What to Pack for Ireland

Ah, Ireland! The land of rolling green hills, cosy pubs, and unpredictable weather. You’ve booked your small bus tour with Irish Experience Tours, and the excitement is building.

OMG, what should I pack in my bag? What type of bag do I need? Will it fit on the plane & the bus?

Firstly, don’t panic. We have some very handy tips about travel essentials for Ireland that involve considering the variable and often unpredictable weather.

But we also don’t want you to ruin your trip by bringing your entire wardrobe! Packing light is not just a convenience; it’s a gift to yourself (and your driver-guide).

Here’s a comprehensive list of what to pack for a trip to Ireland to help you prepare for your journey, along with tips to make packing a small bag happen.

What Luggage Should I Bring to Ireland?

First things first: before you start packing for Ireland, you need to know what you’re going to be transporting your belongings in! Here’s what we suggest.

Small Backpack: Useful for day trips to carry essentials and any items you pick up along the way
If you’re a capsule wardrobe expert, you might be fine fitting all of your Ireland packing essentials into a rucksack. Rucksacks have plenty of straps and handles for you to carry them, and also don’t have a hard shell so they’re easier to compact. Just remember to leave plenty of space for shopping, as traditional sweaters take up a lot of space!

Or…

A small suitcase will fit in the overhead luggage compartment, saving you both time, money and less dragging around too. However, be aware that lots of the accommodations are B&Bs that have lots of stairs, so be prepared to lug your suitcase up and down.

A note for Irish Experience Tours guests: We ask that you bring only one large backpack/suitcase (20kg) and a day pack. If you are going to be travelling with a lot more than 20kg, then please let us know.

The Ultimate Ireland Packing List

Now you’ve got your hand luggage sorted and a suitable suitcase for the rest of your belongings, here’s what to pack for a trip to Ireland.

Clothing

Our main piece of advice for what to bring to Ireland? Don’t bring too much clothing!

Not only will it be more of a nightmare to pack, but you also probably won’t wear all of the unique outfits you’d planned, giving them a wasted trip in your luggage. Keep a minimal wardrobe in mind, and remember the following suggestions.

A hat: To keep the sun from burning and drying out your head (especially for bald men). Contrary to some anecdotes, the sun does shine here in Ireland, hence all the red faces.
Hiking or sportswear: This is perfect for the kinds of excursions that take place during our tours. You can get away with light shower-proof hiking pants that zip down to shorts if needed. And they can be washed and dried very quickly with today’s modern materials. You will also find laundry facilities en route, which will help to reduce the size of your bag.
Layers: Pack layers, including a waterproof and windproof outer layer. This helps you adjust to changing temperatures
Rain Jacket: We advise a good light waterproof jacket; a heavy jacket will be on and off you and get in your way in our very changeable weather.
Casual Footwear: Most of the time, sneakers or running/tennis shoes will be fine. If you plan to do a moderate to strenuous hike, trail shoes with a grip would be perfect, but not huge hiking boots as they take up lots of space in your bag.

Electronics

In today’s digital world, we know that most people can travel without all of their devices. Here’s what you might need on your packing list for Ireland.

Tablet-type device: With movies or audiobooks on it to read or, if you prefer, a softback book that you were meaning to read. Unless you’re travelling from the UK, you will need an adapter to use your electric appliances in Ireland. Remember, we use a three-pin plug in Ireland, with square pins!!!
Portable Charger: Keep your devices charged with a power pack, especially if you’re out exploring all day.
Camera or camera phone: This all depends on what you are going to do with your photographs at the end of the tour. These days, most people print their holiday photographs into photo books, so your phone will probably be adequate for that. You may be a keen photographer and want large photographs, so then you should bring your camera along in your carry-on luggage.

Bank Cards

American, Canadian, Australian? Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout the island of Ireland; American Express is accepted in some places but not all. Credit cards can be used for purchases and also to withdraw cash from ATMs (although this is usually accompanied by a fee).

It is better to withdraw from the main banks as the charges will be cheaper. The two main ones are AIB & Bank of Ireland.

Ireland Travel Essentials

Now you’ve got your clothes and devices all sorted, here are a couple of essentials that you really won’t want to leave behind.

Travel mug: Bring a clean cup or mug that will help reduce waste materials going to recycling or being incinerated.
Water bottle: Bring a water flask/bottle as tap water is safe to drink here in Ireland. Both reducing water waste and plastic bottle recycling are good for the environment and your pocket too.
Medication: This is a definite. DO NOT FORGET YOUR MEDICATION. Doctors are very hard to get hold of in Ireland, and it can take days to get an appointment in rural areas around the country. So securing emergency medication is virtually impossible, unless it’s a dangerous situation.
Sunscreen: Yes, you can actually get burned on a trip to Ireland! Don’t forget bug-repellant spray as well for things we call midges, which are tiny biting flies.
Sunglasses: No matter when you’re travelling, you’ll want sunglasses, as they will keep out both the sun and the rain.
Itinerary Printout: Have a printed or digital copy of your itinerary; this will help you plan for the following day whilst on the bus.
Communication: A SIM Card or Roaming Plan for your phone. Ensure you have a reliable way to stay connected

How to Pack Light for an Irish Vacation

Packing light is an essential part of a successful small group tour, especially when you’re going to be travelling from place to place on a bus. Here’s how we recommend you can include what to take to Ireland without going over the luggage limit.

1. Layers Are Your Best Friend

Ireland’s weather is as unpredictable as an Irish mammy’s mood when the tea runs out. Pack layers that you can combine together, instead of big, bulky items:

Light jacket: Waterproof and windproof is key.
Sweaters: One or two that pair well with everything.
T-shirts and long sleeves: Mix and match for versatility.

2. Shoes Matter (But Only Two Pairs)

Shoes are bulky, so stick to the essentials:

Sturdy walking shoes: For cobblestones, cliffs, and casual strolls.
One pair of dressier shoes: For dinners or nights at the pub.

3. Limit Toiletries

Irish B&Bs and hotels often provide basic toiletries. Pack travel-sized essentials and skip the “what if” items. Bonus: it saves room for souvenirs like Irish whiskey or locally made soaps.

4. Roll, Don’t Fold

Maximise your bag’s capacity by rolling clothes instead of folding them. It’s a space-saver and helps reduce wrinkles.

5. Pick a Packing System

Packing cubes or compression bags are a game-changer. They keep your bag tidy and make it easy to find things without unpacking your entire life.

Why Pack Light?

Here at Irish Experience Tours, we believe in the mantra of Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Everything we do in our lives impacts our environment, so reducing our environmental footprint is our goal.

We must reduce our waste in the future and be more environmentally conscious. Less luggage also means less carbon is used in the form of fuel used in air travel and the bus journey. So packing light for Ireland helps us to be more environmentally friendly, which is good for everyone involved! ☘️

1. Save Your Back (and Your Wallet)

Hauling a massive suitcase up the narrow staircases of charming guesthouses might sound like a workout, but trust us—it’s not the Irish fitness trend you want to follow. With a small bag full of only Ireland travel essentials, you’ll glide through check-ins and save on baggage fees for airlines. Your back and your bank account will thank you.

2. Be Kind to Your Driver-Guide

Picture this: your driver-guide loading and unloading your bag twice a day, while you look on, sipping a coffee. Now imagine that bag is the size of a small car. You’ll quickly become that tourist. Keeping it compact when deciding what to take to Ireland means less hassle for everyone and more time for the craic (fun).

3. Avoid the Small-Bus Wrestling Match

Our small buses are cosy, intimate, and perfect for exploring Ireland’s hidden gems. But a giant suitcase can turn the luggage area into a game of suitcase Tetris. Spare yourself — and your fellow travellers — the drama by keeping it small and sticking to only the travel essentials for Ireland.

4. Steps, Cobblestones, and Rain

Dragging a behemoth suitcase over Dublin’s cobblestones or up a hill in Howth is a quick way to make locals snicker (affectionately, of course). Add a splash of rain, and you’ll wish you had a smaller, easier-to-handle bag.