Complete Summer Packing List for Europe

Packing for a summer trip is a challenge. And a summer packing list for Europe is even more challenging. Since you might hike a mountain path one day, visit a church the next, and eat dinner that night at an outdoor café. World SheBuysTravel has the scoop on what you need on your Europe packing list for summer.

Questions to ask for your Europe packing list for summer

Before packing for your summer travels to Europe, start by asking these three questions.

1. Where are you traveling in Europe?

Europe is a big continent. Our summer packing list for Europe depends on whether we are headed to northern or southern Europe. Even in summer, the weather in northern places like London is chillier than southern places like Venice, Italy or Arles in the South of France.

2. What is the altitude of the European destination?

Our Europe packing list for summer also depends on altitude. Whether we will visit mountains matters. Because higher altitude can mean a big drop in temperature and cloud cover. So on the same summer day that we enjoyed the sleeveless weather in Salzburg, Austria, a day trip to a beautiful mountain village above Salzburg was chilly and wet.

3. What are you planning to do in Europe?

If headed to elegant cities, like Paris or Vienna, our summer packing list for Europe needs some dressier clothes. Will we be on a boat? Do we expect to take a boat taxi in Venice, or a nighttime architecture cruise in Budapest, or spend a week on a European river cruise? If so, our Europe packing list for summer will need layers for warmth and a water-resistant outer layer. But no matter where we go, we expect to walk a lot. So we always wear comfy shoes.

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Did you know Sicily has ornate Baroque buildings, like this church on the main pedestrian piazza in Catania? I didn’t, til we started exploring Sicily with @larosaworkssicily. Baroque #architecture is a legacy of the Spanish occupation of Sicily. I love how the stone glows during golden hour. *********************************** #sicily #sicilia #catania #catania_bestphoto #visitcatania #instasicily #instasicilia #instacatania #cataniainsicily #cataniagram #sicily_tricolors #sicily_mood #travelitaly #italy?? #italytravel #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography #sunset? #goldenhourlight #piazza

A post shared by Very Hungry Traveller (@veryhungrytraveller) on May 24, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT

Europe packing list for summer

1. City clothes
2. Shoes
3. Hiking
4. What electronics to add to your summer packing list for Europe?
5. Other stuff to add to your Europe Packing list for summer.

My best advice for a summer packing list for Europe? Avoid overpacking. I try to take only what I will use. And re-use. Seriously, lugging a heavy suitcase is no fun. And many streets in European cities are pedestrian only. So we’ve wheeled our suitcases several blocks or carried them up the stairs. To avoid bringing too much, the key is planning. Here is my Europe packing list for summer.

1. City clothes

Urban Europeans are more stylish than most Americans. But let’s face it: I’ll never look as elegant as Italians. Still, in Europe, I don’t wear T-shirts, yoga pants, shorts, gym clothes, or sneakers, unless I’m exercising. And everyone walks a ton in Europe, so comfy walking shoes are everywhere. Even at restaurants, theaters, and museums. And my family often eats at outdoor cafes, where casual dresses, jeans, and sandals are all fine.

Also, to reduce what I pack, I color coordinate. To maximize combinations, every top and bottom goes together. I choose black, white, and solid colors, to easily mix and match. And bring a variety from scarves, costume jewelry, and one patterned dress or skirt.

• 2 cotton cardigans and 1 light sweater. My Europe packing list for summer is all about layering. Because I might be outside from a chilly morning until a steamy afternoon. So I need to be able to shed layers. And a cardigan I can unbutton, or a light cotton sweater I can tie around my waist or shoulders means I can easily shed layers as the day warms up. Or add them back as the evening cools.
• One pair of pants. Even a hot day can get have a chilly night. So it’s helpful to have a pair of jeans, khakis, or pants that can go from walking in the park to dinner at an outdoor cafe.

• One pair of capri pants. Since some European churches and mosques require women’s knees to be covered, I don’t wear shorts in Europe. Instead, I wear capris – or a casual dress.
• 3 casual summer dresses. I bring casual cotton dresses that cover my knees (for churches) and substitute for shorts during the day. And one wrinkle-resistant dress or skirt that’s a little dressier, like a floral polyester.
• 4 sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts. While I don’t wear T-shirts in Europe, I choose cotton or cotton blends, because they breathe. However, if I’m headed to London or northern Europe, I’ll substitute 2 long-sleeved shirts.
• Big cotton scarves. My Europe packing list for summer includes cotton scarves. Because they’re multi-purpose. For example, I use a big scarf as a shawl to cover my shoulders. Sometimes for sun protection, or for added warmth, or for modesty as I head into a church. While most churches no longer require women to cover our heads, it’s helpful to have a big scarf just in case. Also, a couple of colorful scarves varies the monotony of recycling my limited travel wardrobe.

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A post shared by Very Hungry Traveller (@veryhungrytraveller) on Jun 22, 2018 at 12:47pm PDT

2. Shoes

• Comfortable sandals with good tread. Every five years, I buy the same Ecco open-toe sandals. Their rubber tread keeps me comfy as I walk and stand all day. And protects me from slipping on city streets, hiking trails, or a vineyard in Sicily, Italy. Whether I’m in a summer dress or pants or going on a walking tour of Paris architecture or dinner at a café, I’m likely wearing my comfy sandals.
• Comfortable shoes. Europe means walking, so I bring comfy closed toe shoes. My Europe summer packing list includes lightweight black rubber-soled shoes. But unless I’m running, I don’t wear sneakers in Europe.
• Lightweight hiking boots. Whether my Europe packing list for summer includes hiking boots depends on where we are headed. For example, in Montenegro we knew we would hike mountain trails. And in Sicily, we knew we would visit the Mt. Etna volcano and dirt paths of Roman archeological sites, where hiking boots help for steady footing. But in Vienna, we were headed to museums and cafes. And I don’t need hiking boots for city streets. My husband and I both got good guidance from our local REI, where we chose  lightweight, waterproof hiking boots that had great tread
• 1 pair of fancier shoes. Usually, I don’t need fancy shoes on my Europe summer packing list. Because my family walks constantly. But when we visit an elegant city restaurant in Vienna, Austria, or enjoy a fancy meal in Paris, or eat each dinner on a river cruise in France or cruising the Danube River from Austria to Hungary, I don’t worry about walking. And dress up in platform sandals.
• Since I’m usually in open-toe sandals, I only bring about 4 pairs of socks.

3. Hiking

• Light, waterproof jacket with pockets. My light waterproof jacket doubles as a windbreaker. Even though a waterproof jacket is not as much protection against wet as a raincoat, it’s flexible. Because I can easily shed it by tying it around my waist or stuffing it into my cross body bag. But in London, be forewarned: summer can be both chilly and drizzly, so a raincoat is key. (Tips for your first trip to London are here.)
• Lightweight down jacket. Probably not. But it depends on both altitude and how far north I’ll be in Europe. If I’ll be hiking in mountains, it will be chillier. For example, in May in Montenegro, we saw traces of snow in the mountains even though it was warm enough to swim on the Montenegro coast. In July in mountains above Salzburg, Austria, I was glad to have a lightweight down jacket that easily tied around my waist when I heated up. Also, I get cold easily, so I wear my down jacket to sleep on planes. My husband and I were both happy with the lightweight down jackets we purchased at REI.

4. What electronics to add to your summer packing list for Europe?

• Camera or phone. I take so many pictures, my family would prefer I forget this. But it’s a pleasure to photograph Sicily, Italy sunshine lighting up its rocky coast, the natural beauty of Slovenia, the real Game of Thrones architecture in Dubrovnik, Croatia, or inviting alleys of Aix-en-Provence, France.
• Phone charging cord and adapter. Europe has a different electric system, so be sure to pack an adapter. We like an adapter with two USB ports, so we can charge two devices at once.
• Portable Charger. I don’t run out of battery on the road since we started traveling with this portable charger.
• Electronic reader. I love to read fiction and non-fiction about wherever I’m visiting. But I lug fewer books now that I read on a Kindle.

5. Other stuff to add to your Europe Packing list for summer.

• Sun hat. Whether it’s a baseball cap or a something more glamorous, a hat is always in my summer packing list for Europe. Because my family walks outside a ton.
• Sunglasses & lip balm
• Sunscreen. Bring enough to avoid our mistake of running out. And discovering the hard way that my husband is allergic to Croatian sunscreen.
• Insect repellent. While bugs a rare in European cities, sometimes we hike in wilderness parks. Like gorgeous Plitvice Lakes national park in Croatia. Also, bug repellent is handy because Italians and some Europeans don’t like window screens.
• Hand sanitizer
• Underwear. I bring about 7 pairs and plan to wash a few on the road. And 2 bras.
• Pajamas
• Swimsuit. Does your hotel have a pool or spa? Even if you’re not planning beach time, will the beautiful coast of Croatia tempt you to wade?
• Daypack, lightweight crossbody bag. Some travelers carry cameras, phones, water, and hats in daypacks. Instead, I bring a lightweight crossbody bag.
• Personal Items. Toothpaste/toothbrush/floss, hairbrush, aspirin, Band-Aids, deodorant, nail clippers, tweezers, razor, prescription drugs, feminine hygiene. Some hotels will not provide shampoo or conditioner.
• Costume jewelry. I feel like I’m wearing something different, even though I recycle my limited travel wardrobe. But avoid the heartbreak of losing anything valuable by only bringing costume jewelry.

And my second best packing advice: don’t stress. While we plan ahead to bring essentials, we always remember we can get almost everything we need on the road.

Here’s the packing list in easy to print form: Europe Summer Packing List

Have you ever forgotten to pack something you wish you’d had on a trip? Tell us about it in the comments.