What to pack for Ireland in November: complete packing list to stay comfortable and stylish

What to pack for Ireland in November: full packing list, travel essentials and what to wear in Ireland in November for comfort and style

November feels like the winter in Ireland.

A rainy month with short hours of daylight, it is the time of the year when Ireland starts to go indoors and enjoy its cozy pubs and interiors more than its windswept countryside.

It is, however, also a time when Christmas decorations start filling the city streets and festive cheer starts spreading.

If packing for Ireland in November, I recommend you pack winter clothing and some nicer outfits to join the locals on their night outs (this is a great time for castles stays and fancy dinners!).

This is my complete, tried and tested packing list for Ireland in November.

I recommend you read it in conjunction with our tips for visiting Ireland in November.

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What to pack for Ireland in November: travel 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 November.

Documents

• Passport and Visa if required (find Visa requirements for Ireland here)
• Driving Licence
• International driving license if needed (check here Ireland’s driving requirements for foreigner)
• 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 wind and cold can be intense here)
• Allergy cream/medications if needed
• Paracetamol or similar for pain/fever
• Any prescriptions and ongoing medications you are used to taking at home + the generic name of the active principle should you need to stock up. Commercial names in Ireland are often different than back home

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.

All your basic toiletries including:

• Body wash/shampoo/conditioner
• Deodorant
• Tweezers
• Shaving cream/blade
• Women sanitary supplies
• Brush/comb/detangler
• Hair ties
• Moisturizing cream for face /body
• Nail clipper
• Makeup if using

What to wear in Ireland in November

Official weather statistics say that Ireland in November say that

• The average temperature in Ireland in November is 7.5C/46F
• The average number of rainy days in Ireland in November is 24

As these numbers show, November is a dark, rainy month in Ireland and being ready for the rain is paramount.

However, we also get some nice days, so layers are important, and hotels and pubs are nice and warm.

This is what I recommend you pack for Ireland in November:

• Rain resistant winter jacket, with hood. You may not need to pack a full-on winter coat but you need something more than a windbreaker or a light leather jacket. I fun short puffy jackets or equivalent great at this time.
• Scarf hat and gloves
• Short-sleeve tops for layering (November in Ireland is not t-shirt weather)/ long sleeve tops
• You usually do not need a thermal underlay at this time although it is nice to have if you ate planning on staying outdoors extensively or do some light hiking
• Woolen cardigan/sweater
• Long pants/ jeans
• Tights if planning on wearing a skirt/dress
• Good walking shoes such as sneakers/runners/ankle boots
• Underwear and socks
• Pajama/nightwear
• Swimsuit and flip flops only if planning on staying in a spa hotel
• 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 November if staying in a castle: Some castle hotels, some high-end restaurants and clubs do request their guests to abide by a certain dress code, especially for the evening meal. Information for each 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.

What to pack for Ireland in November: 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

Need to know: November is a windy, stormy month and umbrellas hardly ever survive it! I do recommend you bring a travel size one but make sure it is sturdy and also, make sure you have a hood should the wind catch you outdoors.

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)
• Trave backpack if traveling light / using the bus or train
• Reusable tote bag for grocery shopping / extra bits
• 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
• Winter bodysuits for long days out
• Rain cover for stroller
• Rain gear for toddlers, such as rainproof pants and rain boots for puddles/mucky terrain

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.

I hope you found this packing list for Ireland in November useful. Safe travels!