Packing for Europe

We are natives of the Caribbean and live in Florida, USA. Europe sounds like a cold, faraway place!

When we travel to Europe, we try to do so during the months of May or September. Mainly because airfare is cheaper during these months and also because the weather is not as cold or hot as during other times of the year. Even though we are used to the heat, it is exhausting to walk miles and miles and miles when it's hot, and we DO. NOT. LIKE. COLD. WEATHER. At all.

Our main interests while traveling are the sights, the history and the architecture. We rise up early and pack as much as we're physically able during the day. By the time night arrives we're exhausted and all we want is a hot shower and a comfy bed - we rarely go out again at night. Hence, we never take dressy outfits when we travel.

We always keep an eye on weather forecasts for the places we are planning on visiting and then pick our choice of outfits accordingly. Also, take into account that temperatures in Europe can change in the blink of an eye.

MOST IMPORTANT: Remember to PACK LIGHT. Carry-on requirements in Europe are VERY strict.

Outerwear:
We usually pack a windbreaker. It guards off the rain and the wind and with other layers, will do when it's cold - but not for long periods of time. Also, it folds very tight - I put it on the bottom of my backpack and use it as padding for the camera most of the time. :) If the weather is colder, we pack a jacket instead.

Outfits:
I pack 3 bottoms  (yoga pants: they're comfortable, stretchy, breathable, wash easily and dry relatively fast) and 7 tops (Sports tops with chest support) for a 10-day stay. I also add 3-4 wraps or cardigans (to cover the shoulders, hide fat spots :) and act as layers in case of windy or chilly weather).

Footwear:
I take only one pair of running sneakers for the whole trip so I don't need to worry about footwear.

Underwear:
7 pairs of dri-fit socks, 7 panties and no bras - since all I wear are sports tops, no bra needed. Sometimes I use soft cup bras if the weather is colder and sport tops are not practical.

Other necessities:
- Coffee maker/ground coffee: Not needed in Europe! Coffee is awesome (in most places).
- DO NOT FORGET your plug adapters! They are expensive to buy at the airports and most likely hard to find in other places - you'll waste precious time looking for them.

Here some examples of my packing:

Europe 2016
Scandinavia 2017
Rome 2019



NOTE: I have no affiliation whatsoever with the brands, products or services described in this post.