Visiting Dublin in October is a great shout, once you’re aware of the pros and cons.
I’ve lived in Ireland’s caital for 34 years and, in my opinion, October is one of the best times to travel to Dublin.
The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in October 10.3°C/50.54°F with rainfall measuring 79.0mm.
Below, you’ll discover everything from things to do in Dublin in October, the various festivals running this month and much more.
Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Dublin in October
Photos via Shutterstock
Although a visiting Dublin in October is reasonably straightforward, there are a handful of need-to-knows that’ll get you up-to-speed quickly.
Below, you’ll find info on the weather in Ireland during this month along with some handy info.
1. The weather
The weather in Dublin in October, as is the case with every single month, can be very unpredictable. October is autumn in Ireland and in years past we’ve had everything from warm days to wintery outbreaks.
2. Average temperatures
The LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in October 10.3°C/50.54°F with rainfall measuring 79.0mm.
3. Daylight
The days are still relatively long in October. At the beginning of the month, the sun rises at 07:33 and sets at 19:09. That’s a solid 11 hours a day to plan your Ireland itinerary around.
4. It’s shoulder season
October is shoulder season in Dublin (i.e. the time between peak-season and off-season). This means flights should be cheaper and places will be quieter. Keep in mind that kids get a week of holidays in Ireland at the end of the month, so prices for hotels in Dublin can rise around then.
5. Festivals and events
Heaps of festivals in Ireland run during October. Two of the most notable are the Dublin Festival of History and the Dublin Theatre Festival. However, if festivals aren’t your thing, there’s endless things to do in Dublin in October.
Fast facts: The pros and cons of October in Dublin
So, I lightly touched on the handful of advantages and disadvantages to visiting Dublin in October above, but I’ll list them out properly below.
I’ve lived in Dublin for 33 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
- Longish days: At the beginning of the month, the sun rises at 07:33 and sets at 19:09
- It’s quieter: As we’re outside peak season, many places will be much quieter in comparison to the months previous
- Attractions open: You’ll find that some tours and attractions in Dublin close during winter – most are still running in October
- Weather: October is generally quite mild and the cool, crisp weather is nice to saunter around in
- Festivals: Numerous Halloween festivals take place (see our Irish festivals calendar for more)
The cons
- Unpredictable weather: Yep, it’s a pro and a con. In October 2017, Storm Ophelia hit Dublin, and it was the worst to hit the island in 50 years
The weather in Dublin in October
The average temperature in Dublin in October is generally cool, 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 October weather data is via Met Eireann – the Irish Meteorological Service.
A comparison of October 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 LTA (Long Term Average) temperature in Dublin in October 10.3°C/50.54°F with rainfall measuring 79.0mm.
The table above offers a look into the average temperature in Dublin in October along with Galway, Cork, and Kerry over the past few years.
As you can see, the average temperature in Dublin in October remains relatively consistent across different years and in various counties.
Rain in Dublin in October
| 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 |
The Long Term Average rainfall for Dublin in October is 79.0mm. This is in comparison to 59.5 in September and 73.3 in August.
We get asked ‘Does in rain in Dublin in October?’ quite a bit. The answer is yes, yes it does (see our guide on what to wear in Dublin in October).
If you look at the table above, you’ll see that the counties on the west coast get an awful lot more rain than those on the east coast.
Things to do in Dublin in October
Although it’s still off-season, there’s still endless things to do in Dublin in October, 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 October 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 October, 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 October 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 July is to walk/hike, especially on those fine days.
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. Trad 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 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 pack / what to wear in Dublin in October
Although we’ve a detailed guide on what to wear in October in Dublin, I’ll give you the need-to-knows.
I’d recommend bringing layers (e.g. light tops) and one warm jacket/coat that you can pop on top. Here are some more suggestions:
The essentials
- A waterproof jacket (and trousers if you plan on hiking)
- Comfortable shoes to walk in
- Light layers (e.g. t-shirts, long-sleeved tops, etc).
- A hat and gloves, just in case
- Causal clothes for going out in the evening (pubs in Dublin are fairly relaxed)
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 November
- Dublin in December
FAQs about spending fall in Dublin
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What should I wear in Dublin in October?’ (see above) to ‘Is it rainy in Dublin in October? (it can be).
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 October a good time to visit Dublin?
What is the weather in Dublin in October like?
Are there many things to do in Dublin in October?
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.