights and attractions, from quaint shops, bustling bars, and traditional pubs to grand public buildings and literary landmarks.
In bohemian Galway, summer brings a multitude of festivals and events, although its cobblestone streets are charming on even a crisp day.
Drives around the Ring of Kerry showcase nature’s majesty irrespective of the season, while spring often beckons to golfers and garden lovers.
To glean the most from your Irish getaway, talk to a Destination Specialist today for expert advice.
Let the Seasons Shape Your Ireland Journey
The best way to explore Ireland is on a tailor-made vacation determined by season and interests. Whether your agenda includes cultural excursions, scenery gazing, long hikes, or food tours, an experienced travel pro can help you get the most out of your Ireland trip, including when to go. Consult our Insider Tips for more information and speak to one of our Destination Specialists for the best seasonal advice.
Featured Ireland Trip Ideas
Ireland Travel PackagesUnforgettable Ireland
Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Ring of KerryDiscover Ireland’s lush countryside and rugged coasts on this great value small group coach tour, staying in 4-star hotels with expert guides throughout.
8 days
From US$2,220/p.p.
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British Isles Sampler: Dublin, Edinburgh & London
London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Scottish Lowlands, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, and DublinVenture through the enchanting landscapes of the British Isles, where Dublin’s warm hospitality meets Edinburgh’s historic charm, culminating in London’s pulse.
9 days
From US$3,064/p.p.
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Unforgettable Ireland
Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Ring of KerryDiscover Ireland’s lush countryside and rugged coasts on this great value small group coach tour, staying in 4-star hotels with expert guides throughout.
8 days
From US$2,220/p.p.
Request a Quote
British Isles Sampler: Dublin, Edinburgh & London
London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Scottish Lowlands, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, and DublinVenture through the enchanting landscapes of the British Isles, where Dublin’s warm hospitality meets Edinburgh’s historic charm, culminating in London’s pulse.
9 days
From US$3,064/p.p.
Request a Quote
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
CorkMostly Cloudy
17°C / 62°F
24mm / 0.9"
DublinOccasional Showers
18°C / 64°F
34mm / 1.3"
GalwayMostly Cloudy
17°C / 62°F
24mm / 0.9"
KillarneyMostly Cloudy
17°C / 62°F
24mm / 0.9"
LimerickMostly Cloudy
17°C / 62°F
24mm / 0.9"
WaterfordMostly Cloudy
17°C / 62°F
24mm / 0.9"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best month to go to Ireland?
What is the most beautiful time of year in Ireland?
Ireland offers travellers year-round beauty, with each season displaying its own distinct charm.
What is the driest month to visit Ireland?
The driest months in Ireland tend to be the summer months.
Can you see the northern lights in Ireland?
Although rare, it is possible to catch a glimpse of the northern lights during the winter months in the northern parts of the country.
Which month is the warmest in Ireland?
As in much of the Northern Hemisphere, the warmest month in Ireland tends to be July.
What month has the worst weather in Ireland?
December is typically Ireland's wettest month, with the highest average rainfall. January and February can also be rainy and cold.
What is the coldest month in Ireland?
January tends to be the coldest month in Ireland, although temperatures do not often drop below freezing.
What to wear in Ireland in September?
September in Ireland is still fairly warm and typically dry, although it’s always wise to have an umbrella or rainproof outer layer on hand, as the weather can turn quickly at this time of year.
What is the peak season in Ireland?
Peak season in Ireland runs through the summer months. The weather is warm and comfortable for travelling, with higher prices and bigger tourist crowds as a result.
Ireland Travel Information
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ExcellentBased on 5,137 ReviewsOur trip was great and your partners in Egypt met and exceeded our expectations.
Having the guides and drivers was a new experience for us but absolutely invaluable
We would recommend Goway to anyone.joe levackThanks very much Alice Teramoto for organizing such a fantastic trip for us!!!!
Everything went very smoothly, including our 15 flights and we loved all the experiences, activities and accommodations that you arranged for us.
Everything was top notch!!!Shelley MurphyWe had an amazing trip to Southeast Asia. We would like to thank Goway for organizing a memorable vacation. The tour guides were very personable, kind, respectful and knowledgeable about their countries. It was nice to be able to ask them questions and hear about their daily lives. They went above and beyond to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. We were so glad our tours were private as the guides were very flexible in accommodating us as I often could not fully participate after spending time in a hospital with food poisoning.
We enjoyed our time in Singapore. The driver who drove us from and to the airport gave us a compressive overview of daily life in Singapore. It was fascinating to hear how home ownership, retirement and driving was so different there.
The accommodations were excellent, the staff were all very kind and helpful. We have to particularly commend the staff at the Siesta Classic Ma May in Hanoi. Ann at reception was so kind to my husband when I was in the hospital asking him regularly how I was doing and arranging late checkout without being asked. And Suzie our Hanoi tour guide for rearranging a tour time for my husband then dropping him off at the hospital. She also managed to take me to see the Ho Chi Minh property on our way to the airport as I had missed so much of Hanoi. I would also like to thank Aurel Vion, the Goway representative from Paris, who personally called me while I was in the hospital to enquire how I was doing, cancel our Halong cruise and arrange an extra night in the hotel for my husband. It was much appreciated.
Hoang was super flexible with our tours in Hue and Hoi An as I was still very weak having just gotten out of hospital. We really enjoyed our visit to the private pottery museum and meet the owner and our ride on the Perfume River in a private boat and our voyage through the mountain pass to Danang. Andy, the tour guide who picked us up from the Boutique Hoi A Resort helped us avoid the long lineups in the Danang airport, again very appreciated. Tuan our tour guide in Saigon was also very accommodating. We really enjoyed our days with him relaxing on our private sampan to Cai Be and our trip to Can Tho to visit the floating markets. He also took us to the War Remnants Museum on the way back to Saigon as we had missed our tour of the Cu Chi tunnels because our flight in Danang was delayed 4 hours.
And poor Phil in Bangkok, he tried his best with the culinary tour. Unfortunately after the food poisoning we were being very cautious in what we ate. We did appreciate his tour of Chinatown and the great meal of Pad Thai. He also provided us with excellent directions so we could take the subway, skytrain and ferry by ourselves.
We will never forget how we were able to experience and appreciate cultures much different than ours.
We have only good things to say about Goway and certainly always recommend the company to all we know. We have already had an acquaintance of ours book a trip with the company.
And lastly we must thank Katherine Samsonkinai for arranging another excellent vacation. We will certainly continue to recommend her and will be calling her again to organize our next big trip.
Linda GrahamWe thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Egypt. We were a small group trip with only three people. The guides and transfers from Emeco were excellent.Always on time and very knowledgeable. Our transfer went smoothly due to these guides. They were very efficient and made sure we didn’t have to wait in lines too long. The Sun Goddess was a beautiful riverboat and all of our meals were excellent. One suggestion is to include tips . We were always trying to find the right amounts for tips. Also the times for most excursions were very early in the morning….5:30 or 6:00 and that was not on our itinerary. I understand the early times to avoid the crowds. All in all we were very pleased with GoWay and would use them again in the future. Thinking of South Africa Safari.
Also would like to thank our agent Elise for answering all of my questions and concerns. We felt very safe in Egypt. Sue ScarboroughAs a travel agent, it was very easy to work with Goway. They were very responsive, especially Osvaldo Gonzalez, even when the client wanted to make in-destination changes a day or two prior. My clients absolutely enjoyed everything about their trip to Costa Rica - they specifically mentioned that all the drivers and guides they had were excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable. I would not hesitate to use Goway again for a custom trip to Costa Rica. Shawna Woods RoyWe, three couples, all enjoyed our time in Peru, despite the small amount of time we had, and the fact one person had injury while on the cruise prior to arriving in Lima. We did want to experience Machu Picchu without spending as many days as others usually do, since we had been traveling prior to that already. Kajal at Goway was able to tailor a well packed three-day private tour for our small group of six. Every detail, from the moment we got off the cruise ship, to Cusco, to Machu Picchu, and back to Lima airport hotel, was well taken care of. Kajal was very efficient in helping with the requested itinerary, and in staying on desired budget, as well answered all questions in timely fashion. We were able to accomplish what we were not sure if possible, all thanks to Kajal at Goway.
Our experience in Peru was very positive. We felt the tours organized by Goway had enabled us to have great and impressive exposure to Peruvian culture and important historical sights - all 31 hours in 3 days!!! Condor Travel in Peru took care of us every step of the way. Every person we came across was very courteous, willing, and helpful. Help was always there and questions answered quickly via Whatsapp. All in all a great and positive experience we would highly recommend.KMI want to personally thank my Travel Agent Alice Teramoto who organized two spectacular trips for me! One to Australia and most recently Vietnam and Cambodia. She nailed it! I can’t express my gratitude enough! Both trips were flawless and hassle free! Every experience exceeded my expectations!
I spent my 60th Birthday in Vietnam on the Lunar New Year which was a complete thrill!
I highly recommend Alice and will definitely book with her again soon! Thanks so much Alice ♥️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻AvrilMary G. was an absolute pleasure to work with. I partner with Goway often for Europe and typically have my go to rep, so stepping outside of that for a New Zealand itinerary had me a little unsure at first.
That hesitation quickly disappeared. Mary stepped in with confidence, handled all of my moving pieces with ease, and truly understood the level of detail I needed to take care of my clients.
She delivered a beautifully curated itinerary that exceeded expectations, and most importantly, my clients had an incredible experience in New Zealand.
I’m so grateful to have her as a resource and look forward to working together again.Nichole PierceJoanna was amazing!!! She was able to set up a ten day trip for me in Sydney in a matter of a couple of weeks. All accommodation and tours were amazing and the 24 hour help center was great and where able to call up the tour company and have them come and still pick be up when I had a mixup with the reservation. Would definitely recommend Goway to any friends and family and will definitely be using them again.Erica WolffI cannot sing Erin’s praises enough! She planned an action-packed two-week New Zealand itinerary that hit every single stop on our bucket list. Every experience was truly first-class and luxurious. While I found myself being price-conscious initially, once I saw the incredible quality of the experiences she curated, I knew it was going to be the trip of a lifetime. A huge thank you to Erin and Go Way Travel for making my 50th birthday so epic. We’ll definitely be reaching out for our next big adventure!Michelle
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