Summer Packing List for Europe with Kids: What to Pack and how to pack for a family trip to Europe

[Marta Correale]

Summer Packing List for Europe with Kids: a realistic, practical family packing list with summer in Europe with what you need, what you don’t need to stress about and tips to travel light without renounce comfort and style. Packing for a summer trip to Europe with kids is one of those things that sounds really daunting but becomes easier and even straightforward once you have a few expert tips for guidance: which you do! This is exactly what this post is for! I’ve been travelling around Europe with my family for years, with summers that have taken us to Italy, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, and beyond, and I’ve learned over time that packing for Europe is a skill, but one you can absolutely master! The key is to tune out the noise of what people wear ‘in Europe’ (spoiler: there is no such thing as Europe when it comes to fashion) and focus on practical aspects: what makes YOU comfortable, what is easy to carry, what you may want to look like in photos. I am here to help with this! My approach is practical rather than minimal. I’m not a ‘carry-on only at all costs’ packer when travelling with kids but I also don’t overpack, and I’m fairly ruthless about leaving anything that’s ‘just in case’. My main worry when packing is weather and portability, because years of family travel have taught me me noting is more useless and stressful than lugging massive bags while on the go! This summer Europe packing list for families reflects that: what we actually use, what I’ve learned to always bring, and what’s genuinely not worth the bag space (believe me, mistake made once and never repeated again, especially under the crazy sun of Southern Europe!) I hope this packing list helps and you can find good ideas and a bit of respite from the very real packing anxiety a big trip can cause! How Hot Is Europe in Summer? Before you start packing, it’s worth thinking about which part of Europe you’re heading to — because summer in Sicily is a very different experience from summer in Paris or Dublin. The list below works for all of the above — I’ll flag where tips vary by region. Documents & Travel Essentials Always start here. Nothing else matters if these aren’t sorted. Tip: Designate one adult to be in charge of all the documents. This avoids the classic “I thought YOU had them” scenario at airport security and check and double check often. Clothing for Summer in Europe Everyday Clothing — Adults The key to packing well for European summer is light, versatile pieces that mix and match: I start with 3 outfits (top, bottom, layer) and add as many as I need to each category: this way, I only have items that go together and there is no ‘orphan’ item that is maybe super cute, but just occupies space as it goes with nothing! Tip for church appropriate attire: if you are visiting churches, especially in Italy but not only, you will need appropriate attire. Many misinterpret this as you need to be dressed smartly but this is not the case; what you need is to cover knees and shoulders /armpits. The best way to go about it is to wear longer skirts / shorts or pants – for kids, tracksuit bottoms are perfectly ok, you don’t need to get them endure their Sunday best, all they need is for their knees and shoulders not to be on show (very young kids like toddlers can wear what they want, in practice. Older kids should abide the dress code) Everyday Clothing — Kids Since kids’ stuff is smaller and stains are a thing… I tend to bring a few more pieces for them One Nicer Outfit — Adults, IF you want to One thing I want to address because I get asked about it constantly: do you need to dress a certain way in Europe? Short answer: no. Longer answer: also no. You will see every possible style on European streets in summer, from ultra-casual to very elegant, and nobody is paying attention to tourists the way tourists worry they are. Wear what makes you comfortable and happy. If that’s linen trousers and a nice shirt, wonderful. If that’s shorts and a t-shirt, also wonderful. The only real dress code to keep in mind is for churches (covered shoulders and knees — see tip above) and for any genuinely upscale restaurant or cocktail bar you may have booked, where smart casual is appreciated. Outside of those two situations? Just be yourself, honestly, no one cares what you are wearing! Shoes for Summer in Europe If there is one thing that is sure about your trip to Europe, no matter where in Europe you’ll be is that you will walk. A lot! More than you expect. Comfortable shoes are the single most important packing decision you’ll make, especially with children who have strong opinions about sore feet. Important note cobbled areas: Cobblestones are beautiful and absolutely brutal on the wrong footwear. Flat shoes with a good grip sole are far more practical than anything with a heel, and in historic town centres you’ll be very grateful for this advice. While I know overseas visitors love flip flops, they are terrible on cobblestones and the one things locals never wear unless on the beach: I am not saying this as a style point but as a safety one: if locals don’t do something, there is usually a very practical reason you may want to take on! Accessories & Day Bag Sun & Heat Essentials This is the section where summer packing differs most from every other season, and where it’s easiest to get caught out. Tip for Southern Europe in July – August The sun between 11am and 5pm is genuinely intense, no matter how much protection you have on you. Build rest time — a long lunch, a quiet hour back at the hotel — into your days. The kids will be happier, you’ll be happier, and the sightseeing you do in the cooler parts of the day will be so much more enjoyable. Locals know this so you will see lots of kids out until late and a lot of lovely local events too, allowing families to make the most of the most pleasant part of the day! Toiletries & Health Essentials This is one of my favourite sections to write because my advice is: don’t stress it. Most hotels provide soap, shampoo and body wash as standard. What they almost never provide is conditioner — so if you need it, bring it or buy it on arrival. Similarly, washcloths are not a thing in Europe: we tend to use loofahs or sponges, if anything, and hotels won’t provide them as they’re considered a personal item. If you rely on them, pack one from home. Beyond that, Europe has wonderful pharmacies and supermarkets stocked with everything you could need and at least for me, part of the joy of travelling here is discovering local brands. I’m Italian and I genuinely look forward to stocking up on French skincare whenever I’m in France for instance, or using the excuse of the vacation to pick up a new lovely Italian body cream. Things worth bringing from home, if you have specific needs or sensitivities: Basic pain relief, antihistamines and plasters are all easily found at any pharmacy — and European pharmacists are generally excellent and very helpful even with a language barrier.. Good to know: Medications in Europe often have different commercial names than back home. If you run out or need more, knowing the generic active ingredient (for instance, paracetamol or ibuprofen) means you can find an equivalent at any pharmacy, regardless of the brand name. Tech & Travel Gear Packing for Babies & Toddlers in Summer Summer travel with very young children needs a little extra thought, particularly around heat and sun. Tip: In countries like Italy, Spain or Greece, you don’t find ‘snacks’ for kids as a specific category in supermarket. Instead, you’ll find different foods that work well as snack in different parts of the shop. So for instance you’ll have biscuits and packages cakes / sweets and cereals in the breakfast aisle, yogurt and cheese in the fridge etc. What NOT to Pack Equally important — what to leave at home. Final Tips for Packing for Summer in Europe with Kids A few things I always remind myself before any family summer trip: Roll, don’t fold. Rolling clothes saves significant space and reduces creasing, especially for lightweight fabrics. Use packing cubes: they save lots of space and mean you you don’t always have to unpack everything Pack a small empty bag inside your luggage. Useful for dirty laundry, wet swimwear, or the inevitable holiday shopping. Don’t leave packing to the night before. With kids, something always needs washing or charging or finding at the last minute. Start a few days early and add as you go. Dress kids the night before departure. Lay out and pack the next day’s travel outfit separately so you’re not rummaging in the morning. And most importantly: pack for the trip you’re actually taking, not a hypothetical perfect version of it. A practical, realistic bag will make every day easier — and you’ll spend less time at baggage reclaim and more time actually enjoying yourself. Safe travels! Summer Packing List for Europe with Kids — pin this!

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