How to Travel to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day on a Budget

A once-in-a-lifetime event, St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is full of parades, dancing, music, and an energetic atmosphere. However, it might be costly to travel during this well-liked season. Thankfully, you can enjoy the celebrations without going over budget if you plan and spend wisely. Here’s how to spend less money on a St. Patrick’s Day trip to Ireland.

Book Flights Early

The cost of flights to Ireland, especially to Dublin, tends to increase dramatically as St. Patrick’s Day draws near. To keep an eye on costs and create alerts for sales, use travel comparison services such as Skyscanner or Google Flights.

Money-Saving Advice:

To locate less expensive solutions, be flexible with your departure and return dates.
Take public transportation to Dublin after flying into a neighboring city, such as Belfast or Shannon, where airfares could be less expensive.
For cheaper prices, look for low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Aer Lingus.

Shop Smart for Souvenirs

Although purchasing souvenirs from tourist stores might be alluring, their costs are sometimes exorbitant.

Ideas for Low-Cost Souvenirs:

Purchase from Local Markets: Look for genuine Irish crafts at markets rather than expensive shops.
Choose Useful Souvenirs: Postcards, chocolate, and Irish tea are inexpensive and simple to package.
Avoid Airport Shops: Purchase your souvenirs in advance because prices are much higher at the airport.
Shop Online: A lot of Irish retailers have online shops where you can get genuine items at reduced costs, sometimes with special offers for customers from abroad.

Choose Budget Accommodation

When St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Dublin, hotels may get very pricey. Instead, think about less expensive options like Couchsurfing, Airbnb, or hostels.

Reasonably Priced Accommodations:

Hostels: Dublin is home to several well-regarded hostels, such as Generator Hostel and Abbey Court, which provide dorm-style accommodations at a far lower price than hotels.
Airbnb: Compared to hotels, renting a private room on Airbnb can be less expensive and provide a more local experience.
Stay Outside of Dublin: It might be significantly less expensive to stay in Northern Ireland or neighboring towns like Bray or Drogheda. After that, you can get into the city for the celebrations by taking a quick rail or bus journey.

Use Public Transportation

Use Ireland’s reliable public transit system rather than hiring a car, which can be expensive due to gasoline and insurance costs.

Reasonably priced transportation options:

Get a Leap Visitor Card: To enjoy unlimited bus, tram, and rail travel in Dublin.
Train and Bus Travel: For reasonably priced transportation between cities if you’re going outside of Dublin, choose Irish Rail and Bus Éireann.
Walking and Biking: Dublin is a fairly walkable city, and you can hire bikes for a reasonable daily fee through the Dublin Bikes program.

Enjoy Free and Low-Cost Activities

There are lots of free things to do in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, even if there are a lot of paid excursions and attractions.

Free and Low-Cost Activities:

Go to the Parade: Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade offers amazing acts and admission is free.
Discover Phoenix Park: One of the biggest parks in Europe, which is ideal for a picnic or a beautiful stroll.
Visit Free Museums: Admission to both the National Museum of Ireland and the National Gallery of Ireland is free.
Participate in Pub Celebrations: Traditional music and dance are performed live in several taverns; there is no cover fee!

Take Advantage of Budget-Friendly Tours

There are several reasonably priced day trips and self-guided choices if you wish to travel outside of Dublin.

Ideas for Budget-Friendly Tours:

Take a Free Walking Tour: Tipping-based walking tours around Dublin are available from companies such as Sandemans.
Make use of a Dublin Pass: This sightseeing pass offers savings at the main landmarks.
Explore Local Towns on a Budget: For picturesque excursions, take a cheap rail or bus to Howth, Kilkenny, or Wicklow.