What Not To Bring On Your European Vacation

Packing for a European getaway can be tricky. Wherever your travels take you, you want to be prepared for anything — but overstuffing your suitcase can quickly turn your dream vacation into a logistical headache.

The key to packing light is to be strategic and skip the items you think you might need but won’t actually use. So, here’s what travel experts recommend leaving behind.

“Europe is best explored on foot, so comfortable, stylish walking shoes are a must,” said Liam Dunch, the Europe product manager for tour operator Abercrombie & Kent. “High heels, especially stilettos, aren’t suited for cobblestone streets and can lead to ankle injuries.”

Unless you’re there for a fancy gala, you can limit your shoes to more practical options for navigating uneven streets and climbing historic steps.

“Don’t waste time with high heels,” echoed Gray Grandy, a travel adviser with Fora. “An adorable pair of strappy sandals is perfect with your flowy summer dress.”

A cute pair of sneakers can also prevent a lot of hassle and pain.

“Leave the fancy shoes at home, but make sure the comfy sneakers are stylish,” said Melanie Fish, a travel expert with Expedia. “Leave the athletic shoes at home.”

It’s tempting to toss snacks into your bag, but travel journalist and content creator La Carmina says it’s unnecessary

“Don’t load up your luggage with snacks unless you have special dietary needs,” she said. “Europe is famous for its cafes, supermarkets and bakeries, and you won’t be at a loss for finding delicious, inexpensive food on the go ― whether it’s pastizzi stuffed pastries in Malta or smørrebrød open-faced sandwiches in Denmark.”

She added that there are also plenty of snack options these days for people with special diets or allergies, particularly in large Western European cities.

“It’s wise to skip flashy or overly expensive-looking items, as pickpocketing is unfortunately common in many European cities, especially around popular tourist attractions,” said Jonathan Alder, CEO and founder of Jonathan’s Travels.

You’ll want to pack your common sense and awareness, but leave open handbags at home.

“Never bring a purse that doesn’t zip,” said travel expert and point.me co-founder Tiffany Funk. “A bag that can’t be securely closed is an invitation for pickpockets looking for an easy target.”

And if you just don’t want to look so obviously like a tourist in general, there are other accessories worth reconsidering.

“Leave your baseball hats home,” advised Doni Belau, founder of Girls’ Guide to the World. “They peg you as a tourist.”

“Leave the giant suitcase at home,” said Tomiko Harvey, founder of the travel blog Passports & Grub. “You’ll be dragging them up cobblestone hills, down narrow alleyways and into tiny hotel rooms with no elevator. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

She recommended traveling with midsize luggage to avoid “wheeling your life around in a suitcase bigger than the rental car” rather than enjoying the European experience of train rides, ferry hops and walking tours.

“Trains especially can be tough as there’s often limited luggage space and nowhere to stash big bags,” said Dollar Flight Club founder and CEO Jesse Neugarten. “Stick to a carry-on and pack layers. It’ll save you time, money and stress.”

Think about the type of trip you’ll be taking and whether your luggage choice suits the journey, added Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the flight alert service Going.

“Will you need to walk to your Airbnb for 20 minutes after navigating public transport, or can you take an Uber easily?” she asked. “Opting for a small carry-on or backpack style carry-on can help not just the transport process while on ground, but can also help you avoid pesky checked bag fees if your case is too large for the notoriously small cabin luggage sizers on budget European carriers.”

“Leave that Airwrap at home,” said Fora travel adviser Gabrielle Brechner. “It never works, even with a converter, and then you’re stuck lugging it around! I learned that the hard way.”

Rather than use up more space and weight in your bag, try the hair dryer at your hotel, book a salon blowout appointment or buy a hot tool there.

“You can buy a European one at Boots for 30 euro,” said Fora adviser Aleksandra Coric.

You can get creative with smaller products, too.

“I use a small amount of serum to keep my hair looking smooth after a wash, and mostly towel dry it,” La Carmina said. “I also learned to tie my hair around a long piece of rope and leave it overnight for bouncy, heatless curls the next day, so I no longer need to bring a curling iron.”

“Don’t waste luggage space on new dresses or outfits you think you’ll need,” said Gabby Beckford, founder of the travel site Packs Light. “If you’re the type who loves shopping, pack your basics ― underwear, socks, your go-to walking shoes ― and buy the rest when you land. Shopping in Europe is half the fun.”

She noted that prices can be similar to those in the U.S., plus you can ensure you’re buying for the actual weather and temperatures you’re feeling, instead of your best guess. Plus, clothes make great travel souvenirs that can truly capture the experience and remind you of your trip.

“Keeping it light means no checked bags, which saves time and hassle,” said Sarah Dines, chief commercial officer at the tour booking platform Viator. “Plus, it’s easier to get around with less weight, especially when you’re dealing with trains, stairs or cobblestone streets.”

Remember, you can also do laundry at some point during your trip.

“We often believe we will need dozens of outfits for certain scenarios that play out in our heads, yet unless you are going for a wedding or special occasion, you will be surprised at how many items you will want to just wear on repeat,” Nastro said.

Avoid overpacking by choosing items that are comfortable and can work with multiple outfit options. That includes accessories

“I’m a big proponent of leaving 700 jewelry options at home,” Brechner said. “Pick one look for the trip ― I like small gold hoop earrings and a few necklaces that I leave on. Or buy it on vacation!”

“You don’t need a whole bag of plugs,” Neugarten said. “Just bring one solid universal adapter and you’re good.”

Remember that USB outlets are more common now as well, so you don’t have to overthink it.

“Skip the bulky plug adapters or voltage converters,” said Sarah Silbert, managing editor of Points Path. “Most modern phones and laptops are dual-voltage and can charge via a universal USB charger or travel power strip instead.”

And don’t waste your luggage space with electronics that only function on the standard voltage in North America.

“My portable clothes steamer ended up being completely useless on a recent trip to Portugal,” Dines said. “Lesson learned ― the hard way, and with wrinkled shirts.”

“While you may want to pack all your own toiletry products, skip the full-size bottles and opt for travel sized,” said Reesa Avelino, vice president for Southern Europe at Goway Travel. “Many hotels have decent shampoos, soaps and lotions, or you can purchase necessities once you get there, so there’s no reason to take up too much room in your luggage.”

In fact, you might even reconsider packing any toiletry items like sunscreen and skincare products.

“Just hit the pharmacy when you arrive,” Funk said. “EU pharmacies have great, inexpensive skin care brands, and the sunscreen options in particular are far better than what’s available in the U.S.”

“Europe and the U.K. are very card-friendly,” said Bryan Lewis, the founder of Tenon Tours. “If you do take cash, just bring small denominations for tipping purposes.”

Dunch noted that even previously cash-heavy destinations like Italy and Greece now have tap-to-pay options. Don’t forget to remove your U.S. dollars from your bulky wallet before traveling as well.

“If they do take cash, they expect the local currency,” Dunch said. “So, leave the greenbacks at home and load up your Google Wallet or Apple equivalent.”

For travelers who have several credit cards, you might think about lightening your wallet load there as well. Belau suggested leaving your American Express card at home.

“It’s not nearly as widely accepted in Europe as your Mastercard or Visa,” she said.

“Especially if you’re visiting cities, you’ll easily walk 20,000+ steps a day just by exploring the sights,” Lewis said. “Walking is part of life in Europe, so there’s really no need for extra workouts if you’re constantly on the move.”

So unless you’re actively training for a marathon or weight-lifting competition, you can probably leave your gym shoes and clothes at home.

“Don’t bring denim in summer,” Funk said. “A lot of Europe has limited air conditioning, and jeans are hot. And most apartments don’t have dryers, so if you wash them, the humidity means jeans may never dry.”

Instead, opt for lighter fabrics like cotton and linen, she advised.