Europe

Ireland in December

Christmas lights and lively pubs; the week around Christmas sees family travel spike and many closures on the holidays themselves.

Quiet valueCold and damp, highs near 47F (8C)

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland — IrelandPhoto: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Ireland. Christmas lights and lively pubs; the week around Christmas sees family travel spike and many closures on the holidays themselves.

Weather: Cold and damp, highs near 47F (8C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What December is like in Ireland

December is cold and damp, with highs near 47F (8C), but the towns are lit up for Christmas and the pubs are lively. Family travel spikes in the week around Christmas. Almost everything shuts on Christmas Day, including most pubs, and most attractions close December 24 to 26.

It suits city breaks and festive trips focused on Dublin or Galway. Early December is the calmer, cheaper window. It is not a month for rural road trips, since many west coast B&Bs are closed. For countryside, wait for April or May.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Ireland this month.

Christmas lights and lively pubs

Dublin and Galway glow with holiday lights, and the pubs are warm and full of cheer.

Newgrange in midwinter

The 5,000-year-old passage tomb is aligned with the winter solstice sunrise. The visitor centre tours are quiet this month.

Early December value

Before the holiday week, flights and hotels are still reasonably priced.

What to pack for December

A warm, waterproof winter coat
Waterproof boots with good grip
Gloves, hat and scarf
A nice outfit for festive dinners

Our timing tip

Book dinner and plan transport ahead for December 24 to 26, when most sights and many restaurants close.

Book Ireland for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Ireland
Opens a hotel search for Ireland in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Ireland
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Ireland
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Ireland for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Ireland

Full guide

Cliffs of Moher

Arrive before 10am or after 5pm in season; midday belongs to the coach tours. The cliff walk toward Hags Head escapes most of the crowd.

Tickets and tours →

Ring of Kerry

Drive it counterclockwise like the buses do to avoid meeting them head-on on narrow roads, and start early. Killarney National Park anchors the loop.

Tickets and tours →

Dublin's museum quarter

The National Museum's gold and bog bodies, Trinity's Book of Kells, and the National Gallery, all walkable. Book Kells tickets ahead in summer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Galway and Connemara

Galway is the base; Connemara's bog-and-mountain emptiness is the point. Kylemore Abbey is the postcard stop.

Tickets and tours →

Newgrange (Bru na Boinne)

A 5,000-year-old passage tomb north of Dublin. Access is by guided tour from the visitor centre and slots cap out in summer, so book ahead.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Dingle Peninsula

Many travelers' favorite corner of Ireland: the Slea Head loop, beehive huts, and a working fishing town full of music.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Do the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry before 10am; the coach-tour wave runs roughly 10:30am to 4pm and then vanishes.
Base yourself in Dingle or Kenmare instead of Killarney in summer: same scenery, calmer evenings, better tables without a booking.
Book Newgrange, Kilmainham Gaol, and the Book of Kells online well ahead in June through August; all three cap daily numbers and sell out.
Take the Ring of Beara or the Sky Road in Connemara when the Ring of Kerry is heaving; they are just as good and carry a fraction of the traffic.

Know before you go

Skellig Michael landings run only from roughly mid May to late September, and even in season boats cancel frequently for swell. Book early and build in a spare day.
Many rural and heritage attractions run reduced winter hours from roughly November through mid March, and some smaller sites close entirely; city museums and castles stay open year-round.
Good Friday and Christmas (December 24 to 26) close most attractions, and almost everything shuts on Christmas Day itself, including most pubs.
St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday: the party is on but banks, shops, and some sights close, and Dublin accommodation sells out months out.

Ireland in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Ireland?

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Ireland. Christmas lights and lively pubs; the week around Christmas sees family travel spike and many closures on the holidays themselves.

What is the weather like in Ireland in December?

Cold and damp, highs near 47F (8C).

Is Ireland crowded in December?

December is one of the quieter months in Ireland; most sights can be done without long waits.