Dublin Ireland
Things to do in Dublin in December 2026
By Tripnostic Research · Updated June 3, 2026
For Dublin in December 2026, build the day around dated events, seasonal conditions, venue hours, and booking windows. Dated picks to verify first include Dublin Christmas Festival and Dublin Winter Lights Festival. Check the event list and public holidays below before assigning fixed dates.
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Dublin in December 2026
Weather
Temperature
47°F / 37°F
8.5°C / 2.6°C
Precipitation
13d
3in · 75mm
Daylight
7.3h
Sea
49.1°F
9.5°C
December is wet and festive, with Grafton Street lights, pub sessions, and short daylight shaping plans.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Dublin Christmas Festival
A month-long celebration featuring Christmas markets, festive lights, street performances, and seasonal activities across Dublin city center. — Many events are free; some special performances and markets may require advance booking.
Source: festival research
- Dec 5 – Dec 15
Dublin Winter Lights Festival
An outdoor festival featuring spectacular light installations and projections illuminating key landmarks around Dublin. — Free to attend; some guided tours may require booking.
Source: festival research
- Dec 10 – Dec 24
Christmas at the National Concert Hall
A series of festive concerts including classical, choral, and traditional Irish music performances celebrating the Christmas season. — Tickets required; book in advance due to high demand.
Source: festival research
- Dec 12 – Dec 23
Christmas at Dublin Castle
Seasonal events and exhibitions held within Dublin Castle, including historical tours with a festive theme and special family activities. — Entry tickets required; family packages available.
Source: festival research
Public holidays
- Dec 25Christmas Day
- Dec 26St. Stephen's Day
Planning checklist
- 1Check the 4 dated Dublin events for anything that overlaps your exact December dates before assigning fixed sightseeing days.
- 2Hold flexible plans around the 2 public holidays in Ireland; museums, markets, and government-run sights can switch hours.
- 3Group each Dublin day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.
Build your Dublin plan for December
Start fresh — type or paste places you're considering — and Tripnostic checks every one against your December dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Dublin events overlap your trip. Already have a list from a friend or an AI itinerary? Paste it and we'll check that too.
Build my Dublin planAbout Dublin
City overview
Dublin sits on the River Liffey where Georgian squares, Viking-medieval lanes, literary pubs, Trinity College, the Liberties, Temple Bar, Smithfield, and St Stephen's Green make a compact city-center route. The city works best on foot, with DART coastal trains and Luas trams extending the map to Howth, Dun Laoghaire, and the docklands.
Food & drink
Dublin food is pub, market, and coast-fed: a full Irish breakfast plates sausage, bacon, eggs, pudding, beans, and tomato, Irish stew slow-cooks lamb or mutton with potatoes, seafood chowder uses Atlantic shellfish, and boxty turns potato into pancakes. The Brazen Head, Moore Street, George's Street Arcade, Temple Bar Food Market, Capel Street, and Howth seafood stops add soda bread, fish and chips, oysters, and Guinness pours.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- AKilmainham Gaol
- BNational Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- CChrist Church Cathedral
- DSt Patrick's Cathedral
- EEPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- FTemple Bar
- GPhoenix Park
- HTrinity College and Book of Kells
- IGuinness Storehouse
- JDublin Castle
1Kilmainham Gaol
4.7★ · 2,817indoorOpen dailyThe jail opened in 1796 and is tied to Irish nationalist prisoners, the 1916 Rising executions, and penal history. It is west of the center near the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
WikipediaGuided tours sell out well ahead; book online as soon as dates open.
2National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
4.6★ · 14,861indoorOpen dailyThe Kildare Street museum displays the Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch, bog bodies, Viking finds, goldwork, and medieval objects. It is beside Leinster House and Merrion Square.
Wikipedia
3Christ Church Cathedral
4.5★ · 11,634indoorOpen dailyThe cathedral was founded around 1030 and rebuilt in stone under the Anglo-Normans, with a crypt, tiles, and medieval city history. It stands near Dublinia and Wood Quay.
Show 7 more sights
- 4St Patrick's Cathedral
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Temple Bar
- 7Phoenix Park
- 8Trinity College and Book of Kells
- 9Guinness Storehouse
- 10Dublin Castle
Neighborhoods
1Temple Bar and College Green
Temple Bar and College Green are central and busy, with pubs, Trinity College, the Irish Whiskey Museum, cobbles, buskers, and river crossings.
2St Stephen's Green and Grafton Street
The southside shopping-and-park district has Grafton Street, Georgian doors, Iveagh Gardens, Little Museum of Dublin, and Merrion Square nearby.
3The Liberties
The Liberties is old and working-class, with Guinness, whiskey distilleries, St Patrick's Cathedral, Francis Street antiques, Thomas Street, and market streets.
4Smithfield and Stoneybatter
Smithfield and Stoneybatter mix the Jameson Bow St. distillery, Lighthouse Cinema, cafes, pubs, apartments, and quick access to Phoenix Park.
5Docklands and Grand Canal Dock
The Docklands feel newer, with EPIC, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Bord Gais Energy Theatre, tech offices, canals, and riverfront walks.
6Rathmines and Portobello
Rathmines and Portobello are local and food-heavy, with canals, cinemas, pubs, brunch spots, and red-brick residential streets south of the core.
Day trips
15km / 30-45min by DART from Tara Street or Connolly
Howth
The fishing village has cliff walks, seafood, harbor seals, Howth Castle grounds, and views back to Dublin Bay.
60km / 1.5h by bus tour or car from Dublin
Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains
The monastic valley has round towers, lakes, trails, and mountain scenery; public transport is limited, so tours are common.
15km / 25-30min by DART from Connolly
Malahide Castle
The castle, gardens, village streets, marina, and coastal walks make a light northside day.
Getting around
Dublin Bus, Luas trams, DART coastal rail, commuter rail, and Leap cards cover the useful visitor network. Walk the center, use Luas for Heuston-Smithfield-Docklands, and use DART for Howth, Malahide, and Dun Laoghaire.
Common questions about Dublin in December
- Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Dublin in December?
- Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Dublin list into Tripnostic and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
- How do I plan Dublin days without crossing the city twice?
- Tripnostic groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.
- Best rainy-day things to do in Dublin in December
December averages 13 rainy days in Dublin, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- Kilmainham Gaol — The jail opened in 1796 and is tied to Irish nationalist prisoners, the 1916 Rising executions, and penal history. It is west of the center near the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
- National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology — The Kildare Street museum displays the Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch, bog bodies, Viking finds, goldwork, and medieval objects. It is beside Leinster House and Merrion Square.
- Christ Church Cathedral — The cathedral was founded around 1030 and rebuilt in stone under the Anglo-Normans, with a crypt, tiles, and medieval city history. It stands near Dublinia and Wood Quay.
- St Patrick's Cathedral — The Gothic cathedral is associated with a 5th-century baptism site and Jonathan Swift, who served as dean. It sits south of the Liberties beside its park.
- What to pack for Dublin in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Dublin checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 9°C / 47°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 3°C / 37°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 13 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Dublin
- 4 days covers the main Dublin highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Dublin worth visiting in December
- Yes. Dublin in December: 8.5°C high, 2.6°C low, 75mm rain over 13 days, 7.3h daylight. Mild but rainy — flexible plans pay off.