Month guide · Belfast · United Kingdom
Belfast in October
What October is really like in Belfast: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
October is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Autumn colour on Cave Hill and in the parks; wetter and windier as the month goes on.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in October
October is the 6th-warmest month in Belfast: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with September (17°C (63°F)), October is cooler; by November highs drop to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 07:52
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:26
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
Autumn (September–November). Calmer streets, autumn colour and the International Arts Festival, turning wet and dark by November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October 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 October
- Belfast International Arts Festival (usually October)
- Halloween events and fireworks (31 October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Architecture · East Belfast
Stormont Estate
Take the Glider G1 east to the end of the line, then walk up the Prince of Wales Avenue for the classic view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- History
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 7°C and 14 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Belfast?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events 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 October a good time to visit Belfast?
It is a shoulder-season month. Autumn colour on Cave Hill and in the parks; wetter and windier as the month goes on.
+How warm is Belfast in October?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Belfast in October?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.