Ireland Travel: 10 Packing Tips for an Ireland Vacation

by Cari Thompson on March 7th, 2013 | 11 Comments »

I recently took a little trip to Ireland. It was beautiful and green and … wet! While our trip to the Emerald Island was colder than usual, as it was the middle of winter, there are some things you want to make sure to bring in your suitcase on an Ireland vacation.

10 Must-Follow Tips for Packing for an Ireland Vacation

This is part three in a six-part series on travel to Ireland. Check out posts one and two on recommendations for planning your trip and nine must-see sites. Then, stay tuned for posts four through six on driving recos and watch outs, photography tips, and fabulous food finds.

What to Pack for an Ireland Vacation

1. Scarves

A light scarf and a heavy/knitted scarf should do the trick. Even when Ireland isn’t cold, it’s still pretty cold, so you’ll want a little something on your neck to keep you cozy.

2. A Waterproof Coat

It rains in Ireland … a lot. There’s a pretty good chance that it will rain at least one day on your trip, so plan accordingly.

3. Euros

Ireland is part of the European Union, so they use the euro. Make sure to stop by your local bank before you leave home to get 100-200 euro for some pocket money when you get there. If you plan on venturing up to Northern Ireland, they use pounds (like England), so you’ll want to pick up some of those, too.

4. Layers

Ireland weather can be temperamental, so wear layers so you can take off or put on layers as needed.

5. Wellies/Rain Boots

Ireland is wet no matter what time of the year you’re there. You might think, “I don’t plan on trudging through the countryside, so I won’t need them.” Believe me, you will need some waterproof footwear. And Ireland is so beautiful and picturesque that you’ll find yourself in the mud trying to get that perfect shot.

Packing for a trip to Ireland - do you have everything you need

6. A Camera

Ireland is going to blow you away with its beauty. Make sure you have a camera or your smart phone on hand so you can capture the unbelievable hills, cliffs, beaches, and quaint little towns.

7. A Hat/Beanie

If you’re planning on visiting the Cliffs of Moher or driving the Ring of Kerry, you will want some extra warmth on your head. The wind along the cliffs can be fierce.

8. An Extra Pair of Shoes

In case water gets in your wellies, have an extra pair of shoes so you don’t have to have soggy feet all day. If you don’t like wearing tall shoes on planes, these extra shoes will come in handy.

9. Clothes to Pack

Since you’ll be covered with coats and scarves and beanies, nobody is going to see what you’re wearing anyway. Just bring a few pairs of pants and a few shirts and some layering shirts and rotate through them during your trip.

10. Colors to Wear

Irish people generally wear darker colors like black, browns, and navy. If you want to blend in, stay away from bright colors and keep your outfits simple. If you want to embrace our tourist status, go crazy with your outfits and live it up! We embraced Pantone's color of the year: emerald and stuck out like a sore, but colorful, thumb.