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I’m currently traveling in Europe for the summer, and I wanted to share with you my personal packing list. I started in Ireland and will be making my way to a few different countries while I’m here. Find out what I included in my European packing list and why it works for me!
European Packing List: My Winning Formula
Written by: Niki Landry
Clothing
Swing dress / Peplum tank / Boyfriend shirt / Rolled-sleeve tank / V-neck Tee / Military jacket / Lace edged tank / Striped skirt / Leggings / Jeggings jeans / Pocket skirt / Denim shorts / ballet flats / metallic sandals / athletic shoes / Herschel backpack / long shawl / Sunglasses
I tend to lean more towards blues, grays, and black, and it’s the color scheme you will normally see in my travel wardrobe and in this European packing list. I usually wear a lot of white too, but I try to stay away from it on long trips. For this trip, I packed a mixture of long and short bottoms, along with a mix of sleeve lengths.
I like to bring 10 pairs of underwear and 4 bras. They include a sports bra, a normal everyday one, a comfy racerback, and a bralette. Throw in a t-shirt and shorts for sleeping, two bikinis, and a bandana, a couple of warm layering options (shown below) and this is the clothing that I’m carrying for my 3-month tour of Europe.
Since I was starting in a colder destination, I packed a few warmer items that I’ll be sending home when family comes to visit. I brought along a fleece jacket and pullover to help with the chill in Ireland and Scotland. The two sweaters are pretty bulky, but necessary to layer over my tees and tanks. Also, I packed my raincoat but I’ll be keeping it for the duration of the trip because it always comes in handy.
I got my fleece for a steal, but unfortunately it has since sold out. Instead, I wanted to share this jacket, which is stylish but a bit expensive. It may be worth the investment if it’s something you can wear a lot.
Shoes
For shoes, I opted for ballet flats and metallic sandals for day and nighttime wear. I always bring sneakers for runs and any activities that require comfort. I really like Nike Free Runs because they are light and are suitable for short runs. I also squeezed in a fourth pair of shoes, super cute leopard Vans, but this set would still work without them. For me, the extra weight was worth bringing along my favorite flats.
Check out our top picks for cute ballet flats and fashion sneakers!
Accessories
I have a grey cross body purse that I use at night. When traveling, I either flat pack it in my bag or fully loaded in my Longchamp, depending on my needs. I keep all of my money and credit cards in a wristlet wallet. It makes transferring bags easy, and it can also be used when going out at night.
Luggage
My backpack of choice is the Osprey Farpoint and I bring along a Longchamp for my laptop and electronics. I recently bought and returned the popular Tortuga backpack. I am happy with the Farpoint, but I’m always willing to try new products.
Read TFG’s Farpoint review here.
Instead of my usual Osprey daypack, I’m going to try this Herschel backpack. It wasn’t delivered before I left, so I’m having it swapped when family visits. It’s a little more streamlined for my time in fashionable cities. I normally use it to carry my laptop and necessities on workdays.
Read this guide on how to choose the best travel backpack and daypack too!
With a bit of careful planning you, too, can create a compact European packing list that works for you. The main thing is to find a balance of what you actually need and what can be left behind.
What’s on your European packing list? Please comment below!
For more European packing lists, please read:
- 10 Step Packing Guide for Europe
- The Ultimate Backpacking Packing List for Europe
- Packing for Europe in Summer: Beach Vacation Essentials
- 8 Essential Things to Pack for Europe in the Summer
Hope you liked this European packing list. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs. nikilandry.com nikilandrydesigns niki-landry-designs-llc
May I ask why you returned the Tortuga? I’ve been considering it for my next big trip and would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!
The wrist wallet is an awesome idea! I’m definitely going to need to invest in one. I also think it’s a good idea to wear neutral colors and not be too flashy so you can blend in better.
Yes neutral colors are the way to go!