10 Things to Do in Dublin in the Winter

Winter in Dublin is not as harsh as it may seem and in those months there are certain particularities that make it an interesting time to visit the city. In this post I am going to give you 10 arguments, with 10 things to see and do in Dublin that will make you realise that it is worth visiting Dublin in winter.

Irish pubs become the perfect refuge from the cold and there is a great variety of festivals and activities that only take place in the winter months. All this with the added bonus that it's low tourist season, prices are lower and the city is much quieter. Here are the best things to do in Dublin in winter.

Irish cuisine is very much focused on hearty, hot dishes to combat the cold weather and booking a food tour is always a good plan. The best thing to do on a wintry day in Dublin is to start the day with a typical Irish breakfast.

The ingredients of this full breakfast are bacon, fried eggs, tomatoes, fried mushrooms, beans with tomato sauce, toast, and sausages. A unique and unmissable Irish winter dining experience.

It is usually accompanied by an Irish coffee. This is no ordinary coffee, as it is a mixture of Irish whiskey, sugar and coffee topped with cream, specially designed to combat the cold. Most cafes and restaurants in the city serve this perfect dish to start a day in Dublin in winter.

Visiting Dublin's distilleries and the Guinness Storehouse is recommended all year round but especially in winter. Firstly because it's a good way to keep out the cold and secondly because Irish whiskey and beer, in their proper measure, are ideal for warming up.

Booking a visit to the Jameson distillery is an excellent way to warm up because not only will you get a tour of the facilities, but you'll also be able to taste their products.

The Guinness Storehouse offers a very interesting experience, with a tour of the Guinness Storehouse where you'll learn about the history of the brand and the brewing process, topped off with a Guinness tasting in the Gravity bar with panoramic views of the city.

After a wintry day in Dublin, the best thing you can do to take the chill off is to visit the city's legendary Irish pubs. Their atmosphere, music and drinks are sure to captivate you and take your mind off the cold and damp. Pubs are also good places to sample the local cuisine.

If you want to know which are the best pubs in Dublin just click on this link where you will discover the 10 best pubs in the city of Dublin. Most of them are in the Temple Bar area.

Tradfest is the traditional Irish music festival par excellence. It takes place every year at the end of January and turns the streets of Dublin into a giant concert hall.

On the days of the festival, the pubs fill with concerts of Irish folk and traditional music, the streets fill with buskers and even places like St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College host performances.

The history of Ireland and Dublin are closely linked to music, so the Tradfest festival or attending a traditional music and dance performance is a unique opportunity to get to know the city through one of the hallmarks of the country's culture.

Christmas is Dublin's main winter festival. In the Irish capital it is experienced with special joy and there are a wide variety of activities unique to this time of year. Beyond the typical Christmas markets or the Christmas lights, which attract thousands of visitors and which you can enjoy on a guided tour of Dublin, there are other special attractions and activities.

One of the biggest traditions linked to Christmas in Dublin is to celebrate the arrival of Father Christmas with a dip in the cold waters of Forty Foot, Guillamene Cove or the salt water pool at Portnahapple in Portstewart.

But if cold water dips aren't your thing, Boxing Day is also celebrated on 26 December. On this special day, charity events and markets are held to help the less fortunate. It's quite an experience to experience Christmas as they do in Dublin.

New Year's Eve in Dublin deserves a special mention, as the Irish capital celebrates the start of a new year with a three-day festival.

These include the New Year's Eve Procession of Light, a torchlight procession that ends at Dublin Castle, the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment, a light show over the sky, and several other festivities unique to these days.

Culture and art also take centre stage in the final days of the year and through the Love Dublin programme there are special tours and exhibitions. There is also the Discovery Trail which offers tourists the opportunity to see the top 20 tourist attractions on a special tour. As you can see, Dublin likes to say goodbye to the year in style.

Winter sees the biggest sales periods of the year. Black Friday at the end of November or the Christmas and post-Christmas sales encourage locals and tourists alike to take a stroll around the shops. In Dublin, Grafton Street becomes the hub of shopping in winter.

This pedestrianised street, located right in the centre, is Dublin's main thoroughfare and is home to the best shops with the best brands and all kinds of businesses. Shopping on Grafton Street is a favourite activity for Dubliners and a very attractive option for those travelling to the city in winter.

One of the most characteristic things about Ireland is its green and beautiful landscapes. In the area around Dublin you can also enjoy them and it's not just because it's winter that it's a bad thing.

In fact, since winter is less rainy than other seasons and the greenery is more present , it is a good time to enjoy nature. All you need is a good coat.

Near Dublin there are many hiking trails in the nearby mountains and parks such as the Phoenix, which is home to deer and is the largest urban park in Europe. From Dublin it is also possible to book day trips to visit spectacular scenery such as the Cliffs of Moher near Galway.

There are days when fighting the cold and wet is tougher and more difficult. On those days it's best to take shelter in the sights under cover.

Apart from the distilleries and the Guinness Storehouse, some of Dublin's best sights are:

• Historic Kilmainham Gaol, Europe's largest disused prison.
• Trinity College, one of the most prestigious universities in Europe and one of the most beautiful libraries you can see.

The city's museums are also highly recommended for this mission. The National Museum of Archaeology, the Museum of Decorative Arts and History or the Museum of Modern Art are some examples of what you can find in Dublin. Many of them also have free admission or are included in the always recommended Dublin All-Inclusive Pass - book in advance and don't worry!

Ireland's landscapes were the backdrop for much of the famous Game of Thrones series. Although Dublin is not where the series was filmed, the city is the starting point for a number of tours of the landscapes and scenery featured in the Game of Thrones series.

Scenery such as Tollymore Forest Park, where the soldiers of the Night's Watch rest, Inch Abbey where several episodes of the first season were filmed, and Ward's Castle, which serves as a wintering ground.

These and other scenery can be visited on a same-day round trip from Dublin - what better way to experience winter than as it was in the great Game of Thrones saga?

Winter in Dublin is milder than its geographical location might suggest. From December to February average temperatures range from 2-8 degrees Celsius and frost and heavy snowfall are rare. The main drawback is the humidity, which makes the wind chill much colder than the thermometers would suggest.

On the plus side, the winter months are much less rainy than the summer and other seasons. As you can see, Dublin's winter is much milder than you might think.

Cold weather is always a barrier to travel for many people. In Dublin this is noticeable and the winter months are the months with the least amount of tourists. With the exception of the Christmas season, which is a particularly exciting time in Ireland's capital city.

The low number of tourists means that there are no long queues at the tourist sites and the demand for hotels and their prices are lower.

During the winter, Christmas is when the situation is reversed and hotel prices and occupancy rates rise somewhat, although they do not reach the figures achieved in summer.

The cold weather will be the main conditioning factor when it comes to packing your luggage for your trip to Dublin. The essential items that you should pack in your suitcase are:

• A good coat is the best ally in the Irish winter. With good forage and above all waterproof material.
• In addition to winter clothing, accessories such as a hat, scarf or gloves are a must, as they are good tools against the damp.
• Even if the winter months are not the wettest, an umbrella or a mackintosh is a must in your suitcase.
• A good pair of waterproof, comfortable shoes is also highly recommended as you'll be walking most of the city.