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A light bag means more energy for exploring.

Planning Dublin, Ireland 2 min read

What to pack for a day of exploring on foot

By (Our writers) · Published

A light bag means more energy for exploring.Photo: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A good day out on foot depends partly on what you bring. Pack too little and you'll spend the afternoon hunting for water or a charger; pack too much and you'll carry a heavy bag for hours. Here's a practical checklist for city walks and light day trips, plus tips for adjusting it to the weather.

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Stop 1 · Dublin 2 · City park

Merrion Square Shelter & Lawns

Test your layers and rain shell on an all-weather city loop.

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The essentials

  • Water bottle. A reusable bottle saves money and plastic, and many cities have public refill points.
  • Phone and power bank. Navigation, photos and maps drain batteries fast.
  • Payment card and a little cash. Some small places and markets prefer cash.
  • Weather layer. A light waterproof in rainy climates, or a packable layer for cooler evenings.
  • Sun protection. Sunglasses, a cap and sunscreen, even on cloudy summer days.
  • Comfortable shoes. The single most important choice of the day.

Shoes first

Blisters can end a day out faster than rain. Wear shoes you've already walked in for several hours, and choose moisture-wicking socks rather than cotton. Pack a couple of plasters for a long day. For city walking, cushioned trainers or walking shoes usually beat fashionable flat-soled shoes.

Rule of thumb: if your day bag feels heavy after ten minutes, it'll feel very heavy after five hours. Take one thing out for every "just in case" item you add.

The right bag

A small backpack spreads weight better than a shoulder bag on long walks. Look for an outside pocket for your water bottle and an inside pocket for valuables. A cross-body bag works for shorter outings and keeps things within easy reach.

Grafton St, Dublin
Grafton St, DublinPhoto: Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Adjust for the weather

  • Rain: waterproof jacket, quick-dry shoes, a zip-lock bag for your phone.
  • Sun: cap, sunglasses, sunscreen and extra water. In Ireland and the UK, late-spring and summer sun can burn even on mild days.
  • Cold: hat, gloves and a warm mid-layer you can take off when you warm up.
  • Wind: a windproof layer and something to keep your hair out of your face.

Nice-to-haves

Depending on your plans, consider a small notebook or sketchbook, a book or e-reader for café stops, a compact umbrella, a reusable coffee cup, a foldable tote for market finds and some snacks for between stops. Leave a little space in your bag for anything you pick up along the way.

Merrion Square 02
Merrion Square 02Photo: Statue: Jerome Connor (1874-1943) Photo: Dearbhla, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A full day in Dublin

For an autumn day exploring Dublin city centre, a sensible bag might hold a light waterproof jacket, a reusable bottle, a power bank, a card and a few euro in cash, sunglasses for low afternoon sun and a snack. Museums, parks and cafés are close together, so you won't need much more. Add a hat and gloves from November.

Before you leave

Charge your phone and power bank the night before, download offline maps, check the forecast and the opening hours of any places you plan to visit, and save your route so it's quick to reopen.

Merrion Square 03
Merrion Square 03Photo: Statue: Jerome Connor (1874-1943) Photo: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Reference & tools:

Dublin through the year

Dublin averages 14 rainy days in Oct and highs of about 14°C. The driest month is usually Apr.

07.5158°9°10°12°15°18°19°19°17°14°11°10°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Days with 1 mm of rain or moreAverage high (°C)

Show the numbers
MonthRainy daysRainAverage highSunshineSunset
Jan1363 mm8°C4.1 h/day16:34
Feb1366 mm9°C5.4 h/day17:33
Mar1580 mm10°C7.1 h/day18:27
Apr1263 mm12°C9.2 h/day20:23
May1365 mm15°C11 h/day21:16
Jun1372 mm18°C11.4 h/day21:54
Jul1579 mm19°C10.1 h/day21:47
Aug1382 mm19°C9.7 h/day20:56
Sep1383 mm17°C8.2 h/day19:44
Oct1488 mm14°C6.2 h/day18:32
Nov1387 mm11°C4.5 h/day16:31
Dec1595 mm10°C3.3 h/day16:07
Averages for 2015–2024 from Open-Meteo historical weather (CC BY 4.0); sun times calculated for the 15th of each month, local time.

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