Making a packing list for Europe shouldn’t be too complicated.
In this guide I explain what to bring on a trip to Europe, how to create your packing list, tips from my experience, and mistakes to avoid.
I spend several months a year travelling around Europe every year and have learnt how to create the perfect packing list over the years.
As a result, this Europe packing list is minimalist but also comprehensive and detailed.
This essential packing list for Europe covers clothing, toiletries, electronics, luggage and documents.
It can easily be adapted for a vacation in Europe in summer, winter, spring or fall.
This post was fully updated in 2026
Table of contents
The best luggage to bring on a trip to Europe
I always travel in Europe with a carry-on backpack.
There are many good reasons for that:
- Cobblestone roads: Dragging a wheeled suitcase on a cobbled street is terribly annoying, to say the least, both for you and for everyone in the vicinity.
- Stairs: Struggling to carry heavy suitcases up the stairs at train stations and hotels is a common mistake. It’s surprising how many places in Europe lack elevators.
- Moving through crowds: Some big cities in Europe are awfully crowded. Both main streets and public transport can be difficult to navigate if you have to carry a suitcase.
- You want your hands free: When you need to find something on your phone, search the map, take out your metro ticket, or hold an umbrella, it’s much easier when both your hands are free.
- Low-cost flights within Europe: I’ve saved a lot of money over the years by travelling light with a carry-on backpack. Additional luggage can sometimes be costly.
A backpack carry-on is an easy solution to all of these issues.
Unless you suffer from back pain or cannot carry a backpack for some other reason, I’d recommend it over a suitcase.
The carry-on backpack I use when I travel in Europe
I use a carry-on backpack that’s large enough to contain all of my clothes for a week and I do my laundry once a week. It also has space for my toiletries and gadgets.
I use a clever bag that I can separate into a day pack and a larger backpack.
For my day to day walks around the city, I take the smaller day pack, and for my clothes and toiletries I use the larger compartment that stays at my accommodation.
The day pack is a perfect size for my phone, sunglasses, waterproof jacket, camera, documents, a small pack of tissue paper, a water bottle, etc. It’s not too big, so it never gets too heavy.
I also keep a foldable shopping bag for groceries in my day pack, as these are paid in most European supermarkets.
This bag system is super convenient and comfortable. After using it for the past 6 years on all my trips to Europe and Asia, I highly recommend it.
The bag is called The Journey. Read my full review and use code BrightNomad for 10% off.
Clothing: what to pack for Europe
Clothing, including shoes and accessories, are the bulkiest items on your packing list for Europe.
Here’s the essential list:
- 5-6 t-shirts and 1-2 dressier tops
- Long sleeve thermal top
- Fleece jacket and/or SCOTTeVEST
- Rain jacket
- 2 pairs of trousers
- Walking shoes
- Flip flops
- Underwear
- Socks
- Bras
- Pyjamas
- Shorts / skirts (for hot countries)
- Fashion accessories
- Sunglasses
My top 3 tips on packing clothes for Europe
- Bring clothes for one week, even if you’re going to travel for longer. Do your laundry once a week, and you won’t have to deal with the headache of overpacking.
- Pack only what you will definitely wear.
- Use layers to deal with the unpredictable weather on your European trip. Sometimes you will experience four seasons in one day…
What clothes to bring to Europe and why
Tops and jackets
T-shirts are the most basic items on any packing list for Europe, whether you travel in winter or summer.
They may be simple, but you can add accessories to make your look more interesting and versatile every day.
I highly recommend quick-dry t-shirts, such as Uniqlo AIRism. You’ll be grateful for packing those every time you do your laundry during your trip (don’t assume you’ll always find a drier).
You may want to add a top that’s more elegant, a blouse or a button up shirt, for going out at night or for more formal occasions.
Because the weather is unpredictable in many places in Europe, you may be sweating on a crowded train, but freezing when out on the street.
That’s why you want to add some warmer layers beyond the basic t-shirts, as well as a waterproof jacket.
To save space in your bag, I recommend packing a long sleeve thermal top, such as a North Face baselayer, rather than a big, bulky sweater. I’ve been using the same one for years and take it with me on every trip.
These are lightweight and do not take up too much space in your luggage, but are absolute life savers when the temperature suddenly drops.
A light jacket is essential for cooler evenings, even during summer.
I travel with a fleece jacket because it’s lightweight and will also dry quickly when washed or if you’re caught in the rain.
Another great option that’s perfect for travel is a SCOTTeVEST.
These are designed with a surprising number of hidden pockets that you can store just about anything in!
Pick a jacket in a dark solid colour that will match the rest of your clothes.
If you’re going to travel during winter in cold European countries, bring a warmer coat.
In quite a few northern European cities, it rains during the summer, even if it’s warm outside. It can also become very windy all of a sudden.
Pack a lightweight, water-resistant rain jacket and windbreaker. Make sure it’s foldable, that you can just throw into your day pack and forget about until you need it.
Trousers
Pack your most comfortable trousers for flights and train rides, especially if you’re arriving in Europe on a long flight.
I recommend trousers in dark colours only, because they’re easy to match with the rest of your clothes.
Pack shorts or skirts if you plan a trip to Europe during summer, if you’re going to hot countries. Otherwise, they may be a waste of space in your luggage because in many places in Europe the evenings are cool in summer.
A way to deal with unpredictable weather is to pack long trousers you can roll up when it’s warm, or convertible travel trousers with a zipper at the knees that turns them into shorts.
The latter would normally also be of a quick-dry material, which is always a good idea when you plan your packing.
Leggings can also be used as a base layer in cold weather.
As you can see, these two options do not include jeans.
Jeans are bulky and take a long time to dry, so they’re generally not the best item to put on your packing list for Europe. Save them for short trips or quick city breaks.
Shoes
On your trip to Europe, you’ll be using your feet a lot.
Walking around, climbing up towers for panoramic views, going up and down stairs at public transport stations, you get the picture.
Bring only your most comfortable walking shoes.
Uncomfortable shoes, or new shoes you haven’t broken in yet, can and will ruin your European trip.
Choose walking shoes in a dark colour, so you can easily match them with the rest of your outfit.
I normally look for dressier walking shoes, that I can use for walking during the day and when going out at night. Slip-ons usually do the trick.
If you’re going to rainy destinations, pick shoes that are waterproof.
If you’re going hiking or mountain climbing, pick the right shoes. You can also wear them around the city.
Walk in your new shoes and break them in before your trip. You’ll thank yourself later 😉
Flip flops are essential for showering in your accommodation. They take up minimal space in your luggage and are also handy in warm weather and when you go to the pool or the beach.
Underwear and socks
As with shoes, comfort is key when you choose the underwear to pack for Europe.
It’s also a good idea to use quick dry underwear when you travel. Check out the range at ExOfficio.
Two bras are usually enough. Make sure they’re your most comfortable ones, as you’ll be wearing them for long hours each day.
For your pyjamas, there are no rules; use whatever you find comfortable, as long as it’s lightweight. Leggings or yoga pants and a t-shirt are great. If the weather is cold at night, you can sleep in a long sleeve thermal top.
The best socks for your trip to Europe are moisture wicking and odour resistant or anti-bacterial. I personally prefer bamboo socks.
Fashion accessories
On very long trips around Europe I wear the same t-shirts again and again, but always use some fashion accessories to make things a bit more interesting.
I bring some necklaces, badges, bracelets and scarves to mix and match during your trip.
The only thing you don’t want to pack are expensive jewellery, as you may not always have a place to store them safely.
Other than that, play around with colours and patterns.
Even if you’re a minimalist packer like me, small accessories hardly take up any space in your luggage.
Toiletries: what to bring on a trip to Europe
When you create your packing list for Europe, you may be tempted to take your entire bathroom with you. There’s no need for that.
Here’s a short, essential list for your toiletry bag:
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Painkillers
- Prescription medicine
- Vitamins
- Make up
- Hygienic products
- Water bottle
Because you are only allowed to bring liquids and gels in small quantities on flights in Europe (100ml or 3.4 ounces), it’s a good idea to bring small travel bottles.
Another option is to buy a solid shampoo bar (which can also be used as body soap) and a solid deodorant.
If you’re on any prescription medicine, don’t forget to add it to your packing list. The same goes for vitamins that you take regularly.
I usually also take some basic painkillers, just in case. Of course you can buy them in Europe, but you may not be able to buy them just when you need them (imagine a headache that keeps you awake late at night…).
If you use make up, pack only as much as you will actually use, preferably in a compact travel kit. You can always buy more in Europe if needed.
Electronics: adaptors and other items to bring to Europe
Some of the most essential items on your packing list for Europe are the devices you’ll be using on a daily basis and their chargers.
Here’s the quick list of electronic gadgets to pack for Europe:
- Phone and sim card
- Device chargers
- Power adaptors
- Headphones
- Laptop / tablet (optional)
- Camera (optional)
- E-reader (optional)
Phone and sim card / eSim
You phone is obviously the most essential item on the list.
When you buy a sim card in one EU country you will be able to use it in other EU countries that are part of “Roam Like at Home”, meaning you won’t pay extra when you move between countries (but do check the fine print).
You can also use an eSim so you don’t have to deal with physical sim cards.
There are many eSim providers, so compare prices and coverage. Some popular services include:
Portable device chargers
I always take two power banks for my phone with me when I travel around Europe.
I find that my battery always runs out after a few hours of taking pictures and videos.
Although I normally use only one power bank, it’s best to have an extra one as backup.
You’ll probably be using your phone more than usual on your European trip, for navigation, translation, taking photos, and keeping in touch with friends and family back home.
If you have an older phone that’s still working, you may want to take it with you as a backup phone, just in case.
Power adaptors for Europe
The best power adaptor to pack for Europe is a universal adaptor with USB ports.
Use it to charge all your devices, just bring USB cords.
Most countries in Europe use the 2 round pronged outlets (Type C).
However, The UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta have a completely different outlet, 3 pronged and rectangle (Type G).
You can buy power adaptors when you arrive in Europe, but I recommend you buy them in advance and take them with you.
It will make life easier when you land. Running errands when you’re just starting your vacation is no fun.
Laptop (optional)
Carrying a laptop with you is not a good idea, unless you are a digital nomad or actually plan on doing work that you can only do on a computer.
If you can do everything you need to do on your phone or tablet, then you’d better leave your laptop at home.
It’s just a heavy, expensive, fragile item that you don’t want to carry around with you.
You also don’t want to have to worry about it whenever you leave it in your hotel room.
Travel documents, cards, and money on a European trip
Here’s the quick list. Some of these are physical items and some are on your phone:
- Passport
- Travel insurance
- Plane tickets
- Accommodation reservations
- Accommodation directions and phone number
- Money
- Credit / debit card plus backup
- Transport tickets
- Car rental confirmations
- Driver’s license
- Ho(s)tel membership card
- International student card
Physical or digital?
The most essential document you need to carry with you is your passport.
Your phone can hold all the digital copies of your travel insurance, airplane ticket, train or bus tickets, rental car conformations, hotel reservations, and other bookings.
I like to make a folder on my phone with PDFs and screenshots of all the documents and tickets for each trip. I put a shortcut on my home screen for quick access.
You can print out physical copies if you prefer, but in most places in Europe that won’t be necessary, you can just use your phone.
I do like to have a physical note with the address of my accommodation, plus directions. It makes things a bit easier on the first day when I don’t know my way around. I also note down the phone number of my accommodation just in case I get lost on the way (it’s only ever happened once…)
Cash or card?
Most places in Europe accept both cash and card, but always check before you go.
Some places are now cashless and the trend is spreading quite consistently.
At the same time, you may still find shops and restaurants that don’t accept cards…
I usually ask for advice on local travel groups (on Facebook or Reddit) and hear from tourists who visited the place recently how much cash they actually used.
Speaking of cash, not all European countries use the Euro, so do check in advance which local currencies you’ll need.
When you pack for Europe, make sure to keep your money in different places in your luggage. Use hidden pockets and other less obvious places that pickpockets won’t be able to guess.
And speaking of pickpockets, many European cities have a big pickpocket problem in crowded tourist areas and on public transport. That’s another thing you want to check before you go.
The usual suspects are Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Madrid, and Prague, Milan, Athens, Amsterdam, and Lisbon.
I recommend taking an extra credit or debit card as backup.
For your peace of mind, keep it hidden and separate from the card you normally use.
What to bring on a trip to Europe checklist
Here’s the full list – both minimalist and comprehensive. Some items are optional, depending on where and when you’re going to Europe.
Clothing
- 5-6 t-shirts and 1-2 dressier tops
- Long sleeve thermal top
- Fleece jacket and/or Scotts Jacket
- Rain jacket
- 2 pairs of trousers
- Walking shoes
- Flip flops
- Underwear
- Socks
- Bras
- Pyjamas
- Fashion accessories
- Sunglasses
Electronics
- Phone and sim card
- Device chargers
- Power adaptors
- Tablet
- Laptop
- Camera
Travel documents & money
- Passport
- Travel insurance
- Plane tickets
- Accommodation reservations
- Accommodation directions and phone number
- Money
- Credit / debit cards
- Transport tickets
- Car rental confirmations
- Driver’s license
- Ho(s)tel membership card
- International student card
Toiletries & health
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Laundry detergent
- Painkillers
- Prescription medicine
- Vitamins
- Make up
- Hygienic products
- Water bottle
More packing tips
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5 Comments
Thanks for sharing, your list, good advice for packing 🙂
Thanks for sharing this list. It gives me an idea for what to leave out on my next trip.
backpack is good especially taking a budget flight, haha, that’s the best option! nice sharing
This is super helpful! I will have to check out that backpack.
Great post. You have covered everything regarding packing here. I try to follow most of these but thinking of giving minimalistic packing a go this time