What to pack for Ireland in April: full packing list and insider tips to be comfortable and stylish in Ireland’s changeable spring weather!
Packing for Ireland is always a bit of a headache but packing for Ireland in April takes the cake.
Irish weather is always changeable but the weather in April is even moodier than usual: depending on the day and the year, April can be a lovely month here (the top photo in this article is taken last April in Killiney, Dublin) or a rainy one and you never what which one you are going to get until the very last minute!
However, this doesn’t mean that it is not possible to pack cleverly for an April trip to Ireland.
After spending over 17 springs in Ireland (spent vastly comparing the weather with back home in Italy!), I know what is reasonable to pack and what you can most definitely leave at home.
This is my complete, tried and tested packing list for Ireland in April.
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Table of Contents
Compete packing list for Ireland in April: what to pack for your Irish Vacation to be comfortable and weather-ready at all times
What to pack for Ireland in April: essentials
I am going to start this packing list with essentials for all seasons and then drill down on the specifics for the month of April.
Documents
- Passport and Visa if required (find Visa requirements for Ireland on the Irish Department of Foregin Affairs Website)
- Driving Licence – please find HERE the list of licences accepted to drive in Ireland as a visitor
- Kids birth certificate and authorization to travel letter of the child’s guardian should be traveling to Ireland alone with a child with a different surname as your
- Medication and prescriptions for ongoing conditions/ needs
- A print out of your reservations (cars, hotels, tours etc)
Medications and toiletries
- A well-stocked first-aid kit
- Moisturizing cream for face/hands with UV protection (the combination of sun and wind can be taxing on the skin)
- Allergy tablets – please note that over the counter medications in Ireland may differ from those at home. If you suffer from hay fever, I recommend you bring your own.
- Paracetamol or similar for pain / fever
Need to know: paracetamol is widely available in Ireland in supermarkets and pharmacies but there are rules on how much you can buy within the same transaction. If you think you will need more than a couple of boxes, plan ahead or bring a backup one from home. This applies to both adult and kids paracetamol-based medications.
All your basic toiletries including:
- Body wash/shampoo/conditioner
- Toothbrush/ toothpaste/floss/essential dental kit
- Deodorant
- Tweezers
- Shaving cream/blade
- Women sanitary supplies
- Brush/comb/detangler
- Hair ties
- Moisturizing cream for face /body
- Nail clipper
- Makeup if using
Most good hotels in Ireland offer complimentary toiletries; however, these usually only consist of small bottles of shower gel/shampoo.
Family-run B&Bs usually only provide essentials such as handsoap.
If you want to travel light, it is easy to buy toiletries in Ireland but please be aware that smaller towns may not have a pharmacy / supermarket open after hours; if planning on arriving late, it is better to have your own supplies!
What to wear in Ireland in April
The keyword for your April packing list for Ireland is layers. Official weather statistics say that Ireland in April say that
- The average temperature in Ireland in April is 8C/46F
- The average number of rainy days in Ireland in April is 22
This means the average temperature edges towards the lower end of the spring temperature spectrum and you will need an outer layer and closed shoes to stay comfortable.
You will also, however, get some days with the beautiful sun that will warm up the central hours of the day enough to make you want to be able to take at least the heavier layers off.
How you will actually feel in terms of temperature will largely depend on where you are from. If you come from warm climates, April in Ireland will be chilly for you. If you come from cold climates (snow), you will probably find April here overall mild.
I know I often notice I still wear my winter coat here while locals move onto their lighter jackets!
Personal differences and perceptions aside, this is what you need to pack for Ireland in April:
- Good waterproof coat / jacket with a hood to protect you from the rain
- Lighter jacket for warmer days (I like puffa- style jackets, that you can pack small and carry with you as an extra layer if needed or as an outer layer on a sunny day)
- Light scarf
- Short-sleeve tops / long sleeve tops
- Woolen cardigan/sweater
- Long pants/ jeans
- Tights if planning on wearing a skirt/dress
- Good walking shoes such as sneakers/runners/ankle boots + a change of shoes for the inevitable rainy days
- Underwear and socks
- Socks / slippers for the hotel
- Pajama/nightwear
- Special gear for surfing/hiking if needed
- Swimsuit and flip flops only if planning on staying in a spa hotel / going surfing
- Sunglasses
- Kids rain gear (rain pants or rain suit, ideally wellington boots)
- A nicer outfit if staying in a castle / high-end hotel
What to wear in Ireland in April if staying in a castle
Castles’ stays in Ireland come in several guises, from top-end establishments to beautiful castle-hotels with a more relaxed vibe.
In general, you will dress for a castle-like you would in an elegant hotel, especially if staying for dinner.
Information about the required dress code is available on the website of the structure in question; however, usually, this means shirt/tie/suit for men, no sneakers and no denim for both men and women.
In some cases, the castle hotel has both a restaurant and a bar serving food; the bar is usually more relaxed in style and may not require a tie. This can be a good option to avoid packing a suit or if you are visiting Ireland with kids but do not want to renounce a caste stay.
What to pack for Ireland in April: tech and gadgets
- Phone with good roaming plan or local sim card
- Hands-free phone holder for car
- Power bank / extra battery pack for charging all your tech
- USB cables
- Ireland travel adapter (3 pins)
- Tablet/kindle if using
- Binoculars for bird watching
- Camera, if separate from the phone
- Wind resistant travel umbrella
- Reusable water bottle
Luggage and bags
You don’t need all of this however, I recommend you choose your bags for Ireland wisely so you don’t’ find yourself awkwardly dragging stuff around!
- Hardshell luggage if driving (super handy to stack in the trunk of the car)
- Travel backpack if traveling light / using the bus or train
- Reusable tote bag for picnics etc
- Wet/dry bags especially if traveling with young kids
- Packing cubes (this stuff is magical, they pretty much double the space in your luggage)
What to pack for the kids
- Safe and Ireland authorities approved car seat (official rules here)
- Kids travel pillow for the plane/car
- Well stocked changing bag
- All-terrain stroller (I prefer these in Ireland to the super-light ones: they are much better when exploring the Irish amazing countryside)
- Stroller cover/sleeping bag for colder days
- Rain cover for stroller
- Sun hat and sunglasses for baby
- Rain resistant outer layers
- Change of shoes
- Teether
- Layers for the day + a change of clothes for the inevitable rainy days and puddle-jumping sessions!
You usually do not need to carry your own high chair or toddler crib: Ireland hotels and restaurants tend to be well equipped and, most of the time, will be able to provide what you need. If staying in smaller properties and B&Bs, ask for a cot in advance to make sure they have one available on your dates.
You can find all my tips for visiting Ireland with a toddler here
I hope you found this packing list for Ireland in April useful. Safe travels!
