Cheapest Time to Fly to Ireland (and the Most Expensive)
The cheapest time to fly to Ireland is usually late January–March and select fall weeks—while summer, late December, and major holiday periods like St. Patrick’s Day are often the priciest.
Flights to Ireland are one of those routes where timing matters a lot—because there’s a big difference between a random February week and a summer Friday departure. If you can shift your dates a bit, you can often save a solid chunk of money.
Quick Take
- Cheapest time to fly to Ireland: late January–March, late April (some weeks), September, and November–early December
- Most expensive time to fly to Ireland: June–August, mid-March (St. Patrick’s Day week), and late December–early January
Not A Member? ✈️
Save 40%-95% with Jetsetter Alerts - Airline Mistake Fare & Flash Sales Alerts!
Cheapest Time to Fly to Ireland
The best fare windows usually happen when you’re outside summer demand and outside the big holiday weeks.
Late January to March (Winter deals)
After New Year travel wraps up, Ireland prices often drop. This is one of the most reliable stretches for cheaper flights into Dublin (DUB)—and sometimes Shannon (SNN) too.
Money-saving tip: Midweek departures: Tuesday–Thursday flights often price better than weekend-heavy dates.
Heads-up: St. Patrick’s Day timing: mid-March can spike fast, especially for long weekends.
Late April (Shoulder-season weeks)
April can be a mix—early spring break dates can be higher, but certain late-April weeks can have good deal potential before peak summer demand really kicks in.
Money-saving tip: Avoid school-break weeks: if your dates are flexible, compare early vs. late April.
Heads-up: Weekend premiums: Friday and Saturday departures often run noticeably higher.
September (Post-summer cooldown)
Once summer travel fades, September can be one of the best months to fly to Ireland. You still get great trip timing, but fares often soften compared with July and August.
Money-saving tip: Target early-to-mid September: it often prices better than late September.
Heads-up: Event weekends: some dates can jump if there’s a major event or a packed long weekend.
November to Early December (Pre-holiday lull)
This is one of the strongest deal windows for Ireland flights. You’re ahead of Christmas pricing, and airlines usually have more open seats.
Money-saving tip: Return before mid-December: it can save you from the holiday run-up.
Heads-up: Thanksgiving week: can run higher for US travelers than the weeks around it.
💡Looking for a Complete Ireland Travel Guide to help you plan your visit?
Most Expensive Time to Fly to Ireland
Ireland gets pricey when demand piles up—especially summer travel and year-end holidays.
June to August (Summer peak travel)
This is the highest-demand season for Ireland. Prices tend to be high across the board, and the cheapest fare buckets get booked early.
Peak within peak: Late June through early August is often the toughest stretch.
Mid-March (St. Patrick’s Day week)
Even though it’s not summer, this is a major travel week—especially for Dublin. Prices can jump for long-weekend patterns.
Peak within peak: The weekend before and the weekend after St. Patrick’s Day.
Late December to Early January (Holiday travel)
Christmas and New Year travel often pushes prices to their yearly highs—especially if you’re flying on peak days.
Peak within peak: Late-December departures + early-January returns.
Want Better Weather Without Peak Flight Prices?
If you want nicer trip timing without paying summer-level prices, these are usually your best “value weather” windows:
- Late April to May (non-holiday weeks): longer days, spring timing, better fare odds than summer
- September: one of the best blends of pricing and trip timing
- Early December: before holiday prices kick in hard
Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Ireland
Ireland is competitive from the US, but cheap seats still get scooped up quickly—especially for summer.
- Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 2–5 months ahead
- Peak seasons (summer, St. Patrick’s week, late December): start tracking 5–8+ months ahead
Extra tip: Compare airports: Dublin usually has the most competition, but Shannon can be a smart option if you’re heading west.
Ireland Seasonal Travel Demand Chart
Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.
| Month | Demand Level | Price Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Medium → Low | Medium → Low | Drops after early January travel |
| Feb | Low | Low | Often one of the best deal months |
| Mar | Medium → High | Medium → High | St. Patrick’s week can spike |
| Apr | Medium | Medium | Shoulder pricing; varies by week |
| May | Medium → High | Medium → High | Demand builds into summer |
| Jun | High | High | Summer peak begins |
| Jul | High | High | Peak summer pricing |
| Aug | High | High | Summer demand stays elevated |
| Sep | Medium → Low | Medium → Low | Post-summer dip (deal-friendly) |
| Oct | Medium | Medium | Steady pricing in many weeks |
| Nov | Low → Medium | Low → Medium | Strong deal month (avoid Thanksgiving week) |
| Dec | Medium → Very High | Medium → Very High | Early deals, then holiday surge |
Not A Member? ✈️
Save 40%-95% with Jetsetter Alerts - Airline Mistake Fare & Flash Sales Alerts!