What to Pack for Central Europe – Packing Light

What to Pack for Central Europe Packing Light List #packinglist #packinglight #travellight #travel #livelovesara

Tank • H&M | T-shirt • H&M | Striped Tee • Madewell | Dressy Shirt • Mango | Classic Blouse • H&M | Silk Tunic • H&M | Dressy Pullover • Mango | Long Cardigan • Uniqlo | Midi Skirt • Mango Outlet | Boyfriend Jeans • Gap | Dark Denim • Mango | Black Trousers • Mango | Trench • Mango | Hat • J.Crew | Scarf • LOFT | Sunglasses • Nordstrom | Sneakers • Converse | Flats • Jeffrey Campbell | Short Boots • Madewell | Purse • Mango | Crossbody • J.Crew |

I know you are all sitting on the edges of your chair in anticipation for news on my health 😉 but I am feeling better. I still have a hoarse voice but all in all I am better. Now on to the regularly scheduled broadcast.

Several months ago I got a cool request. One from a woman and her mother-in-law who were visiting Central Europe in June/July for 3 weeks. She wanted to convince her mother-in-law that it would be possible for them to travel lightly for 3 weeks with only carry-on bags since they were mostly traveling by trains and light suitcase/backpack would be necessary. I said I would give it a try.

This list is for a hip, boyfriend jean wearing, converse loving 62-year-old woman (or anyone else because I don’t really follow the fashion has an age thing). The destination is Central Europe with a week in the Austrian Alps, 3 weeks total. June/July is two of the hottest (aside from August) months in this area but the weather can also be very finicky with cold one day and super hot (35°C) the next so the key to being prepared is layers. Layers are your friend, especially if you will be spending time in the mountains where the weather will be significantly colder and damper. The night-time in many of these cities also see a big jump between day and night temperatures so it’s better to have too many layers than not enough. I had a friend who went the Netherlands in July, she was prepared for the warm/hot temperatures that were predicted but when she got there she had to wear the same pair of jeans and long cardigan (she only brought one of each the rest was summer clothing) for the whole time because it was way cooler than anticipated and a lot of damp rain.

I suggest bringing a waterproof jacket/trench, several sweaters, short and long sleeves shirts in nice fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk. For bottoms I suggest a cropped or girlfriend/boyfriend style jeans that you can roll up in warmer weather, a dressier pant or trouser, and either a skirt or a dress. A skirt will have more use in the long run since you can pair it will all the shirts and sweaters, but a dress is a good option if you need a more formal outfit. For shoes I would bring a walking shoes (sneaker, or slip-on with a supportive sole), a leather flat, and a boot (I am partial to short boots, especially in warmer months). If the weather states that that the weather will quite warm the entire time I would swap out one of the three pairs for a sandal.

With access to a washing machine it would be entirely possible to pack even less, depending on how often you got to do laundry. When the weather is warmer you need to launder your clothes more often due to sweating. I like the versatility of this wardrobe, and hope that it gave you the inspiration you needed to be able to pack lighter on your trip to Central Europe. Remember that your travel outfit will include shoes and pieces from this list which will lighten the suitcase.

Now to convince your Mother-in-law 😉

If you like this post you can find more packing lists and outfit options in my:
Packing Light Series 
What to Wear Options

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Sara

Sara is the founder and creative behind livelovesara. A George Brown College Fashion Styling Graduate, she provides advice on finding your personal style regardless of age and budget. She is always on the hunt for the perfect wardrobe piece and is a vintage and thrifting enthusiast who can't wait to share her newest finds. She is also trying to learn French.

3 Comments

  1. OMG!!!! Thank you sooooo much for this list! I will follow it to a T! So, so grateful you took the time to answer my request 🙂 I will let you know how it went when we come back from our tour of Central Europe. Hope you feel better soon! Hugs! Stephanie 🙂

    • Oh yay! I’m glad you saw this! I was just going to email you letting you know I finished it finally. Sorry for the delay. Just keep checking the weather up until the day you leave and adjust appropriately. I hope you guys have such a fantastic, memorable time 🙂

  2. I can vouch that this small amount of clothing will work — I was in England/Europe for about the same time frame and brought only a carryon. Handwash undergarments and let clothing “air” to keep things fresh! Sweat is your enemy, so layers are your friend.

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