Visiting Ireland in December: Weather + Pros/Cons

Visiting Ireland in December comes with its pros and cons (I’m basing this on spending 34 Decembers in Ireland…).

On the plus side, Ireland at Christmas is hard to beat – there’s a number of Christmas markets in Ireland and many towns and villages have a lovely festive buzz to them.

On the negative side, the weather in Ireland in December can be wet and wintery, with average highs of 10°C/50°F and average lows of 3°C/37°F. 

What to expect from Ireland in December

Photos via Shutterstock

Below, you’ll find info on the weather in Ireland in December along with some handy info.

1. The weather in Ireland in December

The weather in Ireland in December sees average highs of 10°C/50°F and average lows of 3°C/37°F. Snow on higher ground is common while rainfall across the country is a frequent occurrence.

2. Average temperatures

The average temperature in Ireland in December hits average highs of 10°C/50°F and average lows of 3°C/37°F.

3. Limited daylight hours

December is winter in Ireland. 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. It’s Christmas in Ireland 

Christmas in Ireland 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 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 Ireland in December, as you’ll discover below.

The advantages and disadvantages of December in Ireland

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 Ireland (Dublin, specifically) for 34 years, so the below are based on my own experience.

The advantages 

• Festive buzz: Christmas in Ireland brings a lovely, festive buzz to many towns and villages in Ireland
• Christmas markets: Many of the bigger towns and cities host markets from mid-November
• Accommodation prices: Accommodation in the more off-the-beaten-track towns and villages will be cheaper
• It’s quieter: As this is the off-season, many of the more notable towns, villages and attractions will be much quieter

The disadvantages

• The weather: The weather in Ireland 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 Ireland, flight prices sky-rocket

The weather in Ireland in December in different parts of the country

Click to enlarge image

The weather in Ireland in December can vary hugely year-on-year. Different parts of Ireland also tend to get different extremes of weather.

Below, you’ll find an insight into the weather in Kerry, Belfast, Galway and Dublin in December. The data used comes from the Irish Meteorological Service and the UK Met Office to ensure accuracy:

Dublin

The weather in Dublin in December is generally cool, wet and wintery. The long-term average temperature in Dublin in December is 5.6°C/42.08°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Dublin in December is 72.7 millimetres.

Belfast

The weather in Belfast in December is similar to Dublin temperature wise, but with more rainfall. The average temperature in Belfast in December is 5°C/41°F. Average rainfall levels sit at 93.25 millimetres.

Galway

The weather in the west of Ireland in December tends to be very wet and wild, with high rainfall. The long-term average temperature in Galway in December is 5.6°C/42.08°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Galway in December is 123.2 millimetres.

Kerry

The weather in Kerry in December tends to be, unsurprisingly enough, wintery. The long-term average temperature in Kerry in December is 7.8°C/46.04°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Kerry in December is 164.9 millimetres.

Things to do in Ireland in December

Photos via Shutterstock

There’s some obvious things to do in Ireland at Christmas and some not-so-obvious activities, as you’ll discover below.

If you’re on the hunt for things to do in Ireland in December, dive into our counties in Ireland section – it’s packed with the best places to visit in every county! Here are a handful of suggestions to get you started:

1. Christmas markets

One of the most obvious things to do in Ireland in December is to plan your visit around one of the many Christmas markets in Ireland.

These tend to kick-off from mid-November and run until late December. Here are some of the most popular:

• Galway Christmas market
• Dublin Christmas markets
• Glow Cork
• Belfast Christmas market
• Waterford Winterval

2. Road trips (planned with daylight hours in mind)

A sample of one of our road trip itineraries

Although December isn’t the best time to visit Ireland when it comes to daylight hours, it shouldn’t stop you from exploring – you just need to plan.

Last year, we published the largest library of detailed Irish road trip itineraries available anywhere – you can pick an itinerary based on length, your fitness level and more.

Two of the most popular are our 5 days in Ireland and 7 days in Ireland guides.

3. Cosy pubs

Photos courtesy Failte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

One of my favourite things to do in Ireland in December is to spend a morning and afternoon tackling one of the many walks in Ireland.

And an evening tucked away in one of the many pubs in Ireland.

If you can, opt for one of the traditional-style pubs, as they tend to have more charm and character.

4. Have indoor activities at the ready

Photos courtesy Waterford Museum of Treasures via Failte Ireland

The weather in Ireland in December can be terrible, so it’s worth having some back-up plans for those wet and wild days.

If you hop into our counties hub, click the place you’re visiting and you’ll find plenty of museums and indoor tours.

5. Visiting Dublin in December

There’s endless things to do in Dublin in December. If the weather’s good, try one of the walks in Dublin.

If the weathers bad, there’s plenty of things to do in Dublin in December when it’s raining!

See our 2 days in Dublin and 24 hours in Dublin guides for an easy-to-follow itinerary.

What to to wear in Ireland in December

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)

Thinking about visiting Ireland during a different month?

Deciding when to visit Ireland isn’t easy, especially if it’s your first time visiting the island.

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:

• Ireland in January
• Ireland in February
• Ireland in March
• Ireland in April
• Ireland in May
• Ireland in June
• Ireland in July
• Ireland in August
• Ireland in September
• Ireland in October
• Ireland in November

FAQs about visiting Ireland at Christmas

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is Ireland 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.

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.