Best time to visit · Belfast · United Kingdom
The best time to visit Belfast
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0
.JPG){kind=link}
Quick answer
The best time to visit Belfast is May to September, when days are longest, the weather is mildest and day trips to the Causeway Coast are most rewarding. The city's top sights are mostly indoors, so it also works in spring and autumn; late November and December add the City Hall Christmas market.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and August–September
- Shoulder season
- April, July, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 19°C (66°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 8°C (46°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~15 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Belfast has a mild, damp maritime climate with cool summers, mild winters and frequent light rain or drizzle in every season; temperatures rarely fall far below freezing or rise far above 20 °C.
March–May
Spring
Lengthening days, St Patrick's Day celebrations and often dry spells in May, with moderate prices.
June–August
Summer
The longest days and busiest season for tours and festivals; around 12 July some businesses close and parades affect traffic.
September–November
Autumn
Calmer streets, autumn colour and the International Arts Festival, turning wet and dark by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold, wet and short days, offset by the Christmas market, pantomime and the lowest hotel rates in January and February.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C | 2°C | 15 | 7.8 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 8°C | 2°C | 12 | 9.6 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 10°C | 3°C | 13 | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 13°C | 4°C | 11 | 14 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 16°C | 6°C | 11 | 16 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 18°C | 9°C | 10 | 17.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 19°C | 11°C | 12 | 16.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 19°C | 11°C | 12 | 14.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 17°C | 9°C | 12 | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 14°C | 7°C | 14 | 10.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 10°C | 4°C | 15 | 8.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 8°C | 2°C | 14 | 7.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| March | St Patrick's Day parade and celebrations (17 March) |
| April | Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (usually late April to early May) |
| May | Belfast City Marathon (usually early May) |
| July | Eleventh Night bonfires and Twelfth of July parades (11–12 July) |
| August | Féile an Phobail — community arts and music festival in west Belfast (usually August); Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle (usually last Monday and Tuesday of August) |
| September | European Heritage Open Days (usually September) |
| October | Belfast International Arts Festival (usually October); Halloween events and fireworks (31 October) |
| November | Christmas Market in the grounds of City Hall (usually mid-November to late December) |
| December | Christmas Market at City Hall continues (usually until just before Christmas); New Year's Eve celebrations |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Belfast?
The best time to visit Belfast is May to September, when days are longest, the weather is mildest and day trips to the Causeway Coast are most rewarding. The city's top sights are mostly indoors, so it also works in spring and autumn; late November and December add the City Hall Christmas market.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Belfast?
Usually in January–February and November. Cold, wet and dark by about 4:30pm, but the lowest room rates of the year and quiet museums.
+What is the rainiest month in Belfast?
January, with about 15 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Belfast get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 19°C (66°F) and lows of 11°C (52°F).