What to Pack for Fall in Europe: A Complete Packing List and Outfit Inspiration

Europe is my favorite place in the world and fall is one of the best times of year to visit! Temperatures are mild and it is typically less crowded than visiting Europe in the summer. It is often difficult to pack for travel during the cusp months when temperatures may fluctuate and be unpredictable. This post will walk through exactly what you need to pack for the fall in Europe with my favorite tips and tricks to pack more efficiently without sacrificing style.

All packing lists on my website are meant to fit in a carry-on bag. By following the Europe fall packing list below, you will be confident that you have everything you need while packing light and efficiently!

What weather to expect in Europe in the fall

Depending on the exact location of your fall Europe trip, temperatures will vary but one thing you can expect is for temperatures to fluctuate throughout the day. You may wake up and it will be a brisk 40 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit and then rise up to 75 in the middle of the day. Packing proper layers will be essential to your autumn in Europe packing list. While the fall months are typically dryer than any other season, you should also prepare for some rain showers throughout the day.

The beginning of fall (September/early October) will be significantly warmer than November. This fall in Europe packing list will work for most European destinations but make sure to research the typical temperature of the exact location of your trip!

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Basic tips for packing for Europe in the fall

Layers are essentials

Layers are truly the key to this Europe packing list! I’ll talk through more detailed examples below but think about wearing a tank top, light shirt, light outer layer and a thicker outer layer. This may seem unnecessary but if temperatures fluctuate drastically throughout the day, you do not necessarily want to go home and change. Layers will allow you to shed some weight as it gets warmer throughout the day.

Use packing cubes

Packing cubes are an absolute travel packing game changer and you need them for a trip to Europe in the fall. By using packing cubes, you will be able to both fit more clothes on your packing list and also stay organized.

Take pictures of all of your outfit options before you go

This is one of the best packing hacks for any trip! Take pictures of all of your different outfits and save the pictures in an album on your phone. This way when you get to Europe, you do not need to try on multiple looks before heading out! You can refer to your camera roll to decide what to wear.

Organize your toiletries

Toiletries can be very difficult to pack and often take up more space than necessary in your luggage. Make sure to use an organizer that you love and give every toiletry a specific place. Read how to pack your toiletries for travel like an expert here.

A complete fall in Europe packing list

I’ll dive into more details below, but here is a quick snapshot of a fall in Europe packing list!

Bottoms:

• 1x joggers
• 2x jeans or pants
• 1x skirt

Shirts:

• 2x lightweight shirts
• 2x sweater or button down

Dresses:

• 2x dresses or jumpsuit

Outer layers:

• 1x leather jacket or jean jacket
• 1x shacket or thicker jacket
• 1x rain jacket

Shoes:

• 1x sneakers/walking shoes
• 1x neutral boots
• 1x loafers or slides

Bags:

• 1x day backpack
• 1x crossbody

Need help choosing what to pack in for a trip to Europe? Here are the best bags for international travel!

Dresses and jumpsuits to wear in Europe in the fall

Dresses are an easy item to pack to be comfortable and look cute while traveling in Europe. Feel free to have some fun here! Since a dress is the main focus of your outfit, it is important to have a neutral outer layer to wear with it if it gets chilly. Versatile dresses for Europe are essential so you can wear it with both sneakers during the day or a pair of boots for dinner and a night out.

Hill House has a great selection of dresses that work for multiple seasons. I love this option to wear with a neutral outer layer! If Hill House is not in your budget, here is an option from Amazon that is just as fun. This neutral dress from Amazon is also great to layer up and wear from day to night.

Fall in Europe is also a great time to rock a jumpsuit. This one would work both during the day or a fun night out. If your Europe destination is on the chillier side, a sweater dress is also a great option to be comfortable while dressing up a bit. This corduroy button down dress is also a great Europe fall look!

What bottoms to pack for the fall in Europe

I’m a huge fan of packing staples that you absolutely love and then they can easily mix and match with each other. This is why it is important to take pictures of your outfits before you go so that you can remember all of the different combinations that your clothes can make with each other!

A classic pair of jeans that you love is a must pack for the fall in Europe. You will likely end up wearing these almost everyday. Similarly, a simple pair of leggings you love will get a lot of use when layering clothes.

These joggers are simply the best travel pants! I wear them anytime I am traveling and they are a great comfy pair of pants when lounging on the road.

I love the idea of adding a pop of color to your Europe fall wardrobe with a pair of pants or a nice long skirt. These will be great to dress up for a night out or keep it casual during the day. This is also an easy way to add a lightweight pop of color to your travel wardrobe. If you want to dress up a bit more, this faux leather skirt would be great for a night out!

Tops to pack for the fall in Europe

Similar to packing pants and skirts, you want a healthy mix of neutral tops with some fun ones! Make sure that you have an outfit in mind with every top that you pack. This is where layering will really be important. You want to be able to layer your tops so that your outfit still works when you take a layer off. This will ensure that you are comfortable all day long!

This three-pack of shirts from Amazon has lasted me years and are so comfortable. They can be dressed up or down. You can easily add this ribbed long sleeve to match every outfit. This cropped long sleeve is perfect for a more casual look or going on a hike.

Button down shirts are great for layering fall travel outfits. They can be worn as a staple shirt alone or used as a lightweight outer layer. If going to a chillier destination in your Europe, I also recommend packing a thicker sweater for the mornings. Neutral colored sweaters are always a good idea! My favorite sweaters are black, gray and green. All of these options can go with any of the pants or skirts listed above which multiplies your outfit options.

Outer layers to pack for the fall in Europe

Neutral colored outer layers are the key to this fall in Europe packing list. You may be comfortable with just a jean jacket if you are traveling to warmer destinations in Europe. If traveling to chillier destinations, I recommend also bringing a jacket or thicker coat. You can wear your heaviest layer on your flight so it does not take up any space in your bag!

This Carhartt bomber jacket would be a great outer layer to last all day and night. I also love this Free People Twill Jacket for something warm and stylish!

Shoes to wear in Europe in the fall

In all of my Europe packing lists, I talk about how cobblestone streets are not friendly when it comes to wearing platform shoes. You really only need two pairs of shoes when traveling to Europe in the fall– a pair of sneakers and a simple pair of boots. Depending on your exact itinerary, you could probably get by with just a pair of stylish sneakers. If you have space, you could also add a simple pair of slides to dress up an outfit. Any shoes you pack for Europe should be comfortable enough to walk around all day and should match any outfit!

Bags to pack for Europe in the fall

Similar to outer layers, you can keep the bags you pack for the fall in Europe pretty simple. I recommend bringing one small day bag backpack for long days of tourism and a smaller crossbody bag when you do not need to carry around lots of items or for going out at night.

Fall in Europe outfit inspiration

Here are some ideas of what to wear in Europe in the fall! Remember to think through each of your outfits when building out your full packing list. Each article of clothing should belong with a full outfit.

What outfits to wear in Europe in the fall

Other Europe packing essentials

Remember to bring your other travel essentials on your fall trip to Europe!

Additional Europe resources

50 Europe Travel Tips

The Best Bags for International Travel

Europe Bucket List: 30 Best Things to do in Europe

How to Survive and Thrive after an Overnight Flight

Our Favorite Travel Essentials

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I hope this fall in Europe packing list helps you pack for your upcoming trip! Be sure to tag us on social or comment if you are wearing anything we suggested because we love to see it. Happy traveling!