Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2027 in Ireland with CIE Tours, the trusted choice for travelers booking expertly crafted vacations, with the option to add flights for a seamless experience. You’ll explore Dublin’s world-famous St. Patrick’s Festival or lively celebrations across Ireland, all on itineraries designed to make the most of your limited vacation time—without the stress of planning every detail yourself.

St. Patrick’s Day is great fun all over the world, with parades, parties, and civic receptions galore. In recent years, St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin has become a true spectacle. It’s like Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Carnival in Brazil: a fun, bucket-list experience that so many people dream about experiencing.

Across Ireland, every city, town, and village joins in. From small parades in tiny towns to music festivals, performances, and the huge festival in Dublin, there’s nothing like being at the heart of it all in Ireland. And while Dublin is the first choice for many visitors and has the biggest party, cities like Galway, Cork, and Belfast also host big festivities—often with smaller crowds and a very local feel.

St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Years ago it was a much quieter day, and even the Dublin parade was a more sedate and local affair. Today the parade is an enormous spectacle, accompanied by a four-day festival that has grown over the past 20 years into a colossal event featuring music, dance, theater, and literature, as well as visual arts, food, wellness, and community activities. This celebration of Irishness showcases Ireland’s global influences, thanks to long traditions of emigration and immigration. It’s one of the world’s biggest festivals.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re interested in coming over to see it all for yourself:

• Book your St. Patrick’s Day tour early, as March departures are especially popular with travelers from the USA. 
• Consider arriving a day before your tour starts to adjust to the time difference and enjoy a relaxed first evening in Ireland.
• Pack layers and a waterproof jacket—March weather can shift quickly, but the celebrations go on rain or shine.
• No matter where you are, you can expect a buzz and a feeling of celebration: traditional music, friendly locals, and a festive atmosphere everywhere you go.
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• It’s a tradition to wear a sprig of shamrock for the day; you might find some in a local shop and, at day’s end, “drown the shamrock” by dropping it into a glass of whiskey for a toast.
• Use the option to add flights when you book, so your air and land arrangements are coordinated by one expert team.

The city of Dublin turns into a sea of emerald. Be sure to bring some green to wear! The crowds in Dublin will be large and lively. Having people come from all over the world to celebrate is incredibly exciting.

You’ll also want to check out some of Ireland’s great traditional foods—you’ll find dishes like shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, or perhaps an Irish stew on the menu. Ireland has an amazing food scene, with a focus on fresh and local: artisanal cheeses, vegetables from lush green fields, and fish straight from the sea.

If you’d like to be in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day in 2027, these CIE Tours departures will have you right in the middle of the action, with specific experiences planned on March 17 itself:

• Irish Adventure – March 15 departure
  On St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll explore Ireland’s sunny south—visiting the glittering Waterford Crystal workshop, the colorful harbor town of Cobh, and the legendary Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the famous stone for good luck before joining in the local festivities.
   
• Irish Adventure – March 17 departure
  You’ll celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, enjoying a panoramic Dublin City Tour and a festive visit to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery as the city turns into a sea of green for its world-famous celebrations.
   
• Evergreen Ireland North – March 14 departure
  On March 17, you’ll be in Northern Ireland, taking in the dramatic Giant’s Causeway and then relaxing at the historic Crosskeys Inn, one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, where traditional music and warm hospitality create a perfect St. Patrick’s atmosphere.
   
• Evergreen Ireland South – March 14 departure
  You’ll spend St. Patrick’s Day amid the breathtaking scenery of the Ring of Kerry, with time to soak up the views and then enjoy the lively pubs and warm welcome of Killarney that evening.
   
• Irish Gold – March 14 departure
  On March 17, you’ll visit the iconic Cliffs of Moher, enjoy an engaging sheepdog demonstration, and then cap off the holiday with dinner and entertainment at Kate Kearney’s Cottage—a wonderful way to celebrate in the Irish countryside.
   
• Irish Pub Tour – March 13 departure
  St. Patrick’s Day finds you at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher and then in vibrant Galway, where the pubs and streets will be alive with traditional music, laughter, and plenty of good craic.
   
• Taste of Ireland – March 12, March 14, and March 15 departures
  These departures place you in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, giving you access to local parades, festive evenings in traditional pubs, and time to experience the holiday like a local—whether you’re in Dublin or out in the west.
   

If a Private Driver trip is more your style, you can build your own custom vacation, tailored to take in all the official St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Visit our Custom Private Driver page to get started. Experience exactly the trip you want with an expert at the wheel, giving you the kind of guidance only a local can.

Or, if a self-drive trip is your dream, we have plenty of options with our Independent Adventures—giving you the freedom to explore Ireland, follow the festivities, and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at your own pace.