Best Time to Fly to Ireland
Peak Season:
The peak season for flights to Ireland is summer with its warm weather and long, sunlit days (6am to past 10pm). All rates are at their highest, festivals are in full swing, and all attractions are open. Dublin is busy year-round and doesn’t have a low season.
Spring and fall are great times to visit Ireland. The weather is usually good and most of the crowds have left, so airline tickets to Ireland are often easy to find.
Off Season:
Winter prices tend to be the lowest, except for Dublin. However, seasonal hotels, restaurants, accommodations, and attractions usually close from early or mid-November until mid-March or Easter.
Why you should take a flight to Ireland
Whether you book a cheap flight to Ireland for a family gathering in Dublin or a chance to gab at the Blarney stone, the trip to Ireland won’t be forgotten. The language is the same and the food is familiar, so Americans booking a trip to Ireland immediately feel at ease in the country. For Irish Americans, booking flights to Ireland is a special homecoming – you never know who you’ll meet or what ancestry you’ll dig up. But once the familiarity has settled in it’s time to really explore Ireland.
Take a trip off the beaten path and test your knowledge of Gaelic language in some of Ireland’s remote villages. When your flight to Ireland lands, take time to explore the castles, pubs and ancient artifacts that bind centuries of Irish kin together. Music and literature have defined Ireland for years, so it’s no wonder many friendships are made over a song or a poem. Listen for a song you can sing to and join the locals in an Irish tune at the local pub. Belly up to the bar for a stout and fish and chips, and introduce yourself to the locals. The friendliness in Ireland is second to none, and everyone is welcome in this treasured country. For anyone in search of greener pastures, book a flight to Ireland.
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Summers in Ireland are usually dry with average temperatures of 60 F. Temperatures are a bit cooler in the spring and fall, while winters are rainy and with temperatures around 40 F. It’s coldest in January and February and warmest in July and August, but it rarely gets hot. It rains a lot in Ireland, and the weather can change quickly, so it’s a good idea to dress in layers.
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The following chart gives approximate journey times from
Dublin(in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Ireland.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
|---|
| Cork | 0.40 | 3.00 | 2.40 |
|---|
| Limerick | - | 3.30 | 2.10 |
|---|
| Shannon Airport | 0.35 | 3.00 | - |
|---|
| Kilkenny | - | 2.00 | 1.45 |
|---|
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- Raining? The state's art galleries all have free admission. The main ones in Dublin are the National Gallery, Merrion Square; the Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square and the IMMA (The Irish Museum of Modern Art), in the old Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.
- Climb the steep hill to ring the bells at St Anne's Church in Cork. Then once you have arrived, climb the stone steps to a parapet that has 360-degree views of the city. Visitors can also ring the church's eight bells.
- For a glimpse of how people used to live on the furthest edges of Europe, take a boat trip to The Aran Islands off the coast of Galway, or to Great Blasket, a short ride from Dunquin Pier on the Dingle peninsula in Kerry. The islands have small tourist industries, breathtaking views and lots of sea birds.
- Dip into CS Lewis's Ulster. The creator of The Chronicles of Narnia was born in Belfast and spent some of his childhood there, and holidayed there regularly as an adult. Now there are lots of ways to follow him including a black taxi tour. Visit the Northern Ireland Tourist Board website and key in “cs lewis” into the search box for more things to do.
- A favorite of bohemians, artists, and students, Galway is a proliferation of art galleries and an arts scene that includes traditional music, street theater, and festivals—the best known being the Galway Arts Festival held every summer. The vibrant energy continues into the exuberant nightlife. Galway is also a departure point for the Aran Islands and nearby Lough Corrib has excellent fishing.
- Ireland’s majestic beauty is picture perfect in CountyKerry. There is tourist glitz, but pristine beauty is just minutes away—such as Ireland’s two highest mountains, miles of moorland, and spectacular coastal vistas—and an abundance of prehistoric and early Christian sites. Killarney and the Ring of Kerry are the most popular destinations, and Dingle Peninsula the most beautiful.
- The Shannon region has stunning scenery: Cliffs of Moher; Burren’s limestone; Aillwee Cave’s stalactites, stalagmites, and relics; Lough Derg; Atlantic seacoast; Shannon River; Slieve Blooms mountains; and so much more. History buffs can explore sites such as Bunratty Folk Park, a sixth-century monastery, Celtic exhibits, and museums. All this in a region just over 80 miles end to end.
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Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after you arrive in Ireland. You should have proof of a departure ticket.
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US citizens need a valid passport to enter the country. No visas are required for stays up to three months long.
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A New England native but explorer at heart, Melisse has lived in four U.S. cities, spent a summer in Hawaii, made her way through wine-producing regions in Australia and New Zealand, and traveled around Europe while studying abroad in London. She is the Content Manager for the U.S. and Canada at Cheapflights.