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

• Pack 3-4 outfits that you can mix and match + 5-6 pairs of underwear + 2 pairs of the most comfortable shoes for travel
• Wear the bulkier shoes on the plane and pack 1 additional pair of shoes as a back up.
• 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.
• To make sure everything goes well together, 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.

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:

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. and 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

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 or fleece joggers 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 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 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. If it’s going to rain, you’ll need to pack the right shoes and an umbrella.

What size luggage for 2 week trip to Europe?

Rick Steves’ suitcase the Rolling Carry-on 

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

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

• two pairs of high-rise jeans: I love Madewell’s perfect vintage jeans and Everlane’s classy denim
• one pair of black cropped stretch trousers
• 3-4 warm sweaters (one long jacket-like cardigan or oversized cardigan, one cashmere crew, one alpaca sweater–so warm!)
• two fitted long-sleeve tees to wear under my sweaters
• two camis
• two sets of light pajamas plus a set of fleece to wear during downtime, can double as walking pants
• two bras (including one tank bra for downtime), five pairs of underwear, three pairs of no-show socks, two pairs of socks to wear indoors + 1 pair merino wool socks for boots
• Allbirds shoes in dark gray
• Comfortable boots (these are the best!)
• jewelry: rings, two pairs of earrings that go with everything like these and these, one classic necklace
• 1 beanie, 1-2 scarves, one pair of light gloves
• one long puffer coat (or this more affordable puffer)
• compression socks
• one compact umbrella
• a journal and pen
• sunglasses

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”

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.

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

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

Travel Outfit #4

What I wear on the plane

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; occasionally I was hot while walking in the airports, but all in all, it was fine. 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), comfortable, 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 really do reduce swelling and the risk of clots, and because they improve blood flow, they actually make me feel better. These compression socks were rated the best by Wirecutter (New York Times’ product review site), and after using other kinds, I can vouch that these indeed are the best ones I’ve owned.

The most comfortable shoes for travel

I have such a hard time with shoes when we travel because I do a ton of walking and want something very comfortable but not typical athletic shoes. 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 merino wool and other natural materials and therefore have a low carbon footprint. These shoes are by far my favorite shoes for everyday wear both while traveling and at home. Find out more in my Allbirds review.

Since then, I’ve also discovered New Balance and would highly recommend them for travel. I can walk in them all day and they look cute, too. Lots of women in Paris were wearing them last year!

Lessons learned: How I’d pack differently next time

Boots? For travel I prefer a low heeled boot for maximum comfort and practicality. Weatherproof the leather before going if you expect rain. I love Blundstones, these comfortable leather boots, and these comfortable rain boots if there’s a lot of rain in the forecast.

How to choose the best carry-on suitcase

First of all, I should mention that taking the time to get the right bags for travel is extremely important (and by bags I mean three types: suitcase, backpack/daypack, and purse). With practical bags, travel becomes easier and more comfortable.

The most important of all is having a small, sturdy suitcase — this is especially important in Europe where you’ll be walking on lots of uneven surfaces and trying to squeeze your bag into small spaces on trains, subways, etc.

We wanted maximum portability, meaning that we wanted to be able to arrive by train, take the metro, walk to our apartment, and maneuver easily on the tiny sidewalks of Florence and the stairways of Venice. To save money, we didn’t want to rely on taxis. That’s why we decided to travel with four carry-on size suitcases (one for each of us).

The definition of a carry-on suitcase varies depending on the airline and ticket you have. Be sure to check with the airline to find out exactly what size and weight are allowed because what’s often considered a carry-on on U.S. airlines is too big when flying internationally. In fact, we found that our larger carry-ons were bigger than we needed or wanted.

After hours of research, we decided to buy one of Rick Steves’ suitcases, the Rolling Carry-on, for two important reasons: 1) the wheels are large (good for cobblestone streets) but are inside the frame of the suitcase so they take up less space and 2) the lining of the suitcase is soft, allowing for more stuff inside. This suitcase isn’t cheap but it really is the best. Note: we bought this bag on sale before Christmas.

Another suitcase that worked well for us was the AmazonBasics Softside Spinner suitcase. It’s small enough to be accepted as a carry-on by every airplane, yet I found that it fit plenty of stuff and traveled well on the cobblestones. Even with it full, it weighed just under 8 kilos, the lightest of our four bags, which was the carry-on max for our Swiss Air flights. 

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 stuff inside.

The perfect backpack for Europe

I honestly don’t like carrying a backpack, but for a long day out, having a place to stash a bottle of water, map, camera, and snacks is essential. Before this trip, I looked for a backpack that’s “just right”– not too big, inconspicuous (i.e. no bright colors or big brand tags), and maybe even waterproof. In order to not stand out like a sore thumb, I opted for something plain and dark.

I finally decided on an Everlane backpack and loved it. It looks good, is just the right size, is water resistant, and has enough pockets to keep things organized without too many zippers and pouches. The bonus is that it has a waterproof lining inside so everything can stay protected when it rains. Here’s a more expensive but very well made small backpack for travel.

A crossbody bag for Europe

I’m not a big purse person (I have only two), but for me, a really good purse is essential for easy traveling. The crossbody style has two benefits: it’s harder for people to steal it, and the way the weight is distributed feels better than a purse that hangs from just one shoulder.

I love mine but for traveling it’s almost too small: it allows me to carry my essentials (wallet, phone, chapstick, antibacterial gel, and a small camera or small water bottle) but no more than that. On the days that I used my backpack, it didn’t matter anyway.

Here’s a similar crossbody purse for travel that I’m using and a slightly bigger one from Madewell (I love this size for travel but would prefer one that zips closed).

Packing for the rest of the family

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

• four pairs of pants (slim denim and chinos)
• two Merino wool sweaters and one wool cardigan
• one button-up fleece jacket
• one lightweight puffer jacket–similar
• one beanie, one wool scarf, and one pair of gloves
• four long-sleeve tees
• underwear, wool socks, and two sets of pajamas
• one pair of shoes: his comfortable Blundstones
• a messenger bag for daily use (they’re no longer for sale but you can find nice used ones at Poshmark. First time? Use the code jennarfrancisco at checkout to get $5 off.)

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:

• four pairs of pants (one-two nice sweatpants, fleece joggers, and one corduroys or lined jeans)
• three zip-up hoodie sweatshirts or fleeces
• one kids’ cashmere sweater for an extra warm layer (we got them on sale before Christmas)
• four long-sleeve tees
• two pairs of comfortable kids’ shoes (one water-resistant, the other comfortable athletic shoes)
• a hat and gloves
• a warm puffer coat
• 5 pairs of socks and 5 pairs of underwear
• 3 sets of pajamas

As you can see, we had days in the 60s (in Lisbon) when we didn’t even need coats!

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 found that we 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?

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