A Carry-On Packing List for a Week in Ireland

Alyssa in front of a Guinness gate in Dublin wearing all black with a gingham trench and white sneakers

Opening up my suitcase and sharing my packing list for a week in Ireland
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I’ll be honest—I almost decided not to share my packing list for my recent trip to Ireland.

Why? Because the itinerary Michael and I put together leaned heavily toward time on the road, exploring remote corners of the countryside with just a dash of city-hopping. And that meant my packing choices prioritized comfort over trends, and practicality over Pinterest-perfect outfits.

Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

But a few weeks ago I was poking around my site analytics, looking through the queries you’ve typed into the search bar, and sure enough, I spotted: “Packing list for Ireland” and “Packing list for 2 weeks in Ireland.”

So, dear friends, this one’s for you.

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Today I’m opening up my carry-on suitcase and travel backpack to share exactly what I packed for a week road-tripping through the Irish countryside—devouring Cork, soaking up time in Dingle, discovering Galway, and getting reacquainted with Dublin. I’ll also include some honest thoughts on local style, plus a few extra travel items that came in handy. Let’s unpack it all:

PACKING LIST FOR IRELAND IN THE SPRING

A visual packing list titled "A Carry-On Packing List for a Week in Ireland – Springtime Getaway" featuring 18 clothing and accessory items laid out in rows. Items include: a wool tank, cotton tee, wool tee, ribbed tee, jumpsuit, striped cotton sweater, tan cashmere sweater, raincoat, checked trench coat, black puffer vest, wool pants, light wash denim jeans, black denim jeans, burgundy flats, black chunky boots, white sneakers, and a beige crossbody bag. Background image shows coastal cliffs and ocean under a clear sky. Website listed at the bottom: waywardblog.com — Wool Tank | White Tee | Wool Tee | Ribbed Tee | Jumpsuit | Cotton Polo Sweater | Cashmere Sweater | Raincoat | Trench Coat* | Puffer Vest* | Wool Pants | Light Denim | Black Denim | Flats | Boots | Sneakers | Crossbody Bag

WHY I PACKED THESE ITEMS

Every neutral top and sweater packed for the trip to Ireland — Wool Tank | White Tee | Wool Tee | Ribbed Tee | Cotton Polo Sweater | Cashmere Sweater

Tops

Facing a forecast that promised a wide range of temperatures, I packed an equally wide range of sleeves and fabrics to match. Wool is always a go-to for travel—lightweight, odor-resistant, and easy to layer—but in Ireland, it’s even more of a must. A thin tank and long-sleeve tee combo made it easy to add warmth without bulk, but each piece could also stand alone if I started to overheat. Plus, it was fun to match the sheep I met all over the countryside.

That said, I mostly lived in the three pieces on the right, since the actual temperatures ended up being much colder than predicted. A ribbed long-sleeve tee added some subtle texture, a striped cotton polo felt perfectly relaxed, and a cashmere sweater always makes things feel a little more polished.

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A pair of paints, a light blue jean, a dark black jean, and a jumpsuit — Wool Pants | Light Denim | Black Denim | Jumpsuit

Bottoms + Jumpsuit

Sadly, the jumpsuit never made it out of my suitcase during this trip. It was just a bit too cold, and all of our dinners ended up being casual enough that I didn’t need it. My denim, however, was in heavy rotation. I bounced between a light-wash pair and soft black jeans, depending on the day (and the mood).

Both are stretchy and super comfortable for long car rides, but the MVP for red-eye flights was my pair of wool pants. With an elastic waistband, they feel like pajamas but still look put-together thanks to the structured ponte fabric. Even after a 24+ hour travel day, they didn’t bag out or hang on to odors. I truly can’t recommend adding a few wool pieces to your travel wardrobe enough.

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A puffer vest, raincoat, and gingham trench — Puffer Vest* | Raincoat | Trench Coat*

Jackets

Since I went neutral with most of my clothes, a fun coat felt like a must. This gingham trench* has been a favorite for several springs now, and thanks to a thin puffer vest* layered underneath, it was plenty warm for the trip. But even if you’re not wanting to bring a “fun” jacket, at least make sure you like the way it looks. Chances are, it’ll be in every vacation photo.

As for rain gear: skip the umbrella and pack a raincoat. This one is fully waterproof and folds up nice and small. Ironically, I didn’t need it even once during our time in Ireland… but I’m definitely not mad about that.

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A pair of sneakers, red flats, black boots, and taupe purse — Sneakers | Flats | Boots | Crossbody Bag

Shoes + Accessories

Do you need three pairs of shoes for Ireland? Nope. You could easily get by with two—or even one—if you’re really into packing light. That said, I usually recommend two pairs for longer trips so you can rotate for comfort.

White sneakers may not be the trendiest these days, but they still go with just about everything. I almost packed my Onitsuka Tigers, but opted for my plain white sneakers instead—their thicker soles seemed more rain-resistant. A strappy pair of flats scratched the itch for something that felt a bit more current, and I brought a sturdy pair of waterproof boots for muddy hikes and chilly evenings.

If I had to pare it down to two pairs, I’d take sneakers and boots for early spring, or a pair of ultra-durable sneakers and flats for late spring.

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Image titled "Essential Tech + Accessories for Ireland," showcasing key travel gadgets and gear. Items include: an Apple World Travel Adapter Kit, curling iron, collapsible Vapur water bottles, compact Bluetooth speaker, multi-device red charging cable, green phone case, black universal travel adapter, and a purple sleep mask with built-in headphones. — Apple World Travel Adapter Set | Curling Iron | Charging Cables | Collapsible Water Bottle | White Noise Machine | Phone Case | International Travel Adapter | Silk Sleep Mask

Other Essential Items for Ireland

Okay, so clothes and shoes are covered—but what about everything else? I’m not particularly gadget-y, but there are a few things I like bring that make travel a lot smoother.

Tech-wise, I usually bring my MacBook, because sometimes you just need Big Internet. I’ll admit I’m a bit of a weenie when it comes to charging it with anything besides the Apple cord it came with, but thankfully, Apple sells a set of world travel adapters. For Ireland, all you need is the Type G plug.

To charge my phone (which lives in this super grippy case), I use a multi-country travel adapter. Yes, it’s a bit of a beast, but it charges multiple devices at once. I also love these brightly colored multi-charging cables—they’re hard to forget in hotel rooms and super handy. Since most rental cars have USB ports, we could charge while we drove, too.

I never used to think about sleep hygiene in my twenties, but these days it makes all the difference. Two things that help me sleep better without taking up much space? This amazing silk sleep mask and a small-but-mighty white noise machine.

And finally, in the categories of “not looking like a gremlin” and “not getting hangry, but for thirst”: my curling iron and collapsible water bottle. You can bring your own dual-voltage hot tools or use a converter, but I prefer to use tools made for the destination. If you don’t want to order one online ahead of time, just pop into a pharmacy or electronics store when you arrive—you’ll have one ready for your next visit, too.

SPRING OUTFITS FOR IRELAND

Alyssa and Michael at the Cliffs of Moher — Wool Tee | Puffer Vest* | Trench Coat* | Sunglasses | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings | Necklace*

Alyssa laughs in a photo taken in Galway — Ribbed Tee | Trench Coat* | Crossbody Bag | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings | Necklace*

Alyssa in front of Kilkenny Castle, wearing a striped polo, gingham trench, culottes, and sneakers — Cotton Polo Sweater | Wool Pants | Trench Coat* | Sneakers | Crossbody Bag | Sunglasses | Watch*

Alyssa in front of a blue wall in Dublin wearing all black with a gingham trench and white sneakers — Wool Tee | Black Denim | Trench Coat* | Sneakers | Crossbody Bag | Necklace*

*the original item is no longer available, and a similar option is linked

ZIPPING IT UP: MY FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR IRELAND IN A CARRY-ON

Alyssa walks through Kilruddery Yard wearing a striped polo, black pants, gingham trench, and black boots while carrying her water bottle

Thoughts on local style in Ireland

Outside of Dublin, style across Ireland’s cities and towns leans casual—sometimes even rugged, depending on where you are. Sneakers were everywhere, especially Sambas, which seemed to be the unofficial shoe of Cork and Galway.

As for Dublin? Anything goes. Stand on a corner in just about any neighborhood near the city center and you’ll see a parade of TikTok aesthetics go by: cottagecore, light academia, coquette, Y2K—and yes, more than a few baddies in the mix. Translation: your usual style will fit in just fine, but maybe just leave the sports team logos and baseball caps at home.

Thoughts on my packing list

Let’s start with the basics: my packing list worked. I was never too cold or too hot. I felt physically comfortable for long days—whether walking or sitting in a car—and socially comfortable in every setting we found ourselves in.

But by the end of the trip, I was kind of bored with my wardrobe. I think part of it was just the mental drag of pulling out winter gear like puffers and boots in April. And while the forecast had hinted at milder weather, things stayed chillier than expected, so I leaned hard on my sweaters and long-sleeve tees for most of the trip.

If I could do it over, I’d swap a few things: I would have packed a leather jacket, thrown in an extra jumper for variety, and left the jumpsuit and white tee behind.

Ultimately, I packed for a worst-case scenario, and what I got was… well, basically the best-case. But even though I didn’t end up needing it, the one item I’m glad I brought? My raincoat. Because let’s be honest—if I’d left it behind, it surely would have rained.

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Questions for you

Have you ever packed for a worst-case scenario and ended up totally overprepared? What did you bring that you never touched?

If you’ve been to Ireland, what did you end up wearing the most? Anything you wish you’d packed differently?

Would you rather be a little underdressed or a little overpacked? (I won’t judge either way!)

Where to next? You may also enjoy:

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Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for a Week in Ireland