What To Pack For Winter In Europe

Packing List
Written By Diana
what to pack for winter in Europe

Wondering what to pack for your winter vacation in Europe? As a Miami girl, your struggle resonates with me. But fear not, after countless regrettable packing decisions, I have finally mastered the winter outfit that will help you stay warm in the cold weather - it includes staying stylish and comfortable. 

 

Packing list for winter in Europe

Two Plus Weeks Packing List

  • 2 Coats or Heavy coats

  • 2-3 Sweaters or jackets 

  • 6 Thermal tops and bottoms

  • 3-4 Pair of pants/jeans

  • 2 Pairs of shoes 

  • 1 Glove 

  • 2 scarfs

  • 3-4 Winter socks

  • 1-2 Beanie or hat 

  • 1 Purse/camera bag

One Week Packing list

  • 1-2 Coat or Heavy coat

  • 2-3 Sweaters or jackets  

  • 3 Thermal tops and bottoms

  • 2 Pairs of pants/jeans 

  • 2 Pairs of shoes 

  • 1 Glove 

  • 1-2 scarfs

  • 2-3 Winter Socks

  • 1 Beanie or hat  

  • 1 Purse/camera bag

 

 Coats

A good coat can make all the difference in staying warm. Tan coats are my favorite and they here to stay. Every season, the classic fall/winter staple makes a comeback and for good reasons. The tan coat is chic, adds a touch of color, and can make you look put-together with minimal effort. Invest in a good one if you like to jet in style. 

 

Heavy coat or Down coat

Facing colder temperatures? Canada Goose is your friend. Yes, they are expensive, but they are investment pieces. Their parka and jackets are very durable and can withstand low temperatures, wind, and light rain – they are so worth it. On my last trip to Romania, we were hit by a snowstorm, luckily I had my Canada Goose jacket with me to keep me warm.

 

CANADA GOOSE

 

GREAT ALTERNATIVE BRANDS

Thermal Clothing

Want to know my secret to staying warm on winter vacations? Uniqlo Heattech clothing line. Uniqlo’s innovative collection will keep you warm on your daylong outdoor excursions. The Heattech technology works by absorbing your body’s moisture and turning it into warmth – the wonder of Japanese’s technology! 

There are 3 levels of Heattech: Heattech, Extra Warm, and Ultra Warm. Depending on the temperatures, I wear it solo or layered with a jacket or sweater. On colder days, I layer two to three Ultra Warm tops – they are so thin and stretchy, you won’t feel the layers. They are a must on my fall/winter packing list. I have recommended it to everybody because they are life-changing. I highly recommend them!

Long Sleeve Tops

Ok, so maybe not all your tops have to be thermal. So here are a few cute long sleeve options that will keep you warm if you layer up and are easy to mix and match for your winter capsule wardrobe. Just in case you haven’t realized, I love And Other Stories! Their pieces are always so thoughtfully designed and of higher quality than their sister brand H&M.

Thermal Accessories

If you are like me, and your hands and feet go numb as soon as you step out into the cold, you will want to get these accessories to stay warm.

Sweater + Jacket

Winter and fall are all about the cozy sweater and stylish jacket. I usually like to pack different colors sweaters and jackets to add an element of color and variety to my outfit– but these days, I’m into the monochromatic look with one color contrast. 

Tip: For the warmest sweaters, go for wool, merino wool, or cashmere. 

 

Sweaters

 

Jackets

Scarf

Scarfs are not only for keeping your neck warm. They also add a different element to your outfit. If you are traveling for more than a week, pack a variety of scarfs that complement your coats and jackets. 

Shoes 

On my cold weather vacations to Europe, I usually pack a pair of black boots that can be easily styled with most of my outfits and a pair comfortable running shoes, hiking shoes, or snowshoes – depending on the itinerary. 

For city jaunts, I love the Jambu Anita Ankle Bootie. They are everything I want in a pair of boots: made of leather, rubber sole (for better traction), and dual density insoles (less contact with the cold floor) – the booties are not only stylish but are also very comfortable.

Tip: I recommend sizing up and add a gel sole insert for added comfort.

For outdoor activities, I LOVE the Blundstone Thermal Boot. I put them to the test in Iceland and Lake Tahoe with some light snow, and they out-did themselves. The boots are very comfortable, waterproof, and kept my feet warm even in the unforgiving Icelandic weather. Pair them with a cozy pair of wool or Uniqlo Heattech socks.

But most importantly, get a shoe bag to put your shoes in to avoid getting your clothes dirty. Before I discovered this shoe bag, I was re-using plastic bags, but they always ended up tearing. They are life-changing!

 

City Boots

Outdoors + Snow Boots

Gloves + Head PIeces

Don’t forget to keep your head and hands warm! Beanies and gloves are easy to pack, so feel free to pack extras to add a different element to your outfit. If you are planning on bringing a hat, try not to bring more than one as they are harder to pack.

 

Camera Bags

A space saver trick is to pack something that has double duty, like a chic camera bag that can double as a regular handbag. Bonus points when your camera bag doesn’t scream “Hey, expensive camera equipment here!” Check out Gatta, a line of chic camera bags designed by yours truly for style-conscious travel photographer.

  1. Rae Noir $157

  2. Jackie Noir $237

  3. Lola Miel $137

  4. Jackie Hazel $177

  5. Christie Noir $197

How to pack winter clothes in a carry-on

Believe it or not, packing winter clothes in a carry on is possible! Last year, on my month-long trip to Europe, I was able to bring two to three weeks worth of winter clothes in just a carry on - yes, you read that right. I was even called the Mary Poppins of packing - my biggest compliment yet. And let me tell you how I did it: compression bags and packing cubes. 

From the photos below, you will see that in the big packing cube, I managed to fit a fluffy jacket, a sweater, one Canada Goose Down Jacket, and four pair of pants - honestly, I could have fit a few tops too. In the second medium size packing cube, I fit all my tops and layers. And in the smaller one my underwear and socks. All three cubes fit in one side of the luggage, leaving the other half for shoes, toiletries, makeup, and other items.

 

Compression bags

Compression bags

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes

Tip: Wear your heaviest coat on board, so you have extra space and something to wear when you land.

 
 
 

Carry on luggage

The luggage I'm curenlty using is the AWAY Carry On. It's the exact allowable size for many airlines - including budget airlines which are very strict with lugagge size. What I love about the luggage is that it has a genius compression system where I can compress things further down, keep everything in place, and organized. It also comes with a laundry bag!

Luggage details

Exterior: 21.7” x 13.7” x 9”

Interior: 20” x 13.5”

Weight 7.1 lbs

Capacity 39.8L

 

Looking for inspiration for a European adventure? Check out this post on 24 Perfect One Week Europe Itinerary by Christie from Ckanani.com

 

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." Which means, if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission but at no additional cost to you.

 

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Diana https://inbetweenpictures.com
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