We’ve been talking a lot recently about exotic destinations in the south pacific, French Polynesia, and similar tropical locales, but what about something a little closer to home? There are many incredible destinations just a short hop across the Atlantic, rather than the Pacific, and they can often be cheaper, more comfortable, and less stressful to visit.

One such destination is Ireland. A land of unique history, culture, and environment, Ireland may not be the largest country in the world – it’s about the size of Maine – but there’s plenty to see and do, whether you’re visiting for a weekend, spending a month exploring, or taking an extended holiday.

While we didn’t list Ireland as one of the most family-friendly destinations in Europe, that doesn’t mean it’s not; we just didn’t have room on the list! Ireland is great for solo travelers, groups of friends, whole families, and more. It’s not uncommon for whole student groups and sports teams to visit Ireland as an organized trip at the end of the school year, for example.

So, if you want to visit Ireland, what should you do when you’re there? Today, we’re specifically looking at autumn and the unique activities you can experience in the harvest season.

Why Visit Ireland in the Fall?

First, a brief discussion on why we’ve chosen autumn. There are a few reasons.

Harvest festivals are huge. Ireland has a culture that heavily partakes in harvest and cultural festivals, and some of these festivals are incredibly fun. We’ll talk more about that later – spoiler, it’s one of the seven items on our list – but it’s enough of a reason to visit the country on its own that it’s worth mentioning up front.

You might see the northern lights. Ireland isn’t as far north as Iceland or the darkest parts of Scandinavia, but it’s further north than the continental US, and right now, we’re at the peak of a solar cycle. The northern lights are very active – and, in some cases, can be seen as far south as Kentucky – so when they put on a show, Ireland is a great place to be to see it. Autumn is the best time of year to see the northern lights when you’re not so far north to have extremely short days.

The weather is brilliant. Okay, sure, it can be an acquired taste. If you’re a SoCal resident and can’t get enough of the tropical sun, a cooler and rainier northern climate can be a hard sell. But Ireland in autumn can be gorgeous, with trees turning colors, comfortable temperatures without needing to bundle up, and a crispness to the air that leaves you feeling refreshed. Just be aware that sometimes it can be quite rainy and dreary. Temperatures in autumn are around the high 50s and low 60s on average.

If we’re honest, there are excellent things to see and do all year round in Ireland. Any season is a valid time to visit. Autumn just happens to be one of the most gorgeous in terms of the views and experiences you can have without planning too much ahead of time.

Are there downsides to visiting Ireland in the fall?

A couple. With temperatures in the 50s and 60s, if you aren’t prepared, it can be a little unpleasant and chilly, especially if you’re used to warmer climes. It’s easy to dress for the weather, though, so this isn’t a huge problem.

The biggest issue out of everything is just the weather. Ireland pretty much always has the possibility of rain, but autumn storms can come in fast and dump a lot of water quickly, and getting caught without shelter in the middle of the rain isn’t a pleasant experience. But it’s never guaranteed to happen, and you might have a completely mild and idyllic experience.

So, what are the best things to do in Ireland in the fall? Here are our top seven recommendations.

#1: Attend the Harvest Festivals

September, October, and a little of both August and November encompass the harvest season in Ireland, and there are a bunch of different celebrations and festivals that take place throughout this season.

Some of your options include:

• Kilkenny Arts Festival, a 50-year-running ten-day art and music festival encompassing everything from written and drawn works to performance arts.
• Dublin Fringe Festival, a multidisciplinary arts festival that lasts for two weeks in early September.
• Dublin Festival of History, a historical festival in the capital centered around the rich history and culture of the country.
• Galway Oyster and Seafood Festival, a seafood festival on the sea and one of the most popular food festivals in the country, with very good reason.
• Dingle Food Festival, an early October festival in the fishing village of Dingle including cooking demonstrations, food trails, and a huge market.
• Derry Halloween, a celebration that has good claim to being the largest Halloween festival in all of Europe.
• Bram Stoker Festival, a celebration of the creator of Dracula.

This is just scratching the surface of the options you have available. You can find full lists of festivals all around the calendar and even check local resources for the cities you want to visit.

#2: Hike and Bike the Countryside

One of the best things to do in Ireland is simply to experience Ireland. While the big cities are great, there is also a huge array of parks, trails, rural roads, and countryside sights to explore.

You can go about this in a lot of different ways. Renting a car lets you explore the country freely, and there are extensive maps of mountain trails, coastal causeways, and even island exploration available to you.

Another option is to book a hiking and/or cycling tour. There are many different kinds of tours, from single-day trips to week-long excursions, from simple and mostly flat trails to nearly mountain climbing. Sites like this offer downloadable itineraries for different options, including basically everything you need to know to take the trip.

Cycle tours are also available, and these can be very fun if you’re an avid cyclist. Paid tours come with support, which means you don’t have to haul your luggage with you on the bike, but have it brought to your destination each day while you just enjoy the ride.

And, of course, more guided tours are also an option if you want more structure, a group of people to travel with, and a uniquely tailored experience.

#3: Pay Respects at the Necropolis

Formerly known as Glasnevin, the Dublin Cemeteries Trust is an organization established in 1828 and has maintained detailed records of everyone buried in their cemeteries in all of that time. By far the largest of the cemeteries is Glasnevin itself, encompassing 124 acres and acting as the final resting place of almost 1.5 million people, ranging from everyday citizens to famous poets, artists, and more.

It’s not quite the same sort of necropolis as you might picture if you’re thinking of the Paris Catacombs; rather, it’s a large, dense, and elaborate arrangement of graves, markers, tombs, and monuments. If you’re a fan of history, if you enjoy the works of Irish poets and writers, or even if you just like the stonework, it can be an enjoyable way to spend a day.

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The cemeteries trust also offers guided tours, to see some of the more interesting graves, talk about the history of the cemetery and of Ireland itself, and give you a unique insight you won’t get if you just stroll through on your own.

Do remember that Glasnevin is still an active cemetery, and not everyone there is there as a tourist, so make sure to remain respectful as you explore.

#4: Explore the Paranormal for All Hallows Eve

One of the best parts of fall is the lead-up to Halloween. While not every nation or culture celebrates the spooky holiday – and some do so in very different ways – Ireland has its own kind of paranormal culture.

There’s a saying: Europeans view 100 miles as a long way, while Americans view 100 years as a long time. Ireland, in particular, has thousands of years of history; while it’s impressive to see a building over 100 years old in America, finding a building over a thousand years old in Ireland isn’t even that difficult.

All of this is to say that there’s a lot of history in Ireland, and where there’s history, there’s hauntings. If you’re the kind to appreciate a good ghost story, there are a number of haunted locations, from castles and hotels to folklore-laden street corners and more. There are also a variety of ghost tours you can take, ranging from spending an evening in a haunted harbor town to riding a paranormal tour bus.

Alright, so some of these tours are definitely cheesy, with paid actors operating as spookums while tour guides hype them up. Others, though, are much more matter-of-fact and let the history and the atmosphere do the talking for them. In other words, there’s something for everyone.

#5: Enjoy the Gardens in Full Color

One of the most brilliant parts of fall is the way the plant life around the world turns vibrant colors before winter dries it all up. Several key locations around Ireland are botanical gardens designed with these kinds of transitions in mind, including the Samhain Winter Garden at Brigit’s Garden in Galway and the Mount Stewart Gardens in Northern Ireland.

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This also applies, of course, to all of the countryside tours and other adventures you can have. Really, anywhere you go in Ireland is going to have some impressive sights to see. You just get to pick and choose between options like city parks, national parks, botanical gardens, and pristine countryside walking tours.

One thing to remember about Ireland is that, unlike some other European countries, there’s no statutory Right to Roam in Ireland. Right to Roam is available right next door in Britain, but Ireland doesn’t allow it. For those of you who don’t know, the Right to Roam is the ability to simply go anywhere overland, as long as you’re respectful; effectively, the concept of “trespassing” doesn’t exist, at least for rural and backcountry areas. Unfortunately, Ireland doesn’t offer that freedom and flexibility, so trying to wander through backyards and village properties can run you afoul of the law. You can, of course, ask permission to explore if you want!

#6: Enjoy the Food, Music, and Culture of Ireland

Any time you visit Ireland will be a good time to immerse yourself in the culture, from a cozy café to a produce market to listening to music on the air. Autumn is one of the best times for food because it’s harvest season, and it’s a great time for music, including many music festivals.

There are a lot of little things you can do along the way, too. Ireland is a hub for millions of birds as they migrate for the season, so you can see all manner of avian life. It’s also a great place to go whale watching, especially if you’re up for a boat tour. And, of course, there are many historic castles, some of which operate as lodging so you can spend a night in one.

#7: Do it All with a Road Trip

Since Ireland is such a fantastic destination, people have been very good at coming up with plans and itineraries for tourism throughout the island nation. It’s fairly easy to get about with a rental car (at least as long as you have an international license), and it’s a great way to see as much of the country as possible in a relatively short time.

This page has an incredible number of possible road trip plans, organized by how long the trips are (from three days to 21 days) and from your starting point (with options including Dublin, Knock, Cork, Belfast, Donegal, Wexford, and Shannon). They also have options if you want to take public transport, including bus and train rides, rather than rent a car and go your own way. We recommend the car option for more flexibility, but there are so many options that you can definitely find something that encompasses everything you want to see and do.

What do you like most about Ireland, or what do you have on your Irish bucket list? Let us know in the comments!