Christmas in Ireland is quieter, warmer and more personal than the big-city version many American visitors expect. Towns light up from the middle of November, Christmas markets open from Belfast to Waterford, and the pubs fill with music and people home for the holidays. Then, on Christmas Day itself, almost everything stops, which is exactly the point.
This guide covers how Ireland and Northern Ireland celebrate, the markets and events worth planning around, what is open and closed over the holidays, and how to build a festive trip from the US.
When does Christmas start in Ireland?
The season builds from mid-November, when most of the big Christmas markets open and the lights go on in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway. The 8th of December was traditionally the day country families came to town for their Christmas shopping, and it still marks the start of the busiest weeks. The holidays run right through to the 6th of January, Nollaig na mBan, known in English as Women’s Christmas.
The best Christmas markets in Ireland and Northern Ireland
Belfast Christmas Market, Northern Ireland. Held in the grounds of Belfast City Hall, this is one of the biggest markets on the island, with food and craft stalls from across Europe as well as local producers. It usually runs from mid-November until just before Christmas.
Winterval, Waterford. Ireland’s largest Christmas festival takes over the Viking Triangle in Waterford, the country’s oldest city, with a market, an ice rink, light shows and a Ferris wheel. Waterford is European City of Christmas in 2026. Read our full Winterval guide.
Galway Continental Christmas Market. Eyre Square becomes a small Christmas village with wooden chalets, a big wheel and plenty of mulled wine, in a city already known for its live music.
Dublin. Dublin’s markets are smaller and change from year to year, but the city itself is the draw: the lights on Grafton Street and Henry Street, carol singers on the streets, and Christmas concerts in the cathedrals.
Cork. Glow, Cork’s Christmas festival, fills the city center with lights, a market and a Ferris wheel through December.
Market dates are confirmed each autumn. We check them when we build your itinerary.
Irish Christmas traditions worth knowing
- The candle in the window. Many homes still place a lit candle in the front window on Christmas Eve, a sign of welcome to travelers and strangers.
- Midnight Mass. Christmas Eve services in cathedrals and village churches are a highlight even for visitors who are not religious.
- The Christmas swim. On Christmas morning, hundreds of people plunge into the sea, most famously at the Forty Foot in Sandycove, south of Dublin, usually raising money for charity.
- St Stephen’s Day and the Wren Boys. On the 26th, Wren Day is still celebrated in parts of the country, especially Dingle in County Kerry, with costumed groups parading through town with music and drums. It is also a big day for horse racing, with the Leopardstown Christmas Festival starting on the 26th.
- Women’s Christmas. On the 6th of January, women traditionally take the day off and go out together while the men take over at home.
The winter solstice at Newgrange
At dawn on the shortest days of the year, sunlight shines through a roof box above the entrance of the 5,000-year-old passage tomb at Newgrange in County Meath and lights up the inner chamber. Places inside the chamber are allocated by a free lottery each year, but the visitor center and the tomb are open through the winter, and a visit around the solstice is a remarkable way to start a festive trip.
What is open over Christmas in Ireland?
Plan around the 25th and 26th. On Christmas Day, almost all shops, attractions and pubs close, and public transport largely stops. Hotels stay open, and most offer a full Christmas lunch for guests. On St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day in Northern Ireland), some attractions and many pubs reopen, and the sales begin. Between Christmas and New Year, most places run normal or slightly shorter hours.
This is one reason why a private driver and a hotel with a Christmas program make the holidays far easier for visitors.
What is the weather like in Ireland at Christmas?
Expect mild, damp weather, usually between 3°C and 8°C (37°F to 46°F), with rain more likely than snow. Daylight is short: in Dublin the sun rises after 8.30am and sets around 4.10pm. Pack layers, a waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for wet streets, and plan indoor stops for the afternoons.
A sample 7-night Christmas in Ireland itinerary
- Days 1 and 2: Dublin. Arrive in time for the lights, Christmas concerts and the city’s pubs. Visit Newgrange in the Boyne Valley if your dates are close to the solstice.
- Days 3 and 4: Belfast, Northern Ireland. The City Hall Christmas Market, the Titanic Quarter, and a day trip along the Causeway Coast.
- Day 5: Kilkenny. A medieval city and its castle, quiet and atmospheric in December.
- Days 6 and 7: Waterford for Winterval. The market, the Viking Triangle and the House of Waterford Crystal.
- Day 8: Depart from Dublin.
If you plan to stay over Christmas Day itself, we will base you in a hotel with a full Christmas program so the 25th is a relaxing day rather than a closed one.
Plan your Christmas trip with Great British Trips
Christmas is a short season and the best hotels fill early, especially around Winterval weekends and Christmas week. Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and what you would like to see, and we will build a tailor-made Christmas itinerary across Ireland and Northern Ireland around it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ireland worth visiting at Christmas?
Yes, if you want atmosphere rather than sunshine. The towns are lit up, the markets are open, the pubs are at their liveliest, and the major sights are far quieter than in summer.
What are the best Christmas markets in Ireland?
The biggest are the Belfast Christmas Market at City Hall in Northern Ireland, Winterval in Waterford, the Galway Continental Christmas Market in Eyre Square and Glow in Cork. Most run from mid-November until just before Christmas.
Is everything closed on Christmas Day in Ireland?
Almost everything except hotels. Shops, pubs, attractions and most public transport close on the 25th. Many reopen on the 26th, St Stephen’s Day.
Does it snow in Ireland at Christmas?
Rarely. A white Christmas is unusual, and the weather is more likely to be mild and wet, with temperatures a few degrees above freezing.
What do people eat for Christmas in Ireland?
Christmas dinner is usually turkey and ham with roast potatoes and vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding, Christmas cake or trifle. Mince pies and mulled wine are everywhere in December.
When should I book a Christmas trip to Ireland?
As early as possible. Hotels in Dublin, Belfast and Waterford fill quickly for December weekends, and Christmas week packages sell out first. We recommend booking by the end of the summer before you travel.