Summer Packing List for Ireland: What to Actually Pack (Yes, Including the Rain Jacket)

[Marta Correale]

Summer packing list for Ireland by a local who’s seen many summers here! What to packer Ireland in summer, what you can leave home, practical packing tips for your Irish vacation. Summer is one of the very best times to visit Ireland and one of of the most popular: the weather is at its best, you have long hours of light and the people’s spirit is in much better form that during the long grey moths of the Irish winter. That said, Irish summers as not always as ‘summery’ as their name suggests! Irish summers are warmer than Irish winters but, temperature wise, they resemble what more southern latitudes would describe as a very early spring, rather than a full on summer! During the average Irish summer, we normally get some nice and warm days when people wear shorts and sandals (yes, even visitors, not just hardened locals!) but also many days that are rainy, great, chilly and resemble a bad March, more than a nice July! This means that packing for requires flexibility. Pack for the good days and the not-so-good ones, and you’ll enjoy every single day of your trip rather than spending half of it cold and underprepared wishing you’d brought a warmer layer. Here is exactly what to pack. Starting, unavoidably, with a rain jacket! Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we might make a small commission. What Is Irish Summer Actually Like? Average temperatures in summer (June, July, August) sit between 15°C and 20°C, with warm spells that can genuinely reach 21 – 25°C and that feel genuinely hot! When those warm spells arrive, the whole country celebrates: beaches fill up, ice cream queues form outside every corner shop, and the mood lifts noticeably. But the same week can also bring grey y days, cool evenings, and rain. Not torrential tropical rain; most commonly we get the soft, persistent Irish variety that doesn’t feel dramatic until you realise you’ve been damp for three hours. It also happens that the two things happen on the same day: the 4 seasons in one day thing here is real! A few things that make Irish summer distinctive: The evenings are extraordinary. In June and July, it doesn’t get properly dark until well after 10pm. This means long evenings on terraces, cliff walks at 9pm, and a pace of life that feels relaxed and expansive. It also means you’ll be out later than you might expect, in air that has cooled down considerably from the afternoon. The west is wilder. If you’re visiting Dublin and the east coast, summers are comparatively sheltered. If you’re heading to Kerry, Clare, Connemara, or anywhere along the Wild Atlantic Way, you’re on the Atlantic edge and the weather is more dramatic. It is also staggeringly beautiful. Pack a warmer layer than you think you need. The sun is stronger than it looks. Irish summer light is deceptive: it doesn’t feel fierce the way Mediterranean sun does, but SPF matters. I’ve seen many a visitor get properly sunburned on what felt like a mild Irish day. The Non-Negotiable: Your Waterproof Jacket I am going to say this once, clearly: do not come to Ireland in summer without a waterproof jacket with a hood. Not a rain jacket you leave at the hotel ‘just in case’. You want one that lives in your day bag, that comes with you everywhere, that you can pull on in thirty seconds when the sky changes. As you can see from the photo, I bring a puffer style jacket while my husband and kids have more of a windbreaker thing. Either works well, largely depending on how sensitive to the cold you are. The ideal summer waterproof for Ireland is lightweight and packable — something that stuffs into its own pocket or into the bottom of a backpack without taking up meaningful space. You want it with you at all times without feeling like you’re carrying it. A hood is non-negotiable. An umbrella is a nice backup but Irish wind will test it severely — a hood is simply more reliable. Clothing for an Irish Summer Adults The layering principle that applies to Ireland year-round is just as relevant in summer, it simply involves lighter layers. Kids Shoes for an Irish Summer Accessories & Day Bag Sun Essentials (Yes, Really) Toiletries & Health Ireland has excellent pharmacies — well-stocked and with very knowledgeable staff — so you can find most things you need on arrival. Prices are on the higher side compared to many countries, so bringing your preferred brands from home makes sense if you have specific needs. Hotels provide soap and shampoo; conditioner is rarely included, so bring it or pick it up at a supermarket (Dunnes Stores, Tesco, and SuperValu are everywhere and well-stocked). Washcloths are not standard in Irish hotels, as in most of Europe so if you rely on them, pack one from home. Worth bringing from home: Tech & Travel Gear Packing for Babies and Toddlers in Irish Summer What NOT to Pack for an Irish Summer A Final Note: Embrace the Uncertainty My Irish friends have a phrase: if you wait for good weather, you may never go anywhere. Which means: It might be sunny. It might rain. Probably both. Pack for both, bring your layers, keep the waterproof in your bag, and go out anyway. The people who enjoy Ireland most are the ones who stop trying to outplan the weather and simply dress for it. Some of the most memorable family days I’ve had here have been on days that started grey and ended golden, with everything in between. Pack well, expect nothing in particular, and you’ll be ready for anything. Safe travels! Summer packing list for Ireland – Pin this!

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