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A trip to Europe in the summer is an absolute dream! Cobblestone streets, delicious food, epic views, and iconic history lessons are in your future. Summer is one of the most popular and best time of year to visit Europe. This post will walk through exactly what you need to pack for summer in Europe with my favorite tips and tricks to pack more efficiently without sacrificing style.
Depending on your itinerary and destination, deciding what to pack in your bag for a trip to Europe in the summer is a challenge. This summer Europe packing list has you covered from head to toe in comfortable attire for travel, all while looking trendy. Also, all packing lists on my website are meant to fit in a carry-on bag. By following the Europe summer packing list below, you will be confident that you have everything you need while packing lightly and efficiently!
What weather to expect in Europe in the summer
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No matter the exact location of your summer in Europe trip, you can most likely expect it to be hot. Some destinations will be much warmer than others. You will want to pack lightweight, comfortable, and durable clothing to wear all day.
Hopefully it is sunny where you are traveling, but you should also prepare for the occasional rain shower.
Make sure to also read our Europe travel tips when planning your summer trip to Europe!
Basic tips for packing for Europe in the summer
Wear comfortable shoes
You will likely do lots of walking in the summer when traveling to Europe. It is essential to invest in shoes that are both stylish and comfortable! We will list the best versatile shoes for summer in Europe below in the packing list.
Pack light
Trust me here, you want to avoid dragging large luggage on the cobblestone streets in Europe, especially in the summer heat. You will thank yourself for packing light as soon as you arrive! This summer in Europe packing list will help you narrow down which items to pack and which to leave at home.
Read how to pack in only a carry-on bag here!
Be respectful of cultural standards
You may want to enter some religious establishments depending on your exact itinerary and destinations. It is important to prepare to cover your shoulders and knees when necessary and respect any clothing rules in those religious establishments.
Use packing cubes
Packing cubes are an absolute travel packing game changer, and you need them for a trip to Europe in the summer. By using packing cubes, you will be able to both fit more clothes on your packing list and also keep yourself organized. Each cube can be a drawer in your bag so you know exactly where each article of clothing is packed.
Browse more of our favorite travel products here.
Take pictures of your outfits before you go
This is one of the best packing hacks for any trip. Take pictures of your different outfits and save the photos 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.
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A complete summer in Europe packing list
I’ll dive into more details below, but here is a quick snapshot of a Europe packing list:
Bottoms
- 1x joggers
- 1x jean shorts
- 1x lightweight shorts
- 1x lightweight pants
- 1x skirt
Shirts
- 2x tank tops
- 2x lightweight shirts
- 1x lightweight button down
Dresses
- 2x long dresses
- 1x romper or short dress
Outer layers
- 1x lightweight jacket
- 1x rain jacket
Swimwear (depending on location and itinerary)
- 2x swimmer
- 1x swim cover-up
Shoes
- 1x sneakers
- 1x walking sandals
- 1x dress sandals
Bags
- 1x day bag
- 1x small crossbody
- 1x beach bag
Accessories
- 1x hair scarfs
- 1x sun hat
Need help choosing what pack to pack in? Here are the best bags for international travel!
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Bottoms to pack for summer in Europe
The best shorts and pants to pack for summer in Europe should be staple pieces and lightweight. Jean shorts are a travel basic and will match any combination of tops that you pack. I also love to include a lightweight pair of pants or shorts because they are easy to dress up and down.
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 European summer wardrobe with a fun pair of shorts or a skirt. These will be great to dress up for a night out or keep it casual during the day.
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Show Me Your Mumu Peggy Pants
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AGOLDE Parker Long Short
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High Waist Cropped Chino Pants
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Floral Flowy Midi Skirt
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Free People Sky Rider Pants
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L’Academie Comilly Shorts
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Paulina Shorts
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Levi’s Women’s Original Shorts
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Amazon Linen Pants
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Power Soft Zip Joggers
Summer tops to pack for 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 three-pack of shirts from Amazon has lasted me years and are so comfortable. They can be dressed up or down. The same can be said about these tank tops, you can layer them underneath everything so you still have a complete look together when you shed some layers! This knitted tank has been a Europe travel wardrobe staple for years.
Button down shirts are great for layering an outfit if it gets a little chilly at night. They can be worn as a staple shirt alone or used as a lightweight outer layer.
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Solid Crew Neck Ribbed Knit Top
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Rib Knit Tank Top
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Waffle Button Down Shirt
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4 Pack Ribbed Tank Top Set
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Sweater Tank
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Longline Sports Tank
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3-Pack Casual Shirts
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Loose Knit Sweater Tank Top
Dresses to pack for summer in Europe
Lightweight dresses are the best articles of clothing to pack for summer in Europe because they are comfortable to wear all day long and can also be dressed up for a nice dinner. You can wear these dresses with your sneakers or dressier sandals. This simple Amazon dress is very comfortable and comes in tons of colors.
You should also have some fun with the dresses you pack for Europe! Add some florals or patterned staple pieces that make you feel confident and stand out while you live your best life on your European summer vacation. This Hill House classic dress comes in so many colors and patterns to choose from. These dresses are also a good length because they cover your knees in case you are entering churches during the day.
I pack this exercise dress anytime I travel to any warm weather destination and Europe is no exception. This is the best versatile dress for travel!
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Amazon Exercise Romper
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Smocked Ruffle Mini Dress
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Summer Flowy Maxi Dress
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Summer Midi Sundress
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Tie Shoulder Swing Dress
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Marieka Midi Dress
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Midi Sweater Tank Dress
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Puff Shoulder Mini Dress
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Off-Shoulder Mini Dress
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Amazon Essentials Midi Summer Dress
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Hill House Ellie Nap Dress
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Unique Midi Dress
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Santorini Dress
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Short Sleeve Baby Doll Dress
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The Exercise Dress
Matching sets for summer travel
If you are still deciding which tops and bottoms to pack for a trip to Europe in the summer, consider bringing a few matching sets instead! These sets are perfect summer travel outfits because you can mix and match them with each other or add a few basic tops and bottoms to create multiple outfits. Here are a few great sets to be comfortable and stylish in the summer in Europe!
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Vest Shorts Sets
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Tank Top High Waist Shorts Set
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Square Neck Linen Set
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2 Piece Lounge Set
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Lightweight Two Piece Set
Shoes to pack for summer in Europe
In all of my Europe packing lists, I talk about how cobblestone streets are not friendly when it comes to wearing platform shoes. You will be walking tons when traveling in Europe so it is essential to choose shoes that you will be comfortable walking in all day long. I wear classic white Birkenstocks when it is hot in Europe in the summer. These Tevas also come in lots of colors and can be worn day or night.
I prefer to skip the heels and bring this comfortable pair of slip on sandals when dressing up an outfit. They hardly take up any space in your bag and are comfortable enough to wear for dinner and a night out!
A comfortable pair of sneakers will also suffice and match everything on the packing list. Here is a list of the best white sneakers for travel!
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Teva Original Universal Sandal
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Teva Women’s Midform Sandal
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Reebok Women’s Classic Sneaker
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The Drop Slide Sandal
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Birkenstocks
Bags to pack for summer in Europe
There’s no need to overpack the amount of bags on your trip to Europe. 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 going out at night. Make sure to also pack a waterproof bag if planning any boat days or water activities.
This crescent bag is one of the best bags to pack for a trip to Europe to use either day and night!
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Universal Crescent Bag
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Straw Mini Handbag
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Crossbody Belt Bag
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Kånken Water Resistant Backpack
What to pack for the beach in Europe
If you are traveling to any beach destinations, make sure to remember to pack any essentials that you may need for water activities.
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L*Space Cover Up Dress
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Large Straw Beach Bag
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Roll Up Fedora Beach Hat
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Polarized Round Sunglasses
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Barcelona Shirt Dress
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Topanga Dress
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One Shoulder High Waisted Bikini
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One Shoulder Cutout One Piece Swimsuit
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Textured Tie String Bikini
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Waterproof Dry Bag
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Waterproof Fanny Pack
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Microfiber Towel
What outfits to wear in Europe in the summer
Here are some ideas of what to wear in Europe in the summer! 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.
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Brunch & museum tour outfit
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Teva Women’s Midform Sandal
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Free People Sky Rider Pants
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Roll Up Fedora Beach Hat
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Sweater Tank
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Crossbody Belt Bag
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City walking tour outfit
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Waffle Button Down Shirt
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5 Pieces Floral Hair Scarf
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Amazon Essentials Midi Summer Dress
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insta360 X3 Get-Set Kit
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Kånken Water Resistant Backpack
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Birkenstocks
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Beach day trip outfit
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Teva Original Universal Sandal
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Teva Women’s Midform Sandal
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Large Straw Beach Bag
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Roll Up Fedora Beach Hat
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Polarized Round Sunglasses
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Textured Tie String Bikini
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Microfiber Towel
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Dinner and night out outfit
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Vest Shorts Sets
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Square Neck Linen Set
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Marieka Midi Dress
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Universal Crescent Bag
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Straw Mini Handbag
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14K Gold Lightweight Hoops
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The Drop Slide Sandal
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Puff Shoulder Mini Dress
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Morning walk outfit
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Amazon Exercise Romper
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Waffle Button Down Shirt
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Reebok Women’s Classic Sneaker
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Crossbody Belt Bag
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The Exercise Dress
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Travel day outfit
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adidas Relaxed Adjustable Cap
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Reebok Women’s Classic Sneaker
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Power Soft Zip Joggers
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Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Backpack
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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
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Hydro Flask Water Bottle
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Kindle Paperwhite
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Apple AirTags
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3-Pack Casual Shirts
Other Europe packing essentials
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insta360 X3 Get-Set Kit
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iWalk Portable Charger
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Tide To Go Pens
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Converter
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Toiletry Organizer
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Compression Packing Cubes
I hope this packing list helps you decide what to wear in Europe on your upcoming trip this summer! Be sure to tag us on social or comment if you are wearing anything we suggested because we love to see it. Happy traveling!