Weather by month for Dublin, the best months to go and how Ireland's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jul, Aug
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 19°C · 13–15 rain days
Jun, Sep
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 17°C to 18°C · 13 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs 8°C to 11°C · 13–15 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine, sea temperature and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 4°C | 13 days (63 mm) | 4.1 h/day | 7°C | 1.5/10 |
| February | 9°C / 4°C | 13 days (66 mm) | 5.4 h/day | 8°C | 2.1/10 |
| March | 10°C / 4°C | 15 days (80 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 8°C | 2.9/10 |
| April | 12°C / 6°C | 12 days (63 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 11°C | 4.6/10 |
| May | 15°C / 9°C | 13 days (65 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 14°C | 5.9/10 |
| June | 18°C / 11°C | 13 days (73 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 16°C | 6.9/10 |
| Best month: July | 19°C / 13°C | 15 days (79 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 17°C | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: August | 19°C / 13°C | 13 days (82 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 17°C | 7.1/10 |
| September | 17°C / 11°C | 13 days (83 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 16°C | 6.4/10 |
| October | 14°C / 9°C | 14 days (88 mm) | 6.2 h/day | 14°C | 4.6/10 |
| November | 11°C / 6°C | 13 days (87 mm) | 4.5 h/day | 11°C | 2.6/10 |
| December | 10°C / 5°C | 15 days (95 mm) | 3.3 h/day | 9°C | 1.6/10 |
Figures for Dublin; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
8°C / 4°C · 13 rain days · 4.1 h sun · sea 7°C
Expect highs of just 8.3°C and nearly 13 rain days, with only 4.1 hours of sun a day. With a score of 1.5, this is a tough month weather-wise: cold, damp and dark. New Year's Day kicks things off, but this is a month for cosy pubs and indoor sights rather than long walks.
9°C / 4°C · 13 rain days · 5.4 h sun · sea 8°C
Highs creep up to 9.1°C, though rain still falls on about 13 days and sunshine stays low at 5.4 hours. The score of 2.1 reflects grey, chilly conditions. Saint Brigid's Day on 2 February marks the start of spring in the Irish calendar, even if the weather hasn't caught up yet.
10°C / 4°C · 15 rain days · 7.1 h sun · sea 8°C
Temperatures reach 10.1°C and sunshine rises to 7.1 hours, but rain days climb to 14.5, the wettest stretch so far with 80mm. Saint Patrick's Day on 17 March brings parades and crowds nationwide. The score of 2.9 still marks this as a difficult month for settled weather.
12°C / 6°C · 12 rain days · 9.2 h sun · sea 11°C
April brings a real shift: highs of 11.6°C, sun up to 9.2 hours a day, and fewer rain days at 12.1. The score rises to 4.6, an ok month for travel. Good Friday and Easter Monday fall in early April, so expect busier roads and attractions around the holiday weekend.
15°C / 9°C · 13 rain days · 11.0 h sun · sea 14°C
Highs reach 14.9°C and sunshine hits 11 hours daily, with rain days similar to April at 12.7. Sea temperature is still a cool 14.1°C. With a score of 5.9, May is a solid, ok choice, with longer daylight and greener scenery. May Day falls on 4 May.
18°C / 11°C · 13 rain days · 11.4 h sun · sea 16°C
June is one of the best months, scoring 6.9. Highs average 17.6°C, sun hours peak near 11.4, and the sea warms to 16.1°C, good for a swim. Rain days tick up slightly to 13.3. The June Holiday falls on 1 June, adding a long weekend to the month.
19°C / 13°C · 15 rain days · 10.1 h sun · sea 17°C
July scores 7, among the top months. Highs reach 19.2°C and sea temperature climbs to 16.6°C. Rain days rise to 15.1, the highest of the summer, so pack a waterproof even in peak season. Sun hours stay strong at 10.1 a day.
19°C / 13°C · 13 rain days · 9.7 h sun · sea 17°C
August holds the top score at 7.1. Highs stay near 18.9°C and the sea peaks at 17.2°C, the warmest of the year. Rain days are 13.2, with the wettest total so far at 82mm. The August Holiday falls on 3 August, a popular time for domestic travel.
17°C / 11°C · 13 rain days · 8.2 h sun · sea 16°C
September scores 6.4, still a good month. Highs drop slightly to 16.9°C and sun hours fall to 8.2, but the sea stays warm at 15.8°C. Rain days are 12.7, among the lowest of the year, making this a comfortable shoulder-season choice.
14°C / 9°C · 14 rain days · 6.2 h sun · sea 14°C
Highs fall to 14.1°C and rain days rise to 14, with 88mm of rainfall, the wettest month yet. Sun hours drop to 6.2. The score falls to 4.6, an ok month as autumn weather sets in. The October Holiday falls on 26 October.
11°C / 6°C · 13 rain days · 4.5 h sun · sea 11°C
Weather turns tough again: highs of just 10.7°C, 87mm of rain, and only 4.5 hours of sun a day. The score drops to 2.6. Days grow short and damp, making this a quieter month better suited to indoor plans.
10°C / 5°C · 15 rain days · 3.3 h sun · sea 9°C
December is the wettest and darkest month, with 95mm of rain over 15 days and just 3.3 hours of sun daily. Highs reach only 9.5°C. The score of 1.6 reflects harsh winter conditions, though Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day on 25 and 26 December bring festive atmosphere to cities and towns.
Regional differences
Average daytime high each month, coloured by that city's own month score.
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 8°C | 9°C | 10°C | 12°C | 15°C | 18°C | 19°C | 19°C | 17°C | 14°C | 11°C | 10°C |
| Galway | 8°C | 9°C | 10°C | 13°C | 15°C | 17°C | 18°C | 18°C | 17°C | 14°C | 11°C | 9°C |
| Kilkenny | 8°C | 9°C | 10°C | 12°C | 15°C | 18°C | 19°C | 19°C | 17°C | 14°C | 10°C | 9°C |
| Killarney | 9°C | 9°C | 10°C | 13°C | 16°C | 18°C | 19°C | 18°C | 17°C | 14°C | 11°C | 10°C |
| Westport | 8°C | 9°C | 10°C | 12°C | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 17°C | 16°C | 13°C | 10°C | 9°C |
Best Good OK Tough weather
By trip type
City sightseeing
June and August suit city breaks best. In Dublin, June averages highs of 17.6°C and 11.4 hours of sun, while August is warmer at 18.9°C. Both still see about 13 rain days, so pack a raincoat.
Beach
July and August are the only realistic beach months. Dublin highs reach about 19°C, but the sea stays cool at 16.6°C in July and 17.2°C in August. Expect a quick swim rather than long days in the water.
Hiking & nature
May and June are best for hiking. Dublin gets 11 to 11.4 hours of sun, highs of 14.9°C to 17.6°C and less rain than later months: 65 mm in May and 73 mm in June.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Saint Brigid's Day (2 Feb)
Public holidays: Saint Patrick's Day (17 Mar)
Public holidays: Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr)
Public holidays: May Day (4 May)
Public holidays: June Holiday (1 Jun)
Public holidays: August Holiday (3 Aug)
Public holidays: October Holiday (26 Oct)
Public holidays: Christmas Day (25 Dec), St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
August and July are the best months to visit Ireland, based on Dublin data for 2015–2024. August scores 7.1 out of 10 and July scores 7. They are the warmest months, with highs of 18.9°C in August and 19.2°C in July. Rain is still common. July has 15.1 rain days, the most of any summer month, and August has 13.2.
Yes, August is one of the best times to visit Ireland. In Dublin, days reach about 18.9°C and nights stay near 12.9°C. The sea is at its warmest, at 17.2°C. August gets 13.2 rain days and 82 mm of rain, so pack a rain jacket. The sunshine figure is 9.7 hours, lower than in May, June or July.
Yes, September is a good month and scores 6.4 out of 10. Dublin still reaches about 16.9°C by day, with lows of 11.2°C. The sea stays mild at 15.8°C. There are 12.7 rain days, fewer than in July or August, but rainfall is 83 mm. The sunshine figure drops to 8.2 hours, down from 9.7 in August.
December is cool, wet and dark, and it scores 1.6 out of 10. Dublin highs are about 9.5°C and lows about 5.1°C. It is the wettest month, with 95 mm of rain over 15 rain days. The sunshine figure is only 3.3 hours, the lowest of the year. The low score comes from rain and short days, not from hard frost.
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