Ireland is an island, and its weather patterns are largely influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The good news is that Ireland doesn't have huge temperature swings from season to season; it's pretty mild year-round. But the less-good news is that, because of its location, the weather in Ireland can (and does!) change frequently.

When it comes to packing for a trip to Ireland, therefore, there are basically two essentials you'll need:

1. Layers
2. Rain gear

Don't let this scare you off, though! As the Scandinavians often say, “There's no such thing as bad weather – only bad clothing.“

I've visited Ireland many times in all different seasons, ranging from trips in the dead of winter to mid-summer. Based on these trips, I've put together the ultimate Ireland packing list.

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Complete Ireland packing list

Here’s a look at what was in my bag for my latest trip to Ireland. My last two trips to the country have been during the summer months, but you can tweak this list for any season.

My main suitcase

I usually travel with my Osprey rolling bag in Europe. Mine is a 60-liter bag with sturdy wheels and removable backpack straps (though I always leave the backpack straps at home). Osprey makes amazing soft-sided bags – this particular one has been traveling around the world with me for 10+ years and is still in fantastic shape. (And I also own the larger Shuttle bag, which is great for even longer trips.) 

(If you want to see more of my luggage/bag suggestions, check out this post.)

I always utilize my favorite compression packing cubes (GREAT for keeping tops and bottoms organized; I use the rolling method) for packing, and for Ireland I also recommend these vacuum compression bags that you can roll the air out of for bulkier items like sweaters or down jackets.

Ireland clothing (for women)

What exactly you pack will depend slightly on your itinerary (i.e. if you're hiking vs. doing a bus tour), but in general you're going to want comfortable clothing that will work whether it's rainy or sunny. You probably don't need dressy clothes on a trip like this, as Ireland is a pretty casual place!

This is what I usually take with me to Ireland, for a trip that's anywhere from 5-10 days.

• 1-2 pairs of jeans
• 1-2 pairs of comfy long pants (I like these Columbia ones for doing lots of walking, and also like traveling with a pair of merino wool pants these days)
• 1 pair of capris/shorter leggings in summer (I like these active capris)
• 2-3 dresses or maxi skirts
• 1 pair of moisture-wicking shorts to wear under dresses in summer (or 1 pair of long leggings for under dresses/skirts in fall/winter)
• 4-5 short-sleeved tops (I really like Unbound Merino tops these days, as they look good and are odor resistant!)
• 1-2 long-sleeved shirts
• 1 cardigan or button-up top for layering
• 1 chunky sweater or sweatshirt
• 1 set of pajamas
• Socks (including compression socks for the plane)
• Enough underwear for your trip
• 2-3 bras
• 1 casual jacket (I usually go with a denim jacket for spring or summer, and a packable down jacket for fall/winter)
• 1 raincoat (I love this Columbia one for a more casual look, and this short trench to look a bit more put-together)
• *1 pair of rain pants if you're doing any hiking
• 1 scarf (either for fashion or warmth)
• 1 hat and 1 pair of gloves (in fall, winter, and maybe even spring)

Shoes for Ireland

• 1 pair of leather sneakers (white tennis shoes are all the rage in Europe right now; I have a pair of these Reeboks and these Dr. Scholl's sneakers are also a fan favorite)
• For summer: 1 pair of walking sandals (I love my Teva Verra sandals for Europe, as you can get away with dressing them up a bit, too) OR a versatile pair of flats (like these Vessi Market Flats, which are waterproof)
• For other seasons: 1 pair of hiking boots, Chelsea boots, or rain boots, depending on your trip

Toiletries

Also in my main suitcase goes my toiletry bag and small first aid kit.

This is currently my favorite toiletry bag, as it hangs nicely in any bathroom. A few things I always pack in it include:

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• Soap and shampoo bars (and I'm in love with these tiny waterproof soap bags)
• Deodorant
• Skin care items
• Contacts and eye drops
• Moisturizer and chapstick
• Makeup and face wipes
• Sunscreen
• Hair brush (this is my go-to travel hair brush)

And a first aid kit with painkillers, meds for upset stomachs/heartburn, a few Band-Aids, nail clippers and tweezers, etc. is always good to have! I like this little pill case for travel. (Though note that any prescription medication should always go in your carry-on bag or purse! Never check it in your suitcase.)

My carry-on backpack

My new favorite backpack that's both functional AND stylish is this Pacsafe backpack. This backpack has anti-theft features like slash-proof straps, lockable zippers, and RFID protection, and will fit all your carry-on essentials.

Inside this bag:

• My laptop (if I'm traveling with it)
• Kindle Paperwhite
• My camera with extra battery/SD card
• Electronics chargers
• Outlet adapter (this one is universal)
• Headphones
• Power bank for keeping your phone charged on the go
• A travel-sized umbrella
• A fold-up market bag perfect for shopping
• Reusable water bottle
• Snacks for the plane

My travel purse

There are lots of purse options out there that are great for traveling. Currently, I like the Travelon Anti-Theft Bucket Bag if you need a larger purse, or this Pacsafe Citysafe cross-body bag as a smaller option. (Sling bags are also very “in” right now; I like this Pacsafe one.)

If you prefer using a small backpack as your handbag, I love this Pacsafe Citysafe convertible backpack, which is a cute backpack that can actually be converted into a regular over-the-should handbag, too.

In my purse (on travel days):

• Wallet (an RFID-safe one is always smart)
• Passport
• Camera lens cleaner (my LensPen is great!)
• A small power bank and charger cord so my phone never runs out of juice (or this power bank can plug right into your USB-C phone)
• Small zippered pouch with chapstick, Advil, hair ties, my Lactaid pills, etc.
• Tiny hair brush with attached mirror (like this one)
• Sunglasses (currently I'm loving Goodr sunglasses for travel)

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What was I glad to have?

For a trip to Ireland, I was especially glad to have packed the following:

My raincoat – You can't really go to Ireland and NOT take a good raincoat. Even in the summer months (when Ireland generally sees its best weather), running into at least one rain shower a day is very common. Rain doesn't always last long in Ireland, but when the clouds open up you definitely want to make sure you'll stay dry! My Columbia Arcadia raincoat is my absolute favorite for any sort of wet destination, and it kept me dry in Ireland, too.

Rain boots – Because of Ireland's propensity to be wet, I took a pair of dedicated rain boots for this trip. I bought my colorful boots from Columbia, but shorter rain boots like these that you can wear with most of your outfits are even better!

An umbrella – Yes, you'll probably need one of these, too! If you want to buy a rainbow umbrella like mine, look here and here.

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Have you been to Ireland? If so, do you have any other must-pack items?

 

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