Packing Minimally for Europe

Packing and minimalism rarely mix. On my last trip to Europe, I packed 4 outfits for 8 days of travel. Here’s how I did it:

Especially when we travel, anxieties stack up and we want the comforts of home right there with us. It’s hard to eliminate items, anticipate weather and still look nice in photos that you’re sure to keep for years to come.

I first tried this method on a trip to Holland and Belgium for a 2 week river cruise. My husband and I grew stressed during our packing process and decided to bring half of the items we originally picked to but to wear each item twice. To my surprise, I really enjoyed this lighter load and did not mind re-wearing my items. Plus - in the photos, nobody knows that your outfits are from two different days anyway with the time change.

This past month, I visited Stockholm for one week and took the same approach. I packed lightly and added some versatile items that could float between outfits. In total, my luggage only weighed 30 lbs. and there was plenty of room for souvenirs to come back with (like an authentic Swedish wool Klippan blanket - my favorite!). I brought home only a couple of unworn items, and never wished for anything more than what I had.

The weather is so important to keep in mind, as I might pack differently if I knew my clothes might be getting sweaty. This was an ideal approach for Sweden because the weather stayed around 50-60 degrees the whole time.

Here’s what I packed:

Wore during travel:
Athleta joggers, t-shirt, jean coat, Nike gym shoes

Outfit #1:
Black Madewell jeans, striped lightweight sweater, 2 camis (one for each day), black ankle booties

Outfit #2:
Madewell jeans, long sleeve plaid shirt, 1 light blazer jacket (never wore), 2 tanks (one for each day)

Outfit #3:
Thick leggings, 2 long t-shirts to pair, 1 lightweight sweater to layer, Converse sneakers

Outfit #4:
Jeans, long sleeve collar button down, sweater to layer over, 2 camis (one for each day)

Versatile add-ons:
1 lightweight jacket with flannel lining
1 nice-ish dinner top (never wore)
1 wrap scarf that matched everything I brought
1 extra wrap sweater for the flight home
1 pair of workout leggings
2 night shirts and 1 pair of sweat pants for sleeping

Other travel favorites that I highly recommend bringing along:
-Handful bra for the plane rides -super duper comfortable!
-Trtl travel pillow - I actually slept on the plane!
-Sleep mask.
-Granola bars. I always have at least one in my purse juuuust in case.
-International outlet converters

Must do’s:
-I always wear my passport in a little belt bag in the airport when I’m traveling internationally alone. It gives me peace of mind that it’s on my person. Lucky for us, belt bags are back in style!
-I always always pack one outfit in my carry on. At least I’d have a day to find all new clothes if my luggage got lost.