Christmas in Dublin 2025

TL;DR: Christmas in Dublin 2025 , Dublin transforms into a winter wonderland this December with TwinkleTown at Smithfield, Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo, 25+ illuminated locations across the city, ice skating rinks, festive pantomimes, and cozy pubs decked out in fairy lights. Expect temperatures around 5-9°C (41-48°F), frequent rain, and limited daylight (8:22am-4:19pm), but the festive atmosphere more than makes up for the weather.

Why Dublin at Christmas Hits Different

Look, we’re not going to sugarcoat it—Dublin in December can be cold, wet, and properly gloomy with only about two hours of sunshine per day. But here’s the thing: that’s exactly what makes it magical. When those Christmas lights flicker on around 4pm and the pubs start glowing from within, there’s honestly nowhere else you’d rather be.

Dublin transforms into a festive hub between late November and early January, with markets, lights, and that unmistakable buzz that only happens when a city fully commits to the season. Plus, with fewer tourists outside the Christmas week itself, you’ll actually have space to breathe while exploring.

Weather Reality Check: What to Actually Expect

Let’s talk practicalities. Dublin’s December weather averages around 5.6°C (42.1°F) with about 72.7mm of rainfall, and you’re looking at around 17 rainy days throughout the month. The sun rises at 8:22am and sets at 4:19pm, giving you roughly 8 hours of daylight to work with.

What to pack:

• Waterproof coat (non-negotiable)
• Layers—think thermal base, warm sweater, proper winter jacket
• Comfortable waterproof boots or shoes
• Scarf, gloves, and a decent hat
• Umbrella that won’t flip inside-out (those Dublin winds are real)

The silver lining? Those cozy pubs with roaring fires hit completely different when you’ve just come in from the cold. Trust us on this.

The Big Events You Can’t Miss

TwinkleTown at Smithfield Square (Nov 28 – Jan 4)

Smithfield Square transforms into TwinkleTown, featuring panto performances, an ice rink, and a Christmas market with festive food and artisan crafts. This is Dublin’s newest major festive destination, and they’ve gone all out with a Ferris wheel, vintage fairground rides, and the Twinkle Tavern serving mulled wine and winter warmers.

The vibe: Think European Christmas market meets Irish charm, with live performances in the Spiegeltent adding cultural flair to the whole experience.

Dublin Loves Christmas at RDS (Nov 18 – Dec 23)

The RDS is hosting what’s shaping up to be Dublin’s biggest festive event, with free entry (though you pay for individual attractions). Features include a full-size ice rink, Observation Wheel, thrill rides, and Bavarian-style market stalls.

Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo (Nov 6 – Jan 31)

Wild Lights features The Wild Kaleidoscope theme with 13 colorful zones, glowing wildlife displays, and one of Europe’s largest lanterns. The new Winter Glow Village adds festive food markets and mulled wine under the stars. Santa’s Grotto runs from November 24-December 22 if you’re traveling with little ones.

Pro tip: Book tickets online in advance—this sells out fast, especially on weekends.

Winter Lights Festival (Dec 1-31)

Dublin’s Winter Lights transforms 25 city center locations with spectacular light installations and projections by leading artists. You’ll find dazzling displays at Merrion Square Park, the GPO, Dublin Castle, and along the River Liffey. It’s completely free and perfect for an evening stroll between dinner and the pub.

Highlights include interactive LED walls in Wolfe Tone Square, video mapping on City Hall, and a 100-beam light installation at Georges Dock.

Christmas Markets That Actually Deliver

Real talk: Dublin’s Christmas market scene has had its ups and downs. The beloved Dublin Castle market is cancelled until 2027, but several alternatives are stepping up.

Markets Worth Your Time:

Henry Street & Mary Street Markets (Nov 24 – Dec 24) Running since 1949, these traditional street markets offer festive gifts, decorations, and that proper Dublin atmosphere. Free to browse, open 10am-9pm daily.

Swords Castle Christmas Market (Nov 28-30, Dec 6-7) Over 50 stalls featuring local traders selling gifts, art, crafts, and food, plus Santa’s Grotto. This one’s consistently good and worth the trip north of the city.

Sustainable Christmas Market at Botanic Gardens (Dec 13-14) Perfect if you’re into eco-friendly shopping. Over 80 stalls of sustainably-produced gifts set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Victorian glasshouses.

The Fumbally Stables (Dec 5-7) Indoor market featuring rotating food producers, independent crafters, and artists in an 18th-century stable building. One of the few indoor options, making it ideal when the weather’s being particularly Irish.

Ice Skating: Where to Lace Up

Multiple rinks pop up across Dublin for the festive season:

Dundrum on Ice – Now in its 13th year at Dundrum Shopping Centre, with support penguins for beginners. Great if you want to combine skating with shopping and food.

Alpine Skate Trail, Dún Laoghaire – Ireland’s largest ice rink with separate areas for beginners and advanced skaters. Runs from October 31.

South Dublin on Ice, The Square Tallaght – Free event (yes, FREE!) running until January 25, with professional marshals to help out.

Pantomime Season: Pure Irish Magic

If you’ve never been to a panto, you’re missing out on a uniquely brilliant experience. The Gaiety Theatre celebrates over 150 years of pantomime with Beauty and the Beast. Other venues like The Olympia and The Helix are hosting Jack and the Beanstalk and other festive productions.

What to expect: Audience participation, terrible (in a good way) jokes, and genuine entertainment for everyone from age 4 to 84. Book early—these sell out.

Wonderlights: When Zoo Meets Magic

If you’re up for a short trip outside the city center, Wonderlights at Malahide Castle runs from November 14-December 28 with the “Once Upon a Glow” theme. Over a million lights, the 30-meter Portal of Light tunnel, and projection mapping on the castle walls create an absolutely stunning experience.

Marlay Park in Rathfarnham offers a similar experience on the south side, featuring a 30-meter hydro-screen show and the impressive Cathedral Tunnel.

Where to Eat and Drink

Festive Dining Spots

Dublin’s restaurant scene goes all-in for Christmas. FIRE Steakhouse serves Christmas menus from €77.50pp featuring Irish Hereford beef and locally-sourced seafood. For something different, Sister 7 on Queen Street does brilliant sharing plates in a buzzing atmosphere (plus there’s a DJ booth that livens up later).

Budget-friendly options:

• Zizzi Dublin for Italian with a festive twist
• BrewDog for burger buffets and pizza with drinks packages
• The Market Bar for tapas-style sharing plates

The Most Christmassy Pubs

The Hole in the Wall on Blackhorse Avenue is arguably Dublin’s most impressive Christmas pub, going all-in with decorations from November. Europe’s longest pub transforms into a festive wonderland.

Others worth visiting:

• The Ginger Man
• Strawberry Hall
• Stag’s Head
• Temple Bar (for the lights, though prices can be steep)
• Slattery’s on Capel Street (licensed since 1821)

Pro tip: Do the “12 Pubs of Christmas” crawl with friends—it’s become a proper Dublin tradition. Start early afternoon so you can actually remember all twelve.

Unique Experiences You Won’t Find Elsewhere

Christmas Tea on a Vintage Bus

A restored double-decker takes you past illuminated landmarks like the GPO, Trinity College, and Grafton Street while you sip tea and nibble pastries. Tickets around €60pp, departing from St Stephen’s Green North.

Christmas Day Sea Dip at Forty Foot

The Forty Foot at Sandycove Beach hosts Dublin’s most popular Christmas Day dip—a wildly popular tradition for those brave (or mad) enough.

Elf Town at RDS

A 75-minute immersive experience with a brand-new storyline, featuring reindeer, elves, Jack Frost, and a private visit with Santa who somehow knows one of your child’s secrets. Running after last year’s sell-out debut.

Cathedral Christmas Concerts

St Patrick’s Cathedral hosts Christmas by Candlelight and other festive concerts throughout December. Tickets start at €35, and the cathedral’s acoustics make for an unforgettable experience.

Christ Church Cathedral runs Christmas concerts December 9-11, with tickets at €32.50.

Craft Fairs and Shopping

Gifted at RDS (Dec 3-7) Ireland’s largest craft and design fair features over 400 designers, makers, and artisan food producers. Perfect for unique gifts and supporting local creators. Tickets €12.

Brown Thomas Window Display An institution. The department store’s Christmas windows on Grafton Street are legendary—usually unveiled in early December and worth the trip even if you’re not shopping.

Arnotts Christmas Windows Ireland’s oldest department store goes all-out on Henry Street with equally impressive festive displays.

Day Trips Worth Considering

Phoenix Park

Spot the herd of wild fallow deer roaming freely—there’s something properly magical about seeing them in winter. Few cities worldwide are home to hundreds of wild deer, and winter is when they’re most visible.

Farmleigh House and Estate hosts Christmas markets on the first three weekends of December (dates TBC), running 10am-5pm.

Coastal Escape to Dún Laoghaire

Take the DART for sea air, the Alpine Skate Trail, and gorgeous harbor views. About 30 minutes from the city center.

Practical Info

Getting Around

• Dublin Bus and Luas run throughout the festive period
• Book taxis via apps (FreeNow, Uber) rather than hailing—they’re scarce on busy nights
• Most major events are accessible by public transport
• Important: The RDS has NO on-site parking during Christmas events—use public transport

Money Matters

• Christmas week sees accommodation prices skyrocket
• Many restaurants require advance booking, especially Thursdays-Saturdays
• Budget €15-25 for ice skating, €35+ for shows and concerts
• Most Christmas lights and some markets are free

Accessibility

• Most ice rinks provide support aids
• Wonderlights trails are wheelchair and buggy accessible
• Winter Lights locations around the city are accessible, with designated sensory-friendly areas

What’s NOT Happening in 2025

Dublin Castle Christmas Market – Cancelled until 2027 due to Ireland’s EU Presidency preparations

Mistletown – Despite being announced several years running, it’s not happening again this year

Final Tips From Someone Who’s Done This

1. Book ahead for everything – Shows, popular restaurants, and experiences like Wild Lights sell out
2. Layer properly – You’ll be going from freezing streets to overheated pubs all night
3. Embrace the rain – It’s part of the experience. Get a good coat and crack on
4. Start your evenings early – With sunset at 4:19pm, you can hit Winter Lights, grab dinner, and still make it to the pub by 8pm
5. Use the quiet mornings – Most events and attractions are quieter before 2pm
6. Download offline maps – Some indoor venues have dodgy signal
7. Bring a portable phone charger – Cold weather and constant camera use drain batteries fast

The Verdict

Is Dublin at Christmas cold? Absolutely. Wet? Probably. Worth it? 100%.

There’s something about the combination of twinkling lights reflecting off rain-slicked cobblestones, the warmth of a pub after walking through the cold, and the genuine festive spirit that makes Dublin in December special. The city doesn’t do Christmas by halves—from the massive light installations to the neighborhood pub that’s been decorating the same way for 30 years, there’s a commitment to making the season magical.

Whether you’re into big spectacles like TwinkleTown and Wild Lights, prefer intimate experiences like cathedral concerts, or just want to pub-hop your way through the 12 Pubs of Christmas, Dublin’s got you covered. Pack warm, book ahead, and prepare to fall in love with one of Europe’s most charming winter city breaks.

Bottom line: Christmas in Dublin isn’t about perfect weather—it’s about atmosphere, tradition, and that uniquely Irish ability to make even the dreariest December day feel like an adventure. Bring your warmest coat and your sense of humor, and you’ll have the time of your life.

Start planning now—the best experiences book out by early December. Check individual event websites for the latest times, prices, and availability.