Full Packing List to Backpack Across Europe for 3 Months

My husband and I backpacked through Europe from May to early August. We spent three whole months bouncing around historic cities, hiking through stunning landscapes, and dancing the nights away at music festivals. Going on an adventure like this was a once in a lifetime kind of trip.

I Fit Everything in Just a Carry-on

The biggest task while preparing for this 3-month trip was packing. After a week of planning, I managed to fit everything in just a carry-on! You’d be surprised at the sheer amount of stuff you can cram into a travel backpack and sling. 

Now, I am in no means a light traveler or a minimalist. I am, in fact, a “what if” and “we never know” type of packer. I am the type of person that packs an extra of something, and then packs an extra for that extra. 

But for this trip, I knew we were moving around frequently and it was crucial to go as light as possible. Thus, I packed what I thought I would need, then I halved it. I took that and halved it again. And that’s what I managed to bring.

Our Itinerary to Pack For

Our trip covered a wide range of situations, from hiking in the Italian Dolomites, roaming the cobblestone streets of Rome, and dancing the nights away at Tomorrowland and Anjunadeep Music Festivals. Since it was during the summer, most of my clothes were catered for warmer climates, but I still brought enough clothes to cover the unpredictable weather in the alpine mountains and the cooler temps in the northern countries.

Our 3 month itinerary included:

• Portugal – Lisbon, Algarve Coast, Porto
• Spain – Sevilla, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona
• Czech Republic – Prague
• Austria – Salzburg, Vienna
• Italy – Rome, Florence, Dolomites
• Albania – Dhermi
• Slovenia – Lake Bled, Ljubljana
• Netherlands – Amsterdam
• Belgium – Antwerp
• Switzerland – Appenzell, Bern, Bernese Oberland region

My Packing List at a Glance

Gear and Bags

• Cotopaxi 35L backpack
• Baggu bag
• Osprey Daylite hiking backpack

Clothes

• Jackets x 2
  • packable rain jacket, zip up fleece jacket
• Hats x 3
  • one bucket hat, two collapsible caps
• Tops and tees x 12
  • crop tops, t-shirts, tanks, hiking tops
• Pants x 4
  • stretchy travel pants (also as PJ’s or hiking), white linen pants, green summer linen pants, wide leg orange pants
• Dresses x 2
  • one short dress, one long dress
• Shorts x 2
  • one cotton, one linen 
• Graphic t-shirts x 2
  • also acts as PJ’s
• Socks x 6
  • two hiking wool socks, four every day socks
• Underwear x 12
• Bra x 3
  • two sports bra, one regular bra
• Sports tops x 3
  • tank, long sleeve, hooded long sleeve
• Sports bottoms x 2
  • legging, shorts
• Bikinis x 2
• Midi skirts x 2
• Button downs x 2
  • one linen, one sheer

Shoes

• New Balance white sneakers 
• Birkenstock sandals 
• La Sportiva trail running shoes

Electronics

• Laptop 
• Laptop charger
• AirPods + earpods
• Camera + lens
• Camera battery charger & batteries
• External hard drive
• Travel tripod
• Phone charger
• USB-C adapter 
• Universal travel adapter
• Battery pack
• SD cards

Toiletries bag (liquids)

• Face sunscreen 
• Face moisturizer
• Face cleanser
• Toner
• Hair milk
• Body sunscreen
• Nail polish
• Shampoo
• Bodywash
• Wrinkle releaser spray
• Hairspray
• Toothpaste (I purchased this in Europe)

Toiletries bag (dry)

• Toothbrush + toothbrush cover
• Travel hairbrush
• Hair ties
• Razor
• Eyebrow trimmer
• Hair wax stick
• Diva cup + pads
• Adhesive bra
• Sports tape
• Chapstick
• Aquaphor
• Nailclippers (husband carried these)

Makeup 

• Foundation
• Compact mirror
• False eyelashes
• Eyelash glue
• Eyeliner
• Eyelash curler
• Mascara
• Eyebrow pencil
• Eyebrow gel
• Blush/bronzer
• Makeup remover

Other / Miscellaneous

• AirTag
• Kindle
• Sunglasses
• First aid
  • Adhesive bandages of varying sizes, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment
• Medicine
  • Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pepto, tums, allergy medicine
• Jewelry
• Collapsible tote bag 
• Quick-dry microfiber towel
• Backpacking spork 
• 2- in-1 hair straightener/curler 
• Tissues 
• Ziplock bags 
• Small sketchbook + pens
• Belt
• Headlamp
• Dry detergent sheets
• Carabiner
• Padlock
• Camera clip
• Wallet
• Copies of important documents

Keep scrolling down to see more details on my packing list

My Packing List Details

Plane Outfit

Our flight to Portugal was 18 hours long with one layover, which meant we had a very long travel day. Like most people, I wanted to be comfortable but still be practical when we landed in Portugal.

Great Travel Backpack

For my 3 month backpacking trip, I used the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Backpack and I loved it! I chose a backpack instead of a rolling suitcase because a backpack offers greater flexibility and convenience for navigating Europe, especially since it is rife with cobblestone and stairs. After researching extensively, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack was my top pick.

Here’s why I chose it:

• Clamshell structure: The suitcase-style bag allows easy access and visibility. Packing is easier with a bag that opens all the way.
• Carry-on size: The backpack is small enough to be a carry-on for most airlines, eliminating the need to check it in. I had no issues carrying it on low-budget airlines as well.
• Durable outer shell: The outer shell is made out of a really durable material that is thick, sturdy, and weatherproof.
• Removable hip strap: The padded hip belt helps increase comfort for carrying heavy weight by distributing weight between your hips and shoulder. It’s easily removable for times you don’t want to use it!
• Organizational compartments: This backpack has multiple compartments which eliminates the need for packing cubes 
• It’s aesthetic: I’m not going to lie, it’s a gorgeous backpack. It looks simple and has great color selections. It also doesn’t make you look like a backpacker.

A couple drawbacks I’ve observed:

• Lack of rigid structure: The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is a fantastic travel backpack, but it lacks a strong rigid structure and is not very suitable for hiking or extended backpacking. This backpack is not designed or marketed for either, so if you’re looking for sturdier gear with a frame, you may consider your options. Personally, my shoulders ached when carrying heavy loads for long periods of time, but it was not a big deal because it seldom happened during my trip.
• No water pouch: There is no exterior water pouch for the 35L backpack. Though, the larger 42L size backpack has one (Update: The newer version of the backpack has an external water pouch, hurray!)

‘Everyday’ Bag

For my ‘everyday’ bag, I used the Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag. Don’t be deceived by its compact size. This bag fits a shockingly large amount of stuff but it doesn’t look like it. I was able to fit my gigantic camera, sunglasses, Kindle, and a bunch of other personal items. 

I decided to bring a cross-body bag instead of a second backpack in order to have the freedom to use my hands in front of me. This was very helpful in many circumstances and I’m very happy to have chosen this route!

Notes on Clothes

You don’t need as much as you think! 

When I was packing for this trip, I wanted to be comfortable but also look nice for photos. I also considered different environments and activities, such as hiking, beach, festivals, and city exploring. I brought a mix of shirts, tanks, pants, shorts, hiking clothes, skirts, and flowy dresses.

In hindsight, I could have brought less clothes. Packing clothes for a three month trip is similar to packing for a two-week trip because you do laundry regularly. You don’t need too much. Luckily it wasn’t a big issue because my clothes pack up very small, but ideally I would have brought less clothes and purchased a few new pieces over there.

Tips for Picking Out Clothes

Pack what you like – If you don’t wear it at home, you probably won’t reach for it during your travels. Pack clothes you like to wear on the regular.

Neutral color palette – Neutral tones like olive, brown, white, black, and navy can allow effortless mixing and matching for the most amount of combinations.

Lightweight fabrics – Lightweight clothing (obviously) weighs less, and ultimately reduces the total weight of your luggage. Opt for breathable or quick-dry fabrics.

Leave the Jeans Behind: Unless you are traveling to colder climates like the Baltic countries or the northern regions, I recommend leaving jean pants behind. Summer in Europe can get hot and humid, and jeans can be heavy, bulky, miserable when wet, and a pain to wash and dry.

How I Packed My Clothes

For the bigger clothing items, like my rain jacket, long pants, and dresses, I rolled them and stood them up vertically. For the smaller items, I folded them and laid them in my backpack standing up. This helped compress my clothes and see them all at once.

Notes on Shoes

Determining the optimal number of shoes for a 3-month backpacking trip in Europe depends on your personal preference and itinerary. Most people will recommend bringing 2 shoes: 

1. Versatile walking shoes: Suitable for casual activities and exploring cities
2. Sandals or slides: Ideal for lounging, beach, and shower

Shoes I Brought (and Recommend)

I brought a total of three pairs of shoes.

Since we planned to hike in the Alps, I added a third hiking shoe separate from my everyday sneakers and sandals. The perfect trio consisted of:

• New Balance white sneakers – A classic white sneaker that matches every outfit. This shoe is stylish and very comfortable. I could easily walk 10+ miles without my feet hurting.
• Birkenstock Arizona EVA sandals – Perfect waterproof sandal for beaches, showers, lounge, etc. Very lightweight, comfortable, and now a staple in my wardrobe.
• La Sportiva trail running shoes – These trail runners were perfect for hiking in the Dolomites and Swiss Alps.

All three shoes were worn a great deal. Comfortable shoes are very important and carefully selecting your footwear can ensure that you’re prepared while minimizing the weight and bulk in your luggage.

Notes on Electronics

Should you bring a laptop backpacking Europe for 3 months?

The answer: It’s 100% a personal decision, and depends on your individual needs and preferences.

Bringing a laptop backpacking across Europe is a hot topic. It is heavy and bulky and most people do not bring their laptop because the hassle is not worth the benefit.

However, for me, it was essential because I use my laptop extensively for editing photos, journaling, planning travels, booking hotels and flights, researching activities, watching movies, transferring photos to my hard drive, and general browsing. Sure, some of this can be completed on a phone, but It’s easier and more efficient on a laptop.

Still unsure? This post might help: Backpacking Europe with a Laptop: Should You Bring it?

Capturing Photos and Memories 

Taking photos is a great way to capture memories, document your adventures, and share experiences with others. It’s preserved for years, cost effective, easily stored and shared with friends and family. Since I was going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, one of my biggest priorities was to capture all of these special moments and bring digital souvenirs back home with me.

For this trip, I brought my Sony Alpha 7C camera with a Sony 24-70 mm F2.8 lens. Considering the heaviness of camera gear, I decided to bring only one lens. I chose the Sony 24-70 mm lens because it’s a versatile lens that can capture a decent range for both landscapes, portraits and candids.

I also brought a SanDisk 4TB Portable SSD to back-up all my photos/videos in case I lost my SD cards (which has happened before in the past!).

Notes on Toiletries

If you are flying on a plane and traveling with carry-on baggage like I did, you are limited to TSA restrictions. Everything must fit in a quart-sized bag and sometimes, it could be tricky to fit everything with those size limitations.

Here are some tips and tricks for packing toiletries:

• Sample-sized products: Makeup mini’s or sample sizes are great for travel.
• Bar soaps and shampoos: Bar soaps and bar shampoos are exempt from liquid restrictions, making them ideal for travel. This means you can pack without worrying about size limitations. I did not use bar soaps on this trip, but I hear good things about them and highly considered it if I had too many liquids.
• Leak-proof bag or double bag it: Place toiletries in a leak-proof bag or double-bag it to prevent spills. I put mine in a TSA required quart-sized bag and placed it in a second gallon sized zip lock bag as a precaution.
• Keep your liquid bag in an accessible area: Sometimes TSA will require liquids to be taken out to be inspected. I recommend keeping it in an accessible area so you’re not scrambling in line.
• Don’t worry if you forget something: Toiletries are sold nearly everywhere, and chances are you’ll be able to find what you need. I realized I forgot toothpaste, but luckily it’s a common item that is readily available everywhere.

Other / Miscellaneous

Collapsible tote bag: A tote bag is a practical and essential travel item. I personally didn’t think it was an important item until I was using it frequently for the beach, groceries, laundry, gym and day trips. It’s a simple item that folds up compactly into its pocket and is easy to carry.

Fast-drying microfiber towel: Microfiber towels are lightweight, quick-drying, and versatile. They’re perfect for traveling, as they can be multifunctional and used as a picnic blanket, beach towel, and shower towel. They dry much faster than traditional cotton towels and are especially great in humid climates (which is common in many parts of Europe) when you need to pack up quickly. 

Backpacking spork: You never know when you’re going to need something as simple as a spork. There were many occasions where we relied on our spork for eating leftovers or food to-go. It’s a small and very handy tool. 

Tissues: Tissues are one of those things you don’t think about until you need one. It’s convenient for allergies, public restrooms, or cleaning up spills.

Ziplock bags: Extra resealable plastic bags are great for storage or protection from liquids or damage. I personally used them to store leftover foods.

Copies of important documents: In case your original documents are lost or stolen, having copies of your important documents such as your passport and driver’s license can help you verify your identity or expedite the process after loss or theft. I had copies of both physical and digital.

How I Packed

You’ll hear many people recommend packing cubes to help organize items. It’s what I used during our 4-month backpacking trip through Asia and it’s what my husband used again during our trip to Europe. 

It definitely helps compartmentalize your stuff. I, however, decided to ditch most of the packing cubes and organized everything tetris-style into the built-in compartments. It worked out well for me!

Why Didn’t I Use Packing Cubes?

I didn’t use packing cubes for three main reasons. 

Reason #1: I was able to fit more without them. Because my packing space was already so small, the packing cubes itself took up precious space and weight I was not willing to sacrifice. It also caused unused dead space between the cubes. 

Reason #2: I wanted to be able to see everything in my ‘closet’ visually so it was easier to grab and plan my outfit for the day. Being able to see everything and pull out individual items without having to open up multiple packing cubes helped save time and hassle.

Reason #3: The backpack I used already had mesh zippers and large compartments that minimized the need for them.

The only packing cube I used was for my undergarments since they were small items. As opposed to me, my husband brought a rolling suitcase with packing cubes, and he loved that system. It’s all about your personal preference; there’s no single right way to do it!

What I Regret Packing And Would Change

Headlamp: I assumed I would need a headlamp for hiking and staying in mountain huts, but I never used it, not even once. When I needed light, I used the convenient flashlight on my phone. I also thought I might need it if we were to unexpectedly stay in shared hostel dorm rooms, but there was never a case where my phone couldn’t provide light.

“Everyday” Socks: Ideally, I would have brought one or two more pairs of regular everyday socks. In total, I brought 2 thick hiking socks and 4 regular socks. The laundromat ate 3 of my regular socks, so I ended up with 2 hiking socks (which were too thick for daily wear), and only 2 full pairs of regular socks. Luckily, I could have easily bought more socks over there, but this occurred toward the end of the trip so it wasn’t needed.

Clothes/Tops and tees: I would reduce the amount of clothes by a third. Mine fold up very small, especially my crop tops, so it wasn’t too big of a deal, but it wasn’t necessary to bring that much clothes. I also would have liked to buy some items over there.

Wrinkle releaser spray: I brought this spray mainly because I had linen clothes which wrinkles easily; however, I only used it once. It didn’t work well for me, and most of the time the wrinkles flattened out just by wearing the clothes.

Helpful Packing Tips and Recommendations

Pack light: Keep it simple. While you might be tempted to bring the whole lot, packing light is essential for comfortable and efficient travel. You’ll regret the extra weight of every unnecessary item in the backpack. Ultimately, the less you carry, the easier it will be to travel.

Leave some room for souvenirs: If you plan on bringing back memorable souvenir items, make sure to leave some space. I purposely left room in my front pocket for this reason. If you don’t plan on bringing back physical souvenirs, photos are a fantastic souvenir that won’t add weight to your luggage.

If you’re struggling with narrowing items, shift focus: Instead of asking “what if I need it?,” shift your focus to “what’s the worst thing that will happen if I don’t have it?” That will help shift your thought process on what is important and narrow down your choices.

Packing strategies: There are different packing methods, such as the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” packing method (5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 accessories, 2 shoes, 1 swimsuit), or half-half method (pack everything, cut it in half, then cut it in half again). Some people use these packing formulas and find them helpful. Personally, the half-half method worked well for me.

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to packing for a long haul trip. Everyone is different and there are different factors such as budget, unique interests, and travel style that influence how people pack for a trip. I think the key is to prioritize what is essential to you, and not someone else. 

I hope this packing list for Europe is helpful.

Safe travels!

Did I forget anything? Do you have any questions? Comment below!