Packing for Europe: How Not to Overpack for a 3-Week Trip (2024)

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Packing forEurope in the shoulder season can be challenging.Should you pack for cold or warm weather? Start by reading this packing guide for trips with different weather and find out how to avoid overpacking with thesetips downsizing one reader’s travel wardrobe!

Travel Fashion help!Reader asks:

I’m traveling to Amsterdam, Germany, Hungary, and London the first 3 weeks ofMay. Do you suggest a pair of Capri pants and trench coat? I’m thinking aboutbringing a pair of jeans, black straight leg pants, a maxi skirt, and tops to matcheverything.

I will be gone for 24 days (my longest trip yet). I’ve checked the weather and itlooks like a range between 50°F-70°F. Any helpful suggestions on packing for Europe would beappreciated.

TFG Says:

(Below you will find the traveler’s full packing list along with my suggestionson what to keep and remove.)

Start by reviewing these articles:

• 10 Step Packing Guide for Europe
• How to Choose the Best Shoes for Europe

For Amsterdam, Germany, Hungary, and London the first 3 weeks of May, you’llmost likely encounter colder weather than warmer weather.

Always, always, always check the weather forecast before your trip for each country you are visiting. Once you’ve researched the weather, you can focus on creating a capsule travel wardrobe, which should easily fit in a carryon suitcase with the help of packing cubes to compress your clothing.

Remember, the trick to traveling for long periods of time is to re-wear clothingand to do laundry once a week or as needed. On my first trip to Europe in March2007, I packed a large suitcase plus carryon and almost all the clothing I packedwent unworn.

Here are some general principles to keep in mind when packing for Europe in coldweather:

• If it’s cold, no one will see what you’re wearing underneath your sweater or coat, so you canrewear items.

• If you’re in a new city every few days, no one will notice you wore a similaroutfit a few days prior.

• You can make 21 days worth of outfits with just 10 pieces of clothing: 3bottoms multiplied by 7 tops equals 21 unique outfits. This is TravelFashion Math.

• People have the tendency to gravitate towards the same few pieces ofclothing, the ones they would normally wear at home and feel mostcomfortable with. I can almost guarantee you would only wear half of theclothing listed on your trip.

Follow these guidelines when packing for Europe in May (or during a tripwith different weather):

Sleeveless|Tee|Blouse|Blouse|Long Sleeve

Tops

You currently have12 tops listed in yourpacking list:

• 3 colored sleeveless tops in coral, mint green, and black/white.
• 3 short sleeve tees (white, black and grey stripe)
• chambray long sleeve blouse
• white long sleeve blouse
• long sleeve black/teal blouse
• white long sleeve v-neck knit top
• black long sleeve v-neck knit top
• teal blue and grey long sleeve crew neck knit top

TFG Suggests:

It would be great if you could pare your listdown to seven pieces.Since you don’t have any dresses, plan to pack enough tops so you haveone for every day of the week. You have six long sleeve tops and sixshort sleeve/sleeveless tops.

Because of the weather, I would pack less sleeveless and short sleeve tops when packing for Europe.

• For the 3 colored sleeveless tops,I suggest removing 1-2 and choose the one that’s most versatile.

• I suggest removing thewhite tee and possibly the striped tee from the3 short sleeve tees. Take only 1-2 tees. If you onlychoose one, go with black, because it’s classic, looks dressier yet comfortable,and will mask stains easier than the white tee.
• For the long sleeve tops,in total take no more than 4-5 blouses. Ifit’s cold, your outerwear (below) will be showing the majority of the time, not what you’re wearing underneath.If you only remove one, make it the white blouse; if you remove two, I recommend the knit top.

Leggings |Crop Linen Pants |Silk Skirt

Bottoms

In total, you currently have six bottomslisted.

• One dark denim ankle jeans (can be rolled up to be capris)
• one medium color denim skinny jeans
• black ankle pants
• black legging type pants
• khaki colored ankle pant/capris
• a maxi skirt in either black or black/cream

TFG Suggests:

When packing for Europe, remember that pants, jeans, and trousers are easily reworn without being washed. They’re alsoleast likely to show up in pictures since they’re on the lower half of your body,which people tend to notice less than the top half. Pack 3-4 total bottoms andfocus on cold weather versus warm weather.

• Dark denim isa great choice for Europe! But,take only one pair of jeans and gowith thedarkest pair.

• Choose either the black ankle pants or leggings, not both.

• For the khakicolored ankle pant/capris, eitherchoose these or the black ankle pants but, notboth. They serve the same purpose.

• For themaxi skirt in either black or black/cream:because you have so many longer bottoms, perhaps ashorter skirt or dress would be better? If you don’t like to show your legs, amaxi would be great on warmer days.

Tip:You can layer the legging style pants under a shorter skirt ordress and wear this inthe cold in addition to warm weather.

Long Jacket |Cardigan|Long Sleeve

Outerwear

In total, you currently have seven pieces of outerwear listed.

• 3 sweaters (orange and white stripe, black and white stripe and one blackmerino wool)
• black/winter white cardigan
• oatmeal colored cardigan that ties in the front
• minty green knit vest
• black side zip knit jacket
• army green jacket
• black North Face trench coat with a hood

TFG Suggests:

Outerwear includes some of the most re-wearable clothing items as they don’t sitnext to your skin and won’t get as dirty as other pieces. When packing for Europe, thisis the best place tosave space and find pieces that you can layer together as needed (so these mustmix and match) or be worn alone based on the weather.

• For the sweaters,are these closed or open? if they’re closed, then take nomore than two. If they’re open, take no more than one since you also aretaking a cardigan.
• Take only one cardigan that can be worn overall tops, especially if you’re packing more than one sweater.
• Remove theminty green knit vestas it’s not an essential item (or keep andremove one more top or sweater).
• Can you remove theblack side-zip knit jacket? Do you need the knitif you take sweaters and cardigans?
• Could the army green jacket replace the North Facetrench coat or vice versa?

Walking Shoes | Ballet Flats | Ankle Booties

Shoes

All great choices! When packing for Europe, it’s great to pack:

• black tennis (walking) shoes
• black flats (black is always classic or you can also try one of theseversatile colors for shoes)
• black ankle booties (considering choosing tan instead of black – it goes with everything. see this post!)

Printed Scarf | Infinity Scarf | Belt | Crossbody

Accessories

All great choices when packing for Europe!

• 2 printed scarves
• black belt
• small black cross body purse

Tip: Worried about theft, add items like a money belt or Secret Bra Pocket to your packing list.

Here are a few articles on how to layer your clothing so you don’t have totake as many pieces:

• How to Pack for Cold Weather
• How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather
• How to Layer Clothes

The absolute best way to avoid packing more than two sweaters and/or cardigans is by using thermals underneath. Merino wool, in particular, is the bestchoice because you can rewear it for days (even weeks if needed) and itwon’t absorb scents.

Read this article on the best thermal underwear for women to find out how theywork.

Travel Fashion Tip: Even though you’re not traveling in the middle ofwinter, this sample cold weather capsule wardrobe shows you how to packwith a total of fifteen clothing pieces!

Do you have anything to add to these tips on packing for Europe? Please comment below!

For more Europe packing lists, please read:

• 10 Step Packing Guide for Europe
• 10 Step Packing Guide for Italy
• 10 Step Packing Guide for Paris
• What to Wear in Europe: Packing Lists for Every Destination!

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