Ireland itinerary — December 2026
For the Ireland trip (Dublin & Galway), December 2026 is one of the less comfortable months by weather. Daytime highs sit around 9°C / 48°F across the route. Plan around 5–7 days for the full Dublin & Galway loop.
In this order — about 5–7 days:
- Dublin3 nights
- Galway2 nights
- Route noteReserve the longest intercity leg first and keep transfer days free of timed sights.
By TripSapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Dublin
Dublin in December
TempTemperature
47°F / 37°F
8.5°C / 2.6°C
RainPrecipitation
13d
3in · 75mm
LightDaylight
7.3h
Sea
49.1°F
9.5°C
December is wet and festive, with Grafton Street lights, pub sessions, and short daylight shaping plans.
City overview
Dublin sits on the River Liffey where Georgian squares, Viking-medieval lanes, literary pubs, Trinity College, the Liberties, Temple Bar, Smithfield, and St Stephen's Green make a compact city-center route. The city works best on foot, with DART coastal trains and Luas trams extending the map to Howth, Dun Laoghaire, and the docklands.
Food & drink
Dublin food is pub, market, and coast-fed: a full Irish breakfast plates sausage, bacon, eggs, pudding, beans, and tomato, Irish stew slow-cooks lamb or mutton with potatoes, seafood chowder uses Atlantic shellfish, and boxty turns potato into pancakes. The Brazen Head, Moore Street, George's Street Arcade, Temple Bar Food Market, Capel Street, and Howth seafood stops add soda bread, fish and chips, oysters, and Guinness pours.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Dublin Christmas Festival
A month-long celebration featuring Christmas markets, festive lights, street performances, and seasonal activities across Dublin city center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1
- Dec 1 – Jan 1
- Dec 2
- Dec 2 – Dec 31
- Dec 2
Show all 40 events for December
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 3 – Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5 – Dec 15
Dublin Winter Lights Festival
An outdoor festival featuring spectacular light installations and projections illuminating key landmarks around Dublin.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 7 – Dec 8
- Dec 7
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 24
Christmas at the National Concert Hall
A series of festive concerts including classical, choral, and traditional Irish music performances celebrating the Christmas season.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 12 – Dec 23
Christmas at Dublin Castle
Seasonal events and exhibitions held within Dublin Castle, including historical tours with a festive theme and special family activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 13
- Dec 14
- Dec 15
- Dec 15
- Dec 16
- Dec 17
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 19 – Jan 1
- Dec 20
- Dec 28
- Dec 28
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26St. Stephen's DayBank holiday
- Dec 28St. Stephen's Day (substitute day)Bank holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Kilmainham Gaol
- 2National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- 3Christ Church Cathedral
- 4St Patrick's Cathedral
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Temple Bar
- 7Phoenix Park
- 8Trinity College and Book of Kells
- 9Guinness Storehouse
- 10Dublin Castle
1Kilmainham Gaol
4.7★ · 2,817indoorOpen dailyThe jail opened in 1796 and is tied to Irish nationalist prisoners, the 1916 Rising executions, and penal history. It is west of the center near the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
WikipediaGuided tours sell out well ahead; book online as soon as dates open.
2National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
4.6★ · 14,861indoorOpen dailyThe Kildare Street museum displays the Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch, bog bodies, Viking finds, goldwork, and medieval objects. It is beside Leinster House and Merrion Square.
Wikipedia
3Christ Church Cathedral
4.5★ · 11,634indoorOpen dailyThe cathedral was founded around 1030 and rebuilt in stone under the Anglo-Normans, with a crypt, tiles, and medieval city history. It stands near Dublinia and Wood Quay.
Show 7 more sights
- 4St Patrick's Cathedral
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Temple Bar
- 7Phoenix Park
- 8Trinity College and Book of Kells
- 9Guinness Storehouse
- 10Dublin Castle
Neighborhoods
1Temple Bar and College Green
Temple Bar and College Green are central and busy, with pubs, Trinity College, the Irish Whiskey Museum, cobbles, buskers, and river crossings.
2St Stephen's Green and Grafton Street
The southside shopping-and-park district has Grafton Street, Georgian doors, Iveagh Gardens, Little Museum of Dublin, and Merrion Square nearby.
3The Liberties
The Liberties is old and working-class, with Guinness, whiskey distilleries, St Patrick's Cathedral, Francis Street antiques, Thomas Street, and market streets.
4Smithfield and Stoneybatter
Smithfield and Stoneybatter mix the Jameson Bow St. distillery, Lighthouse Cinema, cafes, pubs, apartments, and quick access to Phoenix Park.
5Docklands and Grand Canal Dock
The Docklands feel newer, with EPIC, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, tech offices, canals, and riverfront walks.
6Rathmines and Portobello
Rathmines and Portobello are local and food-heavy, with canals, cinemas, pubs, brunch spots, and red-brick residential streets south of the core.
Getting around
Dublin Bus, Luas trams, DART coastal rail, commuter rail, and Leap cards cover the useful visitor network. Walk the center, use Luas for Heuston-Smithfield-Docklands, and use DART for Howth, Malahide, and Dun Laoghaire.
Galway
Galway in December
TempTemperature
47°F / 39°F
8.5°C / 4°C
RainPrecipitation
20d
4.2in · 106.2mm
LightDaylight
7.9h
Sea
46.6°F
8.1°C
Holiday lights and pub culture work, but day trips need serious weather flexibility.
City overview
Galway is Ireland's Atlantic city of Latin Quarter streets, trad-music pubs, university energy, harbor walks, festivals, and day trips into Connemara, the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher. Weather changes quickly in every month, so the best pages need rain-aware plans, festival timing, and realistic day-trip buffers.
Food & drink
Galway is strong on seafood, oysters, pub food, bakeries, modern Irish restaurants, and late-night casual eating around Quay Street and the West End. Autumn brings oyster demand, while summer festival periods make small central dining rooms fill quickly.
Events & festivals
- Dec 2
- Dec 4
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 15
Show all 11 events for December
- Dec 16
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 29
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26St. Stephen's DayBank holiday
- Dec 28St. Stephen's Day (substitute day)Bank holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Traditional Music Pubs
- 2Galway Cathedral
- 3St Nicholas Collegiate Church
- 4Eyre Square
- 5Salthill Promenade
- 6Latin Quarter & Quay Street
- 7Galway Arts Festival Venues
- 8Spanish Arch & Galway City Museum
1Traditional Music Pubs
4.7★ · 2,591indoorOpen dailyNightly music around the Latin Quarter and West End, with the best sessions requiring patience and respectful listening.
2Galway Cathedral
4.6★ · 6,339indoorOpen dailyLarge mid-20th-century cathedral with dome, stone interior, and riverside approach.
Wikipedia
3St Nicholas Collegiate Church
4.6★ · 716indoorOpen dailyMedieval church in the old core, tied to the city's merchant history and market streets.
Show 5 more sights
- 4Eyre Square
- 5Salthill Promenade
- 6Latin Quarter & Quay Street
- 7Galway Arts Festival Venues
- 8Spanish Arch & Galway City Museum
Neighborhoods
1Latin Quarter
Tourist core for pubs, music, restaurants, shops, and late-night energy.
2West End
Restaurants, bars, music pubs, and a more local evening scene across the Corrib.
3Salthill
Seafront promenade, hotels, cafes, swimming spots, and Galway Bay views.
4Eyre Square
Transport-linked central base with hotels, shops, and the quickest route into the old streets.
5Claddagh
Historic fishing-village area at the river mouth, good for harbor walks and sunset views.
6University / Newcastle
Student energy, canal walks, hospital area, and quieter stays west of the Corrib.
Getting around
Central Galway is walkable, with rail and bus arrivals beside Eyre Square. Use buses, tours, ferries, or a car for Connemara, the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher; leave slack for wind, rain, and ferry or road delays.
Planning the Ireland route?
Add your dates and we'll pace all 2 cities — every place checked for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Weather by month for the Ireland trip
In December, the Ireland trip runs daytime highs near 9°C / 48°F, with nights down to about 3°C / 37°F at the coolest stop. Climate averages show about 19 rainy days at the rainiest stop. Weighed across both stops, December is one of the less comfortable months by weather.
The most comfortable months across Dublin & Galway are July, June and August, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at every stop. December 2026 is a lower-comfort month.
Common questions about the Ireland trip
- When is the best time to do the Ireland trip?
- The most comfortable months across Dublin, Galway are July, June and August, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at each stop. December is one of the less comfortable months by weather — see the per-stop weather below for the climate averages in December 2026.
- How many days do you need for the Ireland trip?
- A comfortable Ireland trip runs about 5–7 days, allowing roughly Dublin 3, Galway 2 nights plus travel between stops. Add a day if you want a slower pace or extra day trips.
- What's the route for the Ireland trip?
- The classic order is Dublin & Galway. Each city below has its own December weather, any available event listings, and a top-sights list.
Ready to plan the Ireland trip?
Turn this route into a day-by-day plan for December 2026, every stop checked for closures and booking needs on your exact dates.