Hot Air Balloon Ireland

A ride in a hot air balloon in Ireland is unlike any other experience. Floating gently above the landscape, travellers get a peaceful view of rolling hills, open fields and city skylines. MakeMyTrip offers 1388 hot air balloon tours in Ireland for 2026, with both sunrise and sunset options. The flights are led by trained personnel who ensure safety while sharing insights about the region below. The calm journey makes it ideal for couples, photographers and families who want to see the city from a unique angle. With Ireland hot air balloon ticket prices starting from INR 286, this activity is within reach for most travellers. Book your hot air balloon ride in Ireland this January with MakeMyTrip and create moments worth remembering.

Floating Over Emerald Fields: Hot Air Balloon Trips Ireland

You’re up before the sun, when the air still carries that damp chill from the night. The balloon is stretched out on the grass, quiet for now, until the burners fire and the fabric lifts with a low glow. Climbing into the basket feels a little clumsy, but once it leaves the ground, the world below starts shrinking and you realise you’re looking at Ireland in a whole new way.

From above, the fields roll out in every direction, stitched together by stone walls and streams that flash in the light and villages turn small and neat, church towers sticking out like markers. Some mornings the mist lingers, softening everything into green and grey patches. A hot air balloon trips Ireland flight isn’t about speed. It’s steady, almost slow, and that’s the point, it gives you the time to take it all in.

You find yourself leaning over the side, trying to catch every detail like a farm tucked in the distance, a bend in the river, the way the hills change shade as the sun climbs higher. Every second on hot air balloon trips Ireland is a pause from the usual rush, a chance to just breathe and watch the land reveal itself.

The flight usually lasts about an hour, sometimes longer, but the feeling stays with you. Long after you’ve landed, you’ll remember the stillness, the soft sway of the basket, and the views that no postcard can really match. A hot air balloon Ireland ride like this starts from INR 18,500, and the memory is worth every bit.

When to Go

• Peak Season
  If you want clear skies, golden sunlight, and the countryside at its most vibrant, plan your hot air balloon trips Ireland during peak season, typically from May to September. The mornings are calm, and you’ll see the landscape bathed in that soft, early light that makes every hill, river, and forest glow. You might notice small bursts of wildlife in the fields below and the rivers reflecting the sky like mirrors. Hot air balloon ride in Ireland is most popular now, so baskets fill up quickly. It starts from INR 24,500, but the views more than make up for it.
• Shoulder Season
  Late March to April and October to early November are shoulder seasons. Fewer crowds, softer light, and a crisp freshness in the air make this time special. You get that quiet, almost private feeling as the balloon drifts over patchwork fields and rivers. Hot air balloon trips Ireland feel more serene, and the morning mist often creates a dreamlike layer over the valleys. Flights at this time are still excellent for a hot air balloon ride Ireland, and it starts from INR 22,800.
• Winter Season
  From November to February, the weather can be tricky, but there’s a unique charm in winter. The countryside has a stark beauty, frost on the fields catching the first light of day, and the air feels crisp and fresh in your face. Not every day is flyable, but when it works out, it’s magical. Hot air balloon trips Ireland in winter are quieter and intimate, perfect if you want to escape crowds. A flight now starts from INR 21,500, and it’s an experience that stays with you long after the basket touches the ground.

Types of Hot Air Balloon Experiences

Balloon Flight Over County Kildare

Overview: The moment the basket lifts, you feel the countryside open up beneath you. A hot air balloon trips Ireland ride in Kildare is quiet and steady, giving you time to really notice the details, the patchwork of fields, the soft light on rivers, the way villages appear like little dots.

• Locations: Flights drift across central Kildare, with farmland stretching in every direction. On clear days, if you look east, you can sometimes spot the faint outline of Dublin in the distance.
• What you’ll see: From above, the fields fall into neat squares, streams catch the morning sun, and horses graze slowly in green paddocks. The calmness of it all turns the hot air balloon Ireland ride into more than just a flight, it feels like a pause in the middle of your trip.
• Package options: Flights usually last around an hour. Many are timed for sunrise, so you get that soft golden light as the land wakes up. Some end with breakfast waiting for you after you land.
• Cost: It starts from INR 24,500 per person.
• Premium vs. Standard: Premium flights keep the baskets smaller, which means more space for you and a quieter atmosphere. Standard flights bring a few more people along, but the view, and that floating, weightless feeling, is the same no matter what.

Balloon Journey Across County Meath

• Overview: The first lift feels gentle, almost sneaky, like you’re floating before you even realise it. Flying over County Meath on a hot air balloon trips Ireland ride is less about speed and more about watching the land stretch out in every direction. The fields look endless, broken by rivers and ruins that whisper old stories.
• Locations: You drift over the Boyne Valley, where farmland rolls on and little villages sit tucked against the curves of the river. On clear mornings, the horizon feels wide open, with church spires and scattered stone walls catching the light.
• What you’ll see: From above, the River Boyne snakes its way through the valley, fields fall neatly into green squares, and you might spot horses moving lazily in their paddocks. If the mist hangs low, the whole hot air balloon Ireland ride takes on a softer, dreamlike feel.
• Package options: Flights last about an hour, usually timed for sunrise or sunset. Some mornings end with breakfast waiting for you on the ground, while evenings give you that fading golden light.
• Cost: It starts from INR 26,800 per person.
• Premium vs. Standard: Premium flights mean fewer people in the basket, more room to lean over and take in the view, and a quieter kind of atmosphere. Standard flights fit a few more travellers, but the view and the silence up there stay just as special either way.

What to Expect on a Hot Air Balloon Ride

From the moment you walk up to the field, there’s that small rush of nerves mixed with curiosity. The balloon is just fabric on the ground at first, folded and still. Then the burners kick in, flames snapping against the dawn air, and you watch the whole thing rise slowly until it towers above you. Climbing into the basket feels a little awkward, but once you’re in, it’s calm, the lift happens so gently that you barely notice when the ground starts falling away. That’s how most hot air balloon trips Ireland begin, with a quiet kind of magic.

It’s easy to lean over the side, trying to spot every farm, every stream cutting through the hills. Sunlight shifts constantly, one moment spilling across the Burren’s rocky surface, the next catching waves smashing against the Cliffs of Moher. A hot air balloon ride Ireland doesn’t just show you the view; it slows you down enough to notice it all.

Flights usually last about an hour, sometimes more. Long enough to take photos, point out villages in the distance, or just stand still and watch the land drift beneath you. And when the basket finally touches down, you realise why people call hot air balloon trips Ireland one of the most memorable ways to see the country, it’s quiet, grounding, and feels like a story you’ll keep telling.

Safety and Tips

• Always dress in layers. Early mornings can be chilly, but as the sun rises during your hot air balloon trips Ireland, the air warms quickly.
• Keep your hands and camera inside the basket. The breeze can be stronger than it looks, and you’ll want to enjoy every moment of the hot air balloon trips Ireland without worrying about dropping anything.
• Bring sunglasses and a hat. The sunlight reflecting off rivers, cliffs, and fields during your hot air balloon ride Ireland can be surprisingly bright. A hat helps with wind too.
• Stay hydrated and grab a light snack before the flight. Even though the flight isn’t strenuous, having energy keeps you present for every breathtaking view.
• Check the weather before heading out. Calm, clear mornings make for the best hot air balloon trips Ireland. A misty sunrise can be magical, but strong winds might delay your flight.
• Keep your camera ready, but also take moments to just look. The silence, the view, and the feeling of floating are what make hot air balloon trips Ireland unforgettable.