Dublin In May: Weather, Tips + Things To Do

Visiting Dublin in May has a lot of pros and only a handful of cons (I’m saying that based on 34 years of living here).

May is the best time to visit Dublin, in my opinion, if you want to visit before the summer mayhem starts to kick-in (more on this below).

The weather in Dublin in May tends to be good – the LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in May is 10.7°C/51.26°F with rainfall measuring 59.5mm.

In the guide below, you’ll find everything from things to do in Dublin in May to the different pros and cons of visiting during this month.

Some quick need-to-knows about visiting Dublin in May

Although visiting Dublin in May is pretty straightforward, there are some need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable. Below, you’ll find info on the weather in Dublin in May along with some handy info.

1. The weather

The weather in Dublin in May can be very hit and miss (there was a lot of rain in recent years!). However, on the whole, May tends to be mild and sunny.

2. Average temperature

The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in May is 10.7°C/51.26°F with rainfall measuring 59.5mm.

3. The days are lovely and long

Although May is still spring in Ireland, the days are nice and long with the sun rising at 05:17 and setting at 21:26 (mid-May). This makes planning out your Ireland itinerary easy as you’ve lots of daylight hours to play with.

4. Crowd levels and prices

May is still outside of the peak season, but it’s a popular month amongst domestic and international tourists. When planning a trip to Ireland in and around the summer months, it’s always worth booking hotels in Dublin in advance. 

5. Festivals and events

There’s plenty of festivals in Ireland running during May. Two of the most notable are the International Literature Festival Dublin and Bealtaine Festival. However, there’s endless things to do in Dublin in May if festivals aren’t your thing.

Fast facts: The pros and cons of Dublin in May

If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, it’s good to have an idea of what pros and cons are associated with the various months.

I’ve spent 34 years in Dublin, and I’ve never missed a May (not intentionally…), so these advantages and disadvantages are based on first hand experience.

The pros 

• Weather: The weather in Dublin in May can be good (more info below)
• Long days: From the middle of the month, the sun rises at 05:17 and sets at 21:26
• Festivals: There are several festivals in Ireland and Irish music festivals taking place in May
• Summer buzz: Long, mild days and the incoming summer tends to bring tourists and atmosphere to many towns, villages and cities

The cons

• Weather: Yep – it’s a pro and a con – the weather in Dublin in May can also be awful (it was last year!)
• Prices: Accommodation and flights costs will be near peak level
• Crowds: Better weather and long days mean more people travelling around Dublin

The weather in Dublin in May

The average temperature in Dublin in May is generally warm, as you’ll notice 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 May weather data is via Met Eireann – the Irish Meteorological Service.

A comparison of May weather in Dublin in recent years

County	2022	2021	2020
Dublin	6.7°C/44.06°F	6.2°C/43.16°F	5.8°C/42.44°F
Galway	7.0°C/44.6°F	6.2°C/43.16°F	5.8°C/43.25°F
Cork	8.2°C/46.76°F	6.9°C/44.42°F	7.2°C/44.96°F
Kerry	8.6°C/47.48°F	7.7°C/45.86°F	7.6°C/45.68°F

The table above offers a look into the average temperature in Dublin in May along with Galway, Cork, and Kerry over the past few years.

As you can see, the average temperature in Dublin in May remains relatively consistent across different years and in various counties.

The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in May is 10.7°C/51.26°F with rainfall measuring 59.5mm.

Rain in Dublin in May

County	2022	2021	2020
Dublin	88.5	55.0	130.4
Galway	143.1	113.4	248.5
Cork	90.0	157.6	143.5
Kerry	145.6	228.2	237.6

We get asked ‘Does in rain in Dublin in May?’ quite a bit. The answer is yes, yes it does (see our guide on what to wear in Dublin in May).

The LTA (Long Term Average) rainfall during May in Dublin measures 59.5mm. This is in comparison to 54.11 in April and 66.7mm in June.

Things to do in Dublin in May

Although it’s still off-season, there’s still endless things to do in Dublin in May, 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 May 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 May, 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

Although we have the ‘main’ things to do in Dublin in May 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

One of the more popular things to do in Dublin in May is to walk/hike (especially if you’re looking to escape the city).

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. Pubs

There are some mighty pubs in Dublin that you can tuck yourself away in.

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 pack / what to wear in Dublin in May

So, we’ve a detailed guide on what to wear in Dublin in May, but I’ll give you the need-to-knows below.

The best piece of advice that I can give you is to pack for sun AND rain. Here’s some bits and pieces to bring with you:

The essentials

• Layers (t-shirts, hoodies, shirts etc.)
• Some decent hiking/walking footwear
• A light waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Appropriate layers that you can remove or put on if it gets too hot/cold
• Casual clothes for evening wear (shirt/polo-shirt and jeans/chinos are all appropriate ‘going-out wear’ in Dublin)

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 June
• Dublin in July
• Dublin in August
• Dublin in September
• Dublin in October
• Dublin in November
• Dublin in December

FAQs about spending May in Dublin

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is May in Dublin rainy?’ (it can be!) to ‘Is Dublin warm in May?’ (yes).

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.