When it comes to the best time to visit Ireland, summer usually gets all the attention. It’s sunny and dry, the natural landscapes look greener and more spectacular, and there’s a wide array of summer festivals to enjoy — what’s not to love? However, autumn in Ireland deserves a spot in your travel plans too, and many locals can list a lot of reasons why autumn might be the best season ever.
Autumn is the time when the travellers of summer have flown back home, which means fewer crowds, more availability, and lower travel costs. The landscapes are stunning too, with colours of gold, orange, and crimson taking over the vistas. Autumn also encompasses the harvest season and Halloween, with lots of festivals and cultural events to look forward to.
So whether you’re having a family holiday or you’re visiting for your couples getaway, here are 7 of the best things to do in Ireland during autumn.
1. Visit the top-rated attractions
Don’t you just hate it when an enormous crowd blocks the magnificent views or floods the streets? How about the long queues at popular attractions? Well if you’re travelling during fall, which is a shoulder season in Ireland, you’re likely to encounter fewer crowds and make the most of Ireland’s stunning locations.
Want to see the Cliffs of Moher and admire the scenery without rushing? Or climb up the Blarney Castle? How about touring Kilkenny Castle and the rest of the Medieval Mile? Or maybe you’d love to visit a museum or two? Autumn is the best time to head to Ireland’s top-rated attractions, which are usually packed during the peak tourist season.
2. Book a nicer hotel with more availability
Peak seasons like summer push travel costs like hotels forward. The slots are limited too, so you tend to book an overpriced yet mediocre hotel to keep up with the demand. Since autumn receives fewer travellers, you’re more likely to score a cheaper yet better hotel with more flexible options.
You can even choose to stay in a centralised location or book a hotel with high-end amenities. This four-star hotel in Kilkenny, for instance, is located in the heart of Kilkenny and has castle view rooms. You can score an even cheaper rate if you avoid the weekends and instead book a hotel during midweek.
And if you’re a lover of life’s finer things, you can even enjoy a castle stay in Ireland.
3. Be part of the festivals and events
Just because it’s an off-peak season doesn’t mean Ireland tends to sleep during fall. In fact, some of the much-anticipated festivals and events in Ireland are held during the autumn months.
Ireland’s events calendar, from the major cities like Dublin to the small towns and villages, is packed during autumn. You can enjoy live music and performances, literature festivals, arts and crafts event, food festivals, and more. These include (but are not limited to) the following:
September
- Galway Oyster Festival (Galway)
- Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival (Clare)
- Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (Belfast)
- Electric Picnic (Laois)
- Dublin Theatre Festival (Dublin)
- Dublin Fringe Festival (Dublin)
October to November
- Derry Halloween (Derry)
- Púca Festival (Meath and Louth)
- Bram Stoker Festival (Dublin)
- Cork Jazz Festival (Cork)
- Wexford Festival Opera (Wexford)
- Tipperary Dance Festival, (Tipperary)
- Savour Festival Kilkenny (Kilkenny)
- Belfast International Arts Festival (Antrim)
- Perform Festival (Dublin)
4. Head outdoors and enjoy the dramatic landscapes
Autumn allows you to enjoy the Emerald Isle in its golden state, both figuratively and literally. The green vistas embrace hues of vibrant gold, fiery orange, and crimson. The autumnal hues, complemented by the dramatic skies, paint the parks, castle grounds, and other attractions, providing charming backdrops during your trip.
It’s definitely the perfect time to head to the countryside and discover the natural wonders and heritage sites. Take in some fresh air and go for scenic drives, hikes, walks, birdwatching, and sightseeing tours. The weather is comfortably chilly and the landscapes look breathtaking so put on your don your favourite sweaters and enjoy the outdoors.
You can also take part in the Walking Festival Season, which includes organised walking tours through the coloured forests, glens, and coastlines.
5. Enjoy Ireland’s harvest season
Autumn marks the beginning of the harvest season and that means you can enjoy fresh, high-quality food during your stay, whether it’s from a restaurant or from a small local eatery. Next to visiting these dining spots, there’s nothing quite like getting food fresh from the farm.
Luckily, Ireland is home to a wide array of farmer’s markets where you can score fresh, organic produce and artisanal goods. You can also look for events that bring Ireland’s passionate food growers and producers together, like Savour Kilkenny.
6. Get Cosy by the roaring open fire in a traditional Irish pub
Want to have a warm cup of coffee while admiring the autumnal views from a local cafe? How about enjoying a cold pint of craft beer while curling up by the roaring open fire? Whatever suits your fancy, autumn is definitely the best time to enjoy these traditional experiences as pubs and cafes get even warmer and cosier. And we also have a classic drink if you’re torn between having coffee or whiskey: Irish coffee!
To make the experience even more memorable, you may look for spots with local bands that play traditional Irish music.
7. Celebrate Halloween in Ireland
Did you know that the history of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Ireland? Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, is Irish too. So it comes as no surprise that Ireland takes the spooky season seriously.
From the end of October to the first week of November, there’ll be a wide array of festivals and events from different parts of Ireland. These include parades, music events, literature events, costume parties, pumpkin carving and trails, and more.
For avid paranormal fans, there’ll be ghost tours and haunted pub crawls to enjoy too. You can even stay in a haunted castle, manor house, or hotel for a night.