Season guide · Belfast · United Kingdom
Belfast in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Man vyi, Public domain
Quick answer
Lengthening days, St Patrick's Day celebrations and often dry spells in May, with moderate prices. Expect highs up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), with about 35 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 3°C (37°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 35
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 10°C (50°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 13 | 11.7 h | 3/5 |
| April | 13°C (55°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 11 | 14 h | 3/5 |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 11 | 16 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 35 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 spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- 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)
Good choices for spring
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
Historic site · North Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol
Tours are guided and can sell out on weekends; buy tickets online before you go.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
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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
Day trips in spring
- Giant's Causeway and the Causeway Coast (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — Some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns step into the sea at the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Ulster Folk and Transport Museums (About 15 minutes by train) — At Cultra, an open-air museum of rebuilt cottages, farms, shops and a whole Edwardian town recreates rural and small-town life in Ulster, with costumed guides.
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 spring a good time to visit Belfast?
Yes: May is among the best months. Lengthening days, St Patrick's Day celebrations and often dry spells in May, with moderate prices.
+What is the weather like in Belfast in spring?
Highs of up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), with about 35 rainy days over the season.