Ireland is a small country that rewards slow travel: a lively capital on the east coast, green farmland in the middle, and a rugged Atlantic coast in the west with cliffs, islands and small towns full of pubs and music. The weather is mild, soft and changeable, with showers in every season, and the clocks match the UK's all year.
Ireland for visitors
Most visitors arrive in Dublin, a walkable city of Georgian squares, museums, literary history and pubs. The Wicklow Mountains, with the monastic site of Glendalough, are an easy day trip south of the city, and the Boyne Valley to the north has some of Europe's oldest prehistoric tombs.
The west coast
The west is what most people picture when they think of Ireland. The coastal touring route known as the Wild Atlantic Way runs the length of it, from Donegal in the north to Cork in the south. Highlights include Galway, a small, music-filled city; the bogs, lakes and mountains of Connemara; the limestone landscape of the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare; and in the south-west, the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry and the lakes around Killarney. Offshore, the Aran Islands keep a traditional way of life and are reached by ferry.
The south and the midlands
Cork, the second city, is the base for the south coast and its harbour towns, such as Kinsale and Cobh. Kilkenny, with its castle and medieval lanes, and the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary are popular stops between Dublin and the south-west.
Getting around
Trains and intercity buses run from Dublin to the main cities, including Galway, Cork, Limerick and Belfast. To explore the west coast, the islands and the small villages, a car is far more practical, and many visitors hire one for the whole trip. Roads in the west are often narrow and winding, so journeys take longer than the distances suggest.
Time in Ireland
Ireland has one time zone, Europe/Dublin, and is on UTC±0 right now. In winter the clocks show Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+1), and in summer they move one hour ahead to Irish Standard Time (UTC±0). As across the European Union, the clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October ([1]). The next change forward is on 31 October 2027, and the next change back on 28 March 2027.
Ireland and the UK change their clocks on the same day, so Dublin and Belfast always show the same time, which makes cross-border trips simple. Right now Dublin is the same time as London, 1 hour behind Paris and 5 hours ahead of New York.
The current arrangement goes back to 1916. Until then Ireland kept Dublin Mean Time, about 25 minutes behind Greenwich, and it moved to the same time as Britain later that year ([2]).
Ireland lies far west for a European country, so summer evenings stay light very late, while in late December the sun doesn't rise in Dublin until about 08:37. If you fly in overnight from North America, a walk in daylight on the first afternoon helps with jet lag.
Climate and weather
Ireland has a temperate oceanic climate. The Atlantic and the North Atlantic Drift keep winters mild and summers cool, with no real extremes of heat or cold. Snow is uncommon at low levels and rarely lasts. What defines the weather is how changeable it is: bright spells and showers often follow each other several times in a day, and a completely dry week is unusual.
The table above shows Dublin, which is on the drier east coast. The west, facing the Atlantic, is noticeably wetter and windier, and the mountains of Kerry, Connemara and Donegal are the wettest places of all. The south-east tends to be the sunniest part of the country.
Dublin's average highs range from 8°C in January to 20°C in July. The city gets about 773 mm of rain a year, falling on roughly 137 days. In Dublin, November is the wettest month, but rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
- Dublin
- London
Show the numbers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 62 | 52 | 51 | 55 | 57 | 64 | 61 | 73 | 63 | 78 | 83 | 72 |
| London | 58 | 44 | 37 | 43 | 45 | 51 | 43 | 55 | 50 | 67 | 66 | 59 |
London, across the Irish Sea, has a similar pattern with slightly less rain and warmer summers. Its yearly total is about 615 mm.
Winter storms from the Atlantic bring gales, especially to the west coast, and can disrupt ferries and island trips. Our Weather page has the live forecast for any town in Ireland.
Best time to visit Ireland
Late spring and summer, from May to August, are the best months for most trips: the days are long, the weather is at its mildest and island ferries and coastal walks are running at their best. May and June are often among the brighter months and less busy than July and August, when schools are on holiday across Europe and the west coast is at its fullest.
September is a good alternative, with fewer visitors and weather that is often still settled. From October to March the days are short and the Atlantic storms more frequent, but cities, pubs and museums are at their cosiest, prices for accommodation are often lower, and the landscape is quiet.
Whatever the month, plan for rain and keep outdoor plans flexible. St Patrick's Day in March brings parades and big crowds to Dublin and other towns.
Practical facts
- Capital: Dublin.
- Population: about 5.2 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: euro (EUR). Cards and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere. Northern Ireland, across the border, uses the pound sterling.
- Language: English, Irish. English is spoken everywhere; Irish is the first official language and appears on road signs and official notices. In the Gaeltacht areas, mostly along the west coast, it is still the everyday language.
- Calling code: +353.
- Tipping: a modest tip is usual in restaurants with table service, unless a service charge is included. It is not expected in pubs.
- Driving: on the left. Road signs in Ireland show distances and speed limits in kilometres, unlike in Northern Ireland, which uses miles.
- Emergency numbers: 112 or 999, for ambulance, police (the Gardaí), fire and coast guard ([3]).
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- The live weather and the month-by-month climate table for Dublin are on this page. For a city across the Irish Sea, see the London city guide, with the same clock and a similar climate.
- World Clock: Irish time next to your own.
- Weather: live conditions and the forecast for Galway, Cork, Killarney or anywhere else in Ireland.
- Europe: time zones and key facts for every country on the continent.
- Further reading: how to pack for any weather.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Ireland in?
Ireland uses Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+1) in winter and Irish Standard Time (UTC±0) in summer, with the IANA identifier Europe/Dublin. Right now it is on UTC±0.
Is Ireland on the same time as the UK?
Yes. Ireland and the UK keep the same clock time and change on the same dates, so Dublin, Belfast and London always match.
When do the clocks change in Ireland?
They go forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October. The next changes are on 31 October 2027 and 28 March 2027.
What is the rainiest part of Ireland?
The west and the mountains along the Atlantic coast. The east, including Dublin, is drier, with about 773 mm of rain a year in the capital.
Which side of the road do people drive on in Ireland?
On the left, as in the UK.
Sources
- Directive 2000/84/EC on summer-time arrangements (legislation.gov.uk): in every EU member state, summer time begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.
- tz database, Europe file (mirror): Europe/Dublin on Dublin Mean Time (25 minutes 21 seconds behind Greenwich) until May 1916, then on British time from October 1916.
- gov.ie: How to contact emergency services in Ireland: call 112 or 999; the operator connects you to the ambulance, Gardaí, fire brigade or coast guard.