December in Dublin averages highs of 10 °C (49 °F) and lows of 5 °C (41 °F), with about 12 rainy days and 7 h 31 min of daylight.
December weather in Dublin at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is December a good time to visit Dublin?
Tough month: cold and wet. December is usually low season in Dublin: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in December 2026
- Fri 25 Dec: Christmas Day (Lá Nollag) public holiday
- Sat 26 Dec: St. Stephen's Day (Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Dublin in December
With frequent rain in December, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Trinity College and the Book of Kells — timed tickets indoors
- Guinness Storehouse indoors
- Kilmainham Gaol — book well ahead indoors
- Traditional music pubs indoors
- St Stephen's Green and Grafton Street outdoors
- Howth cliff walk — 30 min by DART outdoors
Where to stay: Around Temple Bar and St Stephen's Green to walk everywhere; Smithfield or Portobello for better value.
What to pack for Dublin in December
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around 5 °C (41 °F).
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 12 days this month see real rain.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Dublin costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €70–160 | €200–400 |
Excluding flights. December is usually low season in Dublin: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
December in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 8° / 3° | 12 | Tough month |
| London | 9° / 4° | 10 | Tough month |
| Amsterdam | 8° / 4° | 12 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Dublin?
By the numbers, December is a tough month: cold and wet, with average highs of 10 °C (49 °F) and about 12 rainy days. December is usually low season in Dublin: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are August.
How warm is Dublin in December?
Average highs are 10 °C (49 °F) and lows 5 °C (41 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Dublin in December?
Expect about 12 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 95 mm in total. It is the wettest month of the year in Dublin.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.