Women’s Ultimate Packing List for Backpacking Europe

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I learned my lesson the hard way.

Let’s recap. In 2004, I set out on my first European solo trip. Lamentably, I packed a huge, heavy, wheeled suitcase! I’ll NEVER forget how awful it was dragging that suitcase around the Paris metro…

Arms shaking and sweat dripping down my face, I dragged that suitcase on stairs, escalators, and bumpy pavement. I spent quite a lot of time at excess baggage fee counters, too.

Since that ill-fated day in Paris, I’ve traveled all over the world. On each trip, I learned how to pack for a backpacking trip properly.

Perhaps more importantly, I learned what not to pack.

Instead of staring at unworn clothing and unopened bottles of shampoo upon return home, I feel accomplished. I use everything in my backpack—leaving unnecessary weight at home and enjoying the journey.

Do you want to plan well, take only what you need, and arrive home with memories instead of unused stuff? Then, you’re in the right place!

In this women’s packing list for backpacking in Europe, I’ll review exactly what to pack for backpacking in Europe based on my years of travel experience.

Women’s Packing List for Backpacking Europe

Whether you’re spending 2 weeks in Europe or packing for 3 months in Europe, the principles are the same when it comes to building the ultimate list—pack light and take only what you need.

Find our best packing tips for Europe, below.

Best Clothes for Backpacking Europe

I’m sure you like to feel your best when traveling. But, that doesn’t mean bringing a ton of clothes that you won’t end up wearing.

Here’s how to pack clothing for Europe for females:

• 2-3 Shirts (both short sleeve and long sleeve) that can be layered. (I’ve always found Columbia tops to breathe well and dry quickly.)
• 1 Skirt or shorts (A skort works, too, but I prefer the flexibility of a skirt if I need to layer over pants for warmth)
• 1 Pair pants, linen or a quick-dry travel pant (Kühl makes stylish pants that are a good for the trail, the city, or anything in between)
• 2-3 Merino wool socks (ankle, everyday, or winter weight depending on season)
• 2-3 Underwear (budget or splurge)
• 2 Bras
• 1 Dress (quick dry and wrinkle-free)
• 1 Swimsuit
• 1 Pajama (I like to wear an athletic top with built-in bra and leggings which are appropriate for staying in a co-ed room in a hostel, working out, or layering when cold

Outerwear & Accessories for Europe

Year round, you’ll need a few items to help keep you warm. Plus, some accessories to dress up or down appropriately:

• 1 Lightweight packable jacket that takes up a little space when folded.
• 1 Pashmina or sarong
• Sunglasses & case
• Sun hat (cute or functional, depending on the activity/location. A ponytail baseball cap is my go-to!)
• 1 pair earrings, 1 necklace (Buy more as you go!)
• Watch or Fitbit (Depending on the country, you may have to turn off phone on plane, plus its fun to keep track of your steps!)
• Buff – I never leave the house without one of these super versatile headbands!

Other ladies’ checklist items to consider in cooler seasons:

• Beanie
• Warm scarf
• Rain jacket
• Gloves
• Vest

Shoes for Backpacking Europe

If you take one piece of advice from this post, please, take more than one pair of shoes for backpacking Europe. Your feet will thank you.

• Good pair of walking shoes — keep in mind might they get wet, muddy
• Pair of hiking or walking sandals — choose sandals that are comfortable and can double for a night out and a day at the park
• Flip flops for shower
• Insoles — extra support for all that walking

Expert Travel Tip: While it’s possible to get tired of the few outfits you bring, you may just find the simple life of less choices is one of the most joyful parts of backpacking.

Toiletry Packing List (Female)

It’s easier than ever to buy travel-size toiletries in brands you recognize at grocery stores and pharmacies in Europe. In order to pack light for Europe, bring a small amount, and replenish if needed.

Here are the tolietries you need for Europe:

• Toiletry Bag: A water-resitant, quick drying tolietry bag with a hook is a must to hang from a towel bar or over the shower door. To explain, when staying in hostels or budget hotels, there’s often no place to set anything on the sink or shower!
• Toiletries: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, face lotion with SPF, sun-screen, contacts (2 extra pair), contact case & solution, eyeglasses & case, toothbrush & case, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, hand sanitizer, and SPF chapstick can all be found at Walmart or your local drugstore.
• Grooming: small fingernail clipper, nail file, razor
• Microfiber towel: Small, lightweight, quick-dry towels dry your body and dry within minutes in the sun. They also make a great wrap for your hair — I use mine at home! Be sure to dry thoroughly as they do tend to smell if not properly dried
• Feminine hygiene items: Minimum amount needed in compact version, you can always purchase more and donate to your host. A little pouch is nice to be discreet, but not necessary.
• Makeup: Bring the minimum such as a tube of mascara and tinted sunscreen from La Roche-Posay.
• Prescription Medication and Supplements: Take a picture of the label if you put these into another container, just in case.
• Pill organizer: Take a few pills in a small pill sorter, and buy more if needed. If you take prescriptions or supplements daily, you might need a weekly sorter like I use.
• First Aid: Take a few Band-aids, buy anything else at a pharmacy
• Hair: A few hair ties, clips, and bobby pins, a travel hairbrush. You might also like to bring a travel hair dryer and travel-size curling iron or straightener (must be dual-voltage). Most hotels (not hostels) will have hair dryers. If you plan to travel a lot, consider buying these in Europe to use for years to come.
• Other essentials: Ear plugs and eye mask (or use a Buff as a headband and eye mask)

Backpack Travel Tip: With so many travelers frequenting hostels, guesthouses, and budget hotels, you can often find shampoo, body wash, or other items (like chargers!) that people have left behind. So before you run out and buy more, ask around. Other travelers are often willing to split the costs of larger toiletry bottles to save money and reduce waste, too!

Gear for Europe Backpacking Trip

• Small day backpack or cross-body purse – Choose something that you can easily clutch to yourself in highly populated areas as pickpockets are commonplace and that you can wear on your front when you have your larger backpack on
• Lock, cables (for staying in hostels or leaving bags in storage). Depending on the country/pickpockets, I have also found security in locking my backpack while it’s on my body (although can easily be slashed open, it’s a deterrent)
• Travel umbrella or poncho (Goodbye to the beautiful umbrella I left on bus…a good reminder not to spend too much money on it! If you’re in the U.S., you can usually find compact umbrellas cheaper at Marshalls or Ross.)
• Water bottle
• A variety of packing cubes or bags – Staying organized & save time, keep dirty laundry separate from clean, wet from dry, etc. I personally love these inexpensive yet effective dry bags.
• Shoe bag  – Keep your possessions clean by storing shoes separately
• Laundry line and a few packets of laundry detergent for sink washing. (Or find fill a small container with powdered or liquid detergent and use a little at a time.) Many laundromats in Europe also dispense detergent automatically for laundry day!

Tech Essentials for Europe

Next, it’s time to talk tech. Here are some of the necessities to make sure you bring.

• Camera, charger, extra SD card (I have had an SD card become corrupted, so I recommend bringing a backup), lenses (More on the weekend photographers’ gear here).
• Tablet w/movies downloaded (or use your phone)
• Kindle Books – Download from Prime Reading, Kindle Unlimited, or rent books from your local library for free (or a combination)
• Cell phone w/international plan or TravelWifi adaptor
• Noise-cancelling headphones (I love my Bose QuietComfort headphones, but I leave them at home for international travel as I’d hate to have them stolen! Samsung galaxy buds work great!)
• Adapter w/USB ports – You’ll need to charge your electronics, and having a European plug adaptor is so much easier than bringing a big converter
• Charging Cables – one of each type needed (iPhone, USB C, Micro USB)
• Portable charging brick
• Tech case organizer – A case, pouch, or even plastic baggies will keep you organized!

Finance, IDs, and Other Europe Essentials

• Guidebooks, maps, itinerary, or other travel guides (digital or hard copy – tear out relevant pages, take digital notes, and/or give away as you go)
• Boarding passes/tickets – most can be stored on your phone
• Passport & vax card, if required
• Student ID card or other specialized cards for discounts
• Credit card, debit card, a few dollars American cash
• Copies of your passport and credit cards emailed to yourself

Optional/Other

Surely, there are other items you might need. Here are some suggestions:

• Ziploc baggies — always good to have a few baggies on hand for leftovers or organizing
• Fork/knife & reusable drinking straw — many European countries use paper straws and wooden utensils
• Wine corkscrew — sharp items may get confiscated at the airport, so choose wisely (although these suggestions should be TSA compliant)
• Mementos like backpack patches or decals for your water bottle or tech
• Small notebook & pen to write down addresses, travel notes, etc. unless you have the ability to do so digitally
• Anything else LIGHTWEIGHT that you can’t live without

Europe Travel Insurance

Last, but certainly not least on this European backpacking packing list for females, consider protecting your trip from unforeseen circumstances and injury by getting travel insurance!

• Safetywing has some of the cheapest rates and is perfect for longer trips! You can also get a quote from Travel Insurance Master to compare rates from the top travel insurance providers.

What is “Backpacking Europe”?

Before you start checking off your women’s packing list for travel to Europe, let’s get clear on what a backpacking trip is.

In a typical “backpacking trip,” you’ll visit multiple countries. In order to get to these countries, you’ll travel on a variety of transport — planes, trains, buses, and more.

You’ll also likely stick to a budget. This means cheap flights, hostels or guesthouses, etc.

Because of all this travel, it’s best to take a backpack that you can carry with you at all times (more on that in the next section). You’ll save money by not having to pay excess baggage fees and minimize time in security lines or at luggage storage facilities.

Americans typically spend 10 days to 3 months backpacking in Europe. (Want to stay more than 90 days? Check out this great article on how to stay in Europe longer, legally.)

Since you’re staying for a while, you’ll need a variety of items. Indeed, there will be variability in terms of weather and activities. In order to comfortably thrive (not just survive) on your trip, it’s pertinent to think through what you bring ahead of time.

That’s where this women’s packing guide for backpacking comes in! (CLICK HERE to get the packing list in your inbox.)

Packing Tips for Backpacking Europe

Here are some key things to think about when putting together your backpacking in Europe packing list.

Clothing & Outfits for Europe

If you haven’t noticed, we recommend bringing just a few items with for travel to Europe on a backpacking trip. Consider these three things when picking out your clothes:

Commit to doing laundry in the sink

Wash clothes in the hostel sink as needed, hanging them to dry with a travel laundry line.

You can also wash at a laundry mat every few weeks — and perhaps a friend to split the load.

Packing Tip: If you plan to do laundry, choose colors that can you can wash together in one laundry load!

Coordinate and layer to make multiple outfits

Decide on a neutral base color. Keep in mind that black can get very hot in summer and khaki can soil easily.

Next, carefully choose all of your tops, bottoms, shoes, etc. to match and layer easily. Also, think about versatile pieces that can go from day to night. For example, a tank top and a button-down can be layered on a cool day. Pair them with pants or a skirt for different looks.

Likewise, add a few accessories to dress up/down your outfits as appropriate. Besides, you don’t want to look the same in every picture!

Choose your fabrics wisely

Between touristing all day in the hot summer sun, beach visits, and adventurous day tours, you’ll likely sweat a lot, get dirty, and get a lot of wear out of your clothing!

Therefore, purchasing high-quality, quick-dry, odor-resistant clothing, outwear, shoes, and accessories that you can wear multiple times before washing is non-negotiable.

How to Pack Light for Europe

If you didn’t figure it out yet, you’ll be carrying your luggage on various modes of transportation yourself.

So, it’s important to pack light for Europe while bringing everything you need—yes, it can be done!

The key is to take only essential, multi-functional items that coordinate.

Here are a few more considerations for packing light for Europe:

• As a general rule, leave behind anything that can only be used once unless it’s a highly specialized item (Think: A waterproof camera bag for your beach day).
• Buy travel-size items of everything from toiletries and hair dryers to umbrellas
• If you love to shop like me, you’ll have plenty of room to buy new apparel and souvenirs on your Euro trip.

Packing Tip for Europe: After packing, weigh your backpack with a luggage scale or by weighing yourself with the pack — which is actually pretty accurate! Be sure to research carry-on weight restrictions and associated fees, especially for budget airlines in Europe.

Backpack for Europe

I highly recommend adding a lightweight internal frame backpack to your travel packing list as it boasts advantages over your typical carry-on wheeled bag.

Although backpacks fit a ton of gear, the flexibility is really what you need. You’ll gracefully dodge in between tourists, run to catch a train, and climb subway stairs with ease!

I always feel safer having all my possessions on me instead of next to me on public transport, for instance.

There are many different types, brands, and sizes of travel backpacks. While a 40-45L pack will work wonderfully for most women traveling in Europe, it’s up to you to decide which backpack fits your body type — and budget!

That being said, Osprey makes wonderful packs with an even better warranty! The Osprey Farpoint 40 is frequently cited as the best travel backpack.

(It goes without saying if your age or health prevents you from carrying a backpack, get a small, lightweight carry-on size suitcase instead.)

What Not to Bring to Europe

Now that you know what to pack for backpacking Europe, let’s review a few things you definitely don’t need:

• Portable water filter — Tap water is safe to drink in Europe so you can easily fill your water bottle. Bottled water is readily available everywhere, too.
• Valuables — As a general rule, never bring anything that you can’t replace when you travel. This includes your wedding band (Use a decoy ring or silicone wedding band instead.)
• Books — Books will add a ton of unnecessary weight to your pack. If you like to read, bring a Kindle instead. Or download the Kindle app to read on your phone.
• “What if?” items — Much, if not all, of what you need “if” a certain occasion occurs can easily be purchased in Europe.

Backpacking Europe Packing List (Female): FAQs

How do I look cute while backpacking Europe?

We’re sure you look cute all the time, but if you’re worried about looking cute for the camera, here are a few tips for looking cute while backpacking in Europe:

• Bring wrinkle-resistance clothing that can be dressed up or down
• Maintain your hygiene
• Accessorize
• Pick comfortable walking shoes that are also stylish
• Go for a professional shampoo and blow-out

What should I bring backpacking through Europe?

Figuring out what to pack when backpacking through Europe is a big feat! Download our free women’s packing checklist for backpacking to Europe to get started.

How big of a bag do I need for backpacking Europe?

A 40-45 liter backpack is the best size bag for Europe travel. It will fit everything you need with space for souvenirs and is small enough to fly carry-on (Check individual airlines for size limits).

What should I pack for 4 weeks in Europe?

When considering how to pack for one month in Europe, follow the principles in this backpacking checklist!

How do I pack light for 20 days in Europe?

The key to packing light for 20 days or three weeks in Europe is to bring clothes that coordinate and can be layered. This way, you can make many outfits out of just a few choice pieces of apparel.

Can you wear jeans in Europe?

Yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear jeans in Europe. However, many people wear slacks (depending on the country). Since jeans are heavy and hot, I recommend wearing women’s travel pants like the ones from Kuhl instead of jeans. But, wear what’s most comfortable for you!

How do I not look like an American while traveling in Europe?

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but most people will be able to tell you’re American just by looking at or interacting with you! Being an American is about more than just clothing, after all! However, if you really want to try to fit in, try dressing up a bit more. Europeans are known for being fashionable. In other words, leave the athleisure at home!

What not to wear in Europe as an American?

Here are a few things you may want to avoid wearing as an American in Europe:

• workout clothing
• flip flops
• clothing with logos

What are the best travel clothing brands?

Athelta, Kühl, and Prana all make clothing that’s both fashionable and great for travel with high-quality materials. I’m also a huge fan of Columbia. While most of their items are more outdoors-focused, you can definitely find versatile pieces that you can dress up or down.

Should I bring leggings to Europe?

Leggings are not a huge part of European fashion in general — It’s more likely that people wear them for exercise. If you are planning to hike or do other active activities, consider bringing a pair of leggings.

Should I bring a towel backpacking in Europe?

Yes, include a quick-dry towel on your Europe trip packing list. since you will be moving from hostel to hostel as you backpack between cities. My favorite travel towel is a Turkish towel which is quick to dry and easy to fit in your backpack.

Are packing cubes really worth it?

100% Packing cubes are worth it. They’ll help you stay organized so you don’t have to rummage around your pack looking for what you need. Plus, if you use dry bags, you can separate dry from wet clothing (e.g. swimsuit or towel) from wet. Keeping your dirty laundry separate is nice too—and you can use the dry bag as your laundry bag when you go to the laundromat!

Is it better to roll clothes or fold when backpacking Europe?

Some travelers prefer to roll their clothes as you can typically fit more clothing inside a suitcase when it’s rolled. The downside to this is that your clothes get so squished that they end up getting super wrinkly! If you have the space, I’d suggest folding your clothes; if not, go ahead and roll.

Can I use ziplock bags instead of packing cubes?

For smaller items, you can use plastic baggies, grocery bags, and cosmetics cases instead of packing cubes. However, a pair of pants isn’t going to fit inside a gallon Ziploc bag! However, they do sell extra-large Ziploc bags at Dollar Tree.

What is not allowed in hand luggage Europe?

Liquids carried in the aircraft cabin such as aerosols, drinks, toothpaste, cosmetic creams or gels must be carried in a transparent plastic bag – maximum capacity 1 litre – and no container may hold more than 100 ml. Liquid containers larger than 100 ml must be placed in checked baggage.

Do you have any other packing lists?

I’m constantly adding new packing lists to my site. Check out this hostel essentials list!

Women’s Packing List for Europe: Final Thoughts

To sum up, now that we’ve reviewed all the essentials for backpacking in Europe, you can confidently start packing your luggage for your backpacking trip to Europe!

If it’s your first time traveling and you forget something, don’t worry! Figuring out where to purchase your item and trying a new foreign brand is part of the fun of travel!

So, that’s all for now. I hope you found this women’s packing list for backpacking Europe—or wherever—helpful. Don’t forget to get your own PDF packing guide for Europe, here.

Have fun backpacking Europe!

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More Europe Travel Tips

Check out these articles for help planning your trip to Europe:

• 10 Free Printable Traveling Coloring Pages w/Quotes
• What is the Legal Drinking Age for Spain? (2024)
• What Plug Does Spain Use? (Travel Adapter for Spain)
• Can You Drink the Water in Spain? Tap Water in Spain 101
• Discover Cars Review: Is Discover Cars Legit? (2024)