Holidays in October 2025: Best Deals from Ireland & Calendar
October 2025 in Ireland is not just another month — the Republic’s Autumn Bank Holiday on Monday the 27th creates a genuine long-weekend window, and travel agencies from Budget Travel to TUI are already loading their cheapest sun packages around that date. The deals are real, but they move fast: booking on the 24th versus the 28th can easily mean €100 per person difference. Here’s what you need to know to plan without guessing.
Top Sun Destinations from Ireland: Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malta, Majorca · Low Deposit Offers: From €19 per person · Ireland Bank Holiday: Monday, 27 October · Key Calendar Holidays: Columbus Day (Oct 13), Halloween (Oct 31) · Budget Deals Start: €179 for October packages
Quick snapshot
- Exact flight pricing for departures around 27 Oct 2025 (post-season verification pending)
- Real-time availability for specific hotel categories as of May 2026
- Columbus Day (US): 13 October 2025
- Ireland Bank Holiday: 27 October 2025
- Halloween: 31 October 2025
- Book departures 24–26 October to anchor the long weekend (loveholidays)
- Packages from €179 pp with deposits from €19 (loveholidays)
- Monitor TUI October deals for last-minute drops (TUI)
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Ireland Bank Holiday | Monday 27 October 2025 |
| Popular Destinations | Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malta |
| Deal Starting Price | €179 pp |
| Deposit From | €19 |
What holidays are in October 2025?
Three dates tend to dominate the October calendar for Irish readers: Columbus Day (US, 13 October), Halloween (31 October), and the Republic’s own Autumn Bank Holiday on the last Monday. The Samhain connection gives the Irish holiday cultural weight — the October Bank Holiday corresponds with the Gaelic seasonal festival marking winter’s start, according to Flair HR.
Major US and international observances
- Columbus Day (US): 13 October 2025 — a public holiday in many US states, affecting some transatlantic flight schedules
- Halloween: 31 October 2025 — celebrated across Ireland, UK, and North America
- Guy Fawkes Night (UK): 5 November 2025 — outside October but often grouped in seasonal travel planning
Ireland-specific dates
- October Bank Holiday: Monday 27 October 2025 — Republic of Ireland only; Northern Ireland has no equivalent in October
- No July, September, or November bank holiday in the Republic for 2025 (Personio)
- St Brigid’s Day (3 February 2025) — a new addition, bringing the Republic’s total to 10 annual bank holidays
The implication: if you’re based in the Republic, the 27 October holiday gives you a natural long weekend. Cross-border travellers to Northern Ireland won’t find an October equivalent to exploit, making southern departure airports more attractive for late-year escapes.
Is Monday, 27 October a bank holiday in Ireland?
Yes. The October Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland falls on Monday 27 October 2025 — confirmed across multiple HR and financial sources including Flair HR and Personio. The Bank of Ireland UK lists a similar last-Monday-of-October pattern for 2026, reinforcing that this follows an established annual schedule.
Confirmation and details
- Republic of Ireland: 10 bank holidays in 2025, including the 27 October holiday
- Northern Ireland: 11 bank holidays in 2025 — no October Bank Holiday exists
- Good Friday is not a bank holiday in the Republic, unlike Easter Monday
- Six of the Republic’s ten bank holidays fall on Mondays in 2025
Impact on travel plans
- Departures on Friday 24, Saturday 25, or Sunday 26 October maximise the long weekend
- Budget Travel, Abbey Travel, and TUI all promote October sun packages from Irish airports
- Public transport may run Sunday schedules on bank holidays — check locally via Ireland.com
What this means: Irish workers entitled to bank holiday leave get Monday 27 October off by right, making it a reliable anchor for annual leave planning. Urban shops and pubs often stay open, but banks close, per Ireland.com.
Where is the best for an October Holiday?
“Best” depends on what you’re chasing. For sun-starved Irish travellers in late October, the Canary Islands and Mediterranean rim dominate — Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malta, and Majorca consistently appear in Cassidy Travel and Budget Travel listings.
Top countries for October
- Canary Islands (Spain): Gran Canaria and Lanzarote offer reliable October heat (22–26°C) with budget-friendly all-inclusive options
- Malta: Mediterranean climate with cultural depth; often cheaper than the Canaries for short breaks
- Turkey: Istanbul for culture, Kusadasi for beaches — October pricing dips post-summer peak
- Bulgaria: Sunny Beach and Varna offer some of Europe’s cheapest beach packages
Ireland departure deals
- Abbey Travel: Sun packages from Dublin (14 Oct) and Cork (16 Oct) departures
- Cassidy Travel: 23 destinations promoted for cheap October sun holidays from Ireland
- The Travel Expert: 7-night Portugal deal (Estrela do Vau) from Dublin on 18 Oct 2025 at €297 pp (2 sharing, flights + transfers)
The pattern: October sees a surge in Canary Islands deals because post-summer inventory doesn’t disappear — hotels and airlines need to fill beds. The catch: the best Gran Canaria and Lanzarote packages get snapped up by mid-September. Waiting until the bank holiday week means accepting a thinner selection.
Travel agencies load their best October deals early specifically to capture long-weekend planners. By the time 27 October approaches, budget packages tend to be gone or significantly higher — early booking is the only reliable hedge against price spikes.
Where is the cheapest place to go on holiday in 2025?
The Post Office Holiday Money Report consistently ranks Eastern Mediterranean and Balkan destinations as the best value for budget travellers. For Irish package seekers specifically, loveholidays advertises October departures from €179 per person — one of the lowest headline prices available from Ireland.
Budget sun spots in October
- Bulgaria (Sunny Beach): Often under €200 for a week with flights included; sea temperature drops to 18–20°C in October but still swimmable
- Turkey (Antalya region): October all-inclusives start around €350–€450 pp; post-summer pricing is real but not dramatic
- Portugal (Algarve): Slightly pricier than Bulgaria but with a warmer October climate and direct Dublin flights
- Greek Islands (Rhodes, Crete): Shoulder-season deals from €250 pp; fewer crowds, shorter queues
Best value reports
- loveholidays: October packages from €179 pp with low deposits from €19
- The Travel Expert: 7-night Globales Costa Tropical all-inclusive from Dublin on 19 Oct 2025 at €479 pp
- The Travel Expert: 7-night Estrela do Vau (Portugal) from Dublin on 18 Oct 2025 at €297 pp (2 sharing)
The trade-off: the cheapest destinations (Bulgaria, parts of Turkey) involve trade-offs on food quality, beach cleanliness, or flight frequency compared to mainstream Canary Islands resorts. “Budget” is real but comes with asterisks worth checking before booking.
Where is hot in October but cheap?
October heat and low price rarely coexist in the same destination — the rule of thumb is: the closer to peak season, the pricier; the further south, the warmer. For Irish travellers in 2025, the sweet spot sits in the Canary Islands and southern Mediterranean rim.
Hot cheap destinations
- Gran Canaria: 24–27°C daytime highs in October; package deals from €200–€350 pp depending on departure airport
- Lanzarote: Similar temperature range; volcanic landscapes add variety beyond beach-only holidays
- Malta: 22–26°C; smaller island means cheaper internal transport; English-speaking
- Cyprus (Larnaca, Paphos): 25–28°C; slightly longer flight from Dublin but often competitive pricing
All-inclusive options
- The Travel Expert lists Globales Costa Tropical (Spain mainland) all-inclusive at €479 pp for 19 October departure
- TUI promotes October beach and sightseeing breaks across Mediterranean destinations
- On The Beach aggregates October deals across multiple operators for price comparison
Why this matters: all-inclusive pricing in October often undercuts self-catering equivalent when you factor in meals and drinks — but only if you’re staying at least five nights. A three-night package rarely justifies the premium.
For families booking October half-term around the 27th bank holiday, all-inclusive makes financial sense if children are eating three meals daily on-site. Couples or solo travellers may find bed-and-breakfast better value per night, even with a higher headline price.
| Jurisdiction | October Bank Holiday | Total 2025 Bank Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | Monday 27 October | 10 |
| Northern Ireland | None | 11 |
| England & Wales (UK) | None in October | 8 |
| Scotland | None in October | 11 |
Upsides
- Long weekend anchor on 27 October for leave planning
- Post-summer price drops on flights and hotels across Canary Islands and Mediterranean
- Multiple Irish airports (Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock, Belfast, Kerry) offer October sun departures
- October Bank Holiday coincides with Samhain cultural significance — a distinctly Irish tie to the date
- Budget packages from €179 pp available via loveholidays with deposits from €19
Downsides
- Northern Ireland travellers have no October Bank Holiday to exploit
- Best budget packages get booked by mid-September — late planners face higher prices
- October weather in Portugal and Spain is shoulder-season — warm days but cooler evenings
- Post-summer airline capacity reductions mean fewer direct routes than August
- Public transport runs Sunday schedules on Irish bank holidays — check Ireland.com for local variations
Timeline
- — Columbus Day (US); affects some transatlantic flight schedules
- — Sample deal departure: Estrela do Vau, Portugal (€297 pp, 2 sharing)
- — Sample deal departure: Globales Costa Tropical (€479 pp, all-inclusive)
- — Ireland October Bank Holiday (Republic only)
- — Halloween
What the sources say
October is one of the best times to book a holiday, especially for those who love to travel on a budget.
— Cassidy Travel (Travel Agency)
The vast majority of Irish bank holidays happen on Monday — six out of the ten total in 2025.
— Personio (HR Platform with Irish employment law focus)
The October Bank Holiday corresponds with the Gaelic seasonal festival Samhain.
— Flair HR (HR Blog with Irish employment law focus)
Related reading: TUI cabin bag size 2025
Families eyeing October getaways from Ireland can align trips with the October mid-term school dates, coinciding neatly with the October 27 bank holiday for longer escapes.
Frequently asked questions
What are family holidays in October 2025?
Family October holidays from Ireland typically centre on the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote) and Mediterranean rim (Malta, Cyprus). All-inclusive packages suit families with young children because meals and snacks are included. Budget Travel and TUI both list multi-centre family packages from Irish airports for October 2025 departures.
What TUI holidays are available in October 2025?
TUI (Ireland) advertises October holiday deals for beach and sightseeing breaks across Mediterranean and Atlantic destinations. Specific pricing and availability vary by departure airport and date. Visit tuiholidays.ie/f/deals/october-deals for current listings.
Are there holidays in October 2025 Europe from Ireland?
Yes — several European destinations offer affordable October holidays from Ireland, including Portugal (Algarve, from €297 pp via The Travel Expert), Turkey (Antalya, Kusadasi), Bulgaria (Sunny Beach), and Malta. The Republic’s October Bank Holiday on 27 October makes late October particularly attractive for long-weekend departures.
What October Fun & Traditions events to expect?
Halloween (31 October) dominates Irish October traditions. Many resorts in Spain and the Canaries host Halloween events for tourists, particularly in family-oriented hotels. Samhain festivals occur in Dublin and across the Republic, tying into the cultural significance of the October Bank Holiday.
Why is October 12 a holiday?
October 12 is Columbus Day in the United States, not an Irish or European holiday. It affects US-related travel schedules but has no direct impact on Irish workers or departure airports. Some transatlantic flights may experience schedule adjustments on or around that date.
What is the October Bank Holiday?
The October Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland falls on the last Monday of October each year. In 2025, this is Monday 27 October. It corresponds with the Gaelic festival Samhain marking the start of winter. Northern Ireland and most of the UK have no October Bank Holiday.
How many holidays in October typically?
In the Republic of Ireland, there is typically one bank holiday in October — the last Monday of the month. In 2025, this falls on 27 October. Northern Ireland has no October Bank Holiday but has 11 total public holidays in 2025, including Good Friday and the Battle of the Boyne, which the Republic does not observe.
More related posts
Steven Spielberg – Biography, Best Movies, Net Worth 2026
Manon Bannerman – Biography, career and health hiatus explained
Rory Gallagher – Biography, Cause of Death, Guitar and Legacy
James Haskell – Biography, Net Worth, Wife, and MMA Career
Single Bed and Mattress Deals Ireland: Best Options
Mohamed Salah – Age, Stats, Transfer News and Contract Update 2025
Giant Gladiators – Jamie Bigg Real Name, Height, and Exit Story
