Month guide · Belfast · United Kingdom
Belfast in January
What January is really like in Belfast: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: GFoxGOH, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 7.8 hours of daylight. Cold, wet and dark by about 4:30pm, but the lowest room rates of the year and quiet museums.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 7.8 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 10th-warmest month in Belfast: days average 8°C (46°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 31 days. Compared with December (8°C (46°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:37
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:29
- Daylight
- About 7.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, wet and short days, offset by the Christmas market, pantomime and the lowest hotel rates in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Belfast, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Titanic Quarter
Titanic Belfast
Leave time to walk the slipways outside and look up at the Samson and Goliath cranes of the Harland & Wolff yard.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Architecture · City Centre
Belfast City Hall
The Portland-stone, copper-domed City Hall opened in 1906 and dominates Donegall Square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Queen's Quarter
Ulster Museum
Pair it with a walk through the Botanic Gardens, whose gates are right beside the museum.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Art
Historic site · North Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol
This Victorian prison held suffragettes, Republican and Loyalist prisoners until it closed in 1996.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 8°C, lows near 2°C and 15 wet days: 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.
Is January a good time to visit Belfast?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, May–June and August–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Belfast in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Belfast?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, wet and dark by about 4:30pm, but the lowest room rates of the year and quiet museums.
+How warm is Belfast in January?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Belfast in January?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.