Visiting Ireland in March

March is the best time to visit Ireland, when this beautiful island is ready to show off. The weather is no longer too cold, but some days still have a bit of chill, which deters some visitors from those big tourist spots. Of course, one cannot talk about March in Ireland without acknowledging St. Patrick’s Day, the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint, celebrated as both a religious and national holiday — where you are in Ireland will determine the type of celebration you might encounter. Ireland in March is about so much more though than St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland is full of green rolling hills, and it is this time of year that the beautiful yellow and white daffodils start popping out to welcome spring. My personal favorite way to visit Ireland is by car and road tripping around this beautiful island. Note that driving is on the left side of the road and the driver’s seat is on the right. The roads are tight and narrow, so I highly recommend a small car if you plan to drive yourself. If you enjoy public transportation, buses or trains are a great way to get between cities if you are looking for a more affordable way and want to avoid self-driving. Please make sure to note that Ireland and Northern Ireland are different, and it is important that you know and understand the differences between the two.

Basic need-to-knows

Language: While Irish (Gaeilge) is the official language of Ireland, most locals speak English.

Outlets: You will need a universal adapter if traveling from the US. Power plugs and sockets are British outlets or G sockets, standard voltage 230V, frequency is 50hz.

Currency: Euro in Ireland, in Northern Ireland the Pound.

Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs or “Cashpoints” are easy to find if you need to withdraw cash.

For our trip, we chose to split our time visiting Dublin, Galway, stopping along the way, and one night in Kinnitty, a tiny town in central Ireland.

If this is your first visit to Ireland and you are wanting to have a bit more of a relaxing trip, I would recommend splitting your time between Galway and Dublin.

We flew into Dublin and then drove out to Galway right away, and while this works, I would instead recommend that you fly into Shannon Airport if this is an option. This will cost more, but it will put you on the west side of the island. Make your way to Galway to make your homebase. Here, I recommend starting your stay off with two nights at The Dean Hotel thanks to its great location in the city center. After your stay at The Dean, head up to Ashford Castle to enjoy three nights in the former home of the Guinness family.

I recommend starting in Galway because it is known for being Ireland’s cultural hub and home to many arts and festivals. It's not just known in Ireland as a cultural hub, in 2020, Galway was named a European Capital of Culture. With two and half full days in Galway on our trip, we focused on prioritizing a trip to the nearby Cliffs of Moher, and another day to just explore Galway city at leisure

Be sure to take a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and be sure to book your ticket for admission in advance. Personally, I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds. While exploring, if you are lucky and it is a clear day, you will be able to really enjoy the views. Not to fret though — even on a not as clear day, the Cliffs of Moher are just as amazing. Be sure to follow the path and visit O’Brian’s tower which marks the Cliffs of Moher’s highest point. Bring a coat or layers — the day we went was a beautiful sunny day but it had a bit of a chill and wind being on the cliffs.

On your way back to Galway, I recommend stopping for oysters at Moran’s Oyster Cottage. I would recommend making reservations in advance to enjoy a meal at this historic family operated pub. We enjoyed an order of Kelly Gigas oysters, wild steamed mussels, seafood chowder and the fish of the day.

Other things in Galway that we enjoyed and I would recommend:

• Galway Market - If you happen to be in Galway on a Saturday or Sunday, be sure to visit the Galway Market. This lovely farmers market is open year round.

• McCambridge’s of Galway - A gourmet grocery store and restaurant. We enjoyed strolling through the store and eating at the restaurant.

• Strolling Quay Street - Known for the pubs that line the street, you are sure to find your own favorite pub with live music. I recommend at least one stop in at The Quays, which is one of the most historic and most famous pubs in Galway.

• Enjoy some people watching in Eyre Square or John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, which is a historic and ancient town square. It was in this square where JFK gave a speech on his last trip before his assassination. You will find a metal bust commemorating the spot where he delivered the speech. When you travel with children, you are always on the lookout for large open areas where they can run around, and thanks to the playground and large grass area, we spent a good amount of time in the square. This gathering place is popular amongst tourist and locals alike — grab food to enjoy on a nice day or walk around and if you are into history, enjoy reading the various plaques and seeing the unique spots including the historical 1627 Browne family mansion doorway.

• Explore the Claddagh neighborhood and the Galway Harbour at the same time. This sweet little colorful neighborhood is where the Claddagh ring was invented in the 17th century, and where its name comes from. We enjoyed spending time walking around enjoying the colorful houses and boats . Just exploring the sweet neighborhood was one of our favorite parts.

• Depending on who you are with, a stop at Weavers of Ireland or Aran Islands Knitwear might be a must if you are looking for a traditional Irish sweater. It was a mandatory stop for my mother. Weavers of Ireland can be found throughout Ireland.

We missed Ashford Castle, but I would recommend swapping the castle we stayed at for Ashford Castle, so for the sake of this I will focus on Ashford Castle.

On your way to Ashford Castle, you have the option to make a detour to Connemara National Park, where you can enjoy a self guided tour at Kylemore Abbey and learn about the history and people of this Victorian Castle, now run by Benedictine nuns. You can also enjoy some lovely walking trails on property and be sure to stop into the shop to purchase some soaps and chocolates made by the nuns.

While at Ashford Castle, take time to enjoy all the property has to offer such as a beautiful spa, falconry, traditional boating and a hawk walk, to name a few. You will want to make sure to have your travel advisor schedule one of the full-day Make Travel Matter experiences.

After your stay at Ashford Castle, make your way to Dublin. This part of our trip had two of our favorite spots along the way right in the middle of Ireland. One was planned and one was a spur of the moment stop to get some wiggles out. Being into history and random parts of history, we had read about Sean’s Bar, the oldest bar in Ireland, and knew we had to stop there. Once there, we learned that this 1,000+ year old pub holds the Guiness World Record for being the oldest pub in Ireland and perhaps even the whole world. While it's a simple pub, the history and ability to say we enjoyed a pint at the oldest pub in Ireland was pretty fun. It also is a great stop to break up the drive.

From there, we realized we were not far from the Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery, which happened to be my late grandfather's favorite whiskey, so we decided to make a stop there, but along the way we needed to find a place for our kids to enjoy so we decided to stop at our favorite find - the Lough Boora Discovery Park. This park has plenty to do, but we really enjoyed the fairy trail, sculpture park, watching the wildlife and just walking around experiencing nature. It was definitely an unexpected surprise, and my daughter still talks about looking for fairies on the fairy trail. Even without children, I would recommend a visit if you enjoy nature and find yourself wandering around central Ireland. From there, its a quick drive to the Tullamore D.E.W if you wish to stop for a tour, or you can head straight to Dublin.

Spend at least two days in Dublin before departing for home. Stay at The Shelbourne. Dublin has so much to do and just like the rest of Ireland, visiting in March is the perfect time. During our visit to Dublin, we enjoyed seeing the parks filled with flowers and spotting flowers throughout the city in little planters, marking the arrival of spring. Most people will say that a visit to Dublin is not complete without a visit and tour of the Guinness Storehouse, being sure to end with the Gravity Bar to enjoy the views of Dublin from above, or a visit to Trinity College, and I would agree those are two must-do activities.

In addition, my husband and I love visiting art museums when we travel, and for us that means a trip to a major city is not complete without visiting an art museum or art gallery. It could be because he has a Master’s of Fine Art, but it is one of my favorite things. So for me, no visit to Ireland is complete without a visit to an art museum. While we did not see all the art museums in Dublin, I do want to highlight a few art museums to consider for a visit, each with different artworks, artists and styles to cater to different tastes. The National Gallery of Ireland has free admission and houses an extensive collection of European and Irish art, spanning from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The gallery features works by renowned artists such as Caravaggio, Vermeer and Goya, alongside notable Irish painters like Jack B. Yeats and Sir John Lavery. The Irish Museum of Modern Art is another. Hugh Lane Gallery is renowned for its collection of modern and contemporary art, specifically works by Irish and international artists, including masterpieces by Manet, Monet and Renoir.

Or if you are more of a history buff, you might enjoy a visit to Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison turned museum, offering a poignant glimpse into Ireland's turbulent history. Established in 1796, it played a significant role during the Irish independence movement. Many key figures, including leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, were imprisoned and executed here.

There is so much to do and see in Dublin, and as mentioned before, the group I traveled with enjoys finding fun quirky things to do so another must do for us was to see the largest indoor clock in all of Europe located inside Stephen’s Green shopping center. While it is not on most people’s guides to Ireland, it was a fun thing and thanks to its close proximity to St. Stephen’s Green, is an easy detour on your visit to St. Stephen’s Green, and the museums in the area. After visiting the clock, make your way to St. Stephen’s Green and then to the famous Umbrellas of Dublin before visiting Trinity College for a self-guided tour. After your tour, be sure to visit The Book of Kells - tickets are required and advance purchase is recommended.

After a few days of exploring Dublin, it was time for us to make our way home.

To me, Ireland is the perfect place for all travelers young and old, solo travelers , couples and families alike.

March is the best time to visit Ireland, offering a mix of mild weather and fewer crowds, perfect for exploring the island's scenic beauty and cultural heritage. Notably, St. Patrick's Day festivities vary across regions, providing unique experiences wherever you are in Ireland. Beyond the famous celebrations, Ireland in March also heralds the arrival of spring with blooming daffodils and lush green landscapes, making it an ideal time for a road trip to discover charming towns and historic sites.

This guide is a part of our ongoing series on travel to Ireland. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Fora Advisor Annie Decker's guide, Exploring the Natural Wonders of Ireland's National Parks.