As a female, Ireland can be challenging to pack for. There’s a saying in Ireland along the lines of, “Be prepared to experience every season in one day.” And no matter what time of the year it is, this saying rings true. I’ve been to Ireland three times now – in the spring and summer – and I’ve got my packing list down! This is everything that I recommend packing if you’re visiting Ireland.
Are you planning a trip to Ireland? Don’t miss…
- 10 Best Hotels in Ireland: Where to Stay for a Getaway
- Renting a Car in Ireland: Everything You Need to Know
- 10 Things You Can’t Miss in Ireland: The Ultimate Bucket List
- Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Ireland
- The Ultimate 2-Day Belfast Itinerary: Best Attractions & Travel Tips
- How to Spend 2 Days in County Wicklow, Ireland
- A Complete Guide to Visiting Dublin
The Best Luggage to Bring to Ireland
First things first when it comes to packing – you need luggage to put your things in. My biggest tip for traveling – especially through Ireland – is to not overpack. Overpacking just leads to hassle and headaches and it’s not worth it. With that being said – here are my favorite pieces of luggage to bring with you to Ireland!
- Travel Backpack
- Carry-on/checked luggage
- Packing cubes (helps with organization)
- Toiletry bag
- AirTags (this isn’t luggage, but I bought a pack after my bags got lost for 10 days in Saudi Arabia and now I’ll never travel without them!)
Ireland Essentials
Next up: Your Irish essentials! These are things that you cannot travel to Ireland without… in my opinion. As of 2025, there are no special documents that Americans need to bring when traveling to Ireland, however, if you plan to travel to Northern Ireland you will need a UK ETA (electronic travel authorization).
- Passport
- Prescription medication(s)
- Travel insurance – I would not travel to Ireland without travel insurance; I personally use and recommend SafetyWing
Read more about why I recommend travel insurance…
- Why You Need Travel Insurance – From a Nurse’s Perspective
- 9 Most Important Things to Know About Travel Medical Insurance
Clothing/Shoes to Pack for Ireland
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- Ireland in June
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- Ireland in March
When packing clothing and figuring out what to wear in Ireland, the first step is knowing how long you’re going to be gone for so that you don’t over or under pack. The second thing you should know about Ireland is that it’s essential to plan for all types of weather, year-round.
This section includes clothing that I’d recommend for any female traveling to Ireland. I’ve included packing lists for different times/seasons so that you know what to pack based on what time of the year you’ll be visiting. (By the way, if you’re going on an extended trip – I recommend packing at least 12-pairs of underwear so that you’re not constantly doing laundry).
Packing for Ireland During Rainy Season
While Ireland doesn’t really have a dedicated “rainy season” (you can expect rain year-round), the rainiest months are December and January. The driest months in Ireland happen to be April, May, June, and July.
Here are the “rainy season” items I recommend bringing to Ireland…
Packing for Summer in Ireland
The summer months in Ireland are June, July, and August. During this time, the weather is generally warmer, with longer daylight hours. This is what I would pack for summer in Ireland making sure to prioritize layers in case of cooler days…
- Jeans
- Linen pants
- Shorts
- Light shirt (short-sleeve)
- Light shirt (long-sleeve)
- Sunglasses
- Tennis shoes
- Sandals
Packing for Winter in Ireland
The winter months in Ireland are December-February. During this period, temperatures are colder, and you can expect shorter daylight hours. This is what I would pack if you’re visiting Ireland in the winter months…
Toiletries to Pack for Ireland
When packing your toiletries, keep in mind whether you’re planning to check a bag or carry-on. Depending on which you’re doing, you might need to keep your liquids less than 3.4 fl oz. (By the way, I like these containers if you’re carry-on only!).
- Tampons/menstrual cup
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Skincare products
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Razor
Electronics to Pack for Ireland
Electronics are certainly not a necessity to travel to Scotland, but in this section I’ll share with you the electronics I took with me when I visited Scotland. Of course, if you love capturing pictures and videos, you’ll more than likely be wanting to take a camera and maybe your computer to edit your photos; but if that isn’t your thing – you can skip over this section!
- Drone
- Camera (I use this Canon camera)
- GoPro (for smooth videos and underwater captures)
- AirPods (for the airplane)
- Laptop
- iPad/Kindle (for books)
- Selfie light (to take photos/videos in dark places)
- Portable charger
Pro tip: If you’re traveling with a lot of electronics/chargers, I use this to keep everything organized.
Health Items to Pack for Ireland
As a nurse, of course I can’t not include health items that I would recommend packing if you visit Scotland. Below you’ll find a few health related items that I took with me and they all came in handy!
- Pill box (this is better for a shorter trip so you can count out your prescription/non-prescription pills and you don’t have to take a bulky bottle with you)
- First aid kit (there are scissors in this first aid kit so if you’re doing carry-on only, make sure to remove them before packing!)
- Bandaids (included in first aid kit linked above)
- Unisom (I always travel with Unisom to help me catch some Zzz’s on the airplane and to help with jet lag – I also use this mask to get some sleep on the plane)
- Advil (included in first aid kit linked above)
Packing Tips & Tricks
1. If you’re going to be gone a long time and staying in rental properties, make sure to pack miniature Tide PODS to wash your clothes (I purchase the whole box and then pack a few with me – in a bag – on each trip)
2. Travel with reusable plastic bags – it never fails that I always need a bag for something
3. For more space, roll your clothes instead of folding them
4. Weigh your bag before getting to the airport; and know your baggage limits for each airline you fly. In Asia, airlines can be strict about weight for carry-on bags and I’ve had to check several carry-on bags for not meeting the weight requirement. (You can purchase this luggage scale to easily weigh your bags!).
Ireland Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Ireland
TRAVELING THROUGH IRELAND
- The easiest way to book train & bus tickets in Ireland is through Omio
- To book a flight to Ireland, I recommend a large booking platform or Skyscanner to compare options (if you’re from the US, sign up for Going for free, cheap flight alerts)
- For car rentals in Ireland, I recommend Discover Cars
- If you want a private driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Ireland – I use and recommend SafetyWing(read why here and here)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount
- You will need a visa to visit Northern Ireland which you can get through the app, “UK ETA”
ACCOMODATION IN IRELAND
- To easiest way to book hotels in Ireland is through a large booking platform
TOURS IN IRELAND
- For tours and activities in Ireland, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
- For food tours in Ireland, I recommend Devour Tours
- For walking tours in Ireland, I recommend Take Walks
WHAT TO BRING TO IRELAND
- Don’t forget a Ireland guide book or a Northern Ireland guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Ireland uses type G)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
- Ireland can often be rainy – be prepared with an umbrella, rain poncho, and rain shoes
I hope that you found this packing list for Ireland helpful! If you have any questions about packing or visiting Ireland in general, let me know in the comments below!
For more information on things to see and do in Scotland, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinireland” or under my highlights for “Ireland”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Ireland” highlight
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
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