Packing for Europe in a Backpack This Summer

Packing for Europe in a backpack isn’t only for gap year students hostel-hopping! Not only are international checked baggage fees expensive, but who wants to risk their bag becoming lost luggage?! While a carry-on bag also fits the bill here, some of those old cobblestone streets are rough on the ‘ole spinner wheels. A nice backpack will be able to fit everything you need, while also affording you flexibility and easy mobility. Even if you plan to be gone a couple weeks, it’s sooooo possible to master packing in a backpack this summer. To make it even easier, we’ve included a handy checklist below!

First and foremost, what bag to pack in??? I’m obsessed with my Cotopaxi Alpa 42L backpack, and between the five of us sisters, we own four different variations of this fun and functional pack. The bag is designed perfectly to help maximize space and keep you organized while traveling. 

The most important thing about packing a capsule wardrobe is planning pieces that can mix and match seamlessly. Having nice basics is the perfect way to rework your outfits, and have everything feel fresh. As someone that’s a big champion of leisurewear, I also love finding pieces that I could wear on a hike but I could also dress up and look nicer in as well. Below I’ve detailed everything I packed for our 11-day trip.

TOPS

Basic tees (3)

I own this cropped cotton tee from Old Navy in three different colors, and I’m nothing short of obsessed with it. It looks as perfect with a skirt as it does with leggings. Something like this is a nice staple that’s easy to mix and match between outfits. 

Tank tops (2-4)

A couple tank tops are nice to have as Europe can get a bit toasty in the summer. I packed a reversible (can be worn high neck or scoop) white lululemon tank and a fun one shoulder cropped tank from Beyond Yoga. They’re versatile, breathe well, and keep you comfy. 

Thin Long/Short Sleeve shirt (1-2)

While summer days do warm up, they can sometimes start a bit chilly. A thin shirt to cover your shoulders and/or arms can be nice to have!

Linen shirt (1)

Nothing beats a slightly oversized white linen shirt. It’s the perfect layer for almost any outfit! I actually tied my linen shirt to my fanny pack, which made it easy to have on hand when I got chilly 

BOTTOMS

Leggings (3)

Perhaps this is a lazy girl packing ethos, but I’m just not one to pack jeans. This of course kinda depends on where you’re going, but much of Europe will get into the 80s and above during the day. If I’m not wearing a dress or skirt, I want my pants breathable! Leggings are also rather nice to have if you plan to go hiking at all! 

Skort (1-2)

I personally could not be a bigger fan of skorts… it’s a way to elevate your look a bit, while still staying comfy and being able to walk, wander, climb, etc with ease.

Midi skirt (1)

Flowy and casual, a nice mid-length skirt will be short enough to let the breeze through, while still having you look rather nice. The perfect skirt could be worn all day exploring, dressed up for a fun dinner, and thrown on with a bathing suit the next day for the beach. 

Denim shorts (1)

These are super versatile! You can wear them out exploring the city but you can also throw them on over a bathing suit at the beach. 

Joggers (1)

Whether it’s for a plane ride or a train ride or just some time in the car, you’re almost assuredly going to have some time that gets spent traveling to your destination or from one place to another. Not every outfit you pack is going to be your hot girl summer ‘fit, and sometimes it’s nice to have a comfy pair of joggers when you’re traveling

OUTERWEAR 

Light Jacket (1)

While summer days can be warm, mornings and evenings can get rather chilly. A nice light-to-mid-weight jacket is the perfect layer to keep you warm without being too bulky in your bag.

Cropped hoodie (1)

This is another piece that’s nice to have on your travel day. Perhaps a bit slouchier and cozier than your jacket. While summer days can get quite warm, it does cool off in the evenings… and it never hurts to have something comfy, cozy for those longer train rides. 

DRESSES

Dealer’s choice (2)

Honesty, everyone is a little different, but I’d suggest 2 somewhat flowy dresses. Depending on what activities or dinners you have planned, you might want something a bit more dressy… or perhaps you’d get more use out of a sporty athleisure dress. Anything you pack should be something you’d be comfortable walking at least a mile or two in, but exactly what you go with can depend on your comfort and itinerary.

SHOES

Sneakers (2)

Not all sneakers are created equally, so I recommend packing two different pairs… one that’s a bit cuter– something you could wear with a dress but also wouldn’t mind walking a couple miles in. The other pair would be a pair of tennies you don’t mind getting dirty. This past summer I packed a pair of old black & white Brooks that I’d pretty much worn through the sole, and then just donated them the day before we left to leave room for a couple purchases on the way back. 

Sandals (1)

Whether it’s your worn-in Birks or perhaps your favorite Target sandals, it’s nice to have something easy to slide on sometimes. They should still be comfortable enough that they could take you on a longer walk if necessary, but something you’d be okay taking to the beach as well. 

ESSENTIAL EXTRAS

Underwear (12)

Can you ever pack too many pairs of underwear?? Even if I plan to do laundry while I’m gone, I almost never leave home without enough underwear to get me through… just in case! 

Socks (7)

If you have access to a washing machine during your adventuring, 7 pairs of socks should do the trick– especially if you’re not wearing your sneakers every day. 

Sports Bra (5)

I didn’t pack even a single a ~real bra~, but that’s just my style. I live in sports bras, and ~5 is enough. Depending on where you end up and how warm the weather ends up being, you might want an extra if you’re worried about getting sweaty, but 5 should do the job. 

Bathing Suits (1-2)

Perhaps it’s the Florida girl in me, but you ALWAYS pack a bathing suit when you leave town… you never know when there’s going to be a beach or pool that needs adventuring. Depending on how much time you plan to spend at the beach it may be nice to have a second suit– plus they don’t take up too much space! 

Pajamas (1-2)

Unless you’re a real sweaty sleeper, one or two pairs of pajamas should do the trick. Getting good sleep is essential when you’re traveling, so make sure you stay big comfy. 

THE NON-ATTIRE ESSENTIAL EXTRAS

• Toiletries 
  • Never leave home without your toothbrush and (at least) the basics of your skincare routine. There’s nothing worse than getting ready for bed after a long travel day and realizing your toothbrush is sitting on the counter at home.
• Chargers 
  • Unless you’re going for a very unplugged, eat-pray-love kind of trip, you’ll want to ensure your chargers are in your bag before you leave for the airport!
• Converter plugs 
  • Your chargers won’t do you much good if you don’t have a converter. These are easy to snag at Target or on Amazon. Some hotels and Airbnbs might have a USB port you can plug directly into, but that’s not always a guarantee.
• Fanny pack
  • Belt bag, waist bag, fanny pack… whatever you want to call it, it’s convenient to have. I’m not one for carrying a purse around, and I can fit my phone, a small wallet, hand sanitizer, chapstick, gum, and hand lotion in my pack. That’s everything I need! If I’m worried about getting cold, it’s easy to tie a long sleeve shirt onto the strap too. My go-to fanny pack is black, so it matches practically everything!

• Small 12L hiking backpack 
  • Even if you don’t plan to go hiking, most hiking day packs are light, quick-drying, and quite compact. Whether you’re going on a hike or a day trip, it’s nice to be able to have all your important things with you. The only “purse” I packed was a fanny pack, so the hiking backpack was perfect when I wanted to bring the tripod, an extra layer, not carry my water bottle, etc.

• Water bottle 
  • Ugh, my biggest gripe with (most) European travel is the lack of free tap water availability. Even in the US, I never go anywhere without my water bottle, so I always made sure it was filled to the brim before we set out in the morning. You won’t regret having your water bottle with you!
• Sunglasses 
  • Full disclosure, I actually brought two pairs of sunnies because I wanted to have a backup just in case I lost one of my pairs. Sunglasses are a gal’s best friend on a bright day!!
• Sunscreen
  • Even just a small, travel sized sunscreen can be just what you need to keep your shoulders, chest, back, or whatever else from burning.

FRIVOLOUS & NON-ESSENTIAL

• Small scarves
  • A small scarf or two is the perfect way to help add a bit of pizazz to your basics. You can wear then around your neck, you can turn it into a headband, or you can tie it to your bag as a splash of color.
• Towel 
  • Your fluffiest robe will have to stay home, but packing a quick-dry camping towel will fit in you bag easily. While it’s not quite as luxe, it does the job when you need to dry off after the pool, beach, etc.
• Tripod
  • Very tacky tourist, but honestly not every random stranger ~understands the assignment~, and I’ve never regretted a single cute sister pic
• Mini straightener
  • Definitely not an essential, but depending on how crazy your hairs get (or how cute you’re trying to look on vacation), some of the mini straighteners take up a pretty minimal amount of space, and just might be worth it for your hot girl summer.
• Travel pillow 
  • This is less of a necessity and more of a nice-to-have— especially if you plan to take any evening flights or early morning train rides. A little bit of comfort goes a long way when you’re trying to catch some zzzz’s.
• Eye mask
  • This sounds like a bit of a prima donna packing list item, buttttt a nice eye mask can go a long way to help you sleep on an overnight flight. Plus, depending on where you’re staying, it can be nice to ensure you have complete darkness when it’s time to hit the hay.

THE LIST

If you do better with a nicely condensed packing list, we have it all spelled out for you here below! After a lifetime of being a last minute, throw-everything-I-might-need-in-the-bag packer, I can say, planning a capsule wardrobe can sometimes take a bit more time but it’s time well spent! It’s possible to have enough items for all your activities and still look cute and trendy while carrying everything you need right on your back.

Full disclosure, this summer I traveled with my Cotopaxi and a personal-item sized tote bag I used as a personal item. Since my travel pillow doesn’t really compress, I ended up keeping the pillow and my light jacket in the tote on my travel days. I either carried my water bottle or tossed it in the tote, but everything else fit in the backpack! Since my bottle was too big for the side pocket of the backpack, I slid the tripod in there, which was a perfect way to bring it along without taking up too much space. 

The ultimate travel hack? Traveling with your little sister so you can swap clothes throughout the trip! Between the two of us, we had more than enough clothes and outfits for our 11 days. Also, if it’s possible, it’s nice to book an Airbnb or hotel with a washer/dryer, to ensure you’ll be able to do laundry somewhat easily, if necessary. We did one round of mid-trip laundry, and it was more than enough to keep us clean and comfy the rest of the trip!

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