Dublin in December is cold and damp, with an average temperature of 5.6°C/42.1°F and about 72.7 mm of rainfall. Short days and unpredictable weather mean it isn’t the easiest month to explore, but the city makes up for it with its Christmas buzz.
This is the month when the Christmas markets in Dublin bring colour to the streets, and festive lights give the city a lively atmosphere despite the winter chill.
With sunrise at 08:22 and sunset at 16:19, daylight is limited, but there are still plenty of things to do in Dublin in December if you plan your days well.
Why trust this guide? I have lived in Dublin for 36 years. This guide contains reliable advice from a local!
What to know before visiting Dublin in December
Photos by The Irish Road Trip
Although a visiting Dublin in December is fairly straightforward, there’s a few nuggets of info that’ll get you up-to-speed quickly.
Below, you’ll find info on the weather in Ireland in December along with some handy info.
1. The weather
The weather in Dublin in December is, unsurprisingly enough, unpredictable (December is winter in Ireland). Plan for cold, wet and windy weather.
2. Average temperatures
The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in December is 5.6°C/42.08°F with rainfall measuring 72.7mm.
3. Limited daylight hours
At the beginning of the month, the sun rises at 08:22 and it sets at 16:19. This means you’ve a limited time each day to explore, which can make planning your Ireland itinerary a bit trickier.
4. Dublin at Christmas
Christmas in Dublin is hard to beat. Festive markets and fairy lights bring a buzz to many towns and villages, making them a delight to ramble around. However, flight prices (and the cost of hotels in Dublin) sky-rocket with people returning home for the celebrations, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting Ireland on a budget.
5. Festivals and events
There are plenty of Christmassy festivals in Ireland that take place this month along with endless plays, musicals and choir services. There’s also plenty of non-Christmassy things to do in Dublin in December, as you’ll discover below.
Fast facts: The pros and cons of December in Dublin
When planning a trip to Ireland in December, it’s worth taking the pros and cons into account, to help you make an informed decision.
I’ve lived in Dublin for 36 years, so the below are based on my own experience (note: you’ll find detailed info on the weather in the next section).
The pros
- Festive buzz: Christmas in Dublin brings a lovely, festive buzz to the place
- Christmas markets: Many of the bigger towns and villages host markets from mid-November
- It’s quieter: As this is the off-season, many of the more notable towns, villages and attractions will be much quieter
The cons
- The weather: The weather in Dublin in December can be very unpredictable (see below)
- Short days: At the start of the month the sun rises 08:22 and it sets at 16:19, giving you less time to play with
- Flights: With people flying home to spent NYE and Christmas in Dublin, flight prices sky-rocket
The weather in Dublin in December
The weather in Dublin in December is what puts many people off (see our guide to the best time to visit Dublin if you want to compare the different months).
The average temperature in Dublin in December is generally warm, as you’ll see in the graphic above.
It is important to note that these temperature ranges can vary considerably from year to year.
Below, you’ll find a comparative analysis of recent years that uses data from various weather stations.
Please note that all of the Dublin in December weather data is via Met Eireann – the Irish Meteorological Service.
A comparison of December weather in Dublin in recent years
| County | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 7.2°C/44.96°F | 7.5°C/45.50°F | 4.8°C/40.64°F |
| Galway | 8.6°C/47.48°F | 8.6°C/47.48°F | 6.4°C/43.52°F |
| Cork | 7.5°C/45.50°F | 7.6°C/45.68°F | 4.7°C/40.46°F |
| Kerry | 9.1°C/48.38°F | 9.2°C/48.56°F | 6.4°C/43.52°F |
The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in December is 5.6°C/42.08°F with rainfall measuring 72.7mm.
The table above offers a look into the average temperature in Dublin in December along with Galway, Cork, and Kerry over the past few years.
As you can see, the average temperature in Dublin in December remains relatively consistent across different years and in various counties.
Rain in Dublin in December
The number of rainy days in Dublin each December averages about 21, but totals can swing sharply year to year.
- December 2024 was wet, with Dublin Airport recording over 80 mm of rain
- December 2023 was close to normal, with rainfall broadly matching the LTA
- December 2022 was much drier, with totals dipping below 50 mm
- The long-term average for December in Dublin is 21 rain days and 73.3 mm of rainfall
Things to do in Dublin in December
Although it’s still off-season, there’s still endless things to do in Dublin in December, from the many great restaurants in Dublin to hikes, walks, castles and more.
Below, you’ll find the likes of the Jameson Distillery, itineraries you can use and pub recommendations.
1. Have a good itinerary mapped out
The worst thing you can do if you’re spending December 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 December, with itineraries ranging from 1 to 5 days:
2. The key attractions
Although we have the ‘main’ things to do in Dublin in December 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. The markets
Photos by The Irish Road Trip
The big attraction of Dublin at Christmas is the markets and shopping. Unfortunately, the festive markets in Dublin aren’t great, considering Dublin is a major capital city.
The most consistent market is the Dublin Castle Christmas Market. The long-over-promised Mistletown is still yet to launch and the Guinness Storehouse Christmas Market is no longer a thing.
4. Christmassy pubs
There are some mighty pubs in Dublin that you can tuck yourself away in for an hour or five.
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 to wear in Dublin at Christmas
Click to enlarge image
December is winter in Ireland so packing is fairly straightforward – prepare for the worst… i.e. rain, wind and snow… and more rain.
A good warm jacket (waterproof if possible), plenty of warm layers and a good pair of walking shoes will come in handy.
Although we have a guide on what to wear in Ireland in December, here are some more suggestions:
The essentials
- A good jacket (ideally waterproof)
- Walking shoes (ideally waterproof if you’re planning hikes and walks)
- Warm layers like long-sleeved t-shirts and jumpers/hoodies
- Hats, scarves and gloves
- Causal clothes for the evening (smart wear is required in the fancier restaurants)
Are you considering visiting during a different month?
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 January
- 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
FAQs about visiting Dublin at Christmas
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is Dublin Green in December?’ (it is) to ‘Does it snow?’ (on the mountains, yes, but rarely on lower ground).
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.
Is December a good time to visit Dublin?
What is the weather in Dublin at Christmas like?
Are there many things to do in Dublin in December?
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 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.