What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Westport, Ireland.
Photo: Adrien Olichon / Pexels
Westport is a small coastal town in County Mayo, Ireland, with about 6872 people. It sits on Clew Bay, with the Georgian streets of the town centre, a working quay, and Croagh Patrick rising nearby. It suits walkers, families, and anyone who likes a mix of countryside, water, and traditional music pubs. July and August bring the best weather, with long days for climbing, boat trips to Clare Island, and sitting out at the Quay.
Two to three days let you walk the town, the Quay, and Westport House, climb Croagh Patrick, and still have time for a day trip to Clare Island.
Murrisk
Ireland's holy mountain, a steep pilgrim climb with wide views over Clew Bay from the top. The upper section is loose scree, so wear proper boots. Skip it in strong wind, rain or low cloud, when the path is slippery and the summit views disappear.
Westport
A historic country house linked to the family of the pirate queen Grace O'Malley, set in large grounds at the edge of town. You can tour the house and walk the parkland down to the sea.
Murrisk
A bronze sculpture of a coffin ship with skeletons in its rigging, at the foot of Croagh Patrick. It is a short, moving stop that remembers the people who died fleeing the Great Famine. Easy to combine with the climb.
Murrisk
The ruins of a medieval friary on the shore of Clew Bay, a short walk from the Famine Memorial. It is free to wander and quiet, with good views of the bay.
The Quay
The old harbour area west of the centre, with restored stone warehouses, pubs and restaurants by the water. It makes a pleasant walk or cycle from town and a good place to eat.
Town centre
A planned Georgian town with a tree-lined Mall along the Carrowbeg River and the Octagon square at its heart. Walk the streets for independent shops, cafés and old shopfronts.
Bridge Street
A traditional pub owned by a member of The Chieftains, known for Irish music sessions in the back room. It gets very crowded on summer evenings, so arrive early if you want a seat.
Clew Bay
A hilly island at the mouth of Clew Bay, reached by ferry from Roonagh pier west of Westport. Go for coastal walks, an abbey with medieval wall paintings and a castle tied to Grace O'Malley. Ferries depend on the weather, so check before you drive out.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 4°C | 20 days (140 mm) | 3.4 h/day | 7°C | 0.9/10 |
| February | 9°C / 4°C | 19 days (137 mm) | 4.8 h/day | 8°C | 1.5/10 |
| March | 10°C / 4°C | 18 days (124 mm) | 6.4 h/day | 8°C | 2.4/10 |
| April | 12°C / 6°C | 15 days (78 mm) | 8.5 h/day | 11°C | 4.0/10 |
| May | 15°C / 8°C | 16 days (92 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 14°C | 5.3/10 |
| June | 16°C / 11°C | 18 days (102 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 16°C | 6.2/10 |
| Best month: July | 17°C / 12°C | 20 days (116 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 17°C | 6.6/10 |
| Best month: August | 17°C / 13°C | 22 days (150 mm) | 8.6 h/day | 18°C | 6.6/10 |
| September | 16°C / 11°C | 17 days (119 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 16°C | 5.6/10 |
| October | 13°C / 9°C | 19 days (144 mm) | 5.4 h/day | 13°C | 3.9/10 |
| November | 10°C / 7°C | 18 days (144 mm) | 3.8 h/day | 10°C | 2.1/10 |
| December | 9°C / 5°C | 21 days (172 mm) | 2.9 h/day | 8°C | 1.2/10 |
Cold and wet: highs of 8.1°C with rain on about 19.5 days. Score 0.9, the weakest month of the year for a visit.
Still chilly at 8.6°C highs with 18.8 rain days. Score rises slightly to 1.5, but winter conditions persist.
Highs reach 9.5°C with 18.1 rain days. Score 2.4 shows spring is only just beginning to improve things.
Milder at 11.8°C highs and fewer rain days, 14.5. Score climbs to 4, marking an okay shoulder-season window.
Highs of 14.5°C with 15.7 rain days and 10 sun hours. Score 5.3 makes this a decent early option.
Warmer at 16.3°C highs, 17.7 rain days, sea temp 16.4°C. Score 6.2 puts June among the better months.
Highs of 17.1°C, 19.9 rain days, sea at 17.3°C for swimming. Score 6.6, a top month for a trip.
Highs stay at 17.1°C but rain days rise to 21.8, the wettest spell. Score still 6.6, a strong month despite the showers.
Highs drop to 15.8°C with 17 rain days. Score 5.6 keeps it a reasonable choice as autumn sets in.
Highs fall to 13.1°C with 19 rain days and just 5.4 sun hours. Score 3.9 signals a weaker, wetter month.
Cold returns: highs of 10.3°C, 17.9 rain days, sun down to 3.8 hours. Score 2.1, among the toughest months.
The wettest month with 172mm of rain over 20.5 days and highs of just 8.9°C. Score 1.2, the hardest weather of the year.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Ireland →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for couples, walkers, a calmer central base
A tree-lined street along the Carrowbeg River, next to the town centre but more peaceful than the pub streets. It is a pleasant base if you want to walk everywhere and still sleep well. It is a small area, so rooms here can be harder to find in peak season.
Good for food lovers, sea views
The old harbour area on Clew Bay, with restaurants, a few pubs and views across the water. It feels more relaxed than the town and is on the side of town facing Croagh Patrick. The downside is that the walk into the centre is longer than it looks, and there are few shops for everyday needs.
Good for families, green space
The area around the Westport House estate sits between the town and the Quay, with parkland and family activities on the doorstep. It gives children space to run around and is quieter at night. You will walk further for food and pubs, and many visitors end up using a car.
Good for rail travellers, quiet evenings
A residential side of town near the train station, handy if you are arriving without a car. It is quieter than the centre but still within walking distance of it. There are fewer places to eat nearby, and the walk back from the pubs involves some slope.
Good for drivers, hikers, peace and quiet
Rural areas around the edge of Clew Bay offer open views, dark skies and easy access to walks and cycling routes. They suit people who want Westport as a base for exploring Mayo rather than for nightlife. Public transport is limited, so you really need a car or a bike.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| Route | By | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin → Westport Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) runs trains between Dublin Heuston and Westport. The fastest train listed takes 3h 14m (Rome2Rio), and there are only a few trains a day. The Irish Rail fares page lists fares on this line, but I couldn't see the full Dublin–Westport fare, so prices are left blank. Check irishrail.ie before you travel. | train | 3 h 14 min | – ↗ |
Westport sits on Clew Bay, so mussels from local waters often turn up steamed in white wine or garlic butter in pubs and restaurants around the town.
The bay's sheltered waters support oyster beds, and oysters are served raw with lemon or in a chowder in several seafood spots near the harbour.
A thick soup of mixed local fish, shellfish, potatoes and cream, served with brown soda bread, is a lunchtime staple in pubs across the town.
A slow-cooked dish of lamb or beef with potatoes, carrots and onions, this is a common evening meal in traditional pubs, especially in cooler months.
This dense, quick bread made without yeast is baked daily and served alongside soups, stews and seafood dishes in homes and cafes.
Westport has a strong pub culture, and a pint of Guinness paired with simple dishes like fish and chips is a common evening choice for locals and visitors.
Yes. August is one of the two best months, with a score of 6.6 out of 10. The high is 17.1°C and the sea reaches 17.5°C, the warmest of the year. It's also the wettest summer month, with 21.8 rain days and 150mm of rain, so pack a rain jacket.
July and August are the best months, both scoring 6.6. Highs sit around 17°C and sea temperatures peak near 17.3–17.5°C. June is close behind at 6.2, with slightly less rain (17.7 rain days) than July or August.
Two to three days covers the main sights. Westport House takes 2–3 hours, Westport Quay and the town centre each need 1–2 hours, and Croagh Patrick takes 3–5 hours if you climb it. Add a day for Clare Island, which needs a full day.
Yes, relatively. January highs average 8.1°C and lows drop to 4.3°C, with 19.5 rain days and 140mm of rain. The sea is also at its coldest, 7°C. The month scores just 0.9, the lowest of the year.
Yes, rain is frequent year-round. Every month has at least 14.5 rain days, and December is the wettest with 20.5 rain days and 172mm of rain. Even in the best months, July and August, rain falls on 19.9 and 21.8 days respectively.
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