St Patrick's Festival 2027 in Dublin: weekend guide and things to do

14 to 17 March 2027 · ExpectedDublin, IrelandIreland's biggest festival

St Patrick's Festival leaves gaps between screenings, shows and events, and companions without a pass have whole days in Dublin. This guide fills them.

Tours in Dublin Hotels for these dates

St Patrick's Festival in short

When: 14 to 17 March 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)
Where: O'Connell Street parade route, Dublin, Ireland
Free time: Gaps of two to four hours between screenings or shows, and whole days for companions.
Best base: Temple Bar edges and St Stephen's Green: Central and walkable.
Getting there: Dublin airport (DUB) has Dublin Express and Aircoach buses to the centre in 30 minutes.
Weather: In March, Dublin temperatures average about 7°C, with roughly 70 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 11 h 37 min of daylight.
Top things to do: Guinness Storehouse; Cliffs of Moher day trip; Howth coastal walk

Weather during St Patrick's Festival

In March, Dublin temperatures average about 7°C, with roughly 70 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 11 h 37 min of daylight.

Month	Average high	Average low	Rain
March	About 7°C on average (45°F)		70 mm

What to pack

A warm layer for the evenings.
A light rain jacket, just in case.
Comfortable walking shoes and a small day bag.

Monthly averages for 2001 to 2025 from NASA POWER. Check the forecast a few days before you travel.

Airport to O'Connell Street parade route

Dublin airport (DUB) has Dublin Express and Aircoach buses to the centre in 30 minutes.

Streets close for the parade on 17 March; walk.

Public transport directions to O'Connell Street parade route

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Smithfield and Phibsborough	Cheaper hotels on the Luas tram.
Mid-range	Temple Bar edges and St Stephen's Green	Central and walkable.
Splurge	Ballsbridge and Merrion Square	Grand hotels near Aviva Stadium.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Generator Dublin
Mid-range: The Hendrick Smithfield
Splurge: The Shelbourne

Links search the nights from 13 March to 18 March. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual festival stay schedule for 14 to 17 March 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Between screenings or shows

A two- to four-hour gap: something close by.

Half-dayBook of Kells and Trinity College Half day · Indoor · Family
The Long Room library.
EatLeo Burdock Fish and chips

A free day

For companions without a pass, or attendees taking a day off.

Full dayCliffs of Moher day trip Full day
Long day to the west coast.

Evenings

After the last show of the day.

EveningTraditional Irish music pub crawl Evening · Nightlife
Live sessions.
EatThe Woollen Mills Irish food by the Ha'penny Bridge

Rainy day

Indoor backups.

Rain or heat backupGuinness Storehouse Half day · Indoor
Gravity Bar pint with a view.
FreeNational Gallery.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Indoor · Family

Book of Kells and Trinity College

The Long Room library.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Howth coastal walk

Cliff path and seafood.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Wicklow mountains and Glendalough

Monastic site and lakes.

See times and prices

Dublin Zoo.
EPIC emigration museum.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Nightlife

Traditional Irish music pub crawl

Live sessions.

See times and prices

Full day

Cliffs of Moher day trip

Long day to the west coast.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Wicklow mountains and Glendalough

Monastic site and lakes.

See times and prices

After dark

Temple Bar, Camden Street.

6 tours worth booking for St Patrick's Festival

Tour	Length	Good for
Book of Kells and Trinity College	Half day	Bad weather, Families
Guinness Storehouse	Half day	Bad weather
Cliffs of Moher day trip	Full day	Everyone
Howth coastal walk	Half day	Families
Wicklow mountains and Glendalough	Full day	Families
Traditional Irish music pub crawl	Evening	Night owls

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

The Brazen Head Ireland's oldest pub
Leo Burdock Fish and chips
The Woollen Mills Irish food by the Ha'penny Bridge
Kehoe's Classic pub

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Indoor · Family

Book of Kells and Trinity College

The Long Room library.

See times and prices

Half day · Indoor

Guinness Storehouse

Gravity Bar pint with a view.

See times and prices

EPIC.
Chester Beatty Library.

Getting around on event days

Luas trams and buses; Leap card or contactless. Croke Park and Aviva Stadium are walking distance or a DART stop away.

Day trips from Dublin

Howth: 30 minutes by DART
Glendalough: 1 hour

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for St Patrick's Festival.

Plan a group trip

Organiser of St Patrick's Festival? Add this guide to your website.

Questions people ask

When is St Patrick's Festival 2027?

The next edition is 14 to 17 March 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

What is the weather like during St Patrick's Festival?

In March, Dublin temperatures average about 7°C, with roughly 70 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 11 h 37 min of daylight.

How do I get from the airport to O'Connell Street parade route?

Dublin airport (DUB) has Dublin Express and Aircoach buses to the centre in 30 minutes. Streets close for the parade on 17 March; walk.

Where should I stay for St Patrick's Festival?

For most visitors the best base is Temple Bar edges and St Stephen's Green: Central and walkable.

What can we do between sessions at St Patrick's Festival?

Good short outings in Dublin include Guinness Storehouse, Howth coastal walk, Book of Kells and Trinity College. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near St Patrick's Festival?

Family-friendly picks: Howth coastal walk, Wicklow mountains and Glendalough, Book of Kells and Trinity College. Dublin Zoo.

How far is O'Connell Street parade route from Dublin centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Streets close for the parade on 17 March; walk.

How we put this guide together: dates come from the organiser's published calendar or, when not yet announced, from the event's usual pattern; weather from NASA POWER monthly averages 2001 to 2025; venue access and city tips from our own research. Last checked 2 November 2026. How we research.

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