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Wondering how to pack for your European vacation? I created this packing list for myself the first time I went to Europe for 3 weeks, and continuously edit and update it each time I travel. And now, I am sharing with all of you so you can learn from my experiences and mistakes I have made! The packing list has been grouped into 4 categories: Toiletries, Shoes, Clothes, and Other Essentials. 

For items mentioned throughout, you can check out the items linked in my Packing List Essentials. Looking for the quick and simple checklist version? Scroll to the bottom.

TOILETRIES

I feel like girls get a really unfair bad reputation for “packing too much,” especially when it comes to toiletries. There are a couple of big things I do when going on vacation to really cut down on the amount of hair and skin products I need to pack. Firstly, I will get a blow out or hair cut the day before I leave, so that my hair looks good the first couple of days and doesn’t need a wash. I do not bring a straightener, blow dryer, curling wand or any other type of hair styling products. I have found ways to style my hair without these products that is suitable for me on vacation, and also who hasn’t heard of “vacation hair”!? If there is an important event, or something you are doing where you want your hair to be immaculately perfect, I would suggest looking up places to get your hair done and splurging.

Case in point: I got a Keratin treatment right before I left for my Croatia trip (I will leave my thoughts on Keratin itself for another post…). This left my hair super easy to manage for the 3 weeks I was abroad. And also, you will never know whether or not I was wearing makeup in this photo!

Case in point: I got a Keratin treatment right before I left for my Croatia trip (I will leave my thoughts on Keratin itself for another post…). This left my hair super easy to manage for the 3 weeks I was abroad. And also, you will never know whether or not I was wearing makeup in this photo!

Secondly, I wear minimal makeup. Similar to my thoughts on “vacation hair,” truly no one cares what you look like when you are traveling. You will literally never see these people again. I pack the essentials (mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow) and usually end up wearing a little makeup each day, unless I am going to the beach. If one of your main concerns is that you want to look good in photos, you can take scenic photos where you are not the focus, or photos where you are looking away (see above). No one will be able to tell you aren’t wearing makeup, I promise.

SHOES

OK you might think I am crazy for this. But, genuinely, I only pack one pair of shoes now when I travel to Europe, not including the pair I wear on the plane. Leaving me with two pairs of shoes for the entire trip; my running sneakers, and a pair of “fashion sneakers.” For me, this is the Nike Air Force sneaker. I have learned this one the hard way; on past trips I would bring heels, sandals, flip flops, etc, usually giving me a total of 4 or 5 pairs of shoes. And these are arguably the largest items in your suitcase!

Looking back at the first photo…I actually can’t believe we took these booties to Europe with us. This was the one and only (yes, only) time these were worn on the trip. And I honestly think the Air Forces would have looked better! You can cast your vote in the comments, but I definitely will not be ever making that mistake again.

Looking back at the first photo…I actually can’t believe we took these booties to Europe with us. This was the one and only (yes, only) time these were worn on the trip. And I honestly think the Air Forces would have looked better! You can cast your vote in the comments, but I definitely will not be ever making that mistake again.

For me, the solution has been sneakers. Walking around the city all day? Running sneakers. Going out at night? Fashion sneakers. Going to the beach? Either pair. Of course, this may vary slightly depending on the city you are headed. For example, if you are going to a fashion capital like Paris or Milan, perhaps a pair of heels would be fitting. However, for me, I would prefer to shop in those fashionable cities and find myself a new pair of trendy shoes I can wear out and bring home as a souvenir. This actually happened to me in Barcelona, I found the cutest pair of shoes and had to make some cuts at the end of my trip.😂

CLOTHES

When it comes to outfits, the first obvious piece of advice is to make sure that everything you bring matches. This usually leaves me with pretty basic clothing options; think black, white and other neutrals. For a 2 week trip, I will bring roughly 4-5 tops, 3-4 bottoms, and 2 dresses. Now, the item where I really don’t hold back is bathing suits; if the beach is involved, I usually bring at least 5 bikinis. Hey, they’re small! Again, it’s important to note here that I always start with less, then will add more if I have space.

For pajamas, I usually just bring two large t-shirts, or if it’s a cooler location, sweatshirts. These are small to stuff into my suitcase and I feel like I always end up buying some touristy t-shirt to add to my collection and double as pajamas while I am abroad.

Lastly, for the undergarments (socks & underwear) this is the one place I really do not skimp. I  always put these into my suitcase last so that I can stuff them into all the little crevices and make sure there are no gaps. A tip I learned from my mom is to stuff socks into your shoes as well – this saves space and keeps the shape of your shoes, especially if they are boots.

OTHER ESSENTIALS

Let me start by saying I am by no means a medical expert, and you should not use the following as medical advice. That being said, I have a favorite medicine that I always use when I get a bad sickness, and always bring 1-2 packs with me when I go abroad. I do this for two reasons. One –  medicines and over-the-counter drugs are different in every country. Rather than be left translating the backs of cold medicine packets, I would just prefer to have what I know works. Two – if I feel a sickness coming on, I can preemptively take the medicine before it develops into a full-blown illness and ruins part of my trip. I actually had to use my meds in Croatia, within the first week we were there, and I was so thankful I had it on hand.

Travel charger adapters are essential. Be sure to research what adapter you will need before you arrive. You can buy a whole pack off of Amazon pretty cheaply, and they are often difficult to find, or expensive to buy once you are abroad. This is another reason I don’t bring hair styling tools; they can blow out your charging adapter, rendering it useless. This has happened to a friend of mine. Don’t be that friend.

Also on that note, I always make sure to bring my portable charger. I got mine with my Away suitcase, but you can also buy these online. The Away one I have had for over 4 years now and it works incredibly well. I recharge it every night and it keeps me fully charged all day; in fact, I hardly ever fully wear out the portable charger in just one day.

me & my Away suitcase

Before embarking on your journey, research the country(ies) you are going to to assess how much cash you will need. Most countries like Spain, England, France, etc accept credit and debit cards wherever you go. Other countries like Greece or Hungary rely more on cash, so you will want to be prepared. You will get the best exchange rate by going to your local bank (wherever you have an account) before you leave the US. Cash exchange booths in the airports and once you are in Europe often charge crazy fees and you can end up losing money when exchanging it for Euros.

One thing I have learned to leave off of my list is a bluetooth speaker. I brought one on my first trip to Croatia, and we actually ended up getting a noise complaint in one of our Airbnb’s because of it. There is really no need to ever be blasting music; if you want to listen to music, you can just play it from your phone or laptop.

THE ULTIMATE PACKING LIST

Toiletries

  • Travel Toothpaste (2)
  • Toothbrush (1)
  • Floss (1)
  • Travel Deodorant (1)
  • Travel Lotion (2)
  • Bar of Soap (1)
  • Travel Shampoo (1)
  • Travel Conditioner (1)
  • Razor (1)
  • Hair Clip (1)
  • Hair Tie (1)
  • Tweezers (1)
  • Mini Nail File (1)
  • Nail Clippers (1)
  • Reusable Makeup Remover Pads (6)
  • Mascara (1)
  • Eyeliner (1)
  • Eyelash Curler (1)
  • Eyeshadow Brush (1)
  • Travel Eye Shadow Kit (1)
  • Lip Balm (2)

Shoes

  • White Nike Air Forces
  • Sneakers

Clothes

  • Bottoms (3)
    • jeans
    • jean shorts
    • shorts
    • pants
  • Tops (5)
    • crop tops
    • sweaters
    • long sleeve
    • short sleeve shirts
  • Dresses (2)
  • Bathing Suits (5)
  • Pajamas (2)
  • Jackets/Sweatshirts (2)
  • Workout sets (2)
  • Underwear (20)
  • Socks (15)

Other Essentials

  • Passport (1)
  • Global Entry Card (1)
  • Jewelry
  • Cold / Flu Medicine (2)
  • iPhone Charger (2)
  • Charger Adapters (3)
  • Portable Charger (1)
  • Power Bars (6)
  • Cash
  • Water Bottle (1)
  • Sunglasses (1)
  • Fanny Pack (1)
  • Travel Journal (1)
  • Pen (2)
  • Book (1)
  • AirPods (1)

For additional items you may find interesting and of use, read more at 8 Essential Items You Need For Your Next Trip. Drop a comment below if there are any essential items on your packing list that are missing from mine! And be sure to follow along for more packing tips and general travel advice.

💙mariss