Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day In Dublin

When it comes to bucket lists, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin often makes the cut.

And why wouldn’t it? This lively city, full of craic (fun and banter), goes all out in March, buzzing with Irish pride and good vibes.

St. Patrick’s Day itself honors Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick.

As the story goes, he brought Christianity to Ireland and sent the snakes packing. To make religion palatable, he reputedly used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity when talking to the Celtic pagans.  

people celebrating St Patrick's day in the Temple Bar area

These days, the holiday conjures up images of green pints, parade floats, and over-the-top leprechaun costumes. But back in the day, it was more about a quiet day off to attend church.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that beer companies jumped on the bandwagon. Then, the day turned into the crazy celebration we all know and love.

If you’re looking for the ultimate way to mark St. Patrick’s Day, there’s no better spot than Dublin! Here’s what to expect with some must no tips.

St. Patrick’s Day In Dublin: What To Expect

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a wonderfully creative celebration of all things Irish and of Ireland’s connections with people all over the globe.

The parade happens on March 17. But it’s really more of a multi-day celebration.

men wearing green suits

It lasts 4-5 days and will always encompass a weekend. Which is great if the 17th has the bad manners to fall mid-week!

This year it’s from March 15-17 (a bit short!). The theme for the 2025 Festival and Parade in Dublin is ‘Spréach’, the Irish word for “Spark.” This means the very essence, life force, of being Irish.

Parades are held all over Ireland, in towns big and small. But the main event is in Dublin. So, if you want to experience a fantastic Paddy’s Day with real Irish gusto, you need to plan a visit to the big parade.

It kicks off at noon. But you need to get there early to grab your spot along the route! Like by 9:00 am or 10:00 am or so.

Every path, every grandstand, every lamppost will be packed with people five feet deep.

The annual attendance, just in Dublin, is around half a million people. And the parade lasts about 2 hours.

dancers in the parade

You can purchase grandstand tickets for the parade in advance. The official St. Patrick’s Festival website offers covered and tiered seating at six strategic locations along the parade route.

These grandstands provide excellent views and lively commentary as the parade unfolds.

To properly celebrate the big day, you’ll need to pack an absolute mountain of green. Seriously, go full shamrock mode.

Locals are decked out in green all week long. And the tradition is to pin fresh shamrocks on your outfit.

And on the big day? If you’re not wearing green, don’t be surprised if you get a cheeky pinch.

It’s the rule! The green’s meant to keep you invisible to leprechauns.

parade route from Festival website
parade route from Festival website

The parade starts in Parnell Square in North Dublin. It proceeds down O’Connell Street and then twists past Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral.

Finally, it turns — appropriately enough –into Patrick Street beneath St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

The high energy parade is a wildly colorful affair. Streets are lined with green, gold, and white decorations.

The parade features all sort of mythical, literary, or historical creations. There are guys dressed as St. Patrick (although who knows what he really looked like).

There are bands and dancing girls from all over the world. Jugglers toss chains saws in the air. Others dressed as Dracula or Gulliver ride unicycles.

marchers in costumes

Uniformed performers play lively Irish tunes and traditional marching songs. Dancers, acrobats, and stilt walkers weave through the streets. Wild!

After the parade, It’s only 2:00 pm. So there’s a lot of pub time left.

Before you hit more pubs, you may want to have a wee bit to eat to soak up the pints to follow. Try a hearty Irish beef stew, a Dublin coddle, a sausage and bacon pie, or some black pudding.

When you return to your pints, I would avoid the Temple Bar area. It will be super crowded and prices will be sky high.

Head to North Dublin or the St. Stephen’s Green area instead. That’s where the locals likely will be. For trad music, try the Cobblestone in Smithfield.

couple dressed in green and drinking green beer

Some pubs serve up green beer. While fun, it’s a novelty and not exactly a refined experience. It’s gross! You’re better off skipping it for something more authentic.

Anyway, after the parade, as you might guess, central Dublin is very chaotic. There is a big police presence. But generally the mood is good natured.

As night descends, many of Dublin’s buildings turn green. You may even feel a bit green if you’re been “on the lash” (drinking) all day as well.

And you’re not even done yet. The broader festival involves a whole series of events such as exhibitions, tours, live music, live theater, children’s events, food stalls, etc.

The whole shebang culminates with a fireworks display on the River Liffey.

It’s a great time to be Irish or of Irish descent. Even if you’re not Irish, you’ll be awarded temporary Irish nationality. Enjoy the craic!!

the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin
the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin

Tips For St. Patricks’s Day In Dublin

Be sure to book your accommodation well in advance for this holiday! Here are some of my favorite hotels in Dublin:

Pack a lot of green. You’ll need to wear it everyday. And you will likely be splashed with beer and want to change.

This time of year there are a few things you really need to book in advance, if you’re planning to add a bit of sightseeing to your pub crawls.

pub in Dublin

If you don’t like crowds, attending the St. Patrick’s Day Parade might not be the best idea. The parade draws massive crowds every year.

Personal space will be limited. Introverts visiting the city may want to hide in one of the city’s many museums to avoid the big party.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin. You may find these other Dublin travel guides useful:

Pin it for later.

Pinterest pin graphic for celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
Pinterest pin graphic for celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
Pinterest pin graphic for celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Dublin