Packing Guide for Backpacking Europe!

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I have dreamed about backpacking through Europe for years now and I am beyond excited that it is finally happening! I booked a one-way flight to Greece and I am hoping to travel to as many countries as possible for about 6-8 months seeing and experiencing everything I possibly can!

This means that I will be in Europe for winter, spring, AND summer. How on earth am I supposed to fit all of my clothes for three different seasons, plus rain gear, plus everything else into just a backpack?! Trust me, it’s possible!

Throughout my stay in Europe, my plan is to live with host families through WorkAway, crash with some locals on CouchSurfing, use HostelWorld to find the best and cheapest accommodations in different cities, and camp along the way! I’m planning on exploring cities, churches, castles, and monasteries. But I’m also planning on getting getting my shoes a little dirty off the beaten path and doing some hiking, climbing, and camping. Because of this, I am packing for every scenario I might find myself in.

Clothes:

I tried to pack very light, bringing only what I thought that I would absolutely need. One of the benefits of traveling in Europe is that I will not be at a loss for stores. If for whatever reason, I am in need of something I didn’t pack, or need to replace something, there are thousands of stores that I can go to for new clothes. So, here is my list of what I’m bringing that I think will be necessary for a long multi-adventure trip in Europe.

T-shirts (2-3)
Nicer shirt (1)
Tank top (1)
Casual dress (1)
- Good for hanging out, exploring cities, or visiting churches
Nicer dress (1)
- For any fancy dinners or going to nicer churches or monasteries
Jeans (1)
Leggings (1)
Flowy pants (1)
- Light, comfortable, and can be both warm and cool
Hiking pants (1)
- For working on farms or gardens and doing outdoor activities
- REI Sahara Convertible Pants
Jean shorts (1)
Belt (1)
- Arcade belts are the adventure belts: stretchy, durable, comfortable, affordable, and adorable!
Athletic shorts (1)
Rain coat (1)
- REI Talusphere
Sweater (1)
Puffy jacket (1)
- Mountain Hardware Super/DS Jacket
- This is one of the best investments that I’ve ever made! This jacket is the best wind breaker, keeps me so warm, and is incredibly light and packs down so small!
Swimsuit (1-2)
Socks (3-4 pairs)
Undies (5-6 pairs)
Bras (2)
Sports bra (1)
Chacos
- One of the greatest shoe investments I’ve ever made! They are adventure shoes, casual shoes, exploring shoes, dancing shoes….you name it!
Casual shoes (1)
- I brought a pair of converse
Tennis shoes (1)
Beanie (1)
Cap (1)

A big tip that I have when trying to pack light with clothes, make sure that all of your tops match all your bottoms. Even if you’re only bringing 3 shirts and 2 bottoms, that’s still 6 different outfits so you’re getting a bit of variety while still re-wearing the same clothes!

Toiletries:

Toiletries are something you can buy anywhere, so you don’t have to pack enough for the entire duration of your trip, but just have enough to get you through a few weeks in case you can’t get to a store for a while. Here are the essentials I would bring. I also included some of my suggestions of ways you can reduce your plastic waste and use more natural health products!

Bamboo toothbrush
- Great way to reduce plastic use and use a more sustainable product as opposed to plastic ones
- I personally love Sand Cloud, but you can find dozens of other brands on Amazon
Toothpaste
- Hello Oral Care, Vegan Natural Toothpaste
Deodorant
- Native Natural Deodorant- Vegan and Cruelty Free
Shampoo/conditioner/soap
- Ethique Eco-Friendly Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
- O Naturals Organic, Vegan Soap
Comb/brush
Reef safe sunscreen
- Let’s stop polluting our waters with unnecessary chemicals #savethefishes 🙂
Razor
Menstrual cup
- Ladies, this is another great way to protect your body while also protecting the environment!
- I personally like Diva Cup, but again, there are many other brands if you want to check them out on Amazon
- Also, check out these reusable pads which are also great for the environment and great for your wallet!
Reusable face wipes/makeup remover
Minimal makeup
Jewelry
Retainer

Electronics:

I will definitely be doing lots of work during my travels, so I’m bringing all the essentials to keep my blog up to date!

Laptop
- I spend almost all of my time on my laptop either writing, editing, or advertising for my website!
- I use a Lenovo Yoga 730, but I’ve had many issues with it and it would not be my most recommended product
Hard shell laptop case
- I definitely want to keep my laptop safe during all my travels
- Smatree Hard Shell Sleeve Bag
GoPro Hero 7
- I just got this camera a few months ago and it is amazing, I will be using it to take videos of all my travels and adventures!
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel to check out all my videos! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMbp8f67Fu9gyflBe5eSh9w
- I also use this Extendable Stick/Tripod to take most of my videos

Phone
Chargers
Outlet converter
- My sister found this amazing universal adapter on Amazon so you don’t have to buy a new converter for every country you travel to, so convenient!
- Castries Universal Travel Adapter
External hard drive
- KESU 1TB Portable External Hard Drive

Other Stuff:

Backpack
- Osprey Aura AG 50L Pack
Day Pack
- REI Flash 22
Reusable water bottle
- Nalgene and Hydroflask are both great brands
Journal
- This is a great way to keep note of all your travel thoughts, write down a few phrases of the languages for the country you’re in, or do some doodling!
Travel sized Bible
- Gotta get my daily Jesus time!
Ukulele
- I absolutely could not live without music, bringing an instrument on travels is a great way to meet people and maybe get a fun jam session going!
- I have a beautiful Mila Tenor ukulele, but unfortunately, they don’t make these anymore
- However, Amazon has a plethora of choice of different colors, patterns, sizes, and shapes
- I also use this case that I love!
Sleeping bag
- Hopefully to do some cowboy camping during my adventures!
- Nemo Viola 20
Sleeping pad
- Again, for some nights under the stars!
- Nemo astro lite
Hammock
- No better place to relax than a hammock right on the water or in a beautiful forest!
- I love my BearButt Hammock, they have so many great colors, any accessory you could need and all of their gear is high quality and durable!
Climbing harness
- Black Diamond Momentum
Embroidery stuff
- Gotta keep myself entertained on long bus rides or flights
Travel-sized first aid kit
- Many different options on Amazon
Sunnies
- Cheap pair from Walmart in case they get lost or broken
Bamboo utensil set
- This is a great way to reduce plastic waste by bringing your own straw/utensils

This is what I am personally bringing for an extended trip to Europe. Have you been on a long trip like this before? What did you bring? Any other suggestions? I’d love to know yall’s input! Thanks for reading, and happy travels!

Do you enjoy reading about all my travels and adventures? Would you like to help my adventures continue by supporting me financially? If you do, then please know, that would mean the world to me! To do this, you can go to my Patreon page to choose which level you would like to support me at! Thanks for your love and support and remember to make every day an adventure!