What to Pack for a 2-Week trip Around Ireland

I’m a spontaneous person — and you might wonder just how spontaneous I am. Well, I never make a structured packing list for my trips. That was exactly the case with my two-week trip to Ireland.

The whole purpose of visiting Ireland was to kind of follow the Titanic trails. So I kept browsing information on Titanic heritage sites in Ireland and places of interest related to that topic — right up until my departure.

I was quite unprepared when it came to packing, so much so that I had to buy extra items along the way. I was a bit worried about increasing my luggage load since I tend to travel light. My backpack had very little room for anything extra, like the pair of waterproof rain boots I ended up buying.

If you want to be better prepared than I was, here’s my well-tested and experience-based packing list.

Ireland Essentials

Before flying to Ireland, I assumed there would be a transportation app that allowed me to buy an e-ticket pass. Wrong.

As soon as I landed in Dublin, I realized the Leap Card app doesn’t allow you to load tickets digitally — you need a physical card, purchased from an in-person outlet.

By the time I found this out, I’d already left Dublin Airport and was deep in the city centre. My Airbnb host told me I could get the card from resellers, but I couldn’t find any, despite asking around and searching online.

I ended up paying cash for every bus ride throughout the Republic of Ireland. For trains, I could pay by card. On one bus ride, the driver refused to give me my change back — so I lost a few cents (cry). And honestly, I’m not a big fan of coins anyway.

In Northern Ireland, the Translink app let me buy e-tickets. But that wasn’t the case in the Republic.

My advice: As soon as you land at Dublin Airport, buy your Leap Card. You may get your Leap Visitor Card delivered to your home and use it on your landing in Ireland as well.

Leap Card is your best friend as you travel in Ireland with public transit. Photo: leapcard.ie

Waterproof Rain Boots

My first Airbnb host in Dublin was very friendly and helpful. He told me, “It’ll rain a lot, but not every day.” True to his words, I only had a few sunny days during my two weeks in Ireland.

When I got to Cork, I bought a pair of rain boots for €39. They proved incredibly useful as I explored Ireland mostly on foot. For example, The Gobbins Cliff Path in Northern Ireland requires proper footwear — they deny entry to anyone without sturdy, non-slip shoes.

You’d be surprised how many attractions in Ireland have similar restrictions on unsuitable footwear. Even if not, a pair of waterproof rain boots will serve you well during your trip.

Photo: Unsplush

Rain Poncho

At Gobbins Cliff, our guide (a staff member there) told me that whenever she gets drenched during a tour, she has to drive home to change.

As tourists, we don’t have that luxury — so pack a rain poncho. The last thing you want is to be caught in a heavy downpour without proper protection while waiting for a bus or taxi.

A rain poncho saves your day. Photo: Ian Battaglia of Unsplash

Power Adapter to Type G Plug

Ireland uses the Type G plug (the three-pin one), just like the UK. If you’re from a non-Type-G country, pack an adapter.

Many travelers bring a universal adapter so they can charge multiple devices, especially when accommodations have limited outlets. Highly recommended!

Photo: Call Me Fred of Unsplash

Nice-to-Have, Not Essentials

Umbrella

If you’re an “umbrella person,” don’t forget to pack one. But I’m not — I prefer ponchos when it rains. Everyone has their own style, though, so take whichever suits you best.

Photo: C T of Unsplash

Feminine Pads

This isn’t Ireland-specific, but it’s important. I once heard a story from fellow travelers on the Trans-Siberian Railway:

“One of our group members was a young woman who forgot to pack her feminine pads. When her period started on the train, there were none available. We lost time and money trying to find her some.”

That story stuck with me. Since then, I always carry a small pack, just in case my cycle starts unexpectedly.

You can find feminine pads easily in supermarkets and pharmacies all over Ireland (including Northern Ireland). But if you’d rather not spend time searching, just pack a few in advance.

Three pads go along your way. Photo: Reproductive Health Coalition of Unsplush

Salt for Water Salt Mouth Rinse

This might sound odd, but traveling is the perfect time to start gargling — especially with warm, salted water. You don’t need to pack a whole bag of salt; just a small container will do for your two-week trip.

Studies show that gargling for just five seconds can help prevent common colds and respiratory infections. It’s as effective as wearing a mask on public transport!

I once forgot my little salt bottle and had to buy a €4 bottle of garlic salt from a supermarket in Ireland — a surprisingly worthwhile investment for my health.

Tip: Gargle once before bed and once in the morning to keep your throat and airways clean.

One gargle also goes a long way. Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya of Unsplash

Baby Food Jars (optional maybe)

This may sound strange, but jarred baby food has saved my stomach on multiple trips.

Before my Ireland trip, I had been dealing with stress-related stomach issues — nausea, sourness, and occasional vomiting. A quick Google search suggested baby food as a gentle option for an upset stomach, so I packed a few jars and some coconut water.

At my Airbnb near Dublin Airport, I ate the baby food as light night snacks. The host probably wondered why an adult guest left empty baby food jars in the bin — but I didn’t care!

I used this trick again during a trip to Turkey when I got food poisoning from an undercooked beef döner. It helped me recover faster, although I still needed to skip visiting amazing Byzantine relics and remains (cry again).

I did this baby food jar trick during another two-week trip around also . A not-well cooked beaf döner caused my stomach to malfunction. Due to this food poisoning I had to spend precious time on bed instead on amazing Byzantine relics and remains ..

When checking into my flight to Cappadocia the staff even asked, “Where’s your baby?” I had to explain the jars were for me!

If you have a sensitive stomach, this little trick works just as well in Ireland as anywhere else.

I am a weird one to pack those but they saved my trip! Photo Ubay Ireland

Layer Clothes

If you’re traveling during the colder months (or even early autumn) – no matter you are in London, Paris, or Venice – packing layered clothing is key.

My trip was in mid-September, and while it wasn’t hot, the nights were quite cold. I packed:

• Sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and long trousers for layering
• A few summer clothes for when I flew back to my hot home country

My backpack was mostly full of clothes, but that was intentional — I wasn’t planning to bring back many souvenirs anyway.

Before you pack, check the two-week weather forecast for Ireland. That will help you plan your layers better.

Dress in layer, travel cosy. Photo: Anita Austvika of Unsplash