Month guide · Dublin · Ireland
Dublin in January
What January is really like in Dublin: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: J.-H. Janßen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 8 hours of daylight. Cool, damp and short on daylight, but hotel prices are among the lowest of the year and the pubs are at their cosiest.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 9°C (48°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Dublin: days average 8°C (46°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 December (8°C (46°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:32
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:36
- Daylight
- About 8 hours
- Sea
- 9°C (48°F)
Winter (December–February). Short, damp days, Christmas lights and markets, Six Nations rugby and cosy pubs at lower prices outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Temple Bar TradFest — traditional music festival (usually late January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Trinity College
Trinity College and the Book of Kells
The cobbled campus itself is free to walk through; come early or late in the day, when Front Square is quiet.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · The Liberties
Guinness Storehouse
A seven-storey former fermentation building at the St James's Gate brewery, shaped inside like a giant pint glass, tells the story of Guinness from Arthur Guinness's 9,000-year lease of 1759 to its famous advertising.
- Time needed
- 2–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Food
Historic site · Kilmainham
Kilmainham Gaol
Combine it with the Irish Museum of Modern Art in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, about a 10-minute walk away.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Kildare Street
National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Ireland's archaeology museum on Kildare Street displays Bronze Age gold, the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, Viking finds from Dublin and the 'Kingship and Sacrifice' gallery of Iron Age bog bodies preserved in peat.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 8°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 January a good time to visit Dublin?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Dublin in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Dublin?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool, damp and short on daylight, but hotel prices are among the lowest of the year and the pubs are at their cosiest.
+How warm is Dublin in January?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Dublin in January?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.