What I Pack for Every European Trip (Non-Negotiables Only)
I've spent years refining what actually comes with me to Europe. The list has gotten shorter every time, and the trips have gotten better for it. What follows isn't a comprehensive "pack everything you might need" list — it's the opposite: only the things I've missed when I forgot them, or wished I hadn't brought when I didn't.
For context: this is built for 7–14 night trips mixing cities and coastline — Italy, France, Greece, Spain. Summer-weight, with layers for evenings.
The Bag Itself
I travel exclusively with a carry-on plus a personal item, and I've done it on every kind of trip. A 40L spinner is the right size for two weeks if you pack efficiently. My current favorite is the Away Bigger Carry-On — it fits in the overhead bin on European carriers, the built-in battery is genuinely useful, and the hard shell doesn't get destroyed. A good packing cube set (Calpak makes excellent ones) is what makes a carry-on actually work — everything compressed, organized, and wrinkle-free.
Clothing (The Real List)
The rule I follow: everything must work with everything else, and nothing requires ironing. Neutral colors (black, white, sand, one accent) mean infinite combinations from a small number of pieces.
Tops
- 3 silk or modal tank tops — they layer, they dress up, they don't wrinkle
- 2 linen or cotton button-downs — one white, one neutral
- 1 lightweight knit — evenings on the Italian coast get cooler than people expect
- 1 classic tee for travel days and casual mornings
Bottoms
- 1 pair of tailored linen trousers — city days, nice restaurants, everything
- 1 pair of relaxed straight-leg jeans — wear on the plane, use three times
- 2 dresses — one casual (day beaches, markets), one that can do dinner
- 1 swimsuit (plus cover-up that doubles as a beach dress)
Shoes (This Is Where People Go Wrong)
- 1 pair of walking sandals that look good enough for dinner — Birkenstock Mayari or similar
- 1 pair of white sneakers — Veja or similar, for cobblestones and long days
- 1 pair of simple flats that pack flat — for nicer evenings and flights home
Documents + Money
- Passport valid for 6+ months beyond return date — check this before you book
- Physical copies of bookings, hotel addresses, and emergency contacts — kept separately from your phone
- A travel wallet that clips to a belt or tucks inside a bag — much harder to pickpocket than a handbag
- One credit card with no foreign transaction fees (Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold) and one debit card for cash withdrawals
- Small amount of local currency for the first day — airport ATMs have bad rates; use a local bank ATM on arrival
Tech (Ruthlessly Edited)
- Universal adapter — a single good one covers all of Europe
- A small power bank — the Away Bigger Carry-On has one built in, but a separate one for your bag is worth it for long sightseeing days
- Noise-cancelling headphones — non-negotiable for long flights
- Downloaded offline maps on Google Maps for every city before you leave (saves data, works in dead zones)
- Google Translate with offline language packs downloaded — Italy, France, Greece, Spain
Health + Pharmacy
- Prescription medications in original containers with a copy of the prescription
- Imodium, Pepto tablets, ibuprofen, antihistamine — pharmacies exist everywhere in Europe but not at 11pm when you need them
- Hydration tablets (LIQWD or similar) — for hot weather, long flights, and mornings after long wine-fueled dinners
- Blister bandages — cobblestones are beautiful and unforgiving
- A small tube of SPF 50 face sunscreen — European sun in summer is stronger than it looks
Leave at home, genuinely:
A full-size hairdryer (every hotel has one), 4+ pairs of shoes, anything dry-clean only, valuables you'd be devastated to lose, and the "just in case" outfit you've never worn at home and won't wear in Europe.
The trips where I've packed the lightest have always been the best. You move faster, you don't check a bag, you don't spend the last day of your trip hauling luggage through cobblestone streets. Ruthless editing before you leave is always worth it.
If you're planning a European trip and want help with the full itinerary — not just what to pack — I'm always happy to talk through it.