Month guide · Belfast · United Kingdom
Belfast in March
What March is really like in Belfast: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertpaulyoung/, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 11.7 hours of daylight. Changeable spring weather; the city fills up around St Patrick's Day.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 11.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Belfast: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 13 of its 31 days. Compared with February (8°C (46°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:39
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:27
- Daylight
- About 11.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Lengthening days, St Patrick's Day celebrations and often dry spells in May, with moderate prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in March
- St Patrick's Day parade and celebrations (17 March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Neighbourhood · Cathedral Quarter
Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral
Come back after dark, when traditional music sessions start in several of the pubs.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Food
- History
Nature · North Belfast
Cave Hill and Belfast Castle
Cave Hill rises about 370 metres above north Belfast; its basalt cliff, Napoleon's Nose, is said to have inspired Jonathan Swift's sleeping giant in Gulliver's Travels.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Zoo · North Belfast
Belfast Zoo
The site is very hilly; bring a sturdy pushchair or a carrier for small children.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Architecture · City Centre
Grand Opera House
Frank Matcham's 1895 theatre on Great Victoria Street has an exuberant gilded, oriental-style auditorium and survived several bombings during the Troubles.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours for a show
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- After dark
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 3°C and 13 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Belfast?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and August–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Belfast in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Belfast?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Changeable spring weather; the city fills up around St Patrick's Day.
+How warm is Belfast in March?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Belfast in March?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.