# St Patrick's Festival: what to do between sessions in Dublin

Source: https://eventweekends.com/culture/st-patricks-festival/
Last checked: 2026-11-02

## 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 and what to pack

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

## Airport to venue

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 to stay

- **budget:** Smithfield and Phibsborough. Cheaper hotels on the Luas tram.
- **mid:** Temple Bar edges and St Stephen's Green. Central and walkable.
- **luxury:** Ballsbridge and Merrion Square. Grand hotels near Aviva Stadium.
- Hotels we would book: Generator Dublin (budget), The Hendrick Smithfield (mid), The Shelbourne (luxury)

## Day plans for the free hours

### Between screenings or shows

A two- to four-hour gap: something close by.
- Half-day: Book of Kells and Trinity College. The Long Room library.
- Eat: Leo Burdock, Fish and chips

### A free day

For companions without a pass, or attendees taking a day off.
- Full day: Cliffs of Moher day trip. Long day to the west coast.

### Evenings

After the last show of the day.
- Evening: Traditional Irish music pub crawl. Live sessions.
- Eat: The Woollen Mills, Irish food by the Ha'penny Bridge

### Rainy day

Indoor backups.
- Rain or heat backup: Guinness Storehouse. Gravity Bar pint with a view.
- Free: National Gallery.

## Tours worth booking

- [Guinness Storehouse](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Guinness%20Storehouse%20tickets&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-st-patricks-festival): Gravity Bar pint with a view.
- [Cliffs of Moher day trip](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Cliffs%20of%20Moher%20day%20trip%20from%20Dublin&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-st-patricks-festival): Long day to the west coast.
- [Howth coastal walk](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Howth%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-st-patricks-festival): Cliff path and seafood.
- [Wicklow mountains and Glendalough](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Glendalough%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-st-patricks-festival): Monastic site and lakes.
- [Traditional Irish music pub crawl](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Dublin%20pub%20crawl&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-st-patricks-festival): Live sessions.
- [Book of Kells and Trinity College](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Book%20of%20Kells%20tickets&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-st-patricks-festival): The Long Room library.

## 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

## With kids

- Dublin Zoo.
- EPIC emigration museum.

## Rainy-day backups

- EPIC.
- Chester Beatty Library.

## Getting around

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

## 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.

More in Dublin: https://eventweekends.com/city/dublin/