How to Pack for a Month in Europe
I’ve been pondering how to pack for a month-long European vacation for some time now. It felt particularly challenging as my June trip will involve three different countries with very different climates. A couple of weeks in Italy (hot weather), a week on a cruise to Norway (cold weather), and a week in England (probably the gamut of temperatures!) Though I’m not super interested in trying to fit everything into just a carry-on bag, I still want to figure out the best way to pack light for this long trip. I think I’ve finally nailed it!
The usual Europe packing list tips always suggest bringing items to layer and checking the weather forecast, both good ideas, so that was my plan. Since the weather forecasts don’t extend out over a month, I checked the average temperatures for each of the places I will be visiting. You can find average temperatures for each date of the year on this website.
To try to get a clear overview of what I should bring, I laid out all of the possibilities and made sure everything still fits me! Then I whittled them down.
I plan to buy a new sweatshirt or fleece zip-up jacket in Italy to keep me warm in Norway (and possibly England), so I am not packing anything like that.
Click here to see my follow up post where I admit how this packing plan went!
![clothes laid out - Sojourns with Sue clothes laid out](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0993-1024x768.webp)
Next, I set out each bottom with the tops it/they would go with. By doing this, I realized the green floral short-sleeved shirt really only went with the jeans, so I pulled that out.
![Skirt and tops - Sojourns with Sue Skirt and tops](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0994-768x1024.webp)
![jeans and tops - Sojourns with Sue jeans and tops](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0995-768x1024.webp)
![white shorts pants and tops - Sojourns with Sue white shorts pants and tops](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0996-768x1024.webp)
![black pants and tops - Sojourns with Sue black pants and tops](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0997-768x1024.webp)
Next, I figured out what to wear on the plane. A pair of sneakers and a pair of jeans since they are the bulkiest; a t-shirt and cardigan and pashmina scarf so I can add or remove based on how cold or hot I am.
I decided to only bring the four pairs of shoes in the picture on the right below (plus flip flops for the beach). All are worn in a bit, super comfortable and go with many outfits I’m bringing. I am not going to deal with heels! Life is too short to wobble around on cobblestones in high heels!
![Airplane outfit - Sojourns with Sue Airplane outfit](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0998-768x1024.webp)
![shoes - Sojourns with Sue shoes](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0999-768x1024.webp)
This is my first time trying out compression packing cubes. Usually, I roll my clothes and place them in regular packing cubes. With the compression packing cubes, I decided to try the “stack and fold” method (ie. laying all the similar items on top of each other and then just folding them all together to try to reduce wrinkles.)
![IMG_1002-1 - Sojourns with Sue compression Packing cubes](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1002-1-1024x768.webp)
![IMG_1006 - Sojourns with Sue](https://sojournswithsue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1006-768x1024.webp)
I closed up the suitcase and weighed it, and happily, it was only about 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg), well within weight limits. Now I just need to add the toiletries, a hat and travel gear like an adapter, clothesline, etc.
Click here to see my entire Woman’s 30 Days in Europe Packing List!
Click here to see my follow up post where I admit how this packing plan went!
Please let me know if you have any good ideas for packing for different climates!
Great post! I love reading other poeple´s packing list cause I always learn something new! I love that you only bring comfy shoes that have already been worn a bit!
Great packing tips! I’m traveling soon on a trip with multiple climates, so these tips are really helpful.
Compression packing cubes are so handy. If only that you don’t need to search for things in your suitcase. On tripos longer than a week, I always wash clothes, so that I can bring less. Packing in layers is indeed a great idea for a vacation in Europe, weatherwise.
Having purchased a few clothes specific to travel, I do find that I need to update every so often. It pretty much looks as though I wear the same outfits on all of my travels!
yes, thats for sure! Great idea to check pictures from my last trip to try to avoid looking totally the same! 🙂
I can see it all with VPN! Great! I will take your advice and pack just as you did! Thanks Sue.
Wow! Fantastic! Glad I could solve all of your packing questions! 😄