How to Pack Carry-on Only for Europe

How to pack carry-on only for Europe in a nutshell:

  • Pack 3-4 outfits to mix and match + 5-6 pairs of underwear + 2 pairs of the most comfortable shoes for travel
  • 2 pairs of shoes: wear the bulkier shoes on the plane and pack 1 more pair of shoes
  • Plan to do laundry if you stay more than 10 days.
  • When you can’t do laundry, you can wash your underwear and socks in the shower.
  • Choose a base color for your outfits (black, grey, navy, or brown/fatigue) and build from there. 
  • Use a vacuum-seal bag to reduce the size of your clothing in your luggage (TRUST ME! This is a game-changer!)

You can pack carry-on only no matter what season you’re traveling in, where you’re going, or how long you’re staying! I’ve packed carry-on only for two months in Italy and Central Europe in the winter, 3 weeks in Italy and Portugal in the winter, and 3.5 weeks in Europe in the summer. It can be done!

Read on for more details about how we pack carry-on only for Europe, even in winter:

how to pack carry-on only for Europe in winter
High-rise jeans, Allbirds shoes, puffer coat–similar, crossbody purse, beanie

Why pack carry-on only?

I’ve always preferred to travel light, with three to four outfits in a carry-on suitcase plus a small backpack. We pack carry-on only for three basic reasons:

1) to avoid fees on low-cost tickets

2) to make it easy to climb stairs at the train station, hotel, etc.

3) to make it easy to go from one place to another.

Europe is not made for bulk, so when I’m on the train, subway, or in a taxi, I don’t want to be bogged down by bulky luggage. And after seeing what a headache checking a bag has become while flying, it is especially worth it to pack carry on only.

Traveling with kids? Then carry-on only is especially important! It just allows you to be more mobile, so you can focus on helping your little ones.

Read more: Packing Lists

How to pack carry-on only for Europe

Planning tips for how to pack for two weeks in Europe in a carry-on

The weather

In summer: Packing carry-on is easy because summer clothes are so much less bulky.

In winter: While traveling in the winter, you need to bring layers (think a cashmere sweater that can be worn as a base layer), insulating coats, warm accessories (gloves, hats, etc.), and good shoes. In southern Europe, you can always expect rain, so an umbrella, a water resistant jacket and rainproof shoes are a must. Wear your big coat on the plane.

For kids, lined pants are helpful, and on colder days, they can wear pajama pants or long underwear under their pants for extra warmth.

Money-saving tip for packing: buy used?

If you find yourself having to buy a lot of things before your trip (like we did), you might try buying used. I bought some of my pants, my backpack and Noah’s puffer coat on Poshmark (first time using Poshmark? Use the code jennarfrancisco at checkout to get $5 off).

Buying used was a smart choice for Noah’s coat because he rarely uses a big coat at home, and the pants and backpack I got were basically brand new but half the price. I also got my camera used on Amazon — it had been used only once but I saved $200 off a new one!

Read more: How much does a trip to Italy cost?

how to pack carry-on only for Europe in winter
One coat for each of us (including one we bought used)

How many outfits to pack?

Of course, you’ll need to make adjustments for the weather you’ll encounter, but no matter what, you can definitely travel carry-on only. Aim for no more than four outfits with pieces that can be interchanged, and then cut down from there as necessary, keeping in mind your access to laundry. We stayed in a mix of hotels and apartments and used the apartments to do a weekly load of laundry.

An easy way to start is to pick 3 colors and pack a few items in each color. Then you can easily mix and match for a variety of outfits.

Here’s an example: easy outfits with interchangeable pieces in 3 colors!

black, white/cream, brown –> black pants, black sweater, black shirt, brown pants, brown sweater, white shirt, cream sweater, black flats, brown sneakers, black boots, brown purse or bag. Add jeans, a puffer coat, and classy accessories, and done!

How to pack for 10 days to 3 weeks in Europe in a carry-on

The secret is that it doesn’t really matter how long you’re going to stay! You can pack the same stuff for 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, a month, etc. As long as you have access to laundry about once every 7-10 days, you can pack the same no matter how long you’re going to be gone. 

The biggest question is not how long you’ll be gone, it’s 1) what you’re going to do while you’re there and 2) what the weather is going to be like. If you’re going to Scotland, you’ll need waterproof boots for hiking. If you’re going to London, you’ll probably want something you can dress up a bit for evenings out at restaurants and theaters. 

What size luggage for 2 week trip to Europe?

carry on suitcase for Europe

Rick Steves’ suitcase the Rolling Carry-on 

carry on suitcase for Europe

The AmazonBasics Softside Spinner suitcase: lightweight, easy to maneuver, but it wastes space because the wheels are outside the frame.

And a cheap option that held up nicely for us: inexpensive softside carry-on

Whatever you do, don’t get one of those hard frame carry-ons. They’re heavy and the hard frame makes it difficult to stuff items inside.

How to pack carry-on only for Europe in winter

If you’re planning to travel to a cold place with a carry-on suitcase, I hope my tips for how to pack carry-on only for Europe in winter help. First up: clothes/outfits, then suitcases and bags, then packing lists for men and kids.

What I Packed in My Carry-on for Winter

How to pack carry on only for Europe in winter

What I brought for 19 days in Italy and Portugal in the winter:

Basically I had four outfits (sweaters and three bottoms), but because each sweater could be paired with any of the pants, I really had the possibility of 12 outfits. Because I was there to see art and have fun, not worry about clothes, I kept it simple with these basic outfits:

How to Pack Light and Fashionable for Europe: Example Outfits for Winter

Outfit #1: My travel “uniform”

how to pack carry on only Italy
Alpaca sweater, stretch trousers, fitted long-sleeve tee, glovestortoiseshell earrings Allbirds shoes, not pictured: puffer coat

I call this my “travel uniform” because this was the outfit I reached for most often — the perfect combo of warm, comfortable, and in a basic color palette, so I could wear it wherever.

best sweater for winter travel

This alpaca sweater is a favorite for travel because it’s warm yet light, and extremely soft, even airy feeling. I learned that alpaca is better for the environment because alpacas are gentler on pastures than other herd animals. And like many Everlane pieces, the quality is fantastic for the price. Here’s a less expensive alpaca sweater.

Comfortable black travel pants. Trust me, I’ve been looking for perfect travel pants for years! You want a pair that fit well without being too tight — they should stretch but still hold their shape so you can wear them on the airplane. For a touch of sophistication, look for pants that don’t look like leggings — maybe with a seam down the front or made of a substantial fabric like a wool blend.

Travel Outfit #2

how to pack carry on only Italy
Cashmere turtleneck sweater, high-rise jeans, white cami, fitted long-sleeve tee, gold hoops, Allbirds shoes

I wear a lot of black (or gray or navy blue), and in Italy, other people do, too. While I prefer to blend in and be a little inconspicuous, I do love an occasional pop of color. I brought this green turtleneck sweater for those days that I wanted to add a little color to my outfits. It’s soft and cozy with a warm neck, perfect for traveling in Italy in winter.

Travel Outfit #3

how to pack carry on only for Italy
Alpaca sweater, stretch jeans, day boots, soft scarf–similar, pearl necklace–vintage, similar, tortoiseshell earrings–similar

Travel Outfit #4

how to pack carry-on only for Europe
Oversized turtleneck sweater–similar, black stretch trousers, Everlane day boots, tortoiseshell earrings–similar, beanie–similar

What I wear on the plane

how to pack carry on only Italy
Cashmere long cardigan–similar, fitted long-sleeve tee, black stretch trousers, Allbirds shoes, soft beanie–similar

The trick to getting all my clothes to fit in my carry-on was to wear a couple of bulky items on the plane. I wore my puffer coat and long cashmere cardigan on the plane. Once on the planes, I put the coat in the overhead bin. For my kids’ coats, we had enough space to stuff them in their carry-on suitcases.

I find airplanes to be about as cozy as a freezer, so I bundle up. I also prioritize comfort on planes. For these flights, I paired my favorite travel pants with a long-sleeve ribbed tee, a long cashmere cardigan, a soft scarf, and Allbirds runners. I chose these shoes for the plane because they’re made of wool (warm and soft) and are easy to slip on and off. Plus, they’re flexible enough to accommodate my feet, which swell on long flights.

Not shown but so important: the best compression socks. I always wear compression socks on long flights because they reduce swelling and the risk of clots, and because they improve blood flow, they make me feel better. These compression socks were rated the best by Wirecutter (New York Times’ product review site) — these indeed are the best ones I’ve owned.

The most comfortable shoes for travel

Before this trip, I decided to try Allbirds after hearing that they’re very comfortable and are sustainably made. I’m so glad I did because I LOVE these shoes.

Not only are they extremely comfortable, warm and lightweight, they’re made of natural materials and therefore have a low carbon footprint. These shoes are my favorite shoes for everyday wear while traveling. Find out more in my Allbirds review.

how to pack carry-on only for Europe in winter with kids
Black stretch trousers, Allbirds shoes, puffer coat–similar, beanie–similar, cotton scarf–similar, backpack. On Gabe: puffer coat and joggers in green

I’d also highly recommend New Balance. I can walk in them all day and they look cute, too. Lots of women in Paris were wearing them last year!

Boots? For travel I prefer a low heeled boot for maximum comfort and practicality. Weatherproof the leather before going if you expect rain. 

Packing for the rest of the family

What to wear in Florence in winter
On João: messenger bag–similar bags, Blundstones boots; on Gabe: fleece joggers, Keen boots, sherpa-lined zip-up

How to pack carry-on only for Europe as a family? Of course my guys had to choose the right clothes for carry-on only, too. João brought this in the Rick Steves rolling carry-on:

Men’s packing list for 2 weeks in Europe

Kid’s packing list for 2 weeks in Europe

How to pack carry-on only for Europe with kids? For each of the boys, we packed the following:

The verdict? The carry-on size worked out perfectly, and we’d never travel with bigger suitcases, especially with kids. We had plenty of space for our things and even a bit to spare for things that we bought on our trip. We actually brought a bit more clothes than we needed, so next time we’d pare it down even more!

Example Summer Travel Outfits

Here are 4 example summer travel outfits using navy blue or black as the base color. All of these would easily fit in a carry-on and can be mixed and matched for more outfits. Add a jacket or sweater for the plane. (Click on the photos for more info)

Outfit 1: Black or navy t-shirt, jeans, comfortable sandals or neutral tennis shoes, crossbody bag

Outfit 2: White shirt, floral skirt, comfortable sandals or neutral tennis shoes, crossbody purse

Outfit 3: Dress or jumper, small leather backpack, comfortable sandals with smaller straps

Outfit 4: Gray shirt, navy or black pants, retro tennis shoes, crossbody bag

What questions do you have about how to pack carry-on only for Europe? Any tips to share?

Shop the post for what I wore:

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7 Comments

  1. says: Andi

    Wow I am seriously impressed! I have been to Italy for 17 days and packed 2 suitcases! I go to Paris for a week and pack one – not carry on . but regular and it is always too much – I seriously need to think about my strategy. I usually dress in 1-2 colors so it shouldn’t be a problem, I just need to try it!

    1. says: Jenna

      Ha! Packing is never easy but I always just go for a couple of easy outfits that I can mix and match depending on the weather or occasion. Good black pants and a nice sweater seem to fit every situation.

  2. says: Phoebe

    I love this! We ended up going even lighter in winter, based loosely on Rick Steves’ advice. Here’s mine:
    1 puffer coat (no hood) that packs into sm. sack (useful as head/lower back pillow)
    1 long rain trench coat (this gets worn onto transport)
    2 pairs of pants black/camel (stretch, water-resistant; travel-oriented w/hidden pockets)
    4 light tee tops in asst matchy colors (hand-washable)
    1 cream cashmere tunic sweater
    1 dark grey multi (smooth surface) athletic sweatshirt (no hood)
    4 pairs of thin wool socks, 1 pr compression socks
    4 underwear
    2 bras (one soft)
    1 pair of sandals for cold marble hotel room floors (could sub squishable runners)
    1 pair awesome walking boots in camel
    Hat, cowl scarf (MVP item!), light wool gloves
    Phone/cords
    Water bottle (16oz)
    Toiletries (this is where lots of people go too hard; check out new mouthwash concentrate!)
    No purse or additional pack (it’s winter; lots of internal pockets. We also mostly use phone to pay everywhere and take pics.)
    1 lightweight backpack; 25 liters (It all fits, and comes to 12 lbs)

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