Ireland when is the best time to visit

Saint Patrick's Day is on March 17 and is a national holiday for the Irish. Expect crowds in all the cities and a party-like atmosphere over the whole weekend, with live music and dancing, and the streets awash with people in green. Temperatures get warmer and spring flowers reach their peak.

Vivid fuchsias lining the roads along the west coast, particularly around Kerry, begin to flower. In May, summer visitors start to flock to Ireland and prices rise accordingly. In mid-June, Bloomsday is celebrated in Dublin , focused on the life of poet and novelist James Joyce. This is the busiest time of year for visitors, coinciding with the schools finishing for the summer. Temperatures are at their warmest and, in theory, these are the driest months, although visitors to Ireland should really expect rain at any time of year.

Galway International Arts Festival is held during mid to late July, while the Dingle Regatta a water festival of boat races , is held in early August. This is the last month possible to visit the Skellig Islands, as between October and April the weather is deemed too unpredictable. This also tends to be the last month most wildlife boat tours operate as beyond September a lot of marine wildlife journeys to warmer climes.

The deepening foliage of the season spreads from mid-to late-September and the hillsides turn purple as the heather flowers. The changing hues of the season reach their peak in October, and the mountains take on russet shades as the bracken dies. Some sites close toward the end of October as visitor numbers and temperatures decrease. The Kinsale Gourmet Festival is held in early October, a celebration of local produce, and Cork's International Jazz Festival is usually held toward the end of the month.

This is when Ireland truly begins to quieten, and some hotels outside the cities may close for annual renovations. Christmas festivities start at the beginning of the month, with decorative lights in towns and cities, plays and Christmas markets. December is a fairly cold month, but this can result in beautifully picturesque landscapes of frost-covered hills and trees.

A few big festivals brighten these darker months, including, of course, St. Patrick's Day in mid-March, as well as a surprisingly huge Halloween celebration in Derry. The weather can change several times in a day, but rarely is it extreme.

No matter when you go, expect rain — Ireland doesn't have a reliable dry season, as rainfall is ladled out evenly throughout the year. Millions of tourists flock to the Emerald Isle each year, seeking its quaint villages, lush green landscapes, stunning coastline, historic castles, and more. While there is no one "perfect" time to visit Ireland, different seasons offer different experiences.

There are quiet and intimate albeit drizzly winters; lively springs; sunny but busy summers; and shoulder season autumns that balance better weather with lower crowds.

The best time to visit Ireland is, ultimately, up to you — and the items on your to-do list. Related: More travel tips. Ireland's weather is changeable, but it's not extreme. The temperature rarely falls below freezing in the winter or rises above 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. It's not uncommon to see bright sun and cloudy skies in quick succession, regardless of the time of year. And let's get this out of the way: It will rain, so be ready for it. Trip timing will affect just how much rain or sun you are likely to see.

Summer is sunniest, with daylight stretching late into the evening around the solstice. July and August are the brightest months, though they're also the country's busiest. Between November and February, Ireland is dark, cold, and wet — but it can also feel quieter and cozier.