Christmas in Ireland 2026: Dublin, the Christmas Markets and What’s Open

Quick answer Christmas in Ireland runs from early November, when Galway’s Eyre Square market opens (Friday 6 November 2026), to Little Christmas on 6 January. Dublin is the easiest base, but 2026 is unusual: Dublin Castle is closed for Ireland’s EU Presidency, so there is no Christmas at the Castle market. Plan around one hard rule on Christmas Day there are no buses, trams or trains, and pubs are closed by law.
Xyuandbeyond is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You can read our privacy policy here .
Christmas in TEmple Bar Dublin pub decorated for Christmas in Ireland

I’m Faith, an Irish-Canadian travel and food writer. I lived in Donegal for three years, I now live on the Causeway Coast in Portrush, and I’ve travelled to every corner of this island, north and south. For years I’ve lived within easy reach of Dublin Donegal was about two hours away by car and we visited a lot. I’ve stood on Grafton Street in huge crowds when Bono joined a busk, been to Kilkenny in every season, and spent more coffee breaks than I can count on Galway’s Shop Street watching the buskers.

In Donegal we head to the Reel Inn for a Best Christmas Jumper or Costume night of traditional and Christmas music. Everyone knows all the words and the sing-a-longs are hilarious. The pubs are a great mixture of ages from us oldies to youngers.

Christmas in Ireland 2026: Fast Facts Season: early November to 6 January (Nollaig na mBan, Women’s Christmas)
First big market to open: Galway, Eyre Square, Friday 6 November
Dublin’s main markets: TwinkleTown (Smithfield and St Patrick’s Park) and Everwinter at the RDS
Not happening in 2026: Christmas at the Castle and Christmas at Farmleigh
Christmas Day: no public transport, pubs closed by law, most attractions shut
St Stephen’s Day (26 Dec): buses on a Sunday timetable, no trains; Leopardstown races 26–29 December
December weather in Dublin: roughly 4–10°C, wet far more often than snowy
Budget: €200–350 per day in Dublin for a mid-range hotel, food and one paid attraction

This guide covers Christmas across the Republic of Ireland, with Dublin in the most detail because that’s where most visitors base themselves. Northern Ireland has its own guide, Christmas in Belfast. For the customs themselves the candle in the window, the Wren Boys, Women’s Christmas read our companion piece on Irish Christmas traditions.

Irish Christmas customs are part of a much older story. See the full Irish Culture and Folklore guide for how tradition and mythology still shape everyday life here.

christmas in ireland stocking decoratioins and lights

What’s Different About Christmas in Ireland in 2026

If you’re working from an older guide, or from last year’s photos on Instagram, these changes matter.

  • No Christmas at the Castle. Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2026, and Dublin Castle is the main State venue. The OPW confirmed the market would not run in 2025 or 2026, and the whole Castle campus is closed to the public for the six months.
  • Expect security around Dame Street. Gardaí are running a policing and security operation at Dublin Castle for the duration of the Presidency, with traffic restrictions around December events. If you’re staying nearby, check the Garda traffic notices.
  • Farmleigh’s festive weekends are off. The OPW says Farmleigh’s usual market and events are cancelled for 2026 because the estate is needed for the Presidency. It expects them back in 2027.
  • Everwinter replaces Dublin Loves Christmas at the RDS. It comes from the team behind Taste of Dublin and the old Castle market, with Irish makers at the centre.
  • TwinkleTown doubles up. Smithfield Square returns, and a second site opens at St Patrick’s Park beside the cathedral.
  • Dublin’s Winter Lights now run into January. Dublin City Council keeps a Christmas theme through December, then switches to winter-themed projections on city buildings in January.
  • Cork’s Glow is gone. It has been replaced by “Christmas in Cork”, built around Bishop Lucey Park and the Grand Parade.
  • Wild Lights has a new theme and a shorter run, finishing on 5 January rather than at the end of the month.
  • The Christmas Eve busk without Glen Hansard. Hansard started the Grafton Street busk in 2010 and led it every year. He died in July 2026. At the time of writing, Dublin Simon Community hadn’t announced plans for this year.

Christmas Markets and Festivals in Ireland: 2026 Dates at a Glance

Checked against organisers’ own sites and announcements on 28 October 2026. Dates marked TBC hadn’t been confirmed yet, so check before you travel.

EventWhere2026 datesEntry
Galway Christmas MarketEyre Square, GalwayOpens Fri 6 Nov; closing date TBC (ran to 31 Dec in 2025)Free
WintervalWaterford city13 Nov–23 Dec, Fri–SunFree; some events ticketed
Christmas in CorkCork city centreParade 15 Nov; markets selected dates 20 Nov–22 Dec; wheel 27 Nov–31 DecFree; wheel ticketed
TwinkleTown SmithfieldSmithfield Square, Dublin 720 Nov–31 DecFree; skating from €8.75
TwinkleTown St Patrick’s ParkDublin 827 Nov–23 DecFree
EverwinterRDS, Ballsbridge25 Nov–23 Dec; ice rink also 26 Dec–3 JanRink and circus ticketed
Wild LightsDublin Zoo12 Nov–5 JanTicketed
WonderlightsMalahide Castle12 Nov–29 DecFrom €17.50
YulefestKilkenny city28 Nov–23 DecFree
Christmas in KillarneyKillarney, Co. KerrySanta 27 Nov–23 Dec; parades Saturdays from 28 Nov; ice rink to 10 JanMostly free
Leopardstown Christmas FestivalFoxrock, Dublin26–29 DecTicketed
NYF DublinDublin city30 Dec–1 JanFree and ticketed
Belfast Christmas Market (NI)Belfast City HallLights switch-on 14 Nov; market expected 14 Nov–22 DecFree
A street at night is decorated with large, glowing chandelier-style lights suspended between buildings.

Christmas in Dublin

Dublin has never had the huge Bavarian-style markets you find in Germany or Austria, and with the Castle closed that’s truer than ever this year. What it does have is a good spread of markets, light trails and traditions, once you know where to look. For the rest of the year, see our Dublin travel guide.

A crowded city street at night is decorated with hanging chandelier-style lights and strings of white fairy lights.

TwinkleTown: Smithfield Square and St Patrick’s Park

With the Castle out of action, TwinkleTown is the city’s biggest free Christmas event. Smithfield Square (20 November to 31 December) has the fairground feel: a covered ice rink, the Santo Panto for small children, a Big Wheel, a vintage funfair, live music and the TwinkleTavern bar. Skating starts from €8.75. Smithfield is on the Luas Red Line.

twinkle town dublin

St Patrick’s Park (27 November to 23 December) is new for 2026 and quieter, with lights, choirs and Irish handcrafted gifts in the park at the foot of St Patrick’s Cathedral. Both sites are free to enter, and the overlap from 27 November to 23 December means you can walk between them in an evening.

Smithfield also runs sensory-friendly skating sessions, neurodivergent-friendly Santo Panto shows and ISL-interpreted performances, which is more than most Christmas events in Ireland offer.

A Christmas Market Stall with beautiful pointed star lights for sale. The market is lit with twinkle lights

Everwinter at the RDS, Ballsbridge

Everwinter runs from 25 November to 23 December, Tuesday to Friday 2pm–9pm and weekends 12pm–9pm, closed Mondays. The centrepiece is a covered 600m² real-ice rink with 45-minute sessions and skate hire included, and the rink reopens from 26 December to 3 January. Robert Fossett’s Circus is on site, and the food leans towards open-fire cooking, raclette and bratwurst, with a covered bar. Lansdowne Road and Sandymount DART stations are both about five minutes’ walk, which is easier than trying to park in Ballsbridge in December.

A collage features a winter scene with a Ferris wheel, a clock tower, a fox, and a woman in a red hat on a snowy path.

Smaller Dublin markets worth the trip

Swords Castle Christmas Market, north County Dublin: a medieval courtyard setting that usually runs across the last weekend of November and the first of December. Entry is free; Santa visits are ticketed. Arrive early at weekends.

Outdoor market with colorful tents and food vendors at dusk near a stone wall.

National Botanic Gardens Sustainable Christmas Craft Market, Glasnevin: usually one weekend in mid-December (it was 13–14 December in 2025, 10am–4pm), with more than 50 stalls of sustainable, locally made gifts. Free, and the Gardens themselves are free and open every day except Christmas Day.

A poster for a sustainable Christmas craft market at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, on December 12-13, 2026.

Fumbally Stables and Stillgarden Distillery, the Liberties: smaller, design-led makers’ markets that usually run in early December. Both are walkable from the city centre.

Christmas Light Trails: Wild Lights and Wonderlights

Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s biggest lantern festival. The 2026 theme, Passport to Wonder, takes you through nine zones inspired by celebrations around the world, from 12 November 2026 to 5 January 2027, 5pm–9pm. Under-3s go free this year, and Santa’s Grotto is sold as a bundle with your ticket. Last year adult tickets started at around €24.50. Be warned that most animals are tucked away indoors in the evening, so this is about the lanterns, not the wildlife. The trail has traditionally closed from 24 to 26 December.

Wild lights at Dublin zoo

Wonderlights at Malahide Castle runs from 12 November to 29 December, 5pm–8:30pm, from €17.50, with an Alpine-style food village at the end. Take the DART to Malahide and walk. Paths can get muddy after rain, so pack sturdy footwear and book a time slot, as popular evenings sell out.

A light-up snowman decoration stands between two bar stools in front of a building entrance.

Grafton Street, O’Connell Street and Dublin’s Winter Lights

No Christmas in Dublin is complete without a walk down Grafton Street once the lights are up. My tip is to go just after the shops close. The crowds thin out, the lights stay on, and you can actually enjoy the buskers instead of being swept along.

Dublin City Council’s Winter Lights cover more than 25 spots across the centre, from O’Connell Street to the bridges, and they’re free to walk. December keeps the Christmas theme; in January the council switches to winter-themed projections on city buildings, running up to the St Brigid’s holiday weekend in early February. There’s no rush to see them before Christmas.

Beautiful evening view of Nollaig shona dhuit Christmas lights. Merry Christmas signboard written in Irish (Gaelic) language on Grafton Street. Crowded street

The Christmas Eve Busk

The Christmas Eve busk began in 2010 as an impromptu sing-song on Grafton Street, led by Glen Hansard, raising money for the Dublin Simon Community, which works with people who are homeless or at risk of it. It grew into one of Dublin’s best-loved Christmas traditions, now held outside the Gaiety Theatre just off Grafton Street. In 2025, its 15th year, more than 30 musicians played, and Bono and Imelda May sang together.

Having been to this busk once it was a magical night although the crowds were something else.

Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle accident in July 2026, at 56. At the time of writing, Dublin Simon Community had not announced whether or how the busk will go ahead this Christmas Eve. Check dubsimon.ie in December; if it happens, it will mean a great deal to the city.

Christmas eve busking in Dublin with Bono and Glen Hansard with their guitars

The Moving Crib on Parnell Square

The Moving Crib at St Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, first opened in 1956, and 2026 is its 70th Christmas. Mechanical figures bring Bible stories to life, from the Garden of Eden and Noah’s Ark to the Nativity, and generations of Dublin families have made it part of their Christmas. Entry is free and there’s no booking except for large groups. In 2025 it opened daily from 11am to 5:30pm, closing early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and shut on Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day. The 2026 dates hadn’t been published when I checked.

For carols, both St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral run Advent concerts and Christmas services; book through their own websites, as the popular ones sell out.

Christmas in Dublin with Kids

  • Arnotts, Henry Street: Ireland’s oldest department store (founded 1843) runs its Santa’s Grotto on the second floor. Visits cost €15 last year, with all donations going to its charity partners. Book early.
  • Malahide Castle: a calm, well-run Santa experience, usually from late November to 23 December.
  • Dublin Zoo: Santa’s Grotto bundles by day or with Wild Lights in the evening.
  • TwinkleTown Smithfield: the Santo Panto, rides and skating, all within a few Luas stops of the centre.
  • Rainy afternoons: Dublinia, beside Christ Church, is a reliable indoor option for Viking-mad children.
A stone building facade at night is illuminated by golden light patterns projected onto its columns and walls.

Game of Thrones Day Trips from Dublin

It’s worth being upfront: Game of Thrones was filmed almost entirely in Northern Ireland, not in Dublin, so you won’t find filming locations in the city. What Dublin offers is the easiest departure point. Full-day coach tours run to Winterfell, Castle Black and other County Down locations, and shuttles go to the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour near Banbridge, where you can walk the real sets. Tours run through the winter, but rural roads can be affected by weather, so build in flexibility and check with the operator on the morning.

Where to Stay in Dublin at Christmas

Book well ahead. December is one of Dublin’s busiest months because of Christmas parties, family visits, the Leopardstown races and New Year, and prices climb fast in the two weeks before Christmas Day.

HotelAreaDecember rate (approx.)Parking
The Fitzwilliam HotelSt Stephen’s GreenFrom about €250/nightValet; ask about accessible rooms
Riu Plaza The GreshamO’Connell StreetFrom about €180/nightNearby Q-Park
Harcourt HotelHarcourt StreetFrom about €140/nightStreet parking only
The Wilder TownhouseAdelaide RoadFrom about €200/nightLimited on-street; ask ahead
Zanzibar LockeNorth Wall QuayFrom about €160/nightNearby car park

As a rough guide, expect €150–300 a night in Dublin city in December, €100–200 in the regional cities and €80–150 in a rural B&B if you combine Dublin with time elsewhere. Very few city-centre hotels have much on-site parking, because the core is a tight Georgian and medieval street plan, so look for a nearby Q-Park or Apcoa car park rather than expecting parking at the door. Our Where to Stay in Ireland guide covers the rest of the country.

A black Guinness-branded Christmas ornament hangs on a decorated tree with a white snowflake ornament nearby.

Where to Eat in Dublin at Christmas

Dublin’s food scene shifts up a gear in December, and popular tables fill fast in the fortnight either side of Christmas.

Cafés: Bewley’s on Grafton Street is the classic stop for coffee and a pastry between shops.

Bewleys Cafe and restaurant on Grafton Street Dublin

Mid-range: Fade Street Social and the gastropubs around Camden Street and the Liberties are reliable for a warming dinner after the markets. Some Georgian buildings have a step at the door, so call ahead if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair.

Fine dining: Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, 18–19 Parnell Square North, holds two Michelin stars and books up months ahead. It’s a basement dining room, so ask about access when you book. Book as far ahead as you can.

For a proper local pub away from the Temple Bar crowds, see our guide to famous pubs in Dublin.

Hidden Gems Only Locals Really Know About

  • Pearse Lyons Distillery sits in a restored church and graveyard near the Guinness Storehouse, its glass spire lit against the winter sky. Most visitors walk straight past.
  • L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter is a proper local pub for a hot toddy, with a strong line-up of Irish craft beers.
  • The smaller shops on Wicklow Street and South Anne Street, just off Grafton Street, often put more creativity into their windows than the big department stores.
  • Ardgillan Castle in north County Dublin has a low-key Christmas gift fair, a quieter alternative if the city markets feel overwhelming.

What the Irish Actually Eat at Christmas

I’ve spent more than 30 years in food developing products, creating dishes for producers and restaurants, and walking food markets for ideas and an Irish Christmas table is generous rather than fancy. Expect roast turkey and glazed ham together, roast and mashed potatoes (often both), stuffing, Brussels sprouts and gravy, then Christmas pudding with brandy butter or custard, a rich Christmas cake and endless mince pies.

The dish visitors rarely know is spiced beef, a Cork Christmas speciality, cured with spices and served cold in thin slices. If you’re in Cork in December, look for it at the English Market. And whatever you do on the 26th, it’s a turkey-and-ham sandwich day and we always had a fry-up for breakfast with boxty and soda bread.

Christmas Beyond Dublin

Galway: Ireland’s Best-Known Christmas Market

The Galway Christmas Market returns to Eyre Square on Friday 6 November 2026, its 16th year and the earliest opening of the big markets. Expect more than 50 wooden chalets, a big wheel and the Eyre Square beer tent run by Róisín Dubh. The closing date hadn’t been confirmed when I checked; it ran to 31 December last year, with the market closed on Christmas Day. The market sits right beside Shop Street and the Latin Quarter, where I’ve spent many a coffee break watching the buskers. More in our Galway travel guide.

Galway Christmas Market at night

Waterford: Winterval

Winterval turns Ireland’s oldest city into a Christmas festival every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 13 November to 23 December 2026. It opens with a Christmas parade and the lights switch-on, and Santa’s Grotto is in the 12th-century underground caverns beneath the Medieval Museum, which is a magical setting for children. New this year is The Hive, a 1,200-capacity venue for live entertainment. In 2025 the programme ran to 59 events, 24 of them free.

Cork: Christmas in Cork

Cork has replaced its old Glow festival with Christmas in Cork, running 15 November to 31 December. Santa switches on the lights at the Christmas Parade on Sunday 15 November (6:30pm–7:30pm). The Christmas markets at the newly refurbished Bishop Lucey Park run on selected dates from 20 November to 22 December, the Ferris wheel returns to the Grand Parade from 27 November to 31 December (closed Christmas Day), and a family festive hub opens at the Counting House Plaza on 28 November. Don’t leave without a visit to the English Market, a covered food market where you’ll find spiced beef in December.

Kilkenny: Yulefest

Yulefest runs from 28 November to 23 December 2026, with the Christmas market on The Parade beside Kilkenny Castle, a light and sound show by Luxmuralis, a live music stage and Santa visits. I’ve been to Kilkenny in every season, and its medieval lanes suit winter best. See our full guide to visiting Kilkenny.

Yulefest in Kilkenny with a market, christmas tree all lit up

Killarney: Christmas in Killarney

Killarney’s six-week festival includes the Christmas Magic Parades every Saturday from 28 November, which the organisers bill as Ireland’s only weekly Christmas parades. Santa’s Holiday Residence runs from 27 November to 23 December, Killarney on Ice from 27 November to 10 January, and a new family show debuts at Killarney Racecourse. Killarney is an Autism Friendly Town, with quiet viewing areas at every parade and visual and sensory guides. More in our guide to the best things to do in Kerry.

Donegal and the North-West

If you want a quieter, more traditional Christmas, the north-west is where I’d go. When I lived in Donegal, the weekly trad sessions at The Forge and The Reel Inn were part of my routine, and the county’s storytelling nights are the kind of thing no market can replicate. See our Donegal travel guide.

Donegal Town in the wntertime all decorated for Xmas

Crossing to Northern Ireland

Belfast switches on its Christmas lights at City Hall on Saturday 14 November 2026, and the Christmas market in the City Hall grounds is expected to run to 22 December. Northern Ireland has its own transport, prices and opening patterns, so it has its own guide: Christmas in Belfast, plus our Northern Ireland travel guide.

Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day in Ireland: What’s Open

This is the part of an Irish Christmas that catches visitors out. Ireland genuinely shuts down on 25 December, and transport only partly returns on the 26th.


Christmas Eve (24 Dec)Christmas Day (25 Dec)St Stephen’s Day (26 Dec)
Dublin Bus and Go-AheadLast buses around 9pmNo serviceSunday timetable from about 9am; no Nitelink
LuasEnds around 8pmNo serviceSunday frequency from about 9am
DART, Irish Rail, InterCitySaturday service to around 9pmNo trainsNo trains
Bus ÉireannEnds around 9pmNo serviceSunday timetable from about 9am
PubsOpenClosed by lawOpen

Times are based on Transport for Ireland’s 2025 Christmas schedule, which follows the same pattern every year; the 2026 timetables are normally confirmed in mid-December.

  • Pubs: Christmas Day is now the only day of the year Irish pubs must close. The Good Friday ban was lifted in 2018, and the planned Sale of Alcohol Bill doesn’t change the Christmas Day rule.
  • Food: most restaurants close too. If you’re staying in a hotel, book its Christmas Day lunch months ahead.
  • Getting around: with no trains, Luas or buses, it’s taxis, a car or your own two feet. If you need an accessible taxi, book it well in advance.
  • Attractions: Dublin Zoo has traditionally closed on 25 and 26 December; the Moving Crib is shut on both days; the National Botanic Gardens close only on Christmas Day. Galway’s market and Cork’s Ferris wheel are closed on Christmas Day.

The Forty Foot Christmas Day Swim

From early on Christmas morning, hundreds of swimmers, many in Santa hats, take to the sea at the Forty Foot in Sandycove, south Dublin, often raising money for charity. Spectators are welcome, and it’s one of the most joyful sights of an Irish Christmas. Two practical points: with no DART on Christmas Day, you’ll need a car or taxi to get there; and when the sea is rough, swimmers move round to the more sheltered Sandycove beach. If you’re going in, keep it short, know the risks of cold-water shock and follow Water Safety Ireland’s advice. Similar Christmas swims happen at Blackrock in Salthill, Galway, and at Myrtleville and Youghal in Cork.

polar-bear-swim near Dublin on Christmas Day, swimmers and boats coming out of the freezing water

St Stephen’s Day, the Races and the Wren Boys

St Stephen’s Day (26 December) is a public holiday. The Leopardstown Christmas Festival runs four days of top National Hunt racing from 26 to 29 December 2026 in Foxrock, and it’s as much a social occasion as a sporting one. In parts of the south and west, especially Dingle, Wren Boys parade in straw costumes and masks; read more in Irish Christmas traditions.

New Year’s Eve and Little Christmas

NYF Dublin (New Year’s Festival Dublin) runs from 30 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, with concerts, a music trail and a New Year’s Eve street procession. Last year the fireworks were in Howth and Dún Laoghaire harbours and the big concerts were at Dublin Castle; with the Castle tied up until the Presidency ends, check the 2026 venues before you book. The season closes on 6 January with Little Christmas, Nollaig na mBan, when women traditionally get the day off.

Accessible Christmas in Ireland: Parking, Step-Free Events and Sensory-Friendly Options

Accessible travel is a big part of what I write about, and it’s the section most Christmas guides skip.

Parking with a disability permit in Dublin

With a valid Disabled Person’s Parking Permit displayed, you can park in any Dublin City Council pay-and-display bay or disabled bay without paying. Display the permit face up on the dashboard so the details are visible through the windscreen. Dublin City Council publishes a map of its accessible parking bays on its website. Parking in a disabled bay without a valid permit carries a €150 fixed charge, rising to €225 if not paid within 28 days. If you’re visiting with a UK or Northern Ireland Blue Badge, check with the council before relying on it.

I highly recommend booking a hop on hop off bus in Dublin you don’t want to drive in that traffic, and the buses are wheelchair accessible just book through your hotel.

Big bright red Dublin Hop on Hop off bus with open top roof

Sensory-friendly and inclusive events

  • TwinkleTown Smithfield: sensory-friendly skating, neurodivergent-friendly Santo Panto shows and ISL-interpreted performances.
  • Christmas in Killarney: quiet viewing areas at every parade, plus visual and sensory guides.
  • Dublin Zoo: offered sensory-friendly Wild Lights evenings and Santa visits last year; check the 2026 options when booking.
  • Wonderlights: the Marlay Park trail was promoted as fully accessible in 2025.
TEMPLE BAR SHOPPING STREET

Step-free tips

The National Botanic Gardens are largely level and free to enter. The cobbles around Temple Bar and parts of Grafton Street are hard going in a wheelchair or with a walking frame, especially after rain. For events at the RDS or Malahide, the DART is usually easier than hunting for parking. More detail in our guides to accessible Dublin, Accessible Ireland and Accessible Northern Ireland.

How to Plan a Christmas Trip to Ireland

  1. Book accommodation by summer for a December trip. City-centre rates rise sharply in the run-up to Christmas, and again around New Year.
  2. Recheck market and light-trail dates six to eight weeks before you travel. Several Irish events only confirm details in the autumn.
  3. Pre-book Santa experiences, Wild Lights, Wonderlights and any fine dining. The best slots go first.
  4. Plan Christmas Day properly: where you’ll eat, and how you’ll get there without public transport.
  5. Pack for wet, not snowy, weather. Waterproof layers matter more than a heavy coat.
  6. If you need accessible parking or step-free routes, map them before you go using the council’s accessible parking map and each venue’s access page.
Santa Claus sits in a red sleigh pulled by reindeer

My honest advice is to plan the logistics tightly, then leave real room in the schedule for the unplanned moments an invitation into a pub session, a chat with a stallholder, a walk down a quieter street. That’s where an Irish Christmas actually happens. For the bigger picture, see planning a trip to Ireland, what a trip to Ireland costs, getting around Ireland and our Ireland itineraries.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Ireland

Is Ireland a good place to spend Christmas?

Yes, if you plan around Christmas Day itself. From November to early January you get Christmas markets, light trails, carol services and pub sessions across the country, with Galway, Waterford, Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny and Killarney the busiest centres. On 25 December almost everything closes, including public transport and pubs, so book where you’ll eat and how you’ll get around in advance.

When do the Christmas markets open in Ireland in 2026?

Galway opens first, on Friday 6 November 2026 in Eyre Square. Waterford’s Winterval starts on 13 November, Cork’s Christmas markets on 20 November, TwinkleTown at Smithfield in Dublin on 20 November, Everwinter at the RDS on 25 November, and Kilkenny’s Yulefest on 28 November. Most markets close on or just before 23 December.

What is the best Christmas market in Ireland?

Galway’s Christmas Market in Eyre Square is the best known and the most traditional, with more than 50 wooden chalets, a big wheel and a beer tent. Waterford’s Winterval is billed as Ireland’s biggest Christmas festival, and Belfast’s City Hall market, with around 100 chalets, is worth the trip if you’re crossing into Northern Ireland.

Is the Dublin Castle Christmas market on in 2026?

No. Christmas at the Castle is not running in 2026 because Dublin Castle is the main venue for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, which runs until 31 December 2026, and the Castle campus is closed to the public. TwinkleTown at Smithfield Square and St Patrick’s Park, and Everwinter at the RDS, are Dublin’s main Christmas markets instead.

Dublin Castle Christmas market

Does public transport run on Christmas Day in Ireland?

No. Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead, Luas, DART, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann do not operate on Christmas Day. Services wind down on Christmas Eve, generally by 8pm to 9pm. On St Stephen’s Day, buses and the Luas run a Sunday-style service from about 9am, but there are no trains at all.

Are pubs open on Christmas Day in Ireland?

No. Pubs in the Republic of Ireland are required by law to close on Christmas Day, which is now the only day of the year they must close since the Good Friday ban was lifted in 2018. Most reopen on St Stephen’s Day, 26 December.

What is there to do in Dublin on Christmas Day?

Christmas Day in Dublin is about walks, the sea and a long lunch. Watch or join the Christmas Day swim at the Forty Foot in Sandycove, walk the quiet city centre to see the lights, and book a hotel Christmas lunch well in advance. Most attractions, shops, pubs and all public transport are closed, so you’ll need a taxi or car to get anywhere outside walking distance.

Dublin christmas tree lit up at twilight

Is Dublin expensive at Christmas?

Accommodation is the big cost. City-centre hotels commonly run from about €150 to €300 a night in December, and prices rise in the two weeks before Christmas and around New Year. Most markets and light walks are free, so a budget of roughly €200 to €350 a day covers a mid-range hotel, food and one paid attraction.

Does it snow in Ireland at Christmas?

Rarely. December in Dublin usually sits between about 4°C and 10°C, and rain is far more likely than snow. Pack waterproof layers and good shoes rather than heavy snow gear.

Is Christmas in Ireland accessible for disabled visitors?

Largely, with some planning. In Dublin, a valid Disabled Person’s Parking Permit lets you park in council pay-and-display and disabled bays without paying. TwinkleTown offers sensory-friendly skating and neurodivergent-friendly panto shows, and Killarney has quiet viewing areas at its Christmas parades. Cobbled areas such as Temple Bar are harder going, especially in the rain, and there’s no public transport on Christmas Day, so book accessible taxis early.

Nightlife at popular historical part of the city - Temple Bar quarter. The area is the location of many bars, pubs and restaurants

What is the Forty Foot Christmas Day swim?

It’s a long-running Christmas morning tradition at the Forty Foot bathing spot in Sandycove, south Dublin, where hundreds of people, many in Santa hats, take a cold sea swim, often for charity. Spectators are welcome. When the sea is rough, swimmers move to the more sheltered Sandycove beach nearby. There is no DART on Christmas Day, so you’ll need a car or taxi to get there.

When does Christmas end in Ireland?

Traditionally on 6 January, Little Christmas or Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas), when decorations come down and women traditionally get the day off. Many light trails and ice rinks run into early January, and Dublin’s Winter Lights continue through January this year.

Can I do a Game of Thrones tour from Dublin in winter?

Yes, though the filming locations are in Northern Ireland rather than Dublin. Full-day coach tours to Winterfell and other County Down locations, and shuttles to the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour near Banbridge, depart from central Dublin and run through the winter. Check with the operator on the morning if the weather is bad.

My Thoughts on Christmas in Ireland

Christmas in Ireland isn’t one big spectacle. It’s the Moving Crib on Parnell Square, a market stall run by someone who’ll happily tell you the story behind their craft, a trad session in a fire-lit pub, and a whole country going quiet on Christmas Day. This year Dublin is a little different, with the Castle closed and a busk that will feel the loss of the man who started it. But the heart of an Irish Christmas has never depended on a single venue. Plan the logistics, especially Christmas Day, then let the place carry you.

How I checked this guide Last checked: 28 October 2026. Dates, prices and closures were checked against organisers and official sources, including Dublin City Council, Dublin Castle and the OPW, Transport for Ireland, Dublin Zoo, Malahide Castle & Gardens, Galway Tourism, Winterval, Cork City Council, Yulefest Kilkenny, Christmas in Killarney, Leopardstown and Belfast City Council. I’ll update it again in mid-November as the remaining dates are confirmed.

Join 7,500 Ireland travellers in my Ireland Uncovered Facebook Group and 1,897 on my XYUandBEYOND page.

Christmas Celebrations Around the World

Author

  • Faith is an Irish-Canadian travel writer, food entrepreneur and cultural travel specialist with more than 30 years of experience in food and travel. She has lived and travelled extensively across Ireland, the UK and Europe, writing about travel through the lens of culture, history, food, accessibility and everyday life.

    View all posts

23 thoughts on “Christmas in Ireland: Dublin, the Christmas Markets and What’s Open”

  1. How beautiful! I love seeing how other countries celebrate Christmas. The Irish do it really well! I love all the lights and decorations all over town.

  2. That’s so cool Glen an Bono are expected every year ! Would love to see that! Haven’t celebrated x-mas for a while… Ireland seems like a not bad place at all to have it!

    1. It is pretty cool – Bono couldn’t make it a few times but some other great legend always steps up to take his place. Glen does it every year for charity he is a pretty cool character. Mind you getting close enough for pics is almost impossible but who cares you can always say I was there. LOL

  3. It’s always wonderful to see how other countries celebrate xmas, and Ireland seems like no exception! It appears not as commercialized as it in Canada and oh my, Christmas carols! Haven’t heard those since my grade school days. Christmas in Ireland seems like it would bring forth a warm, delightful experience. I’ll be adding this to my travel list 🙂

    1. I was surprised at how much less commercial it is than Canada. I think we get inundated with buy buy buy and we get stuck on that mindset. I find here the commercials on TV are much more about spending time with family and all the major brands emphasize that instead of spending all your money on our stuff. Almost reverse psychology if you will.

  4. Spending the holidays in another country is such a wonderful experience. I spent Christmas in Germany nine years ago and it was so fun discovering new traditions. #FlyAwayFriday

  5. I just loved this post. Although I have traveled more than most through my life, I have never yet been away from home during Christmas. There is always that expectation to be back among family during that time. However now that kids across the broader family are getting older, my partner and I will no doubt look to experience Christmas abroad a few times. Ireland just looks like such a wonderful place to spend this special time of year and your post has really highlighted so well what a great choice this is.

    1. Yep we ran away from home – the kids are more than old enough to manage on their own and they can get used to the fact that their parents are now adventurers besides you do get tired of all that prep work and spend spend spend. It is much nicer to be waited on ..lol

  6. I’ve been to Dublin a couple times.. even in the winter, but I’ve never had the pleasure to be there over Christmas… Now I want to! It looks like there is so much to offer and the city seems to get very festive. Sounds like a great time!

    1. It’s a fab place to spend Xmas just thing no dishes, no preparation that takes days to do and no damn clean up after. I can’t think of a better way to spend Xmas than to be waited on hand and foot and just enjoy myself…LOL

  7. Oh, what a lovely idea to spend Christmas in Ireland. I have just returned from Belfast where the Christmas market just opened. I think I’d also love to do some more ‘peagan’ stuff while I was in Ireland 😉
    #FlyAwayFriday

    1. lol I have checked out the market twice now and plan on going back, love the food they have there between paella, waffles and all those fancy deserts OMG 15 lbs plus. Did you see those muffins with all the Belgian chocolates on them – heavenly

  8. I love Dublin, and it’s almost worth going back just to see Glen Hansard playing in Grafton Street, I love him! Butler’s hot chocolate is so good, especially in the Irish weather. And yes to those beautiful Christmas jumpers haha, not itchy at all!

  9. Haha, the tradition with the ugliest sweater and the pubs is so funny and interesting! Would love to experience that one day. Been dreaming about visiting Ireland for a long time! Sounds like Christmas time would be a good idea!

  10. Julia Guerra

    I love destination Christmases. You’re right that it’s a great opportunity to learn more about another country and it’s tradition. Ireland seems like a wonderful place to celebrate the holidays.

  11. I got back from Ireland and Dublin less than two month ago but now I’m tempted to go back. The three days I spent in the city were really nothing. Great article by the way!

  12. So many tasty and colourful destinations! Would love to visit Ireland the next year in winter!

  13. Christmas in Ireland sounds and looks magical! The lights, the music, and the hot cocoa would be my favorite things. Saving this for a future visit.

  14. I loved Christmas in Ireland! I was there in 2015. We had a very rainy time, but it didn’t make it less magical. I would love to see the Panto as well! See you at Fly Away Friday this week!

  15. I was in Dublin Christmas week in 2018 I’m going back with my wife and adult children Christmas 2020 being from New York you would think that Rockafella center and Central Park would be tough to be in terms of Christmas spirit however Grafton Street Dublin Johnny foxes etc. it’s just as wonderful in an Irish flavor

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top