Europe

Ireland in September

Crowds fall away, seas are at their warmest for the brave, and the light turns golden. Arguably the best all-round month.

BestSoft and settled early month, highs near 62F (17C)

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

The straight answer

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Ireland. Crowds fall away, seas are at their warmest for the brave, and the light turns golden. Arguably the best all-round month.

Weather: Soft and settled early month, highs near 62F (17C)
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What September is like in Ireland

September is arguably Ireland's best all-round month. Early in the month the weather is often soft and settled, with highs near 62F (17C). Crowds fall away after the school holidays, the sea is at its warmest and the light turns golden. Skellig Michael boats keep running until late September, weather permitting.

It suits almost everyone: couples, walkers, road trippers and homeschool families. Prices are moderate and the roads are calm. Early in the month is the most settled, and island boats wind down toward the end. If September dates do not work, May is the equally good spring match.

Make the most of September

What is especially good about Ireland this month.

Warmest sea of the year

Brave swimmers will find the sea at its least cold. A dip at a Dingle or Connemara beach is a proper Irish rite.

Last Skellig boats

Landing trips run until roughly late September. Early in the month gives you the best odds.

Golden light on the Ring of Kerry

The coach tours thin out and the low autumn light makes the loop around Killarney National Park glow.

What to pack for September

A rain jacket and warm layers
Swimsuit and a towel for a brave dip
Sturdy walking shoes
A warm hat for windy headlands

Our timing tip

Go in the first half of September for the most settled weather and the last reliable island boats.

Book Ireland for September.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Ireland
Opens a hotel search for Ireland in September, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for September
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 September. 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 September, quick answers

Is September a good time to visit Ireland?

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Ireland. Crowds fall away, seas are at their warmest for the brave, and the light turns golden. Arguably the best all-round month.

What is the weather like in Ireland in September?

Soft and settled early month, highs near 62F (17C).

Is Ireland crowded in September?

Crowds in Ireland are moderate in September; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.