It can be challenging to know what to pack for a trip to Ireland because the damp weather and mild temperatures can throw off even experienced world travelers. In this post, I’ll cover all of the things you’ll want to pack for your trip to Ireland for different times of the year to stay as warm and dry as possible.
Before I moved to Ireland in August of 2020, I had visited the country twice – once in the summer, and again in the winter. I’ve helped many groups of friends and family pack for their trips to Ireland, and now I want to share that advice with you.
About Ireland and its climate
Ireland is known for its stunning landscapes, friendly locals, and the iconic drinks you can order in pubs throughout the country, among other things. It is also, aptly, known for being rainy and dreary for large parts of the year. The days are long and sunny during the summer months, due to its far northern latitude (Ireland is at roughly the same latitude as southern Alaska). Winter days are short, with the sun rising around 9am and setting around 4pm.
Areas near the coast are particularly chilly, with sometimes strong winds coming off of the Atlantic. If you’re planning to stay in a coastal area, be prepared with additional warm layers and rain gear.
Average temperatures
In the summer months of June through August, you’ll tend to see highs between 15°C and 20°C (59° – 68°F). During the winter months from November to February, expect lows between 5°C and 8°C (41° – 46°F). Here’s how I think about Irish weather: it’s warm enough that palm trees are able to grow outdoors throughout the country, but cool enough that I only left my house without pants and a long sleeved shirt about 10 times in the last year.
Does it rain all of the time in Ireland?
You might guess from the almost impossibly deep greens you see around Ireland that it rains every day of the year here. Although it can be rainy and dreary on many days, especially during the winter, we do have plenty of days of sunshine and nice weather. To catch the best Irish weather, visit between June and early September, when the days are long and the temperatures are warmer.
You could see a torrential downpour anytime of the year, but they’re most common in the spring and fall. Most likely, you’ll experience a mist of rain with or without wind, depending on where you go.
Irish rain + mist
Don’t be fooled, though – the mist can absolutely drench you. You’ll want water wicking clothing, and you’ll want to be sure you have enough clothes to stay warm. The downside of the misty rain is that umbrellas don’t do much here because of the wind, which can easily drench your legs even with an umbrella. Unless you happen to know that it’s going to be rainy, I would leave the umbrella at home and plan to buy one here if it looks like you’ll need it.
Expect cooler temperatures indoors
Compared to the United States and other areas, the indoor heating might seem sparse while you’re in Ireland. Many houses and some hotels are poorly insulated, especially the windows, and the energy prices are much higher in Europe. As such, you’ll want to plan to wear warm pajamas while indoors in most areas to stay comfortably warm.
If you plan to stay anywhere that bills itself as “rustic” I would recommend wearing wool or insulated clothes while in the house. People in Ireland also tend to leave doors and windows open even in chilly temperatures, preferring the fresh air. (As an example: I’m writing this post on chilly January day and the door to this cafe has been propped open for over an hour.)
What do you need to pack to go to Ireland?
Unless you come during the couple of weeks where Ireland is rather warm (late July, early August), Ireland will likely feel very cold to you. I was cold for almost the entire first year I spent in Ireland, and it will feel even colder coming from a warmer climate.
Concern yourself, first and foremost, with staying warm. Even in the summer months, Ireland is likely to feel chilly because of the high levels of humidity, strong winds, and ocean breezes. Loosely fitting clothes will feel warmer than tightly fitting clothes.
Additionally, you’ll need to bring essentials like a power adapter, comfortable walking shoes, a daypack, and a credit card with decent exchange rate.
Items you’ll want to pack for anytime of year
Here’s a list of items you’ll want to pack for anytime of the year in Ireland. Consider this your base list, and I’ll add on specifics for each time of year in a later section.
✔️ Sunglasses (it can get sunny any time of year, but you’ll especially want glasses if you plan to do any sort of boat trip)
✔️ Prescription glasses, if needed
✔️ Power adapter for the UK
✔️ Comfortable shoes, like these water-repellant Allbirds
✔️ Long pants (I prefer black leggings)
✔️ Warm jacket, preferably with a waterproof or water-resistant shell
✔️ Sweater (wool or synthetic)
✔️ Warm hat
✔️ Gloves
✔️ Wool socks
✔️ Long underwear
✔️ Rain jacket (if your warm jacket is not waterproof)
✔️ Hiking boots or hiking shoes (waterproof or water-resistant)
✔️ Day pack
✔️ Reusable water bottle
✔️ Book, Kindle, or other reading materials
✔️ Sunscreen
✔️ Toiletries (or you can always buy toiletries in Ireland)
✔️ Water purification system if you’ll be camping or staying in rural Ireland (alternatively, you can purchase bottled water)
✔️ Letter from your credit card stating that you have rental car insurance coverage in Ireland. *If you’re planning to rent a car and waive the rental car company’s insurance.
Packing guidance for Ireland by month
For this post, I wanted to share my best packing guidance for Ireland for all times of year. Here are my overviews of the weather and packing needs for each season, as well as some general tips and tricks you might find helpful.
What should I pack for Ireland in March, April, and May?
The months of March, April, and May in Ireland are when you’ll find our spring weather, with flowers starting to blossom and the occasional rainstorm. The average temperatures will range from about 8-15°C (46° to 59°F), starting off on the cooler end in March and warming up as summer approaches. The days will also start to get longer following the switch to Daylight Savings Time in March (note that Ireland and the US do not change their clocks the same week).
When packing for the springtime in Ireland, plan to bring plenty of layers so that you can stay warm while you’re stationary and shed layers while you’re active. Walking through an urban center like Dublin will probably feel quite chilly, so be extra prepared with long underwear, waterproof shoes, and a warm jacket.
Unlike the wintertime, it’s very unlikely that you will encounter any snow, so plan mostly for very chilly rain. The rain can sometimes feel ice cold, so gloves and a hat will help to protect you, especially if you venture into the mountains or coastal areas.