10 Things to Do in Dublin in the Summer

The summer months are the busiest tourist months in Dublin. The good temperatures attract thousands of visitors to the Irish capital and queues are more common at its main monuments and tourist attractions. It is therefore 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 city's parks, where there are endless activities to do, tours and excursions around Dublin and the outskirts to escape the hustle and bustle or simply enjoy the good weather on a terrace with a cold beer. But Ireland is still Ireland. Rain is also a common occurrence in summer and you need 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 a visit because of the park's beauty and great location in the heart of the city centre, just off the popular Grafton Street.

The park was built in a distinctly Victorian style and has areas of lush trees that provide good shade, several fountains and monuments and meadows for picnicking. Picnicking is a favourite activity for Dubliners in the summer months when the weather is fine.

It is undoubtedly one of the best parks to visit and have a great time in the fresh air with beautiful surroundings and a snack.

Drinking a beer in the pubs of Temple Bar is a Dublin classic all year round. But it's only in the summer that you can do so on the terraces that some of them have set up.

During the rest of the year, the rains and cold weather make it impossible to enjoy a good Irish beer out doors, so 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 Storehouse and collect your reward in the form of a beer in its bar with panoramic views of the city. There are few better plans for the summer.

If Dublin is too small for you in the summer, you can always take one of the hundreds of day trips that leave from Dublin City.

One of the most recommended in summer is a trip 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 the temperatures are warm enough.

These cliffs are more than 200 kilometres from the capital, but day trips are organised from Dublin to visit them and other places such as Galway.

If you have a day to spare in Dublin, I highly recommend a day trip to one of Ireland's most beautiful spots.

Not every activity we do in summer has to be outdoors. Although it is not the norm, it is possible that one day the heat will really arrive or, more likely, that the rain will make an appearance. For those days it is always a good idea to have a plan for shelter.

In this case, Dublin offers several alternatives. Starting with its numerous museums or places like Trinity College and its library. There are also several distilleries to visit, the city's two cathedrals or book a guided tour of the Book of Kells and the area around Dublin Castle.

It's true that bathing on the beaches around Dublin is something only for the brave, even in summer. Even if the water temperature is cold, clear summer days are perfect for booking a tour and spending the day at the beach.

Dublin has no beach as such but there are a number of beaches close to the city that are well worth a visit. The Velvet Strand in Portmanock, Dollymount Strand Beach, Burrow Beach, Balcarrickla, White Rock in Killiney and Inch Beach in Kerry are some of the most beautiful beaches within 30 kilometres of Dublin city centre.

If you're not a fan of cold bathing, these beaches are also perfect for walking, sport or just enjoying the beautiful scenery.

The River Liffey crosses Dublin from west to east and divides the city in two. It is around this river that the city grew and along its banks are some of the city's most interesting sights. In summer and especially on clear days, one of the best things to 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 don't need to have practiced this activity before.

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

Dublin's early history is linked to the Vikings, and there is a special Viking-themed tour. Although you won't be on an authentic Viking ship, you will sail on a boat accompanied by guides dressed as genuine Vikings who will try to immerse you in the tour from the perspective of this culture. It's an experience with Viking culture at the heart of it all.

Another must-visit park in Dublin in summer is Phoenix Park. Almost as big as the city itself, more than 700 hectares, this park has the distinction of being the largest urban park in Europe. You could say that it is more like a forest than a park.

The special feature of Phoenix Park, which makes it unique, is that it is home to dozens of deer, which you can approach and even feed. Given its vast size, it is advisable to take several hours to see it at your leisure and even rent a bicycle.

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

One of Dublin's main charms lies in its multicultural and tolerant atmosphere. That's why the Pride festivities at the end of June are one of the events of the year in the city. As the summer is festival season, these festivals are used to celebrate the former, as well as numerous Pride events.

As well as the usual parades and parades, the city also hosts concerts, talks, exhibitions and countless other activities. In the Temple Bar neighbourhood, 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 great summer destination is Corkagh Park. It is located in the west of the city about 15 minutes from the city centre 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 fields, a river running through the park and even fishing areas. For all that it has to offer, it has become a popular summer destination.

The high season in Dublin runs from the end of May to the end of September. This is when the concentration of tourists in Ireland's capital is highest and when it is most difficult to find hotels or get around the queues at the main sights. But it's far from overwhelming, as tourism in Dublin is fairly restrained.

As for prices, the basic rule of the higher the demand, the higher the prices go up. In summer, especially in July and August, air fares are more expensive and accommodation prices go up slightly. However, there is not a big difference compared to other months.

Summer in Dublin is fairly mild and pleasant. Average temperatures range between 10º and 20º degrees with July being the warmest month, but by no means a hot month by any means. Dublin is very humid, which means that the wind chill is lower than the actual temperature.

July is also the month with the clearest skies. But Ireland doesn't lose its essence even in summer and rain is almost inevitable. Although summer is the driest time of year, the chance of rain is around 25% on average.

Don't think that just because it's summer you should pack your luggage as if you were going to a Mediterranean beach. Summer in Dublin is different and your luggage will have to make room for the umbrella and flip-flops:

• 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 main thing.
• Take some jumpers or warmer clothes especially for the evenings.
• There may be some particularly sunny days, so just in case you want to head to one of Dublin's nearby beaches, bring a swimming costume.
• An umbrella or mackintosh is still a must.
• Dublin is mainly on foot, so your footwear should be mainly comfortable.