How to Pack for a Week in Europe

This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links, at no additional cost to you.

Some people love to pack, and some people dread this inevitable travel task.

I happen to love packing!

Packing gets me excited about my approaching trip. And it provides me with some control over the upcoming adventure. Deciding what goes into my suitcase, and what will stay at home, are important factors in a successful travel experience.

Where you are headed and your form of transportation make a huge impact on what and how much you should pack. When heading out on a family road trip, I’ve been know to pack everything but the kitchen sink! Just in case.

But when flying, especially overseas, I’ve learned to be a much more savvy traveler. And it has made my travel experiences all that much more enjoyable!

No matter what kind of packer you are, I hope you will gain valuable packing insight and useful tips as you watch me pack for a week in Europe.

Check out this video to see all the packing action, then read on for my packing checklist!

Before You Pack

I actually start packing 1-2 weeks before my trip. This gives me time to add any last minute items I may have forgotten initially. Plus it ensures I won’t wear any of my travel outfits and need to do last minute laundry.

There are a few important tasks I like to do before I start filling up my suitcases.

1. Laundry: This is my least favorite chore, but if all my clothes are clean it definitely makes packing easier.
2. Check the Weather: I look at the current 10 day forecast to get an idea of the average temperatures. This really helps determine the clothes and jackets I will likely need. Of course, I’ll check the weather again just a few days before my trip to see if significant weather changes necessitate switching out any items.
3. Check Bag Limits: I make sure I understand the airline’s baggage limits and fees. This helps me decide how many bags I want to take and ensures I don’t get stuck with unexpected baggage fees.

Bags

I will be taking a small purse that can cross over my body. I find this style works best for touristy locations where pick-pocketing is common, and I need to keep my valuables close. Starting with an empty purse helps me to only bring the items I truly need.

I also bring a collapsible backpack. This serves as a carry-on and can also be used as a day bag if I’m going on an adventure and want to carry more than my purse holds. My small purse can fit in my backpack if I need to condense the number of carry-on items I take on the plane.

Finally, I have a wheeling suitcase that meets the size requirement of a carry-on…as long as I don’t over stuff it! I prefer not to check my suitcase when flying to my destination to be sure my luggage arrives with me.

On the flight home I’ll likely check my suitcase as it will be much fuller with all the souvenirs I collected! I’ll even slide a large, compact sack in my suitcase that hardly takes up any room, but can serve as a carry-on to hold any fragile souvenirs.

I’m still experimenting with packing cubes, but many seasoned travelers swear by these space-savers.

Outfit For the Flight

Before I start filling up those bags, I like to select my outfit for the flight. I set aside everything down to my undergarments, shoes, and jacket. I want to be comfortable on the flight, but I also want to look nice when I travel.

Gotta be ready when the urge strikes to snap a vacation selfie!

I like to wear my bulkiest shoes and jacket so I don’t have to take up precious room in my suitcase for those items. Now that I know what I will be wearing on the flight and can re-wear later in my trip (jacket, shoes, pants, bra), I can pack the additional items I’ll need in my bags.

What Goes in My Carry-on

Important things I include in my backpack or purse:

• Passport and Driver’s License (take photos of these and email them to yourself just in case they get lost or stolen!)
• Credit and Debit cards (Call your bank and credit card company to tell them your travel plans. Otherwise these cards may be shut off and flagged as stolen when international charges are made! Get your local currency at ATMS, easily found all through Europe. Get larger amounts rather than making frequent withdrawals to save on fees. And get a credit card that does not charge international transaction fees…thanks Fifth Third Trio card!!)
• Copies of all travel documents (Flight details, hotel confirmation, excursion vouchers, etc. Have these on your smartphone also, but a paper copy is an essential back up.)
• iPhone (Make sure you call your service provider before you leave to understand the costs, and sign up for the international plan that meets your needs.)
• Electronics’ Accessory Case (This is where I store my phone and fitbit chargers and portable charger and cords. When leaving the country you also need an international adapter if you want to plug in any of your electronics!)
• Gum
• Medications (Keep prescriptions in their labeled bottle.)
• Book
• Travel Journal and pen
• Extra outfit…just in case

What Goes in My Suitcase

Clothes

I like to pack clothes that are comfortable, but also stylish. I’ll be taking plenty of photos and videos on my trip so I want to look nice! Be sure to pick clothes that travel well. No one likes to spend time ironing on vacation!

In addition to the items I’ll be wearing on the flight (some that can be worn again), I’ll pack the following:

• 2 pairs of pants (nice jeans or black/brown pants)
• 2 pairs of shoes (comfortable and broken in!)
• 6-8 shirts (mixture of short and long sleeves depending on the season)
• 6-8 pairs of socks
• 1-2 bras (one light colored and one dark…keeping in mind the color you have set aside to wear on the plane!)
• 2-3 pajamas
• I like to buy one new clothing item just for vacation! So I make a visit to my favorite local boutique, Ella Mae’s.

Accessories

I like to keep my jewelry fairly simple and lightweight. Nothing too clunky that will set off the metal detectors or weigh down your bags. A few pairs of versatile earrings, a simple necklace, and my Fitbit, which also serves as my watch.

Scarfs are a great functional accessory as they are lightweight, stylish, and add a layer of warmth. A scarf with a hidden pocket is also super functional. You can be hands-free and ensure your valuables aren’t snatched up!

Toiletries

You don’t need full size bottles of all your hair-care products for a week-long trip, and you can’t take them on the airplane anyway.

Instead, pack a few hotel shampoos, conditioners, and lotions or fill your own travel size bottles with your favorite line of hair-care products. Each container needs to be 3.4 ounces or less, and they must all fit in a quart size clear zip top bag.

Other toiletries I usually pack:

• hair brush
• curling iron
• hair ties
• make up kit (just the essentials!)
• make up remover wipes
• feminine products
• disposable razor

Consider which items you really need to feel comfortable and confident on your trip and which you can do without.

Little Extras

I do like to pack a few little extras that take up hardly any space, but may come in handy. Most of these came straight out of my first aid kit:

• Band-Aids
• Hand wipes
• Single dose Ibuprofen packets
• Several zip lock baggies (Great for small wet or sticky items or a tasty treat you’d like to save for later.)

More Packing Tips

The more I travel, the more I understand the importance of packing light. But packing light is an art form, and it means something different for every traveler.

Travel guru, Rick Steves, give great advice on this topic. He encourages travelers to pack what they know they will need…not everything they think they might need. Unless you are traveling to a remote location, you can pick up most items you end up needing along the way. And this gives you another opportunity to act and shop like a local!

It’s also a good idea to consider what you can (or want to) lug around on your trip. Too much baggage makes for a difficult sprint to a connecting flight. And walking several blocks of cobblestone streets to get to your hotel is far less charming with unwieldy luggage.

And my favorite reason to pack light…I like to leave room for souvenirs!

Time for Take-off!

Now that my bags are packed, I’m ready for Europe!

For this trip, I will be traveling to Paris, Switzerland, and Germany. Check out the blog posts on all my European adventures, and follow Traveling Tanya’s social media channels for even more travel inspiration. Au revoir!

Ready to start packing like a pro? Click here to get even more packing tips and Traveling Tanya’s Printable Packing List!

Do you have any packing tips or advice to add? I’d love to hear them!  Comment below.

If you need a little inspiration on where to go in Europe and what sites to see, check out this post featuring several travel bloggers, all with unique perspectives and experiences. Bon Voyage!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

P.S. Want to join Traveling Tanya’s Tribe?! Subscribe to my email list (at the top of the screen) and never miss any of my exciting excursion and travel tips!

Pin It For Later!

Traveling Tanya is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.