When is the best time to visit Ireland is a question we are often asked. Here are some facts and (subjective) thoughts. Hopefully, it’ll help you decide the best time for your Ireland vacation. We’ll take a bit of licence with the calendar and use the old Celtic way. That’s Spring being February to April, Summer – May to July and Fall (Autumn) – August to October.
Irish people will say anytime is good – but let’s introduce a sense of realism. For visitors to Ireland there are some constrictions – not least of which is that we are an island. You can’t impulsively scream ‘ROADTRIP’ and jump in your car. So, we’ve broken down the pros and cons under five headings. Travel to Ireland, Cost of an Ireland Vacation, Weather in Ireland, Scenery and Nature, and whether Ireland is Crowded and Busy. Finally, we take a reluctant peek from under the duvet (comforter) at Winter.
Flights to Ireland
Spring -Most airlines start ramping up the frequency of flights around February. Seat sales commonly advertised in January give great bargains for travel up to the end of March and sometimes into April. Our scheduled 6, 7 and 12 day tours are discounted for Spring, saving you up to €300* per person.
*refers to our 12 day ‘The Full Irish’ Ultimate All-Ireland tour
Summer – Flights may be more expensive, but the upside is that airlines increase routes and capacity. This can reduce cost, as there may be a departure airport closer to you. There are also more direct flights to Ireland from North American and European airports. And, you may have accumulated air miles that you can cash in!
Autumn (Fall) – Similar to Spring in that there are more bargains. But towards the end of the season capacity may be reduced and seasonal routes start to wind down. From end of September onwards we again discount our scheduled tours by 10%.
Check out the flights and airlines from North America in the picture. You can fly direct to Ireland from these US cities*: New York, Boston, Detroit,Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, LA, Dallas, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Hartford and Charlotte. From Canada you have the choice of Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax. (*some are seasonal).
Top tips–
- booking early will always get you better value. Try Skyscanner or Google flights to source airlines and routes and then check out the airline websites.
- Flying direct from the US to Ireland has its advantages. On the return leg home, you’ll do US Border and Customs checks before you board. On arrival in the US, you go to a domestic terminal, saving lots of time.
When is the best time to visit Ireland for good value?
Spring – Generally cheaper – but times like Easter school holidays, can occasionally negate that. We have a standing 10% discount for our March and April tours.
Good rates available for hotels in Dublin and other popular cities. But watch out for major sporting or entertainment events coinciding with your visit. These will always see price hikes.
Summer – Peak season, but as with flights – early booking can grab you a bargain Ireland vacation. A deposit of just 10% secures your booking and takes the pressure off upfront payments. We also facilitate staged payments.
*PRICE FREEZE* For a limited time only, we’re offering our 2026 summer tours at 2025 prices
Fall (Autumn) – Airfare and hotel prices start reducing and we’ve our 10% discount for October.
Weather in Ireland
Spring -Temps – average 9-10°c/50°F in March/April but can go to 15°/55° in April. Daylight increases to 14 hours. You get to watch Atlantic sunsets before dinner in March with after dinner sunset strolls in April. The light can be perfect for getting scenery shots as the cooler air is clearer.
Summer – May and June are the sunniest months in Ireland. Average temps are 18-20°c/64-68°f – though we do hit the odd day of late 20s/low 80s. But hey, chill out! Our luxury Mercedes mini-coach is fully air-conditioned. Daylight is from before 5am to after 10pm. Irish summer sunsets are truly stunning- lasting close to an hour.
Fall (Autumn) – Temps from 12-17°c/53-63°f. The curtain is drawing on the long days but still more than enough daylight to illuminate our day. You don’t have to stay up late for stunning sunsets. Rainbows and star filled nights are more plentiful.
Best time to visit Ireland for Scenery and Nature?
Spring – The countryside is a blaze of yellow as daffodils and gorse (furze) burst into flower.
It’s lambing season, which is truly a joy to watch as they gambol around the fields with their almost 4 million brethren! We see them up close and cuddly when we visit a working sheep farm on tour.
Summer – Areas like Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry are bursting with colourful (yet invasive) Rhododendron. Hedgerows come alive with wild Fuchsia and Purple Loosestrife, while Ireland’s coastline wears a garland of Sea Thrift. The scent of April showers/slurry being spread on fields fades, to be replaced by that of freshly cut grass.
Fall (Autumn) – Mid-August/September into October is stunningly beautiful in Ireland. The verdant patchwork vista gradually yields to a kaleidoscope of colour. It begins when heather and montbretia start blooming in August. In the likes of Killarney (Six day south west tour ) and Glenveagh National Parks (7 Day Northern Ireland and best of the West), you’ll see stags at their most magnificent as they battle for dominance. We love this time of year and definitely think it’s one of the best times to visit Ireland
As we drive our coastal route along the Wild Atlantic Way, we may see dolphins or whales. Rain showers align with the sun to create the most fantastic rainbows. As we’d say in Ireland – “soft day thank God” (please, please don’t ever greet us with “top a the mornin”!!).
Is Ireland Crowded and Busy?
Spring – No, that’s the beauty of it. But – spoiler alert- some visitor attractions don’t open until mid-late April. However, there are still plenty of ‘must-sees’ along with some hidden gems we take you to. Craicometer level: 8.5
Summer – Not as busy as you might expect. Like yourselves, many Irish people head overseas during June, July and August. All visitor attractions are open. And, we time our visits to big ticket places like the Cliffs of Moher, to avoid the crowds. More music and entertainment in more venues (free in the pubs) and on more evenings each week. It’s a ‘hoot’ really! Craicometer level: 9.5
Fall (Autumn) – Crowded? Most certainly not! All the Irish kids are back in school in the last week of August. This means great photo ops with uncluttered background and more time and space to take it all in. It’s also a good time to consider our ‘The Full Irish’ – 12 day Ultimate All-Ireland Tour. Craicometer level: 8.5
Winter in Ireland
Is winter a best time to visit Ireland? Well, our business partners take good care of us from March to October as we tour Ireland. Winter is their time to relax and refresh (themselves and their premises). Many Irish visitor attractions also close for winter.
So, it’s time to turn the wool donated by the sheepies into winter jumpers (sweaters).
Craicometer level: a simmering 7 (but 9.5 in the cities!). So maybe not for touring but we’d recommend for a long weekend city visit.
We use winter to work on improving and innovating the Anam Croí Ireland experience for future (and old) “friends”. Take for example, our brand new tour for 2026 – ‘A Crafty Ireland Vacation’. With all the scenery and sights of our normal tours, it also has four immersive craft workshops and – a stay in a castle! It’s definitely one that will appeal to the ladies.
More Ireland Questions?
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