The Ultimate Packing List for Ireland (+ What to Wear!)

Ireland is a phenomenal travel destination, but its famously temperamental weather and the sheer variety of available things to do can make putting together the perfect packing list for Ireland a bit tricky–especially if you want to avoid lugging extra gear around the Emerald Isle!

We’ve now spent more than a month exploring Ireland in-depth over multiple trips, and have walked away with quite a list of recommendations for your Ireland packing list, including must-have gear, what to leave at home, and what to wear in Ireland.

Trying to decide what to pack for Ireland, and worried that you’re forgetting something (or bringing too much?). 

We’ve got you covered.

Here’s exactly what to bring to Ireland, including both essential travel gear and some of our favorite practical clothes and accessories!

The Absolute Essentials for Your Packing List for Ireland

Passport — Without a doubt, your passport is the most important item on your Ireland packing list–good luck visiting without it!

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and visiting (and probably road-tripping!) Ireland is definitely a time to be better safe than sorry.

Visa (If Needed) — Generally speaking, most readers of this website, including citizens of the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada, can enter Ireland for tourism purposes for up to 90 days without a visa.

However, as always, be sure to double-check these regulations before packing your bags for Ireland!

Though we doubt there will be dramatic changes to this policy in the near future, it’s always best to dot your i’s and cross your t’s where visas are concerned.

It’s worth noting that Ireland is not part of the Schengen Zone, so you will pass through immigration if coming from a country that is part of Schengen.

Money — We recommend bringing two credit cards (one to use, and one to keep as a backup), and two debit cards. Ideally, bring cards with no foreign transaction fees.

We’ve never felt it necessary to obtain currency before arriving in Ireland (we just withdraw from an ATM when we get there), but you can purchase currency in your home country traveling if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Note that the Republic of Ireland uses the Euro, but as Northern Ireland is part of the UK, it uses the Pound Sterling.

If your trip will take you to both parts of the island, be prepared to change currencies during your trip!

Proof of Age of Driver’s License — On 2 separate trips to Ireland, we’ve run into issues when renting a car where proof of a license of a certain age (we’ve seen 1-4 years old) is a requirement to rent a car.

This is tricky for those of us hailing from states in the USA where the “issued date” on our driver’s licenses is the date it was last renewed, not the date we were first licensed to drive.

Read your rental contract carefully before taking off for Ireland, and if you’re worried, consider bringing extra proof of your driving experience along!

At the recommendation of our rental company, we brought some of Jeremy’s old/expired licenses with us on our most recent trip.

Other Important Things to Bring to Ireland

Umbrella — Given its notoriously rainy reputation, it’s safe to say that a travel umbrella belongs at the top of any packing list for Ireland. 

That’s not the only rain gear you’ll want to have, though–more on that below.

Camera — We completely adore our Sony a7R III, but whatever camera you’re comfortable with works–just make sure you have something with you to preserve your memories!

(And if you’re not a photography enthusiast, this can easily be your phone–there’s no need to overthink it unless you want to).

Travel Adapters for Ireland — Ireland uses the same plugs that the UK does–and note that these are different from the bulk of mainland Europe (you’ll want to specifically select the Type G UK adaptor).

Double-check you add the right ones to your Ireland packing list! We use these and have never had any issues.

Portable USB Charger — Don’t stress about your phone dying while you’re sightseeing (or hiking!) in Ireland: bring a portable charger along for the ride.

Pacsafe — Generally speaking, we can’t recommend our Pacsafe enough: this travel safe is affordable, sturdy, easy to pack, and will help keep your valuables safe in your hotel room.

However, honestly, Ireland feels extremely safe, so if you’re not the type to over-optimize security, you may not want it here–but that being said, theft can happen anywhere, and if it will ease your worries, definitely consider bringing it along.

Reusable Water Bottle — Cut down on plastic waste during your trip to Ireland and bring a reusable water bottle instead!

I love this metal one and carry it everywhere.

Tote Bag — Incredibly light and easy to pack, a tote bag can serve as a grocery bag, beach bag, laundry bag, or just about anything else.

They’re incredibly handy and we recommend adding one to your packing list for Ireland.

We’ve been carrying ours for years and it never stops coming in handy, including on our most recent visit to Ireland (it served as our laundry bag + “don’t want to repack all our bags today so will just throw extra clothes in the car in this” bag).

Swiss Army Knife — We love having our Swiss Army Knife along when traveling, and picnics during an Ireland road trip are the perfect excuse to use it! 

Comfortable Day Bag — We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable.

Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a Northface Jester backpack that we happened to own for years and loved it as well.

Cell Phone — We spent more than a year traveling without working cell phones, just relying on wifi… and while that’s completely fine, we would never go back.

Consider purchasing an international plan for your cell phone (most carriers offer them), or, if you have an unlocked phone, you can just buy an eSIM or pick up a local SIM card in Ireland.

Bear in mind that if you rent a car, having your cell phone handy and working will also allow you to avoid renting a GPS!

Purell Hand Sanitizer — We carry this everywhere, and never been sorry to have it floating around in our day bag.

What to Wear in Ireland for Women

Dresses

Personally, I love to live in dresses most of the time, and casual dresses like this paired with these tights (or fleece-lined tights in colder months) are my go-to option.

Consider staying away from full maxi dresses outside of cities–if you wear a maxi dress to traipse around Killarney National Park or the Cliffs of Moher, there’s a good chance the bottom of it ends up wet.

This dress isn’t quite as long as a traditional maxi dress, and I loved wearing it on our latest trip to Ireland (but be warned–the slit is HIGH and it blows around a lot. I recommend wearing it with leggings or tights). 

Tops

Even during the summer, light sweaters like this are a great option for Ireland, as are long-sleeved shirts like this.

Short-sleeved tops like this are also a cute choice, but you’ll want to make sure to bring a jacket along with you for the day in case the weather turns!

I also loved having a more rugged, comfortable flannel for days spent out in nature–the perfect combo of cute and cozy. Mine is older, but similar to this.

Though Ireland is of course not a Nordic country, Nordic sweaters are also a cozy look that I think is perfect for Ireland–the patterns look beautiful against the countryside!

Bottoms

Leggings are a fantastic and cozy choice when deciding what to wear in Ireland–I love this pair and tended to throw them on whenever we had a long drive ahead.

Be sure to bring along a pair of pants or jeans as well, even in the summer.

Skirts like this layered with tights are also a great option for what to wear in Ireland!

I love these tights, and I tend to wear them constantly under dresses and skirts.

If you’re traveling in the colder months, consider swapping these from your Ireland packing list for some cozy fleece-lined tights.

Shoes

In my opinion, waterproof boots are an absolute must-have item on your Ireland packing list year-round.

They’ll keep your feet warm and dry regardless of the circumstances, they’re comfortable to wear, and they can be adorable, too!

This is the updated version of my favorite pair, and I adore mine.

Even when my jeans got completely drenched (like just-climbed-out-of-a-pool levels of drenched) during a rainstorm in Dingle, they still kept my feet completely dry.

Jackets

First and foremost: any packing list for Ireland requires a rain jacket! 

Mine is discontinued, but this popular one is very similar.

Not only will it (most importantly) keep you dry, but opting for a bright color–I love yellow for this–will help you pop beautifully out of the green landscape in photos, too.

You’ll also want another comfortable, light jacket with you in the summer (I brought a very basic one similar to this on our most recent trip).

In the winter, you’ll want something a bit heavier–think something like this.

It doesn’t get extremely cold in Ireland–you won’t need a full-on down parka here–but you’ll definitely want to bundle up.

Accessories

For traveling in Ireland outside the summer, a scarf, cozy hat, and gloves are an absolute must!

Even in the summer, a scarf is a great option to bring along–but keep in mind that souvenir stalls and shops selling Irish wool hats, scarves, and gloves (not to mention sweaters) are absolutely everywhere.

If you want to bring home some wool souvenirs, you may want to consider holding off on packing these and simply picking them up while you’re in Ireland!

If you’re planning on hitting the spa while in Ireland, or you’re just far more willing to jump into a chilly ocean than we are, consider bringing a bathing suit along to Ireland as well.

What to Wear in Ireland for Men

Tops

Light sweaters like this and long-sleeved shirts like this are great options for Ireland.

Short-sleeve t-shirts like this are also absolutely fine during the summer and are definitely Jeremy’s preference (but maybe throw a light jacket or sweater in your day bag in case of a shift in the weather).

Bottoms

Casual chinos like these and a pair of jeans are just about all you need as far as pants in Ireland go.

If you’re wondering what to wear in Ireland in the summer and are considering bringing shorts, you sure can, especially if you tend to get hot!

However, in a reversal from much of Europe, you’ll see the occasional local wearing them, and very few tourists in them!

Generally, it stays cool enough in Ireland year-round that shorts aren’t necessary.

Shoes

You’ll definitely want comfortable waterproof boots on your packing list for Ireland!

Jeremy wore these for the entirety of our most recent trip and found that they were perfect for all occasions.

Jackets

Ireland’s infamously rainy weather calls for a rain jacket.

Jeremy opted not to bring one and definitely had plenty of regrets! He ended up buying this one later on, in preparation for a trip to Iceland, and it’s now a staple that he packs for most destinations.

You’ll also want a light, preferably water-resistant jacket (Jeremy loves this one), and if you’re traveling in the colder months, a warmer coat as well.

Accessories

If you’re packing for Ireland outside the summer months, a warm scarf, hat, and gloves are an absolute must!

If you’re planning on hitting the spa while in Ireland, or you’re just far more willing to jump into a chilly ocean than we are, consider bringing a bathing suit with you as well.

Other Useful Items for Your Ireland Packing List

Binoculars — Coastal regions in Ireland are home to all sorts of delightful creatures, including a wide variety of birds (like puffins!) and beautiful dolphins.

Binoculars are an inexpensive and easy-to-pack item for your Ireland packing list, and they’ll greatly enhance your trip to the coast!

Sea Bands and Non-Drowsy Dramamine — Tend toward getting seasick but think that a boat tour or ferry might end up looking like fun during your trip to Ireland?

Definitely plan ahead and pack these as precautions! I’m always so glad to have it along, including when taking the ferry to Inisheer in Ireland.

Tripod — Though this isn’t necessary, Ireland is an amazing place to have a tripod on hand for your camera or phone.

The wide variety of beautiful landscapes and ease of getting away from the crowds mean that group photo opportunities abound!

Not traveling with a camera? This inexpensive phone tripod gets packed on our trips and does a great job.

Apple Air Tags — Air Tags are a relatively new addition to our packing lists, but we’ve loved having the extra security when checking out luggage!

They’ll be traveling with us from now on.

Money Belt — This is up to you: we no longer use a money belt, but if you’re more comfortable having your passports on your person while exploring Ireland, you can consider bringing one.

We used to use this one and had no complaints. These days, we prefer just to leave valuables in our Pacsafe during the day.

Travel Journal — If you want to keep a travel journal during your trip to Ireland but don’t want to commit to lots of writing, I can’t recommend the One Line a Day Journal enough–I’ve been using it for more than seven years now (I’m well into my second volume) and absolutely love it.

Read More About Visiting Ireland

Ready to pack your bags for Ireland?

If you still have more travel planning to do, we’d love to continue being part of it here on Our Escape Clause!

You can browse all of our blog posts about Ireland, or read these guides:

• 9 Fun Things to Do on Inisheer, Ireland’s Smallest Aran Island
• Belleek Castle, County Mayo: A Cozy Getaway in Ireland’s Countryside
• How Much Does a Trip to Ireland Cost? (On Any Budget)
• What to Buy in Ireland: 25 Best Ireland Souvenirs
• 10 Cool Things to Do in Cobh, Ireland