Dublin In January: Weather, Tips + Things To Do

Visiting Dublin in January has a fair few negatives (and I’m saying that based on 34 years of living right beside Dublin Airport!).

The weather in January in Dublin is generally wet, cold and wintery.

The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in January is 5.3°C/41.54°F with average rainfall of 62.6mm.

Throw in the fact that daylight hours are greatly reduced, and you quickly realise why this isn’t the best time of year to visit Dublin.

However, there are some positives to consider. Below, you’ll find info on the weather, festivals, what to pack and things to do in Dublin in January.

Some quick info about visiting Dublin in January

Photos © Diageo via Ireland’s Content Pool

So, the weather in Dublin in January can play a big part in the overall success of your trip, and it’s for this reason that some people dodge Dublin in January altogether.

Here are some quick nuggets of info to give you a speedy idea of what to expect from this month.

1. The weather is unpredictable

The weather in Dublin in January can be a very mixed bag. January is winter in Ireland and the days tend to be cold, wet, and windy.

2. Average temperatures

The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in January is 5.3°C/41.54°F with average rainfall of 62.6mm.

3. Limited daylight hours

One of the disadvantages of spending January in Ireland is the short days. The sun rises at around 08:29 and sets at around 16:38 each day. If you follow one of the itineraries from our Irish road trip library, make sure to keep the reduced daylight hours in mind.

4. Less crowds and better deals

As January is off-peak, you’ll meet a lot less people at many of the more popular attractions in Dublin in comparison to if you visited during the summer months. As demand is lower, you’ll often get good deals on accommodation, too.

5. Festivals and events

Very few events and festivals in Ireland run during January. One of the more notable to take place is TradFest Temple Bar, which runs at the end of the month. There’s plenty of other things to do in Dublin in January, as you’ll discover below.

Fast facts: The pros and cons of January in Dublin

One of the most common questions we get from people planning a trip to Ireland revolves around the pros and cons of visiting in X, Y or Z month.

Although there is no one best time to visit Ireland, when you visit can play a huge part in the overall success in your trip.

Below, I’ll give you some pros and cons of visiting Dublin in January, having spent 34 Januarys here…

The advantages

• Prices: If you’re visiting Ireland on a budget, it’s likely that January will suit your pocket best
• Flights: Flights are cheaper than those in the shoulder season and during the peak months
• Hotels: Hotels in Dublin will be cheaper and you’ll often find deals running
• Crowds: Dublin’s usually busy attractions will be less crowded (note: the likes of the Guinness Storehouse is always busy)

The disadvantages

• Time: The days are shorter. At the start of January in Dublin, the sun won’t rise until 08:40 and it sets at 16:20
• Weather: The weather in Dublin in January will be wintery. While we may not get snow and ice, expect rain and wind at times
• Closed attractions: Some attractions in Dublin are seasonal, and may be closed during January
• Festivals + events: January is quiet event wise, however, TradFest, along with some other festivals in Ireland, are on

The weather in Dublin in January

Click to enlarge image

The graphic above has been created to give you an insight into the average temperature in Dublin in January along with the different months of the year.

This data has been taken from the Irish Meteorological Service to ensure accuracy and it’ll hopefully give you a sense of the different seasons in Ireland.

Average temperature

The LT (Long Term) average temperature in Dublin in January is 5.3°C/41.54°F.

I thought it might be useful for you to see how some different parts of the country fair out in comparison to the Dublin January weather, so I’ve included Galway, Cork and Kerry, too.

Average rainfall

The Long Term Average rainfall in Dublin in January is 62.6mm. We’ve had very wet Januarys in the past and we’ve had some dry ones, too!

The table above shows a comparison of the rain in Dublin in January in comparison to other parts of the island. As you can see, Galway and Kerry tend to get considerably more rainfall.

See our guide on what to pack for Ireland in January for some handy tips on what to bring with you!

Things to do in Dublin in January

Photos via Shutterstock

Although it’s off-season, there are still LOADS of things to do in Dublin in January.

While the museums in Dublin are handy rainy-day options, there’s loads of lovely walks in Dublin for those dry days.

1. Have a good itinerary planned

Click to enlarge map

The worst thing you can do if you’re spending January in Dublin is to arrive with no clear itinerary.

If you do, the chances are you’ll just waste time while you’re here and (hopefully not) whittle away all of your time in Temple Bar.

We’ve several ready-made options for those of you looking for things to do in Dublin in January, with itineraries ranging from 1 to 5 days:

• 1 day in Dublin
• 2 days in Dublin
• 3 days in Dublin
• 4 days in Dublin
• 5 days in Dublin

2. The key attractions

Photos by James Fennell via Failte Ireland

Although we have the ‘main’ things to do in Dublin in January in the itineraries above, here are a few suggestions.

For some of these attractions, like the Storehouse, it’s worth having your ticket booked in advance:

• The Guinness Storehouse
• Trinity College
• Christ Church Cathedral
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• The GPO
• Dublin Castle

3. Walks and hikes

Photos via Shutterstock

One of the more popular things to do in Dublin in January is to walk/hike (many of us are on the back of an indulgent Christmas, after all…).

There are plenty of walks in Dublin, with something to suit every level of fitness. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• The Howth Cliff Walk
• The Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk
• The Killiney Hill Walk
• The Hellfire Club Walk
• The Ticknock Walk

4. Cosy pubs

Photos left + bottom right: The Irish Road Trip. Other via Google Maps

There are some mighty pubs in Dublin that you can tuck yourself away in on a cold winters evening.

If you’re looking to see some of the oldest pubs in Dublin, head to the likes of the Brazen Head or the Stag’s Head.

If you want to dodge the touristy pubs in Temple Bar, there’s some great pubs with live music in Dublin, like the Cobblestone.

Or, if you’re looking for a fine pint of the black stuff, see our guide to the best Guinness in Dublin.

What to wear in Dublin in January

Click to enlarge image

So, we’ve a handy guide on what to wear in Ireland in January, but we’ll give you the quick need-to-knows below.

If you’re visiting Dublin in January, there’s two key bits of advice when it comes to packing – you need to pack smartly and layers are your friend.

The beauty with packing layers is that if you get too hot, happy days – you can strip off a layer. Too cold – bang it back on.

Now, keep in mind that what you bring will depend on the kind of activities that you plan on doing while you’re here. If you’re an avid hiker, you’ll be bringing a different set of gear altogether

Here’s a rough guide of what to pack for the weather in Dublin in January:

• Sweaters
• A good jacket that’ll keep you warm
• Jeans, fleece-lined leggings and hoodies, plus a good coat (waterproof if possible).
• Lots of socks
• Gloves, woolly hats, and some comfortable walking boots/runners

Are you considering visiting during a different month?

Photos via Shutterstock

Deciding when to visit Dublin is tough – and anyone that tells you otherwise is talking out of their hole (Irish slang for they’re full of sh…)!

It’s worth taking a bit of time to compare what it’s like here during the other months, as when you visit affects everything from your experience to the cost of a trip to Ireland:

• Dublin in February
• Dublin in March
• Dublin in April
• Dublin in May
• Dublin in June
• Dublin in July
• Dublin in August
• Dublin in September
• Dublin in October
• Dublin in November
• Dublin in December

FAQs about spending January in Dublin

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are the best things to do in Dublin in January?’ to ‘Is the weather really that unpredictable?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Keith O'Hara

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.