10 Things to Do in Dublin in the Summer

The summer months are the busiest months for tourists in Dublin. The good temperatures attract thousands of visitors to the Irish capital and queues are more common in its main monuments and tourist attractions. Therefore it is advisable to know what are the best plans, away from the usual things to do in Dublin, in the summer months.

These plans include visiting some of the parks of the city, where there are endless activities to do, tours and excursions around Dublin and the outskirts to escape the hustle and bustle or just enjoy the good weather on a terrace with a cold beer. But Ireland is still Ireland. Rain also tends to appear in summer and you have to be prepared for it.

Dublin is full of parks and green spaces ideal for summer days. Saint Stephen's Green is one of the most worth visiting because of its beautiful park and its good location, right in the center of the city, at the end of the popular Grafton Street.

The park was made with a strong Victorian style and has areas of lush trees that provide good shade, several fountains and monuments and meadows where you can picnic. The latter is one of the favorite activities of Dubliners in the summer months when the weather is nice.

It is undoubtedly one of the best parks to visit and spend a very pleasant time in the fresh air accompanied by a beautiful environment and a snack.

Having a beer in the pubs of Temple Bar is a classic of Dublin throughout the year. But only in summer we can do it in the terraces that some of them install.

During the rest of the year, the rains and the cold make it impossible to enjoy a good Irish beer outdoors and therefore the pubs take advantage of the good temperatures to set up some terraces.

If you want to know which are the best pubs in Dublin you can do it by clicking on this link. Another alternative is to visit the Guinness factory and collect your reward in the form of beer in the bar with panoramic views of the city. There are few better plans for the summer.

If Dublin is too small for you in summer, you can always do some of the hundreds of excursions that leave from Dublin city.

One of the most recommended in summer is to go to the Cliffs of Moher. This landscape is one of the most beautiful in Ireland and therefore one of the most visited especially in summer when temperatures are good.

These cliffs are located more than 200 kilometers from the capital, but from Dublin day trips are organized to visit them and other places like Galway.

If you have a day to spare in Dublin, I highly recommend that you take this excursion to see one of the most beautiful places in Ireland.

Not every activity we do in the summer has to be outdoors. Although it's not the norm, one day it may get really hot or, more likely, rain may make an appearance. For those days it is always a good idea to have a plan to take shelter.

In that case Dublin offers several alternatives. Starting with its many museums or places like Trinity College and its library. There are also several distilleries that can be visited, the two cathedrals of the city or hire a guided tour of the Book of Kells and around Dublin Castle.

It is true that bathing on the beaches near Dublin is something only suitable for the brave, even in summer. Although the water temperature is cold, the clear summer days are perfect to book a tour and spend the day at the beach.

Dublin has no beach as such but near the city there are several worth visiting. The Velvet Strand in Portmanock, Dollymount Strand Beach, Burrow Beach, Balcarrickla, White Rock in Killiney or Inch Beach in Kerry, are some of the most beautiful in a radius of less than 30 kilometers from the center of Dublin.

If you are not a friend of cold baths, these beaches are also perfect for walking, playing sports or simply enjoying the beauty of the landscape.

The Liffey River crosses Dublin from west to east and divides the city in two. Around this river grew the city and on its banks are some of the most interesting points of the city. In summer and especially on clear days one of the best activities we can do to enjoy Dublin is to kayak along the river.

There are several companies on the banks of the Liffey that offer this opportunity with a guided tour in which you will discover a different perspective of the city while enjoying a pleasant kayak ride suitable for everyone, as you do not need to have practiced this activity before.

Boat tours on the Liffey River are very common especially in summer, when the weather is more pleasant. There is the option of hiring a sightseeing cruise to navigate the river with a guide, but there are also other options for cruises a little different.

The history of Dublin in its origins is linked to the Vikings, and there is a special tour whose particularity is that of Viking theme. Although you will not go on an authentic Viking ship, you will sail on a boat accompanied by guides dressed as genuine Vikings and who will try to immerse you fully in the visit from the perspective of this culture. A whole experience with the Viking culture as the central axis.

Another of the essential parks to visit in Dublin in summer is the Phoenix Park. Almost as big as the city itself, more than 700 hectares, this park has the recognition of being the largest urban park in Europe. It can be said that it is more like a forest than a park.

The particularity of Phoenix Park, and what makes it unique, is that it is home to dozens of deer, which can be approached and even fed. Given its vast extension, it is advisable to have several hours to see it quietly and even rent a bicycle.

Inside the park there are also some monuments and even a zoo, which makes it one of the best destinations in summer.

One of the main charms of Dublin lies in its multicultural and tolerant atmosphere. That is why the Pride festivities at the end of June are one of the events of the year in the city. Since summer is festival season, these festivals are used to celebrate the first ones, in addition to numerous events with Pride at the center.

Beyond the typical parades and parades, the city takes the opportunity to hold concerts, lectures, exhibitions and countless activities. In the Temple Bar district, the pubs are also decked out for the occasion and the festive atmosphere is noticeable throughout Dublin.

The last park on this list and also a good summer destination is Corkagh Park. It is located in the west of the city about 15 minutes from the center by public transport. The difference with other parks in Dublin is that this park is focused on family activities and sports.

If you travel with children to Dublin you can visit the fairy forest within the park itself and complete your visit with a picnic or a bike ride. There are numerous sports courts, the river that crosses it and even fishing areas. For all that it offers, it has become a very popular place in summer.

The high season in Dublin is from the end of May to the end of September. In those months is when there is the highest concentration of tourists in the capital of Ireland and when there are more difficulties to find hotels or get around the queues at the main monuments. But it is far from being overwhelming as tourism in Dublin is quite restrained.

As for prices, the basic rule of the higher the demand, the higher the prices go up. In summer, especially in the months of July and August, airline tickets are more expensive and accommodation prices rise slightly. Although there is no great difference with respect to other months.

The summer in Dublin is quite mild and pleasant. The average temperatures range between 10º and 20º degrees with July being the warmest month, but by no means is it a hot month by any means. The humidity is very present in Dublin which makes the thermal sensation is lower than the real temperature.

July is also the month with the clearest skies. But Ireland does not lose its essence even in summer and rain is also practically inevitable. Although summer is the driest season, the probability of rain is about 25% on average.

Do not think that because it is summer you should pack your luggage as if you were going to a Mediterranean beach. In Dublin the summer is different and in your luggage the umbrella and flip flops have to leave room for other things:

• The clothes you have to bring are light clothes and some warm clothes as the temperature is pleasant but cool. Bermuda shorts and summer t-shirts are not the protagonists.
• Take some sweaters or warmer clothes especially for the evenings.
• There may be especially sunny days, so just in case you want to go to one of the beaches near Dublin, bring your swimsuit.
• An umbrella or raincoat is still a must.
• Dublin is mainly on foot, so the shoes you take with you should be mainly comfortable.