Dublin 360 Travel Guide

The Emerald City
in March 2026

Parades, festivals, wild coastlines and a pint by the fire — Dublin in March is the most magical month to visit Ireland.

  March 2026  

Dublin Turns Green

There is no better time to visit Dublin than March. The city shakes off the winter grey and erupts in colour, music and celebration. The streets fill with visitors from every corner of the globe — but beyond the famous parade, there is a depth of culture, history, food and natural beauty that rewards those who look a little closer.

“The whole world is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day — and Dublin is where the world comes to celebrate.”

Whether you want to join a 600,000-strong crowd for the world’s most famous parade, hike the sea cliffs of Howth in the crisp spring air, sip whiskey in a centuries-old distillery, or wander ancient monastic ruins in County Wicklow, March 2026 gives you all of this and more.

Below is your complete guide to the best events, day tours and unmissable attractions for anyone visiting Dublin this March.

14 – 17 March 2026

St. Patrick’s Festival

The largest celebration of Irish culture and heritage in the world runs across four spectacular days in the heart of Dublin city.

14Saturday, March

• Dearly Beheaded – Dubh Linn Garden
• Northern Lights Cabaret
• Ember Éire
• Circus Fergus – Central Plaza
• Down to Clown Fire Show
• Dublin City Council Family Village
• DCC Treasure Hunt

15Sunday, March

• Sing Ireland – Central Plaza
• Belle Harmonics – Central Plaza
• Dearly Beheaded continues
• Spreacha na hOíche
• Children’s Willow Fish Workshop
• ABAIR: Storytelling @ Peacock Bar

16Monday, March

• ABAIR: Stoite/Uprooted – Button Factory
• Northern Lights Cabaret
• The Seed – Strix Nebulosa, Wolfe Tone Park
• Ember Éire
• Down to Clown Fire Show

17St. Patrick’s Day 

• The Grand Parade – Dublin City Centre
• Céilí Mór – Merrion Square West
• Grand Marshal: Vogue Williams
• Family celebrations citywide

 The Grand Parade – 17th March

The centrepiece of the festival is the world-famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday 17th March through Dublin city centre. This year’s Grand Marshal is Vogue Williams. Grandstand tickets are available now for premium viewing spots along the route. The parade passes through the heart of the city — pick up a free parade map at stpatricksfestival.ie to plan your perfect vantage point. After the parade, don’t miss the Céilí Mór at Merrion Square West — a joyful mass céilí dance open to all, with a live traditional music band.

 Book Grandstand Tickets  |  View Full Events Programme

Beyond the Parade

More Festival Highlights

The St. Patrick’s Festival programme is packed with performances, art, music and family fun across the city. Here are some of the standout events.

Visual Art

Dearly Beheaded

Sat 14 – Sun 15

A dramatic outdoor spectacle at Dubh Linn Garden and Fusiliers’ Arch, blending Irish mythology and contemporary visual art in a show that will stop you in your tracks.

Live Performance

Northern Lights Cabaret

Sat 14 – Mon 16

A dazzling cabaret show spanning Central Plaza Dame St. and Wolfe Tone Park, bringing Scandinavian-inspired spectacle to the Irish festival scene.

Fire Performance

Down to Clown Fire Show

Sat 14 – Mon 16

Thrilling fire acts light up Central Plaza and South King Street over three evenings. A breathtaking free street spectacle that’s perfect for all ages.

Irish Language

ABAIR: Stoite / Uprooted

Mon 16 · Button Factory

A powerful evening of Irish language storytelling and performance at the iconic Button Factory, celebrating the roots and reach of the Irish diaspora.

Community · Free

Sing Ireland

Sun 15 · Central Plaza

A joyful community singing event at Central Plaza Dame St. — voices from across Ireland and the world come together in celebration.

Family Friendly

DCC Family Village

Sat 14 – Mon 16

Dublin City Council’s Festival Family Village offers three days of family-focused fun including workshops, children’s entertainment and the Willow Fish Workshop on Sunday.

Trail · Free

DCC Treasure Hunt

Sat 14 · Wood Quay

Also available in Irish as Tóraíocht Taisce — the Dublin City Council St. Patrick’s Festival Treasure Hunt returns for 2026, starting from the Civic Offices at Wood Quay.

Traditional Dance

Céilí Mór

Tue 17 · Merrion Square West

End St. Patrick’s Day with Ireland’s grandest public céilí at Merrion Square. Bring the whole family and join the dancing — no experience required, just good spirits!

Get Out of the City

Unmissable Day Tours

Dublin is the perfect base for exploring Ireland. These handpicked day tours from Dublin 360 / DubTours let you see the best of the country and be back in the city by evening.

From €43 · 11 Hours

Kilkenny, Wicklow Mountains & Glendalough

One of the best-value day tours from Dublin. Visit the medieval city of Kilkenny, wind through the wild Wicklow Mountains and explore the stunning 6th-century monastic site at Glendalough — a truly iconic Irish landscape.

 11 HoursBook NowFrom €75 · ~13 Hours

Cliffs of Moher, Burren & Galway City

Ireland’s most spectacular natural wonder. Stand at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher with views across the Atlantic, explore the otherworldly Burren limestone landscape, and finish with time to explore the colourful streets of Galway.

 12 hrs 45 minBook NowFrom €85 · 13.5 Hours

Belfast City & Giant’s Causeway

Cross the border into Northern Ireland for a full day combining the vibrant city of Belfast with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Giant’s Causeway — 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast.

 13.5 HoursBook NowFrom €55 · 8.5 Hours

The Original Wild Wicklow Day Tour

The award-winning Wild Wicklow tour takes you through Ireland’s “Garden County” — lush valleys, mountain passes, Georgian estates and the monastic wonderland of Glendalough. Stunning in any season, but magical in March.

 8.5 HoursBook NowFrom €85 · 8 Hours

Newgrange & Boyne Valley Day Tour

Journey back 5,000 years to Newgrange — a passage tomb older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Set in the lush Boyne Valley, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is extraordinary in the low winter light of March.

 8 HoursBook NowFrom €65 · 7 Hours

Wicklow, Glendalough & Powerscourt

Combine two of Wicklow’s crown jewels — the Glendalough monastic valley and the breathtaking formal gardens of Powerscourt Estate, one of the world’s great gardens, set beneath the Great Sugar Loaf mountain.

 7 HoursBook NowIn the City

Top Dublin Attractions

When you’re not out touring the country or celebrating the festival, Dublin’s own streets are packed with world-class museums, distilleries, cathedrals and experiences.

Guinness Storehouse

Seven floors of brewing history culminating in the famous Gravity Bar with 360° views over Dublin. From €30. Book tickets →

Whiskey Distillery Tours

Choose from Jameson Bow St. (from €31), Teeling Distillery (from €20), Roe & Co (from €28), or the historic Pearse Lyons Distillery. Explore all →

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The national cathedral of Ireland and one of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks. From €11.50 — especially atmospheric during the festival week. Book →

Christ Church Cathedral

Founded in 1030, this medieval cathedral sits in the heart of Viking Dublin. From €12. Don’t miss the crypt — the oldest surviving structure in the city.

EPIC — The Irish Emigration Museum

An award-winning interactive museum charting the global Irish diaspora through 20 immersive galleries. From €21. Book →

Musical Pub Crawl

Two professional musicians lead you through Temple Bar’s best pubs, playing live and explaining the history of Irish traditional music. From €26. Book →

Howth Cliff Walk

Just 30 minutes from the city by DART, the Howth Head cliff walk delivers dramatic coastal views, fresh sea air and great seafood. Perfect for a clear March day. Free to walk, guided hike tours from €41.

Little Museum of Dublin

Dublin’s beloved people’s museum, telling the story of the city through donated artefacts and gloriously entertaining guided tours. From €18. Book →

Dublin Zoo

One of Europe’s top zoos in the heart of Phoenix Park. From €22.40 — the parade floats always feature the Zoo’s animals, so look out for them on March 17th!

Dublin Bay Cruises

See Dublin from the water on a cruise from the city to Howth or Dún Laoghaire. From €23. March sea air is bracing but the light is extraordinary. Book →

Guided Donut Tour & Tasting

One of Dublin’s most fun foodie experiences — a guided walking tour of the city with stops at artisan donut spots. From €59.50, 2 hours. Book →

GhostBus Tour

March evenings call for a theatrical after-dark tour of Dublin’s darkest history aboard the famous GhostBus. From €35, 2 hours — great fun even for sceptics. Book →

Practical Info

Essential Tips for March

01

Book Early

Hotel and accommodation prices surge during festival week (14–17 March). Book as far in advance as possible — the city fills up fast for St. Patrick’s Festival.

02

Dress in Layers

March in Dublin means anything from bright spring sunshine to wind and rain — sometimes all in the same afternoon. Waterproof layers and comfortable walking shoes are essential.

03

Get the DART

The DART coastal rail line is the easiest way to reach Howth, Malahide, Dún Laoghaire and Bray from the city centre. A DoDublin Freedom Travel Pass covers bus and city transport.

04

Parade Grandstands

For the best parade experience, consider a grandstand ticket from stpatricksfestival.ie. They sell out quickly but offer reserved seating with great sightlines along the route.

05

Explore Beyond Temple Bar

Temple Bar is fun but pricey. The Liberties, Phibsboro, Portobello and Ranelagh are where Dubliners actually drink — and the pints are cheaper and the craic is better.

06

Free Things to Do

The National Botanic Gardens, most of the festival street performances, the Céilí Mór, the Parade itself, and a walk along the Grand Canal are all completely free.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all. We hope you have a wonderful time in Dublin this March.

Useful Links:  St. Patrick’s Festival  |  Dublin 360 / DubTours  |  Dublin 360 City Guide