11 Things to Do in Dublin in December

There is a lot to Dublin beyond St. Patrick's Day in March. The Irish capital is a hive of events and activities throughout the year. December can be no exception considering the approaching Christmas holidays. Christmas markets, illuminations, fun events, sales... There are many things that will make your stay in Dublin in December something very special.

So you can plan ahead, I have brought you the most interesting events. There's a bit of everything: activities perfect for families, music events, craft fairs, literary initiatives... I'll show you and you choose!

Any time of the year is a good time to visit one of the emblems of Dublin and all Ireland: the Guinness Storehouse. Especially if you visit Dublin in mid-December, when the Other Voices concert takes place, which is a concert featuring some of the emerging and somewhat alternative musicians linked to Irish music. It is not entirely folk, although the references to traditional music are there. In addition, as it could not be otherwise, the visit is accompanied by a good pint.

You can get tickets from 20 €, although I advise you, if you want to go, to book them in advance. It is a very popular event!

If your visit does not coincide with this concert, nothing happens! The Guinness Storehouse remains open with its tours to learn about the brewing process and the history of the company, all accompanied with a good pint! Here's more information on how to visit the Guinness Storehouse.

Dublin in December is brimming with life, thanks mainly to its many markets. There are so many that it is impossible to talk about them without stopping at least a little on what each one offers us. I'll get to it:

• Dublin Castle Christmas Market is one of the must-see. It begins in the first week of December and ends shortly before Christmas Day. There you can enjoy dozens of stalls of traditional products, live carolers and musical workshops and shows for children. And best of all: access is free! And if, after visiting Dublin Castle, you want to explore more of this type of construction that has so much presence in the city, take a look at this article on the best castles in Dublin.
• The Henry Street Christmas Market is another of the most colorful Christmas markets in Dublin. It has the great attraction of being located in the city center, near O'Connell Street. In this market you can browse (and buy) a variety of products: sweets, crafts, clothing, accessories, perfumes ... Everything has a place! In addition, this market begins in early December and ends at the end, so if you visit Dublin in December you are going to find it for sure.
• Dublin Alternative Christmas Market is the option if you are looking for something different. First, because this market is just that, different. There you will find crafts, clothing, gifts, candles ... but from a more alternative approach. The second element that makes it special is that it takes place for only one day. Often this day falls in the middle of the month at the Grand Social, a place where there is literally everything: cocktail bar, concert hall, sports club...
• Wicklow Christmas Market: You also have options of Christmas markets in other smaller towns. There you will have the opportunity to know something more authentic and traditional. In this sense, if you have time, I recommend a trip to this market. Here is the information you will need to go from Dublin to Wicklow.

From December 30 takes place in Dublin the so-called Luminosity, an initiative based on 3D light projections on some of the facades of the most elegant buildings in Dublin. This event takes place in the context of the New Year's Eve celebration, which in Dublin has a very interesting preview full of events. One of them is this one that you can enjoy from 5 pm. The most interesting places to enjoy it are:

• College Green.
• Barnardos Square.
• Wolfe Tone Square.

Naturally, it is totally free to enjoy it. It is a good plan to carry out especially if you travel with the family. In fact, one of these sites, Wolfe Tone Square, also hosts events such as a funfair and skating rinks.

Ireland has given the world a handful of great writers such as Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift... and James Joyce. It is the author of The Ulysses who has identified himself best with Dublin, largely because his novel has the city as its main protagonist. In fact, Dublin pays homage to this work (and its author), as evidenced by events such as Bloom's Day, devoted to recreate throughout the city the most famous scenes of the book.

If you are interested in literature, you can not miss a visit to the James Joyce Center. Especially because in December you can enjoy readings by this essential author. In fact, the James Joyce Center organizes specific readings in the autumn and winter months, which in December are related to Christmas or Christian themes. All in all, if you are passionate about Joyce's work and are fluent in English, it is well worth your time to attend. Besides, it is also a museum! You can get a ticket from 4 €.

By the way, if you want to give your visit to Dublin a very cultural focus, do not hesitate to learn more details about the best monuments in Dublin. In addition, you can visit several of them with the Dublin Pass, a tourist card that could be very convenient for you. Here are more details about the Dublin Pass.

What better time to book a sightseeing bus tour than in December to escape the cold winter. A way to know the city comfortably and at your own pace, since, on the one hand, you can draw your own itinerary with the 25 stops available and, on the other hand, you can choose between a 24 or 48 hours pass.

In addition, you will have an audio guide to not miss any detail of all the places you pass through such as Trinity College, Chesterfield Avenue, College Green, the Guinness Storehouse, The Oscar Wilde Memorial, National Museum of Ireland or St. Stephen's Green.

And if you are looking for a more exclusive experience, you can book a classic bus tour of Dublin with tea to enjoy an afternoon in true English style, or my favorite option, a ghost bus tour of Dublin, where you will live a terrifying adventure of two hours in which you will learn the most terrifying stories of the city with a professional actor who will guide you through the most sinister and haunted places in Dublin.

For an immersion in the colors and flavors of Dublin, nothing better than a visit to the Food Village Festival, which takes place in an unbeatable setting: Dublin Castle. There you can enjoy the traditional food stalls, but also other events such as concerts and spoken word activities totally free.

The Food Village Festival takes place on December 30 and 31 and January 1. The kick-off is at 12 noon.

You can also take the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Book of Kells and Dublin Castle.

The Craft Festival of Ireland takes place in the first week of December and is a great way to get an introduction to Irish folk culture. It involves up to a hundred artisans selling their products; some of them are very reputable, especially in the following:

• Typical products
• Clothing and accessories
• Jewelry
• Ecological products
• Ceramics and glass

This festival takes place at the Royal Dublin Society between 10 am and 10 pm. You can buy your ticket online from autumn or at the entrance. They are available from 10 €.

St. Stephen's Day is celebrated on December 26 in many countries, as the saint was one of the first Christian martyrs. However, it is in the Anglo-Saxon world (especially in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom) that this day is also Boxing Day. Or what is the same: the beginning of the sales.

In Dublin there are different areas and shopping malls for wild shopping. Here are some of the most interesting ones:

• O'Connell Street: One of the arteries of the city. Perfect for shopping while enjoying the atmosphere of the city.
• Grafton Street: One of the busiest shopping and pedestrian streets of the city. It is also perfect to relax with a drink in one of its many cafes.

In these streets you can also have a drink in one of the legendary Irish pubs. Although if this aspect interests you enough to dedicate an experience in itself, here I leave you more information about the best pubs in Dublin.

In countries of Celtic tradition such as Ireland and Scotland, it is traditional to celebrate a torchlight procession at the end of the year. This is intended to recall the Celtic origins of these two nations, both very proud of their cultural heritage.

On December 31, this torchlight parade takes place in Dublin. Hundreds of people gather and march from St Stephen's Green, one of the most spectacular parks in the city. The destination of the march is Dublin Castle, so you will also have the opportunity to tour the city in a most curious context. Just remember the time you have to be in St Stephen's Green: 19:00 hours.

The Wolfe Tone Square is a space that, during the month of December, is filled with events for the pre-Christmas and Christmas season. If you visit Dublin during this month you can't miss the chance to take a Game of Thrones tour of Dublin. The following events take place in this area:

• Amusement park
• Food stalls
• Skating rink

It is a public place so you will not have to pay an entrance fee to enter. Of course, you will have to pay to ride one of the attractions. By the way, if you have time and want more family plans, it is worthwhile to visit places in Dublin that appear in Game of Thrones.

If you want to skate during your stay in Dublin, it's totally possible. If you're looking for something more urban, you can always head to Wolfe Tone Square, but if you want bigger rinks and you're traveling with your family, it might be a great idea to visit the Blanchardstown Centre ice rink.

Why? For two main reasons. The first is that it offers a huge 800 square meter rink. The second is that it offers a rink designed for the little ones. Undoubtedly, a great option to travel with the family. Its opening hours are from 09:00 to 21:00 hours and it is open from mid-November to mid-January.

You can get tickets from 9 €. You must, however, add the price of the bus ticket, since it is not in the center. I advise you to take bus 37 from Usher's Quay (near Temple Bar). The journey takes less than half an hour and tickets are available from 3 €.

December is the rainiest and coldest month in Ireland. Therefore, what you have to carry in your suitcase is clothing that will help you to weather the adverse weather. I recommend the following:

• Raincoat
• High shoes
• Coat
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Scarf

All these items are a must, but I would like to insist that you bring a raincoat or a garment that can cover your head. Remember that many of the December events in Dublin are out doors (for example, the Countdown Concert, the Wolfe Tone Square events...), so you should be well prepared so that the possible rains do not ruin the experience.

The capital of Ireland, in general, is not a city subject to a strong tourist seasonality. The things to see and do in Dublin make it a perfect choice to visit at any time of the year. This does not mean, of course, that there are no peaks of influx, very often dependent on special events (for example, St. Patrick's Day in March). December is one such time, as Dublin, with the pre-Christmas and Christmas season, is full of events.

Therefore, if you travel to Dublin in December you will find a large influx in the streets, although in no case you will encounter the crowds and overcrowding that characterize other cities of mass tourism.

The weather in Dublin in December is rainy and cold. Average minimum temperatures are 5 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures are 10 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you travel to the Irish capital fully bundled up and well stocked to protect yourself from possible rain.