Let’s face it. I’m a chronic overpacker. I’ve been the girl sitting on her suitcase, breaking a sweat just to zip it shut before a two-week trip. But this time, for my summer adventure across Europe, I challenged myself to pack smarter without sacrificing style. This Europe packing list for overpackers is part confessional, part helpful guide, and packed (pun intended) with all the pieces I actually wore. I’ve also included affiliate links so you can shop the pieces that worked.
Whether you’re heading to Italy, France, Portugal or beyond, this is the real deal: everything I packed for two weeks in Europe, how I styled it, and how I made my suitcase work for me (not the other way around).
Tops
I packed 10 tops — a mix of blouses, linen shirts, tees, and tanks. That might sound like a lot, but I will wear all of them. Linen button-downs doubled as beach cover-ups and layers for cooler evenings, and my striped tee ended up in rotation more than expected. Shop my favorites below.
Bottoms
Light, breathable bottoms were key. I brought a mix of linen and cotton pieces, including wide-leg pants, a black maxi skirt, and my new favorite capris (yes, capris). The linen shorts will be a lifesaver in the heat and everything will mix and match easily with my tops. Here’s the best of what I brought:
Parker Long Vintage Loose Short
Dresses
Five dresses might sound excessive, let me explain. Three maxis for dinners and exploring, and two linen day dresses that felt effortless on warm city days. They packed small, shouldn’t wrinkle much, and will take the guesswork out of getting dressed.
🧡 Top pick: The Drop Women’s Dia Mixed Fabric Midi Tank Dress — cute with sneakers or sandals and looks luxe without the price tag!
Swimwear & Cover-Ups
I packed two bikinis, one one-piece (that can also double up with shorts as a bodysuit), and one matching cover-up set that doubled as a casual outfit. That’s all I needed for beach days, hotel pools, and seaside lunches.
🧡 Top pick: Matching swim cover-up set — easy to rewear beyond the beach
Shoes
I stuck to three pairs: white sneakers, tan strappy sandals, and black slides. This combo will cover all occasions — city walking, beach days, and dressier dinners — without the bulk. My sandals are hands down my most worn shoes of summer past. You need them!
🧡 Top pick: Strappy sandals that go with everything
Extras
The only layer I packed was a lightweight sweater. I wore it on the plane and it will come in handy for breezy evenings after a day in the sun. Anything heavier would’ve gone unworn.
🧡 Top pick: A cute one from Amazon will do!
My Best Packing Tips for Overpackers
Packing light (or light-ish) is a mindset shift. Here’s what helped me:
- Build outfits before you pack. Lay everything out. If it doesn’t go with at least two things, it stays home.
- Stick to a neutral palette. Mine was black, tan, white, and denim. Everything worked together.
- Wear your bulkiest items on the plane. For me, that was sneakers and linen pants.
- Limit yourself to three shoes. You truly don’t need more for summer in Europe.
- Leave space. You just might come home with a sundress and earrings from a market in France. If you’re like me, you’ll shop — plan for it.
Shop My Summer Europe Favorites
If you’re a recovering overpacker like me, I hope this packing list makes your next trip feel lighter, easier, and more stylish.
🧳 Shop all 7 of my MVPs (and more) from the trip right here.
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