The Ultimate Europe Packing List

Around 60 to 65cm. Big enough for two weeks, small enough to get up stairs and into a small hire car boot.

Small backpack or large tote that fits under the seat with your laptop, documents and one change of clothes.

Crossbody, worn in front. Pickpocketing in Rome, Paris, Barcelona and Athens is real and opportunistic.

Three or four. One for tops, one for bottoms, one for underwear and swim, one empty for dirty laundry.

Why it's here

Also makes living out of a suitcase for two weeks bearable.

Weighs nothing, carries the market shopping, the beach kit and whatever does not fit on the way home.

If your bag goes missing you will know where it is before the airline does.

Enough for ten days plus two spares. Weighs nothing.

The strapless earns its place across three dresses.

One light set. Rooms in southern Europe can be warm even with air conditioning.

One. Doubles as a travel-day outfit and a hiking outfit.

Shoulders in churches, air conditioning on trains, a blanket on the plane, a beach mat at lunch.

Why it's here

The hardest-working item on this list.

Even in July, nights on boats and in the mountains are cold.

One never dries in time. Three means one on, one drying, one clean.

Most Mediterranean restaurants and hotel lobbies expect more than a bikini.

Or one you can tie on — boats are windy.

Buy SPF at home; it is expensive at every resort in Europe.

Only if you are doing coves and boat days; most hotels and clubs provide towels.

For phones and cash on any boat day.

Greek and Croatian beaches are frequently pebbles or rock.

Small hoops, a couple of chains, a few rings. Goes with everything and packs into nothing.

Changes a plain dress completely.

One pair always gets lost or sat on.

One tan, one black.

Stops everything tangling and stops you leaving a ring in a hotel bathroom.

Heat, wind and boats.

Continental Europe uses two round pins. The UK and Ireland use a different three-pin plug — you need both if the trip includes London.

10,000mAh is plenty. Must go in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.

Hotel rooms in old European buildings often have one accessible socket.

The socket is never next to the bed.

For the plane entertainment system.

Set up an eSIM before you fly — it is cheaper than roaming and works the second you land.

Download city maps, boarding passes and train tickets before you leave wifi.

Plus a copy of the prescription itself.

New food, heat and long nights.

Bites, pollen and unfamiliar detergent.

Non-negotiable if there are ferries or boat days.

Heat, walking and wine.

They are the heaviest thing in the bag and you will wear two pairs constantly.

They burn out. Either buy dual-voltage or accept air-dried hair.

Weight and leaks.

Hotel rooms, beaches and boats. Bring pieces you would not be devastated to lose.

There is no occasion. It comes home unworn every time.

Nearly every hotel has one.

One paperback or an e-reader.

Including underwear and swimwear if you are going straight to the coast.

Never in checked luggage.

Power banks are not allowed in the hold.

Long-haul cabins are cold.

Laptop, camera, jewellery.