Have a dreamy Euro summer coming up? Let me help you with the best Europe summer packing list for women!
Deciding what to pack for Europe takes some practice—especially if you’re packing for hot summers with jam-packed itineraries. You need to pack for a variety of activities, but you also want to do your best to pack light and keep it to a carry on (if you hear this and think there’s no way, I can help! Check out this article about exactly how I pack for 2+ weeks in Europe in just a carry on, step by step). You don’t want to be that girl—the one trying to drag your 50lb bag up uneven cobblestone streets or up 7 flights of stairs (European hotels notoriously lack elevators).
Make sure that you have everything you need by using my tried and tested complete Europe summer packing list for women! You can pack for 2+ weeks in Europe using this list, including the travel must-haves to stay stylish and comfortable. This Europe packing list includes many of the things that you’ll desperately wish you’d brought if you don’t, like tinted face sunscreen, a portable fan, a collapsible sun hat, and the one of the best travel safety gadgets I’ve ever used!
Whether you’re going on a sun-soaked adventure across Europe’s cities and cathedrals or heading to the picturesque beaches on the Mediterranean coast, here’s what to pack for your European summer holiday.
What to pack for Europe in the summer: My Europe summer packing list!
Clothing
- Lightweight tops and tanks (around 5-7). You will SWEAT, so opt for breathable fabrics where you can.
- Sundresses (around 2-3) Here’s the pretty summer dress I wore to the Vatican, and here are some of the cutest summer dresses for Europe on Amazon!
- Shorts (2-3). I did one pair of “breezy” high waisted shorts from Abercrombie, one pair of black jean shorts, and one pair of blue jean shorts
- Basic black day dress (one that can be dressed up or down from day casual to night) I have this one and this one from Amazon and live in them when I’m in Europe!
- Light cardigan, jean jacket, or cropped leather jacket for cooler evenings
- Maxi skirt or dress for cathedrals or religious sites (many of these require you to cover your knees and shoulders— again, this is the pretty summer dress I wore to the Vatican)
- Scarf or shawl for covering up at religious sites like cathedrals or temples
- Comfortable walking shoes (sneakers and sandals) Here are the 5 best white tennis shoes for travel and sightseeing!
- Underwear/bras (enough for the duration of the trip- I learned early on to bring more undies than you think you need!)
- Socks
- Swimsuit (2)
- Swim cover up
- Raincoat (this is the one I use— on sale now on Amazon)
- Comfy romper or leggings for any train or travel days
Travel essentials and accessories
- Passport, passport holder (like this cute one with card holders and RFID blocking) and travel documents like visas, travel insurance, etc
- Copies of passport and travel documents. ALWAYS bring these! I have copies of all my documents in a zip lock baggie (waterproof!) and keep it on me at all times
- Personal safety alarm (this is a GREAT personal safety gadget! If you’re like me and typically only travel with carry on luggage when you fly, then you know the struggle of not being able to bring most personal safety products, like pepper spray, with you on flights to your destination. This little personal alarm is compact, SO loud, and even has a strobe and flashlight! It also pairs easily via Bluetooth with the Find My app)
- Hotel door lock
- Silk sleep mask
- Phone charger (2, because I’ve had outlets fry mine before!)
- Portable/battery pack phone charger
- Portable handheld battery powered fan (trust me on this one, just get it even if you think it looks stupid)
- Universal adapter for charging devices
- Water bottle (collapsible— this is such a handy travel and packing hack, because when the bottle is empty, it folds up really small!)
- Crossbody purse or fanny pack for carrying essentials
- Cash and credit cards (WITHOUT foreign transaction fees- I use the Capital One Venture card. Get 75,000 BONUS points for a limited time by applying here. Exclusions apply.)
- Sunglasses
- Classic beige sun hat, or this stunning wide brim PACKABLE sun hat!
- Baseball hat
- Jewelry (simple and versatile- no Europe summer packing list is complete without accessories!)
Toiletries
- Toothbrush (with protective cap)
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Tinted face sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Razor (with protective cap)
- Makeup
- Hairbrush
- Clean skin towels (they are SUCH a lifesaver—not all hotels in Europe have hand towels or replace them frequently)
- Tide to Go pen
- Mini hair dryer (this was one of my top 5 travel purchases— I never travel without it!)
- Make up remover
- Curling wand
- Nail file/clippers
What not to pack for Europe in the summer (BIG mistake!)
I think there are a few things that women always over pack, and it took me years of bringing home a suitcase with several things I never used or wore to learn this.
- Too many shoes: You truly don’t need more than 2-3 pairs of shoes. 1 sneaker, 1 dress shoe, and 1 sandal is PLENTY! Wear the sneaker on the plan to save space and resist the urge to go crazy here.
- Different purses for different outfits. Pick one neutral bag that can go day to night and pack it. You don’t want to lug around more, and you’ll want that extra space in your luggage to bring new things home!
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