An autumn break in Dublin is when sporting events reach their climax, opera starts to warm up and nature bursts into glorious autumnal hues. Book a hotel in Dublin in autumn and see the city at its best.

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    Spooky celebrations

    Spooky celebrations

    One of the only countries in the world to have a bank holiday for Hallowe’en, Samhain (its original Gaelic name) is celebrated with music, dance and fancy-dress parades. The last Monday of October marks the end of the summer harvest season and incorporates the pagan festival of the dead so expect to see a grand parade with a ghostly theme. It’s also the same day as the Dublin Marathon through the city centre.

    photo by William Murphy (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

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    Autumn colours

    Autumn colours

    Ireland might be famous for its emerald-green landscape, but an autumn break in Dublin means rich golden colours. Enjoy lush St Stephen’s Green and admire the changing colours of the leaves on the trees, even better against a backdrop of a crisp blue sky. Take a peaceful Sunday morning stroll along Grand Canal from the dock westward to Portobello, past locks, basking ducks, quaint bridges and statues.

    In Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest city-centre park, you can hire a bike to pedal through thousands of trees, including beech, sycamore and horse chestnut, and you may spot deer on the way. At the superb Botanic Gardens in the northern suburbs, the rust-coloured trees contrast with the lush palms in the glasshouses.

    photo by Fabian Walden (CC BY 2.0) modified

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    Theatrical festivals

    Theatrical festivals

    You can enjoy Dublin’s theatres year-round, but the Dublin Theatre Festival from late September celebrates drama from around the globe. As well as top performances in the Abbey, Project Arts Centre and the Samuel Beckett Theatre, there are also workshops, free panel discussions and plenty of children’s events. A touch more unorthodox, the fortnight-long Dublin Fringe Festival in September sees a melange of contemporary high-octane performing arts, from risqué circus in makeshift arenas to escapology in public squares.

    photo by bjaglin (CC BY 2.0) modified

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    Gaelic games

    Gaelic games

    Sports fans will love the GAA Museum at Croke Park, celebrating traditional Gaelic games. But nothing can quite beat being there among the 80,000-strong crowd for a Gaelic football or hurling match. September sees both sports reach the seasonal climax when the All-Ireland finals take place and the city comes alive, especially if the Dubs reach the final. Swot up on the rules of these fast and furious games and join the party.

    Map

    photo by Paolo Trabattoni (CC BY 2.0) modified

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    Curl up with a pint

    Curl up with a pint

    On chilly autumn evenings, there are few better ways to warm up than with a pint in a cosy bar. Many pubs remain with their original Victorian-era snugs (wood-panelled booths) and perhaps a log fire. Sink into high-backed leather chairs at the hushed Library Bar or hear the live rock bands at Bruxelles. Cosy up in lovably shabby Grogans, popular with old-school writers and actors who settle down on chilly evenings with a pint and a toasted sandwich, surrounded by local artwork.

    photo by William Murphy (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

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    Opera and pantomime

    Opera and pantomime

    The highly regarded Opera Ireland starts its season in November, so dress up and enjoy a touch of Dublin’s high-brow entertainment. A handful of operas are staged each year at the Gaiety Theatre, going strong since 1871. For a taste of the forthcoming winter season, late autumn also sees the first performances of pantomimes, with the Gaiety putting on Ireland's largest panto.

    photo by DubhEire (CC0 1.0) modified