Would you rather gaze at the rainbows that show up during the spring in Ireland, or enjoy the solitude of the countryside during the winter? Do you want to experience Galway's Arts Festival in July, or Cork City's Jazz Festival in October? Should you base yourself in one place and take day trips, or go the nomadic route? Read on for assistance with deciding when to take your trip and planning your itinerary.
Ireland's regions
Should you fly into Shannon or Dublin? Do you want to see the Ring of Kerry or Donegal? Is Northern Ireland worth a visit? The information in this section is a quick primer on the various regions of the island so you can make informed choices about where to spend your precious vacation time.
Experiencing the vibrant Dublin area
People often fly into Dublin airport and set off for the western part of the country, with its dramatic scenery, before their plane even comes to a complete stop. Unless you know there's an honest-to-goodness pot o' gold waiting for you out west, there's no reason to rush away. Dublin, with its big-time hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs, pubs, and museums, is a vibrant city with plenty to hold your attention. South of the city, the counties Wicklow and Kildare offer green hills, loads of outdoor activities, and some of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland. And just north of Dublin are Meath and Louth counties, which contain magnificent prehistoric ruins.
Touring the southeastern counties
The southeastern counties of Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary offer the famous Waterford Crystal Factory, the bustling harbor town of Wexford, the medieval streets and storybook castle of Kilkenny Town, verdant farmland, the historic Rock of Cashel, and more. Sound good? It is.
Swinging by the southern and southwestern counties
Cork City is a bustling place with terrific restaurants and a healthy arts scene, plus an array of diverse attractions nearby, including a wildlife park and the Blarney Stone. West Cork County offers quaint towns, including Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland, plus stunning cliff, beach, and island scenery.
If the southern counties of Ireland were a high school, County Kerry would be the prom queen. It's long been Ireland's hottest tourist spot, offering awe-inspiring vistas of the sea, cliffs, and green mountains (most commonly viewed on a drive around the Ring of Kerry), plus a number of lively towns and a rich offering of Gaelic culture.
Wandering the western counties
The west of Ireland offers the wonderful city of Galway, with its great restaurants, excellent pubs (including plenty with traditional Irish music), and hot arts scene. Then there's the incredible scenery of the West, including the beaches and sheer Cliffs of Moher in Clare; the wild, mountain-filled landscape of Connemara; the woods, lakes, and beaches of Sligo; and the craggy coastline of Donegal.
Rambling through Northern Ireland
When you cross that invisible border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, the first thing you're likely to notice is that you don't notice anything different. The landscape is as green, and the people are as friendly. Highlights are the rolling Mourne Mountains, the spectacular North Antrim coast, and the hopping cities of Belfast and Derry.
Revealing Ireland's seasons
For those of you lucky enough to have the luxury of traveling whenever you want to, this section presents the highlights and drawbacks of the four seasons.
Summer
The most popular and arguably the best time to tour Ireland is the summer.
Summer is great because
- Ireland is just plain gorgeous during this time of year. Just think of your hotel's high-season rates as a cover charge for the great weather. Temperatures stay comfortably warm and breezy during the day and drop to that perfect light-sweater temperature at night. You'll still get caught in the rain, but it will be a bearable, if not pleasant and refreshing, experience.
- It is the busiest tourist season by far, which can be a good thing. Towns that are lonely during the rest of the year bustle with visitors in summertime.
- Summer is when all attractions are open and offer the longest hours; some attractions (mostly in smaller towns) abbreviate their hours or close completely during the off season.
But keep in mind
- Every major attraction, hotel, and restaurant is likely to be jam-packed. If you'd rather escape crowds, this is not the time to go.
- Lodging prices are at their highest during this time.
Fall
Fall is probably the most underrated time to visit Ireland — days are mild, with not too much rain, and daylight lasts until nearly 9 p.m., which is great for marathon sightseeing.
Fall is great because
- In late September or early October, hotel prices start to drop. Even some restaurants offer menus with lower prices.
- Plenty of people still travel the country during the fall, so Ireland certainly isn't a desolate place. Plus you're more likely to have the chance to hang out with the Irish folks, because they're back from their summer holidays.
Winter
While you might prefer to hightail it down to the warm and sunny Caribbean for your winter vacation, an unabashed Celtophile will claim that although winter is not the ideal time to travel to Ireland, there are still benefits of going in this harsh season.
Winter is great because
- Prices are at their lowest all across the country, and you're likely to find the cheapest fares of the year to get to the country.
- You're liable to have the run of the country. And the landscape is still beautiful — winter doesn't take as hard a toll on Ireland's plants and trees as it does in many areas of North America.
But keep in mind
- Ireland is spared snow, for the most part, and the temperature doesn't dip to extreme lows, but the forecast is often cold, rainy, and windy.
- Lots of places close for the season, including many attractions and some small hotels and B&Bs. If they don't close, attractions often have much shorter hours.
Spring
Many argue that spring is the perfect time to travel in Ireland.
Spring is great because
- The warmer temperatures, flower-filled scenery, and longer days combine to make wonderful circumstances for touring the country.
- The locals are fresh from their own break from tourists and are ready to start playing host.
But keep in mind
- This is the beginning of the high season, so prices go up starting around March, and plenty of people visit during spring, so you won't exactly have the run of the country (though it's not as crowded as in the summer).
- The weather's pretty rainy in the spring, but often, the rain showers last only part of the day, opening up the sky to sun and yes, even rainbows.
- A few attractions are not open yet, and some still have abbreviated hours.
Ireland's climate
Ireland actually has a pretty moderate climate, and it's rare to get a scorching summer day or a bitterly cold winter day.
 | The key to dressing for Ireland is layers, because as the Irish like to say, you often end up getting all four seasons in one day. |
From the true-stereotypes file: It rains often. No matter what time of the year you go, chances are slim that you'll make it back without having an encounter with a shower, so pack a raincoat or umbrella.
Rain falls heavier and more often during certain times of the year — winter especially. Also, certain places on the island see more rain than others. The southwest of the country (Counties Limerick, Clare, and Kerry) tends to get more rain all year round.
Weather and temperature aren't the only factors involved in deciding when to go. The amount of daylight varies greatly from season to season. Ireland is situated at such a high latitude that summer days are blissfully long (sunset as late as 11:00 p.m.), but winter days are short (sunset as early as 4:30 p.m.). Remember, the more daylight there is, the more sights you get to see.
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