How to Pack for Winter in Europe in a Carry-On

There is so much I love about Europe in winter. Wandering through Christmas markets, sipping mulled wine, squealing with delight at little snow-dusted towns–it’s simply magical.

To ensure you’re comfortable and prepared for your trip, there are a few things you’ll need bring. This post will cover exactly what to pack for winter in Europe in only a carry-on bag.

My Winter in Europe Packing List

To keep my outfits cohesive, I tried to stick with a black, white, and navy color palette. I used dark green as my pop of color because I read somewhere that every wardrobe is supposed to have one.

When packing for winter in Europe, I used these Eagle Creek packing cubes organize everything in my Kelty Redwing 44L Backpack.

Update: The exact Kelty Redwing backpack I have is no longer available, but they make a similar backpack with 50L capacity. You can read my full Kelty backpack review here.

Clothes for Winter in Europe

2 WoolX merino wool t-shirts: I am a huge fan of Merino wool. In fact, I’m wearing one of my Merino wool shirts right now as I write this post. Merino wool makes an excellent base layer for cold days and it holds up well in warmer weather too.

It doesn’t hold sweat and it’s super easy to wash. After washing, it dries impossibly fast and the material doesn’t hold wrinkles. When packing light, it’s a good idea to bring items that can be washed and reworn without much drama. Merino wool makes that possible.

I really like WoolX brand. Some of the other Merino wool brands felt itchy but this one was soft and it ran true to size.

2 Cotton shirts: Even though Merino shirts are my go-to, it was nice to have some simple cotton shirts for layering and relaxing at home.

Also, if your winter trip includes destinations in southern Europe where the weather is more mild, cotton t-shirts are a breathable and lightweight option. I brought one in blue and one in white.

2 Long sleeve shirts: I like these mid-weight merino wool thermal shirts by Woolx. These were staple base layers on cold days and the tailored lines give these shirts a polished look.

2 Thicker sweaters: I brought a cream-colored crew neck sweater and a dark green v-neck sweater, both from Old Navy.

1 Chambray shirt: A classic layering piece like a Chambray can give variety to your smaller-than-normal carry-on wardrobe.

2 Dressy shirts for going out: When I first arrived in Europe, I had packed one semi-nice blue t-shirt from Old Navy to be my big “night on the town” shirt.

I quickly learned that my t-shirt was a bit too casual for some activities, so I ended up buying two dressier long sleeve tops that were more appropriate for evening activities.

Black Jeans: It’s a great idea to bring a classic pair of jeans that you’ll love wearing most days. I brought a pair of black skinny jeans so I could wear them with everything.

No need to go overboard packing too many pairs of jeans, usually one or two pairs is plenty.

Stretchy dress pants by Betabrand: Betabrand makes super comfortable dress pants that look polished but feel like sweat pants. The best part? They have huge pockets that are actually usable! I now travel with a black pair and an olive green pair and they’re my favorite.

1 pair of leggings: I packed a pair thick athletic leggings for outdoor activities, exercise, and extra warmth.

1 pair of cozy sweat pants: Even when traveling someplace as magical as Europe, there will be times when you want to hang out at home in something comfy.

Leggings are comfortable, but I wanted something roomier and really cozy. I ended up buying a fuzzy pair of sweatpants from Primark that I wore almost every day while I made my morning coffee. You can find a similar pair on Amazon here.

1 Maxi dress or maxi skirt: A maxi dress or maxi skirt can be a nice alternative to jeans. On cold days, I wore leggings underneath for added warmth. I sometimes wore my sweaters or chambray top over of the maxi for a different look.

1 Long sleeve knee-length dress: I also packed a knee length wrap dress with long sleeves. I wore this with tights or leggings, depending on the weather conditions, and I liked how it added another pop of color to my wardrobe.

Inner layers to pack for visiting Europe in winter

Make sure not to forget these undergarments and inner layers when packing for Europe in a carry on.

• 1 camisole tank top for layering
• 10 pairs of underwear
• 2 regular bras
• 1 sports bra
• 6 pairs of regular socks
• 1 pair of fuzzy warm socks
• 1 pair of warm wool socks
• 1 pair of tights or full length leggings
• 1 pair of pajamas
• 1 bathing suit

Bathing suits don’t take up much room and it’s nice to have one available. I had a chance to swim in hot springs in Romania but I only had a t-shirt and athletic leggings to wear.

Relaxing spa days are a lot less relaxing when you’re tangled in your big pajama shirt and your leggings are suction-cupped to your legs.

Outer layers to pack

I started out my trip with a medium-weight black coat I’d brought from home. Turns out, winters in Atlanta are quite different from winters in Europe.

After weeks of layering on every sweater I owned just to go out to the mailbox, I bought a proper winter coat.

My winter coat went down to my knees and had a hood and deep pockets. It was wonderful. It probably saved my fingers from frostbite and I felt so much more comfortable wearing just one coat as opposed to thirty-five layers of sweaters.

Ideally, your outer layer should be a warm jacket or coat that pairs well with anything. (Here’s a similar coat to the one I found!)

In addition to a big winter coat, I also recommend packing:

• 1 mid-weight warm jacket or fleece
• 1 thin black fleece vest
• 1 waterproof jacket or raincoat
• 1 thick knit scarf or neck buff
• 1 beenie hat
• 1 pair of gloves

Best Shoes for Winter in Europe

Black Ankle Waterproof Boots: When deciding what to pack for winter in Europe, you’re definitely going to want to grab some waterproof winter boots.

Technically these are rain boots but if worn with nice fuzzy socks, they make fabulous winter shoes for Europe. No one knew the difference and my feet stayed nice and dry.

Tennis shoes or sneakers: You’ll end up walking a ton while traveling in Europe. A comfortable pair of tennis shoes is a must.

Black ballet flats: For dressier occasions and nights out, add a pair of black ballet flats to your bag to wear when you’re feeling fancy.

What Technology to Pack

• Cell phone + charger
• Laptop + Charger
• iPad + Charger
• Kindle + Charger
• Camera + Charger (I love my Sony RX100 20.2 MP Premium Compact Digital Camera

  

  )
• Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit

  

   (It has attachments for every country so you can use it for all your travels!)

Curious about the ridiculous amount of technology I manage to cram into my carry-on? Click here to read my full technology packing list for digital nomads!

Other Items for Your Winter in Europe Packing List

Toiletries: Bring travel sized versions of any essentials as well as a basic first aid kit

Travel Journal: To record memories from your trip

Small Umbrella: I found a small one at IKEA that saved the day during unexpected rain storms.

Sea-Bands: Sea-bands for motion sickness are one of my travel essentials since car rides and I historically do not get along.

Important documents: Passport + copies and a copy of international travelers insurance

Reusable Water Bottle: A reusable water bottle is definitely nice to have in airports so you can refill without having to buy overpriced airport water bottles.

Packable Lightweight Travel Backpack: I quickly learned that trying to cycle around town with a heavy tote bag on one arm is a disaster. I really wished I had brought a small backpack for day trips and grocery runs.

I ended up buying this one from Lewis N Clark for my southeast Asia trip and I love it because it holds a massive amount of groceries, collapses down tiny, and is lightweight. The perfect day bag for traveling!

Tips for packing for winter in Europe

Invest in a good winter coat. Think knee length with pockets and a hood.

Bring warm waterproof boots. And don’t forget fuzzy socks!

Stick to one color palette so everything goes with everything else. Ideally, every top should work with every bottom. This is tricky to pull off, but sticking in the same general color family certainly helps.

Pack less than you think you need. This is probably one of my biggest tips for how to pack for winter in Europe. My poor bag was always stuffed to the brim, even when I got rid of stuff. I just had this magical vacuum-like power of attracting more items everywhere I went. It wasn’t necessary to bring so much and it’s easy to buy any forgotten items when you arrive, if needed.

It’s totally cool to rock the same look twice (or thrice) Part of the charm of traveling light is simplicity. You really only need a few outfits to rotate through. In winter, everyone wears winter coats anyway. Meaning no one will know or care that you’re wearing your favorite shirt for the sixth time this week. Your secret is safe with me…

What to Pack for Europe in Winter – Final Thoughts

Whether you’re packing for London or Lisbon, Norway or Naples, it’s totally possible to pack for winter in Europe in only a carry-on bag. Stick to these packing tips and you’ll be on your way to European winter adventures in no time.