Season guide · Belfast · United Kingdom
Belfast in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Barrykellya, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Calmer streets, autumn colour and the International Arts Festival, turning wet and dark by November. Expect highs up to 17°C (63°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 41 rainy days across September–November. September is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 4°C (39°F) to 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 41
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 17°C (63°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 12 | 12.6 h | 3/5 |
| October | 14°C (57°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 | 10.4 h | 3/5 |
| November | 10°C (50°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 15 | 8.3 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 14°C (57°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 41 of the year's roughly 151 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: European Heritage Open Days (usually September)
- October: Belfast International Arts Festival (usually October)
- October: Halloween events and fireworks (31 October)
- November: Christmas Market in the grounds of City Hall (usually mid-November to late December)
Good choices for autumn
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Market · City Centre
St George's Market
Belfast's last surviving Victorian covered market, built in the 1890s, comes alive from Friday to Sunday with stalls selling local produce, fish, crafts and street food, often with live music.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Historic site · City Centre
Linen Hall Library
Stop at the upstairs café for a quiet cup of tea in the book-lined rooms.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Titanic Quarter
Titanic Belfast
Built on the site of the slipways where the Titanic and her sister Olympic were constructed, this angular, silver-clad building tells the story of the ship and of Belfast's industrial peak across nine interactive galleries, including a ride through a recreated shipyard.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Architecture · City Centre
Belfast City Hall
Tours are free but limited in size; pick up a slot at reception early in the day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Queen's Quarter
Ulster Museum
Northern Ireland's national museum covers art, natural history and local history, with an Egyptian mummy named Takabuti, a dinosaur gallery, treasure from the Spanish Armada ship Girona and a measured gallery on the Troubles.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Art
Day trips in autumn
- Carrickfergus Castle (About 25 minutes by train) — One of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland stands on a rock jutting into Belfast Lough, begun around 1177 by John de Courcy.
- Mourne Mountains and Newcastle (About 1 hour by car or 1 hour 15 minutes by bus) — The seaside town of Newcastle sits below Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest mountain, at the edge of the granite Mournes.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Belfast?
Yes: September is among the best months. Calmer streets, autumn colour and the International Arts Festival, turning wet and dark by November.
+What is the weather like in Belfast in autumn?
Highs of up to 17°C (63°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 41 rainy days over the season.