Europe Packing List: Essential Items That You’ll Need!

Getting ready for the inevitable European adventure and dreading the packing process? Then hop on my friend and read this Europe packing list guide!

I live in Europe but I’ve also visited so many countries on the continent and learned lots of things when it comes to packing my bags! And today I’ll share all the tips that I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) over the years.

I’ve categorized the main section by season, and also included lots of other things that you might need on this trip.

Keep in mind that this is a general packing list for Europe, so if you’re headed there on a hiking trip or skiing you’ll need to adapt the list to your needs.

So let’s start!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Here are the main things that you should include in your packing list for Europe:

• Tops
• Jeans
• Trousers
• Dresses
• Skirts
• Jacket
• Comfortable shoes
• Sleepwear
• Kimonos
• Swimming Costume
• Wool Jumpers
• Thick Socks
• Boots
• Sunglasses
• Scarves
• Bag
• Jewelry

1. Clothing & Footwear

We’ll start with things to wear and shoes! I categorized everything by season so that you can easily browse through the list and have an idea of what you’ll need to wear, depending on when you’re going to Europe. For example, packing for Italy is very different from what you’d include on your Iceland packing list.

Year-round

Below you’ll find a general list of things you’ll need, no matter the season.

• Sleepwear – something you’ll need no matter the season! Get something comfy, preferably a breathable material
• Underwear – I’m sure we all wear underwear no matter the season (right?😂) so pack some pairs, again something made of a natural fiber
• Tops – be it T-shirts, blouses, sweaters, tops are a must-have for any trip to Europe
• Jeans/trousers – depending on the season get something thicker or some linen trousers for the warmer months
• Dresses – you never know when you need to get all dressed up for a fancy dinner in Venice or Paris, so pack 1 or 2 dresses, maybe one that’s casual and one more elegant
• Skirts – these can be a life-saver as you can mix and match them to get a casual or elegant look. Plus you can wear them with stockings during a chilly Autumn or Spring in London 
• Jacket/ trench coat – it’s always good to have a jacket or coat, even if it’s summer! You can always get a rainy day, especially in places like Berlin
• Comfortable shoes – don’t leave the house without packing a pair of comfy shoes, trust me, your feet will thank you after a day of walking up and down around Rome

Summer

European Summers can range from 77°F (25 °C) to 100°F (38 °C) during June to August. The lower temperatures are usually found in countries like Germany, and Switzerland, and the Northern countries like the United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden.

I went to Switzerland in July and the mornings and nights were pretty chilly, so I’d recommend bringing a jacket or sweater.

While the higher temperatures are found in the Southern part of the continent, in countries like Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal. These places are super hot during summer, especially in the Southern parts of the countries like the Puglia region in Italy.

If you’re heading to the beach, make sure to check out our beach packing list.

• T-shirts, tank tops & summer shirts – you’ll need these during summer, especially if you’re headed to a city like Barcelona, I’d invest in a good linen or cotton shirt that allows your skin to breathe, I always pack a few as I end up wearing all of them
• Dresses – bring an elegant dress that’s perfect for a fancy dinner in Monaco and maybe a more casual dress that you can wear while exploring islands like Sardinia
• Light sweater – something that you can wear at night as you’re walking on the shores of a beach in Southern Italy
• Shorts – I always pack a few pair of shorts when I travel to Europe in the summer, denim is great as you can mix and match them with anything
• Skirts – long flowy skirts or short ones are great for island holiday in a place like Madeira or city breaks in busy capitals like Lisbon
• Kimonos – planning a beach holiday? Then a kimono should definitely be on your list! I love these as you can just wear them over your swimming costume and look great
• Swimming costumes – if you’re hitting the beaches in Spain or other bustling destinations like the islands in Italy then you’ll need some swimming costumes (but don’t forget that you can easily wash them while on holiday so you don’t have to pack too many)
• Flip Flops – you’ll definitely need a pair of flip flops especially if you’re planning a beach holiday. I usually take a pair with me even if I’m headed to the city, in case I want to hit the hotel pool or take a day trip to the beach
• Sandals – a must-have! You want your feet to breathe while you’re exploring the cobbled streets of places like Lecce in Southern Italy so bring comfortable sandals
• Raincoat – Summer rains are amazing but not so great when they catch you in the city unprepared! So pack a light raincoat that you can fit in your bag and carry around with you
• Rain boots – I love wearing rain boots with shorts in the summer, or even a casual dress, as the style looks super nice. Plus, it’s practical, especially in a city where it rains often during Summer like Venice

Spring

Spring temperatures in Europe are super volatile and they can change super quickly, no matter where you’re going. As an average, the temperatures start somewhere at 41°F (5°C) and 77°F (25°C) during March to May and can go up to in the Southern part of the continent and islands like Tenerife or Sardinia.

The lower temperatures apply to the countries in the Northern part of the continent and usually to all cities in a country that are set up in the North or near mountainous areas. So if you’re going to places like Scotland, Denmark or the Netherlands, definitely bring lots of warm clothes.

For example, I went to the Isle of Skye in Scotland in April and honestly, I brought mostly warm clothes and waterproof ones! So double-check temperatures and just know that usually in the beginning of Spring (March to April) the temperatures are definitely lower.

• Light Sweaters – I never leave for a holiday during Spring time without a few of these that I can layer up and wear with jackets or a trench coat
• Shirts, T-shirts & Blouses – some shirts with blouses that you can wear underneath the sweaters or with the trench coat, since the weather changes a lots, you’ll want to have the option of taking things down if it’s too hot
• Dresses – I’d pack 1 or 2 that are a bit thick and that you can wear with stockings and your trench coat! Just perfect for a midday stroll on the streets of Brussels 
• Jacket or trench coat – this is a great trench coat that has a detachable hood so you can wear it with a casual outfit but also something more elegant
• Flats – get a comfy pair of ballet flats that you can wear with jeans, skirts and dresses! You won’t regret having something so versatile, trust me!

Autumn

Although Autumn is not as unpredictable as Spring, you should definitely expect some rain and winds, even if it looks all sunny when the day starts! The average temperatures are between 40°F (4°C) to 70°F (20°C) from September to November.

But again, bear in mind that if you travel to Europe at the end of Autumn, the temperatures can get lower, especially in places like Germany or Scotland. I went on a trip to Edinburgh at the end of November and it was cold! I had all my winter clothing with me, from a thick coat to wool sweaters.

However if you travel mid-September to a warmer place like the South of France (as I did), you can expect higher temperatures. I still wore dresses during the day and had a jacket with me to wear at night when it was getting chilly.

• T-shirts, blouses & sweaters – Just like in Spring, during Autumn you can use layers so I’d bring a few of these from thicker ones to ones that are light and made of breathable material. Make sure to add some that are more elegant and some casual or sporty ones
• Dresses – I love wearing a thick dress with stockings and boots in Autumn! Perfect for museum visits in Helsinki or strolling on the streets of Milan, dresses are always a life-saver when you don’t know what to wear
• Skirts – bring a skirt that you can also wear with stockings, boots and a sweater! Now that’s something that I’d wear while visiting some fab vegan restaurants in Vienna
• Boots – I never leave for a trip during the Autumn months without a pair of comfortable boots, make sure you get some that are comfy and versatile so you can wear them with most of your outfits
• Raincoat – you’ll want a raincoat as it can rain a lot during Autumn, especially in places like Manchester or Stockholm

Winter

European winters are no joke! It can get super cold with average temperatures from 32°F (0°C) to 46°F (8°C) during December to February. However, it can also get to 21°F (-6°C) or less in places like Iceland or other Northern countries.

I’d definitely pack lots of thermal clothes if I was going to mountainous areas, and even for some cities as you’ll probably want to spend the day exploring the streets or checking out Europe’s Christmas markets so you have to be prepared.

• Sweaters – these will probably be the main thing that you’ll wear so definitely pack a few
• Wool Jumper – I never leave without a few of these wool jumpers, as they keep you super warm and you can wear them with a blouse underneath, so that you can take the wool jumper off when you’re inside a restaurant or museum and it’s too hot
• Blouses – perfect for layering! As I mentioned you can wear these with something over them like a sweater or wool jumper
• Thick socks – pack a few pairs of winter socks as you’ll definitely want to keep your feet warm while walking around
• Thermal vest – this thermal vest will save you on the days when it’s freezing outside and you need to layer up properly
• Boots – some warm and comfy boots that will keep your feet protected from the cold
• Coat or Puffer Winter Jacket – depending on whether you prefer a more sporty or elegant style, I would take one of these or both (that’s what I always do, especially if it’s a longer trip)

2. Accessories

Sometimes I get so distracted by all the clothes and shoes we need to pack that at times I forget all about accessories! That’s why I wanted to list some of the main things that you should tick off your Europe packing list.

Again, this is a more general list of accessories so definitely think about what you need for this trip. For example if you’re going to a yoga retreat in Europe, you’ll definitely need to pack more sports clothing than you would if you were just visiting a city.

Always think about what works for you!

Sunglasses

I think we need a nice pair of sunglasses no matter if it’s Winter or Summer, right? You never know when the sun will come out to play!

Plus you can take some cool pics while wearing them!

Scarf

For the Summer months, I’d recommend getting some linen scarves that you can wear on your head or at the beach. I always pack some, and either wear them to protect me from the sun or at night when it gets a bit chilly!

During winter or autumn, you can get a wool or cotton scarf to keep you warm! You can just shove it in your bag when you get inside a museum and restaurant and then put it back on while you’re out on the streets

Headwear

The sun can be unforgiving during Summer and sometimes even during late Spring! If you want to protect your head and avoid headaches, pack a wide-brim hat that you can wear on those hot days.

As for Winter and Autumn, a thick beanie will definitely keep your head warm! Maybe consider getting a wool one, those are my favorites!

Gloves

Walking around all day with your hands in your pockets doesn’t sound too comfortable! So I’d definitely get a pair of leather gloves during Winter. They also look super nice and go with casual or more elegant outfits.

If you want to use Google Maps and not have to take your gloves off every time, then you can get these smartphone gloves or some mittens.

A backpack/bag/fannypack

You always need a bag, right? A place to put your purse, headphones, and all the other things you may need to carry around.

Depending on what you prefer you can get something bigger like a simple tote bag or a backpack if you want more space.

Or if you’re not carrying that many things you can get a fanny pack which is super practical!

Jewelry

I just love how jewelry can transform what once was a simple outfit to a super stylish outfit! I always bring some with me while on holiday (although I leave space to buy some for wherever I’m going too).

I really like semi-precious stone bracelets and silver necklaces with a pendant as they go with anything! Pearls are super nice too as are watches, although I don’t really wear those, but I think they can look really chic. 

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3. Necessities

I hate forgetting things while packing for a big trip! So here’s a short list of necessities that I usually forget sometimes to bring and want to help you from making the same mistake!

• Toiletries – travel-size shampoo, shower gel and toothpaste are always a must-have, and they don’t weigh that much
• Sunscreen – you definitely need this in the Summer, maybe get a travel-size one that doesn’t occupy too much space
• Wet wipes – these can save your life, especially if you plan to use public transport a lot
• Make-up – I don’t bring a lot of make-up, just basic things that don’t occupy too much space
• Slippers or flip flops for the accommodation – I know you usually get these at the accommodation, but some hotels don’t offer any so it’s good to be prepared

4. Documents

Here are some of the main documents that you’ll need for your European trip!

 I’d recommend copying this list so you can tick off all these things as you put them in your bag! Forgetting to pack these is one of the biggest travel mistakes, so make sure to double check everything!

• Passport
• Driving License
• Visa
• Vaccination records
• Travel insurance information

5. Electronics

Keep track of all the electronics that you might need in Europe with this short list where I included the main important things:

• Camera – I’m sure you want to immortalize every moment of your trip so I’d definitely bring a camera if you have one
• Laptop – want to do a bit of work? Then pack your laptop and work remotely from a beach in Italy or Spain!
• Kindle – if you’re an avid reader who has way too many books to carry around, then I’d recommend getting a Kindle for your trip
• Headphones – these noise-canceling headphones are the thing that I always make sure to pack first!
• Power bank – it’s always good to have a wireless power bank as you never know when you might need it
• Plug adaptors – get an universal adapter so you don’t have to buy an adapter for each place you visit in Europe
• Airtags – get track of all your bags with Airtag 

Things to consider

Before you start packing and buying, read this short list with tips and things to consider when planning your European trip:

• Check and double-check the weather before you start packing, and maybe do a bit of research on how the temperatures are wherever you’re going during that time of the year
• Consider the location (mountain, city, beach), as you’ll definitely need to pack specific things for some of those destinations
• Make a packing list that you can work with as you’re putting things in your bags
• Pack versatile clothes that you can mix and match! Neutral colors like white, black, beige, gray are always a great idea
• Use packing cubes that can help you keep your things organized
• You can always wash your clothes at the accommodation or find the nearest laundromat and do it there

FAQs about Europe packing list

Final thoughts on packing for Europe

Feeling like you’re a packing pro now? I know the feeling!

I hope that this Europe packing list guide helped you and that you don’t feel so scared now to pack your things! I know the whole process can be daunting.

I’m always around for questions, so if you’re not sure about something, just drop me a message and I’ll make sure to answer as soon as I can!

Happy packing,

Victoria 

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