You’ve finally got round to taking the European vacation you’ve been dreaming of – the flights are booked, your accommodation is sorted, and your detailed itinerary is ready (thanks MultiCityTrips!)… there’s just one thing left to do. It’s time to pack. Here is your ultimate packing list for a trip to Europe!
Europe is known for its ever-changing weather, beautiful sightseeing spots, and walkable cities, so we’ve covered everything you’ll need, from clothing to travel accessories.
Your luggage guide for Europe
A wheeled suitcase is a solid choice for your vacation – one that is soft-shelled is a better option, as it’s less likely to get damaged in transit. Hard-shelled suitcases are better to protect fragile items, though we’d recommend you put anything of significant value in your carry-on bag.
As for your carry-on bag, a backpack with lots of pockets/storage will be beneficial to you – it would be good to have one that can double up as your bag to carry around on a day-to-day basis, so you don’t have to pack another and take up precious room in your suitcase.
What to wear in Europe
With cities like Paris, Milan and Rome, Europe has certainly garnered a reputation for housing some of the world’s most fashionable people. However, remember that it’s all about substance over style – you don’t want to be walking around for hours feeling uncomfortable or in painful shoes!
While you may have the urge to pack fifty different outfits, we all know that we end up wearing very similar (if not the same) outfits again and again on vacation. Once we find an outfit that’s comfortable, we tend to stick to it! Pack clothes that you can easily mix and match depending on the weather and wherever you’re visiting. For example, dark jeans can be worn with sneakers and a tee during the day, or with formal shoes/heels and a shirt or blouse in the evening for a more dressed-up look.
As a general rule of thumb, pack 3-4 T-shirts in different colors, both short- and long-sleeved. A sweater, cardigan, and/or lightweight jacket (with a hood) is a must too – Europe is known for its unpredictable showers! You may also like to bring some more formal options for up-scale restaurants, cocktail bars, and nightclubs.
Shorts/skirts are a good option in the summer months but are best avoided in autumn or winter. Jeans/leggings are the best (and arguably most comfortable) option to explore in.
Shoes
When it comes to choosing shoes, it’s all about comfort. You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so make sure you’re not going to be in pain. When packing, think about whether you can tackle hills, cobbled streets, and long days in these shoes! Can’t do it? Don’t pack them.
Pack a pair of flip-flops or sandals if you’re visiting beach destinations, plus a more formal pair of shoes to wear at night.
Bags
As mentioned earlier, it’s best if you can double up your carry-on bag as the bag you use when out and about, so it can fit all your daily necessities in. A smaller, cross-body bag is good for nighttime.
Accessories
When packing light, it’s the accessories that make the outfit! Accessories can include anything from jewelry to watches, scarves to sunglasses, ties to jackets.
Accessories can make or break an outfit. For long trips like this one where you will have to pack light, stylish accessories will make you feel like you’re wearing a brand new shirt, even if you’ve already worn it three times.
Travel accessories for Europe
No vacation would be complete without our gadgets – but which ones do you really need to take?
E-reader
If you’re an avid reader while on vacation, paperback books are likely to weight you down. An e-reader, such as a Kindle (or you can download books onto your iPad or iPhone), is a good option. You’ll have plenty of books at your disposal but none of the weight attached to them. You can also download maps and travel guides (and access our fabulous travel technology) to help you too.
Laptop
Laptops are great to carry with you, especially if you’re wanting to work or watch series/ films while you travel. However, they are heavy and unnecessary if you’re taking a tablet. Only take one if you really need it!
Camera
Luckily, many smartphones nowadays have excellent cameras. However, if you’re wanting to take your photography skills to the next level, a camera is one of your most important pieces of kit. There are so many amazing places to capture in Europe – you’ll want pictures to remember them by!
Outlet plugs, power strips, and chargers
European outlets vary from American ones, so you’ll need to purchase a plug converter for your electronic devices. Hotels do tend to have spares if you forget, but it’s best not to depend on this. You don’t want to go without charge on your phone!
Other things to pack for Europe
Clothes and travel accessories are important, but nothing is more important than your travel documents and all the added extras that will help your trip run as smoothly as possible.
Tickets and travel documents
Ensure you have all relevant tickets and documentation – we’ll provide you with them, but make sure you have them! Your passport, visa and travel arrangements confirmations are a must-have too (plus copies!).
Money
Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in the majority of European destinations, but it’s always best to carry cash in case of emergencies, or in case a place doesn’t accept card payments. Any Euros/Pounds left over can always be spent on your return (or kept as a nice memento!).
Health products
First and foremost, it’s vitally important to bring any prescribed medication with you. It may be worth carrying a doctor’s note in case it’s needed at the airport. Painkillers are handy to have, as you’ll never known when you’ll need them.
Travel insurance for Europe
Of course, we’d all love our trips to be as smooth-sailing as possible. However, it’s important to plan for the unexpected. We offer comprehensive travel insurance to help in the case of accidents or sickness.
Travel insurance offers protection should you need medical attention – if you don’t have insurance, it may cost you thousands of dollars to be seen by a doctor. It can also cover personal liability issues, lost or stolen bags, or delayed/canceled flights.
A travel insurance company such as Travel Guard offers comprehensive travel insurance programs, starting at $30, include per-trip & annual plans, coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, baggage loss & more! Travel Guard provides 24/7-customer service with a personal touch through its World Service Center.
Summary: A packing list for a trip to Europe
To summarise, here’s everything we think you’ll need for this packing list for a trip to Europe:
Suitcase & carry-on backpack
3/4 t-shirts of differing colors
2/3 blouses or shirts
A formal shirt/dress
1 cardigan/sweater
1 lightweight jacket with a hood
A pair of jeans
1 pair of trousers/capris
1 pair of shorts or a skirt
A pair of sneakers
A pair of sandals/flip flops
1 pair of formal shoes/high heels
A cross-body bag
Jewelry (necklaces, earrings, rings)
1 watch
A scarf/throwover
Sunglasses
Underwear / socks
Smartphone
Tablet or laptop
Camera
E-Reader/Kindle
1-2 plug converters
Device chargers
Passport and ID
Travel documents
Travel insurance
Debit/credit cards
Emergency cash + money bag/wallet
Prescribed medication & painkillers
Toiletries
And that’s everything – happy packing! Think there’s something missing from our packing list for a trip to Europe or want to add something to your packing list? Check out our travel shop for more things you might need for your trip to Europe.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links to products recommended by us above may contain affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, MultiCityTrips earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
