Best time to visit Belfast
The best time to visit Belfast is June, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 3.6 °C / 38 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 8 °C / 46 °F | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | 66 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | 4.2 °C / 40 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 11.4 °C / 53 °F | 5.8 °C / 42 °F | 56 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| May | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 8.2 °C / 47 °F | 66 mm / 2.6 in | good month |
| June | 16.6 °C / 62 °F | 10.9 °C / 52 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | best month |
| July | 18 °C / 64 °F | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| August | 17.5 °C / 64 °F | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 90 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| September | 16 °C / 61 °F | 11 °C / 52 °F | 75 mm / 3 in | good month |
| October | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 10 °C / 50 °F | 6 °C / 43 °F | 85 mm / 3.3 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 8.1 °C / 47 °F | 4.2 °C / 40 °F | 85 mm / 3.3 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June
- Good
- April–May, July–September
Belfast stays cool and rainy nearly year-round: June gives the best mix of mild warmth and sunshine for exploring; April, May and July-September are good for walking despite frequent rain; the dark, cold, humid October-March months are unsuited to extended outdoor days.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 5.8 °C / 42 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 8.2 °C / 47 °F, average daily high 11.4 °C / 53 °F, wet days 11.7 days, precipitation 56 mm / 2.2 in, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Belfast Film Festival, Easter, Football season, Titanic Belfast anniversary events.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 67%, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 8.2 °C / 47 °F.
Against: wet days 14.2 days, precipitation 66 mm / 2.6 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 48%, feels like (high) 11.8 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Balmoral Show, Beer and Cider Festival, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, City Marathon, May Day fêtes.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.2 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 64%, average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F.
Against: wet days 13.5 days, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%, relative humidity 80%.
Also on: Belfast Book Festival, Belfast Photo Festival, Belsonic.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 60%, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 15.3 days, relative humidity 82%, precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 44%.
Also on: Belfast Pride, Belfast TradFest, Féile an Phobail, The Twelfth (Orange Order Parades), Titanic International Tattoo Convention.
Watch out for: The Twelfth bonfires and crowding.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 62%, average daily high 17.5 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 15.4 days, relative humidity 83%, precipitation 90 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 2.5 days.
Also on: Féile an Phobail.
September · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 60%, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 16 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F.
Against: wet days 13.1 days, precipitation 75 mm / 3 in, sunshine per day 7.7 h, relative humidity 84%.
Also on: Belfast Half Marathon, Belfast International Tattoo, Football season.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Glencoe Mountain Resort, 234 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 3.5 °C | 4 °C | 5.4 °C | 8.2 °C | 11.8 °C | 15.2 °C | 17 °C | 16.2 °C | 14.1 °C | 10.7 °C | 6.7 °C | 4.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.6 days | 1.3 days | 1.3 days | 0.8 days | 1.1 days | 2 days | 2.2 days | 2.5 days | 1.9 days | 2.8 days | 2.1 days | 2.5 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 am | 4 am | 5 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 8 am | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 4.1 h | 5.4 h | 7.2 h | 9.7 h | 10.8 h | 10.9 h | 10.1 h | 9.1 h | 7.7 h | 5.6 h | 4.5 h | 3.4 h |
| Relative humidity | 86% | 84% | 82% | 78% | 78% | 80% | 82% | 83% | 84% | 85% | 86% | 87% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 6.1 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ | 4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 7.6 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | 9.9 µg/m³ | 10.6 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Out to Lunch Arts Festival
January
- Football season
January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December
- Brilliant Corners Jazz Festival
February and March
- St Patrick's Day
17 March
- Belfast Children's Festival
March
- Easter
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Titanic Belfast anniversary events
April
- Belfast Film Festival
April
- Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
May
- Balmoral Show
May
- Beer and Cider Festival
May
- City Marathon
1–7 May
- May Day fêtes
1–7 May
- Belfast Book Festival
1–7 June
- Belfast Photo Festival
June
- Belsonic
17–30 June
- Titanic International Tattoo Convention
July
- Belfast TradFest
July
- Belfast Pride
20–31 July
- The Twelfth (Orange Order Parades)
12 July
- Féile an Phobail
25 July–5 August
- Belfast Half Marathon
September
- Belfast International Tattoo
September
- Belfast International Arts Festival
20 October–10 November
- Halloween
25–31 October
- Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day
8–11 November, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas Market
15 November–15 December
Worth knowing before you go
- Christmas and New Year closures and crowding
24 December–2 January
- The Twelfth bonfires and crowding
11–12 July