What To Pack For Ireland: Our Packing List

Hi there! I'm Jade 👋

I'm a born-and-bred local and a travel expert for Vagabond Tours.

So I have the good fortune — you might call it luck of the Irish! — of calling the Emerald Isle home.

With its stunning landscapes, amazing culture and friendly people, Ireland is heaven for travellers.

The climate here — as you may have read elsewhere on our site — is changeable though. Packing for a trip to Ireland can be a bit of a challenge.

But fear not! I'm here to share my insider tips on what to pack for your Irish adventure.

Let's dive in and get you ready for your unforgettable trip to Ireland!

Travel Essentials 🚨

🛂 Passport - 99% of visitors to Ireland need to show a valid passport on arrival. Your passport needs to be valid for the entire duration of your stay.
💶 Cash - We recommend bringing at least a small amount of euros (€) in cash with you to Ireland.
💊 Medication - Make sure you pack adequate supplies of any required medication; written confirmation from a medical professional may also be helpful.
✅ Booking Voucher - We'll send you your Vagabond or Driftwood Tours ticket by email before you depart. You'll need to show us this on a digital device in order to board your tour vehicle Day 1. There's no need to print.
📱 Smartphone. We highly recommend you bring a WiFi-enabled cell / mobile phone with you to Ireland. Keep in touch with home, as well as with your VagaGuide and fellow guests on your tour. The camera will be useful for collecting all those magic memories. Don't forget your charger!

The Best Suitcase Size for Ireland 🧳

Travel light.

That's one travel regret that I hear expressed repeatedly by previous guests who brought along too much stuff.

Don't be that person!

Remember, in general, our guests move their own luggage to their hotel rooms; so it will be less physically demanding if you pack a minimum of items.

We operate a strict limit of one large piece of luggage per person on our tours.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Your single large piece of luggage should measure no longer than 31” (79cm) along its longest side.

This 31” (79cm) limit includes any wheels that may protrude from the suitcase or bag.

💡 Pro Tip: If you've arrived in Ireland with too large a suitcase, ask at your Dublin hotel if you can leave it there. Remember, this will only be an option if you're returning to the same hotel after your tour.

Learn more about our luggage restrictions in this FAQ.

My Recommended Packing List 😎

After listening to hundreds of our tour guests, suffice to say I know a thing or two about what to pack for Ireland.

Your Ireland trip will run a whole lot smoother if you remember to pack the following items.

Baggage 🎒

1x Fanny pack/Bumbag. Keep your travel documents and valuables close to you while out exploring Ireland. Extremely handy.
1x Small Day back/Backpack. Conveniently keep your daily needs close by while exploring and while travelling in the tour vehicle. Think small and lightweight!
1x Compact Suitcase - Make sure your suitcase is compact in size. Your suitcase should be no longer than 75cm (30'') on its longest side. We can't stress this highly enough. Our tour vehicles have limited luggage capacity.

Clothing 👚

👕 Lightweight Layers. Irish weather can change from hour-to-hour — and sometimes minute-to-minute!
Typically our guests wear lightweight layers of clothing. This gives you the ability to add or remove layers as the sun, rain and wind dictates. Include a warm outer layer like a fleece or lined pullover for cooler evenings.
🧥 1x Quality Waterproof Rain Jacket. Have you heard? It rains in Ireland. Occasionally. A lightweight jacket is ideal. Make sure it's fully waterproof. The best materials to go for are Gore-Tex and/or PVC-coated nylon
👚 1 or 2 Changes of Comfortable Clothes. When you reach your accommodation and want to go explore the area. In Ireland, there's no need for anything too formal in the evenings. Dress codes are casual here in Ireland.
These clothes may include...
👖 2 pairs of Lightweight, Long Pants/Trousers. If you plan on hiking, choose a quick-dry synthetic material such as nylon or polyester.
👕 A Mix of Short and Long-sleeved T-Shirts. A mix of breathable cotton and quick-drying materials works best. Include 1 or 2 long-sleeved T-shirts. These are good for cooler days and to protect against UV rays.
🩳 1 Pair of Shorts. For more intense hikes and sunny days on the beach.
🩱 Swimsuit/Trunks. Take advantage of a refreshing dip in the ocean or try out the spa facilities available at some of the hotels on your tour.

Footwear 👟

🥾 Active Vagabonds. Taking one of our active Vagabond Cultural Adventure tours? Comfortable trainers will be adequate for our hikes. Trail shoes or lightweight hiking boots provide better protection against moisture and improved grip over uneven terrain.
👟 Relaxed-Pace Driftwooders. No adventure activities and a relaxed pace on Driftwood Journeys of Discovery means you won't require any specialised footwear. But make sure you pack shoes that are comfortable and suiitable for light walking. You'll enjoy lots of free time to stroll around towns and take guided tours. Sneakers are absolutely acceptable in 99% of pubs and restaurants.

Toiletries 🧼

It's best to opt for small or travel sizes when packing toiletries. It's easier to stock up while in Ireland when your supply runs out than carry around large amounts of unused toiletries.

🪥 Toothbrush and toothpaste
🌞 Sunscreen. Choose at least SPF 30.
🫧 Washcloth/Facecloth - Irish hotels do not always provide facecloths. Pack one if it's important to you.

Our hotels and guesthouses on tour provide shampoo, soap and shower gel.

🛍️ 💚 GET YOUR IRELAND MERCH! | Check out our SUSTAINABLE VagaMerch

My Recommended (But Totally Optional) Extras 🤠

🔋 Battery Pack. Handy to charge up any devices while on the road. Please note there are no USB charger ports on our vehicles.
📒 Notebook or Journal. It's easy to forget the names of all the places you visit as you are whisked around Ireland. Many of our past guests recommend marking down the destinations on your printable itinerary or in a notebook/journal.
🤠 1 Warm Hat. No, not a cowboy hat. Think a cosy beanie. It hardly takes up any space but packs its punch in warmth, if you happen to get chilly at any point.
🕶️ 1 Pair of Sunglasses. No matter which month you visit, Ireland is probably brighter than you'll expect. Convenient for hangovers too.
🦟 Bug Spray. Mosquitoes are rare in Ireland. But you may encounter other biting insects, particularly in humid, windless locations. Bug spray is particularly useful in the late summer months.
⚡ Power Adapter. In Ireland, we use a three-pronged plug with a 230v 50hz electricity supply. You'll need a power adapter if you are coming from outside Ireland or the UK. Find out more about electricity in Ireland here.
⛰️ Retractable Hiking/Walking Poles. For active guests on our Vagabond Adventure tour style only. We do not supply hiking poles on tour vehicles.

What You Won't Need 🚫

🤵 Formal Wear or Suits. Irish restaurants and pubs operate an extremely casual — to the point of non-existent — dress policy. Unless you strongly feel the need, there's no requirement for guests to pack formal wear, such as a dinner jacket for guys.
👩‍🦱 Hairdryers. 100% of our hotels provide hairdryers in your room.
🧖 Towels. You'll find bathroom towels in all of your hotels. There's no need to pack your own towel. You may wish to bring your own travel towel if you're planning to engage in watersport activities on active Vagabond Cultural Adventure tours (like sea kayaking or surfing).
☂️ Umbrella. They don't fit into suitcases. They get blown inside out.

Packing FAQs 🧳

What Size Luggage Should I Bring?

To make everyone's tour run smoothly, we operate strict limits on baggage size. Plan to bring 1x compact suitcase as well as 1x daypack or backpack, per guest booking.

Your single large piece of luggage should weigh no more than 51lb (23kg) and measure no longer than 31” (79cm) along its longest side. This 31 inch (79cm) limit includes any wheels that may protrude from the suitcase or bag.

When full, your daypack or backpack should be light enough to easily carry on your back. It should be compact enough to fit into the space at your feet and measure no larger than the following:

↕️ Height: 18.5" (48cm)
↔️ Width: 13" (33cm)
🎒 Depth: 8" (20cm)

Because your tour with us will be small-group, your tour vehicle will be compact in nature and have limited space for luggage.

Travelling as a couple? You can bring along one larger suitcase instead of two compact suitcases. This single piece of luggage should weigh no more than 51lb (23kg).

Soft-sided bags work better than hard shell luggage.

guide packing bags onto vehicle

🎒 Day Pack

Besides your larger bag, we recommend bringing a small day pack or backpack with you.

This allows you easy access to essentials such as your wallet or purse, your phone, a reusable drinks bottle, snacks and any medications you might need throughout the day.

Larger luggage is difficult for your VagaGuide to access between hotels. On a Driftwood Journey of Discovery, it's stacked in the trunk. On Vagabond Cultural Adventures, large luggage is towed behind the tour vehicle in a locked trailer.

A fannypack or bumbag can also come in handy for smaller items, but is non-essential.

🧳 Left Luggage

Most Dublin hotels offer a left luggage service.

You can leave luggage at the hotel while you tour and return to it when your tour is complete.

🧺 Laundry

Will you need to do laundry while on tour?

Your hotel can organise laundry facilities on tour if your tour stays for 2 nights in any of the following towns:

Dingle
Clifden
Kinsale
Westport

Just ask your VagaGuide tour guide in advance.

Where Can I Do Laundry On Tour?

Serviced laundry facilities are available on tours that stay 2 nights in the following towns:

🧺 Dingle - Check which tours visit Dingle
🧺 Kinsale - 7 Day Driftwood Castles & Kingdoms Tour & 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
🧺 Westport - 15 Day Driftwood All Ireland Tour & 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
🧺 Waterford - 6 Day Great Southern Ireland Tour
🧺 Clifden - 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour
🧺 Lahinch - 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
🧺 Parknasilla - 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour

If your Vagabond or Driftwood tour does not visit one of these towns, your VagaGuide will advise you on where best to access laundry facilities.

Can I Access My Bag While On Tour?

It's difficult to access your main luggage or suitcase while on tour. Luggage is securely packed in our tour vehicles. As a result, it's not easy for your driver guide to access individual items of baggage during the day.

However, you can easily access your luggage at each hotel. So that you have your travel essentials close at hand, we recommend bringing a daypack, or backpack, that you can keep beside you in the tour vehicle.

Where Is Luggage Stored?

All luggage/baggage is stored either:

A) Inside your tour vehicle. On Driftwood Journeys of Discovery, all of your luggage/baggage travels in the trunk/boot of your Drifter tour vehicle. It is not accessible from the passenger area.

B) In a secure trailer. On Vagabond Cultural Adventures, your main luggage/baggage travels in a securely locked and weatherproof trailer, pulled behind the tour vehicle.

tour guide packing bags onto vechicle

Bring The Essentials In A Backpack

A backpack helps you store the essentials you'll need quick access to during each day on tour.

These essentials might include:

💶 Wallet - Cards, to pay for souvenirs and lunch, and cash, as required for activities on the day (your tour guide will advise daily)
🤳 Electronic Devices - Smartphone, camera, tablet or other devices
🍪 Refreshments - Such as water, gum, snacks etc.
🥪 Lunch - Your VagaGuide may plan a picnic and advise you where to pick up supplies in a deli/supermarket
💊 Medication - If required.
🧥 Lightweight Clothing - A warm hat and lightweight layers of clothing such as a waterproof rain jacket and sweater

Find out more about our tour vehicles

Medication & First Aid

Don't forget any personal medication you may require.

Rest assured, our highly-trained VagaGuide tour guides are all trained in first aid; all of our tour vehicles carry first aid kits. However, a small personal first aid kit might be more convenient for you.

Things to include in your first aid kit: