Spending nearly 2.5 weeks in Europe during the height of summer means soaking up unforgettable memories with your travel crew, scoring the best souvenirs to bring home, and—most importantly—learning what you’ll never leave home without again.
Travel is always one of my favorite topics to cover here on the blog, and today I’m sharing all the must-haves that made our trip smoother, more stylish and even more stress-free. From genius gadgets to travel-tested wardrobe staples, here’s everything I packed, loved, and highly recommend you bring along for your next European adventure… [in no particular order of course]:
one. comfy flat sandals
Let’s be real—Europe means lots of lots of walking. Cobblestone streets, endless exploring, city sightseeing… your feet will thank you for packing a pair [or two] of supportive, broken-in flat sandals. I brought three separate styles [linking them all here] and wore them daily. They’re cute enough for dinner out but comfy enough for logging 10,000+ steps without a single blister. Trust me—leave the flimsy flip-flops AND the high heels/platforms at home and save the suitcase space.
PRO TIP | Also grab one of these Glide Sticks = great for everyone in the family, it prevents chafing and I applied these to my ankles every day and had no issues! P.S. a great thing to put between thighs when wearing dresses in the extreme heat as well.
two. a comfy hat + games to play
For slower days spent by the pool or heading to the beach, I packed a few key items that made ALL the difference: my Sunshine Tienda Crochet Hat for shade and the ultimate in cool girl colorful style [that also hides dirty hair oh so well], plus easy-to-pack waterproof card games like UNO and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza that kept everyone entertained while we were at the pool AND in between destinations when we were traveling by plane, train and automobile. These little things helped us fully enjoy the downtime while still feeling prepped and put together and didn’t take up a ton of space either!
three. multiple voltage adapters
When in doubt, bring more adapters!! don’t get caught powerless—literally. between phone chargers, laptops, beauty tools + more, you’ll want a few Universal Voltage Adapters in your carry-on AND your checked luggage, too. I recommend grabbing at least 2–3 per person so you’re never fighting for an outlet. I also LOVED having this Charging Station so you could plug in multiple devices at once!
four. european hair tools
When it comes to hair tools abroad, voltage matters—BIG time. When we went to Paris back in 2022, I bit the bullet and bought ACTUAL European tools with their plugs already built into the tools. Ihad PTSD from my first trip to Italy years ago when my curling iron fried my hair [yes even with the voltage lowered] that I vowed to do it right and just buy tools that were MADE for European outlets. We had our hotel concierge order them for me since you can’t actually purchase them on the T3 USA website so if you’re traveling overseas anytime soon, I’d recommend doing the same.
I’ve now used them on 4 separate trips and have sent them with friends to use on their European adventures so it’s been a good investment for myself AND my girls because we all use them! No converters needed and no risk of frying your favorite tools… a total game-changer for keeping hair looking fresh in the hot and humid temps in Europe during the summer.
five. a travel fan and neck cooling towel
Europe in the summer? Every time I talk about our trip I tell everyone the most surprising detail of our trip is HOW HOT it in during these warm middle of the year months. And if you’ve yet to cross the pond, you may not realize that MOST establishments [restaurants and small shops included] don’t have air conditioning like we’re accustomed to in the states. A Mini Rechargeable Travel Fan was my MVP—especially during church + museum tours and al fresco eating. Then Mimi went on and became the best ever with her Cooling Towel = the best way to cool down your entire body temp when you wrap this around your neck and I love how it comes with a carrying case so you can keep it filled with cold water to reapply when needed = both of these essentials will help you breeze through the heat like a pro.
six. a small crossbody bag
Safety meets style! Pick pockets are EVERYWHERE in Europe… especially in the big cities with big monuments + places of interest. If you visit any big tourist hot spot, be sure to note who is around you. Case in point, our tour guide when we were visiting Pisa pointed out two pickpockets and instantly alerted the basilica’s security team to find them and escort them off the property and sure enough when they saw security coming their way, they bailed. It’s crazy how they disguise themselves to look like tourists, constantly taking pics and inching their way closer to people with bags out in plain view so be cautious!!
This is one major reason I always recommend traveling with a crossbody when abroad. That way it’s wrapped around you but yes, we can make it fashionable AND functional at the same time! I took a few of my favorite colorways of this Stoney Clover Pouchette Crossbody and have ZERO regrets… grab a neutral so it goes with everything or pickup a colorful pop of fun with a brighter hue beauty. It keeps my essentials close + hands free and also gave me major piece of mind = then I could take off the crossbody strap and use it as an evening bag for dressier nights!
seven. calpak backpacks as carry-on bags
One of my good friends and her daughter carried these bags on our NYC dance trip earlier this summer and once I saw how much they fit into them, I immediately added them to my cart for the girls! And now I’m wishing I had bought one for myself ;).
These Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpacks [we grabbed the neutral White Sands colorway] were SO good for carry-ons—durable, easy to clean, and roomy enough to fit all the girls’ travel must-haves for a few days of outfits, toiletries and essentials just in case our luggage got away from us [thankfully that never happened but I always recommend packing some outfits in your carry-on just as a precaution]. From books and iPads to snacks and neck pillows, they held up beautifully even after almost three weeks on the move. I’d 100% recommend these for both kids and adults because of the versatility, amount of pockets so that every item has its place AND it fits under a standard airline seat, too.
eight. ifly colorful hard case luggage
I’ve been an IFLY Luggage addict for more than 5 years now and I promise once you buy your very own set of this hard case luggage, you’ll get what the fuss is about. I just scooped up the carry-on and large size in the Caramel colorway and I am OBSESSED. I am all about a fun color when it comes to luggage so that you can easily spot it once it comes off the carousel at the airport but also it makes a fashionable statement and I am all for that as well! Not only does it deliver on form and function, but I love the lightweight design so you can stuff everything you need neatly inside and not go over on weight! It has a few zippered pockets for smaller items to stay put and it’s durability is unlike any other… might be why I convinced Mimi to grab a set for herself, too. The price point is FABULOUS = two pieces for just $230 which means you can take more trips!
nine. my go-to depuffing mask + eye masks
Finally… I get puffy when I travel. Yes, it might be all the alcohol, bread, gelato = call it what you will but it’s OH SO WORTH IT = you only live once. However, I will say I have found some stellar ways to combat the puffy face + dull skin with these two essentials I swear by… at home and on the road! Changes in routine + long flights don’t stand a chance with this duo. I never leave home without my Skin Pharm Eye Sculpt and Eye Masks and favorite Amazon Depuffing Face Mask. Keep them in your hotel fridge for a chilly burst to wakes you up in the AM = total lifesaver after a red-eye or wine-heavy night.
ten. higher intensity sunscreen
Last but not least, let’s talk sunscreen!!! European sun hits different…especially in the summer. And with all the time we spent outdoors exploring, walking, lounging poolside and island hopping, suffice to say a higher SPF was non-negotiable. I packed a trio of favorites that got the job done and then some: Vacation’s Classic Lotion SPF 50 for all-over protection was easy to apply and stayed put all day and I prefer this type of sunscreen for the kids [sprays just don’t seem to cut it for my girls], the nostalgic Vacation Orange Gelée for pool days when I wanted a little bronzy glow [with SPF 30], and Supergoop Glowscreen for that dewy, lit-from-within look while protecting my face from sun damage = and yes I apply this under my makeup primer + foundation and I love that it’s non-greasy, too! Thank goodness I am a mom to girls who ALWAYS know the UV index [if you know you know], so we were well informed throughout our trip to know as to what the sun was up to each day ;).
They all layered beautifully, felt great on the skin, and gave me just the right amount of glow without feeling greasy or sticky. Bonus: they all come in TSA-friendly sizes, so you can throw them in your carry-on or crossbody and reapply on the go… no excuses for coming home with a sunburn!!
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