You’ve finally booked that trip to Europe – flights, accommodation & activities are all sorted, but there’s one last thing to do… pack! Packing for a trip can sometimes be the most stressful bit of it all, have I got enough clothes? What about shoes? Not to mention bags and the little bits in between! Don’t worry, take a deep breath as we’ve saved you the time and stress from this task with our ultimate guide on packing for Europe!
Firstly, before we even begin to think about the contents of our bags, deciding on what type of luggage you’re going to take is the first step. You have 2 main options, a wheeled suitcase or a travel backpack, both have advantages and disadvantages. With a wheeled suitcase you won’t have any weight on your back, items are better protected with a sturdier outer shell and there’s more space to be better organized. Although, they can prove to be difficult to pull along some of Europe’s cobbled stoned streets and long-winded staircases. On the other hand, a travel backpack means you can overcome the issue of Europe’s terrain, their easier to carry and take up less space. However, travel backpacks can become very heavy on your back and can become uncomfortable if packed too full, leaving you with back ache for your trip. The choice of luggage is based on your personal preference and what you believe will work best for you, as well as the destinations for your trip.
Now, onto what clothing to pack for Europe! Europe has a notorious reputation for stylish people, so most tourists want to dress quite fashionable when over there – that does not mean you have to pack a ton of clothes however. The key to packing light is to pack a capsule wardrobe and mix & match clothing items. A capsule wardrobe is made up of staple clothing items that complement each other, allowing you to create a variety of different outfits with a small selection of clothes. Depending on the season and length of stay in Europe, you should aim to take 3-4 elements of each clothing item which you can mix and match outfits and add different accessories to help you feel stylish but practical on your trip.
One of the most important factors when packing your case is your choice of shoe wear, it’s vital that your feel food good and comfortable in all the shoes you bring. You will most likely be doing a lot of walking around Europe, on cobbled streets or climbing up steps so sensible footwear is a must to ensure you can enjoy your trip without sore feet! Annoyingly, shoes take up a lot of room in your luggage, so we recommend taking 3 good pair of shoes max. Depending on your destination in Europe you will want to choose from: a sturdy pair of trainers, practical sandals, flip flops (if beach/pool location) and walking boots if you are planning on being out of the city on uneven terrain. It’s also key that you’ve worn the shoes before and know they are comfortable, there’s nothing worse than buying a new pair of shoes for holiday and ending up with blisters for your entire trip.
You’ve got your outfits and shoes sorted, but what about something to carry everything in when you’re out and about during the day. You will most likely be sending most of your time outside, sightseeing and exploring so a good bag to hold your essentials in will be needed. A smaller sized backpack is the best idea, something secure with zips to protect yourself from pickpockets and light on your back. You can even purchase theftproof ones to feel even more secure if you desire. On the evenings, a cross body bag is good alternative to feel dressier if going out for dinner or drinks, but can still hold all your essentials in. You can find a great variety of unisex cross body bags online for reasonable prices.
Hopefully having read this guide you have got a better idea of what to pack for your trip to Europe than before and we helped have relieved a little bit of stress. Don’t overcomplicate the packing process, bring only what you need to make things easier for traveling, and if you do forget anything you can just purchase what you need when you arrive in Europe! Be sure to grab a Dataroam SIM card before you travel, Dataroam will connect to European networks at fast 4G speeds for low costs – make life easier for yourself.
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