Knowing what to pack for Ireland in winter months can make or break your entire trip. While you most likely won’t see snow in Ireland in winter, you will be very cold. Packing warm clothes is crucial. As someone who grew up in Ireland, here’s exactly what to pack for Ireland in November, December and January.
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Warm Hooded Waterproof Coat
When you think of Ireland, you don’t think of snow — even in the winter. Instead, you picture misty fogs and rolling green hills. These pictures are accurate, but consider yourself warned. Ireland is deceivingly cold from November through January. Although you’ll rarely find snow here, the rainy months bring very cold, wet weather. And, honestly, when you’re wet, the cold feels twice as bitter as snow. Needless to say, you will need an insulated hooded waterproof winter coat to keep you warm and dry.
Hooded Waterproof Jacket
On the off chance that you check the weather for your trip and luck out with temperatures above average, you will at the very least want a hooded waterproof jacket, such as my favorite Eddie Bauer Charly jacket. I really only recommend this jacket for Ireland in the summertime (50-70 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-20 degrees Celsius). But, if you score great weather for your winter trip, this is the jacket I recommend. It has a hood, keeps you dry, is thick for warmth and is easy to pack.
Thick Sweaters
In addition, you’ll want to bring plenty of thick sweaters to keep you from shivering. Wool sweaters are a fantastic option, as they can be more water wicking than other materials. There’s a reason why people in Ireland are known for wearing wool. (Unless you’re allergic to wool like me. In that case, I recommend other thick sweaters and/or a sherpa sweatshirt.)
Long-Sleeves
Sensing the theme yet? Dress warm in Ireland in November, January and February. Long sleeves and turtlenecks will be your best layering friends here. I personally love my basic white turtlenecks from Amazon, as they are cheap and easy to layer under sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets.
Long Pants Or Jeans
Likewise, long pants are essential in Ireland all year round. I even pity summer tourists that think shorts will be warm enough in July. Jeans are totally acceptable in Ireland and are worn by locals too. Other than jeans, I recommend warm slacks or my favorite fleece-lined leggings from Eddy Bauer. They are designed for harsh outdoor conditioners and much warmer than my other leggings. By the way, leggings are perfectly acceptable to wear in Ireland.
Thermal Layers
Opting for jeans or other loose bottoms over leggings? It’s not a bad idea to bring thermal layers to wear underneath if you have them, especially if you’re coming from hotter climate. If you are used to freezing weather conditions, thermal layers in Ireland are helpful but not necessary. If you are from a tropical climate, purchasing thermals before your trip will be a smart idea. Although I don’t personally own thermals, I’ve heard great reviews of the L.L. Bean base layers collection.
Warm Socks
Warm socks are a must in Ireland in winter. No one likes cold feet, period. If I wasn’t allergic to wool, I would recommend packing Smartwool merino wool socks, which are thick, warm and water wicking. However, if you’re looking for a non-wool vegan alternative, these Cozy Earth’s lounge socks are a next-best bet.
Warm Walking Shoes
Contrary to popular believe, you do not need rain boots in Ireland, even during the rainy season. More often than not, rain in Ireland is more like a constant mist than a downpour, which means you won’t find many big puddles. But the ground will be wet and cold. Plus, you will probably be walking for long periods of time every day of your trip, so bringing good walking shoes is in toe (pun intended). I always go back to my white Air Max tennis shoes when I want to look trendy and be practical.
Waterproof Hiking Boots
Furthermore, if you are planning to hike at all during your winter Ireland trip, you should definitely pack waterproof hiking boots. The boots will aid in keeping your ankles warm, while the waterproof material will keep your feet dry. My all-time favorite, trusty hiking boots are my Timberland ankle boots. They are waterproof, comfortable, supportive and lightweight. Wear them through the airport to save suitcase space.
Mittens, Scarf And Hat
Hopefully, even after packing a ton of layers, you still have room in your luggage for mittens, a scarf and a hat. You won’t regret bringing them. At minimum, ensure that your jacket has warm pockets, and bring a hat that covers your ears.
Hand Warmers
If you want to maximize your comfort while traveling Ireland in winter, bring hand warmers. Specifically, I recommend these reusable HotSnapZ hand warmers that reduce waste and do not need to be charged. All you have to do is click the button to heat. After use, boil these gel warmers (a hotel kettle will do the trick), and the warmers will be reset to their non-heated state. Remember to pack them in your checked bag, not your carry-on.
Heated Sweatshirt
Furthermore, my husband bought me this Milwaukee heated sweatshirt for Christmas a couple years ago, and I would have loved to have it when deciding what to pack for Ireland in November, January and February. Trust me, this will bring your winter warmth to a whole new level. Although the heating mechanisms are only on your torso, this sweatshirt will help maintain comfortable temperatures throughout your whole body.
Ponytail Hair Ties
Irish wind is no joke. No matter if you’re sauntering the streets of Dublin, road tripping the Causeway Coast or walking along the Cliffs of Moher, the wind will find a way to tie your long hair up in Celtic knots. I’ve found that it’s best to bring several ponytail hair ties to keep your hair detangled and out of your face.
Ireland Outlet Adapter
On top of all the warm clothes you’ll need, do not forget to pack your Ireland outlet adapter so that you can charge your electronics. Ireland uses the type G plugs, which are also used throughout the UK. These outlets are different from the type C plug that most European countries use. So, note that you’re Europe type C adapters will not work in Ireland.
Day Bag
Lastly, bring a day bag of your preference to carry all of your daily necessities like you’re phone, camera, wallet, portable charger and sweatshirt layers while you’re out and about. There are numerous unique things to do in Ireland, so you will probably spend most of your days away from your hotel. My go-to travel day bag as of recently is the Beis Sport Sling (tap this link for $15 off your first purchase) which fits everything I need minus my big DSLR camera.
Have any questions about what to pack for Ireland in November, January or February? Send me a message on Instagram. I’m happy to help!
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