What I Wish I Would Have Packed For A Multi-City European Vacation
October 23, 2025
Hopping on trains and exploring the countless beautiful and historic cities in Europe is one of my favorite ways to travel! However, as an experienced traveler, you would think I am an expert at packing my suitcase by now…but that isn’t always the case. Yes, I know how to pack light and make the most of carry-ons and personal items, but each trip I go on reminds me that specific destinations and types of travel require different necessities.
I recently went on a 14-day trip to Munich, Berlin, and Amsterdam and I found myself yearning for items I failed to pack. So, if you are headed on a multi-city European adventure soon, let my reflections lead you to success. Here is everything I wish I had brought with me:
Layers!
Just like the US, Europe has a variety of climates and the weather changes drastically throughout the year. We headed there in late-September through early October. Amateurly, I assumed that the fall weather there would be uncharacteristically warm like it had been where I live in Minneapolis. This was not the case and we got caught in a lot of wind and rain. With cooler and inclement weather in the fall, it is no surprise that many Europeans live by the rule that layers are always mandatory. A thin long sleeved shirt layered with a sweater and long trench coat is the perfect way to start the morning. Strip off throughout the day and add on again at night. I had a variety of tank tops, T-shirts, and hoodies that just weren’t appropriate for the cool fall weather. Some of my favorite layering pieces that will be coming with me next time include:
Cotton Modal Relaxed Long Sleeve Tee - 3 Pack Bundle
Brand: Quince
Price: $47.76
Sweet Creek II Lined Rain Jacket
Brand: Columbia
Price: $100.00
Women’s Knit Ribbed Cardigan Sweater
Brand: Universal Thread (Target)
Price: $40.00
Brand: Quince
Price: $100.00
Pocket-sized umbrella
Continuing on the theme of preparing for the weather, something I often find myself longing for while traveling is an umbrella. This is something that doesn’t make it into my luggage often because it can seem bulky and unnecessary, but luckily there are now pocket-sized umbrellas that will do the trick! It ended up being rainy almost the entire weekend we were in Amsterdam and, as many travelers know, half of the fun of the city is walking around the unique streets. Walking is always much more comfortable when dry! On the flip side, we had a couple warm days in Munich where an umbrella would have come in handy to provide shade while we were out exploring. This is something I won’t be skipping next time.
Brand: Davek
Price: $65.00
A more accessible suitcase
Long-haul travelers know that one of the biggest pains of city hopping is unpacking and repacking. Since almost all of my trips include at least one city change, I have been looking to invest in a new bag. SoulVenture Travels’ founder, Jody, recently told me about a new suitcase she invested in and has been loving! The Solgaard Carry-On Closet suitcase has a unique design that features a pull-up shelving unit. Simply pack your clothes into the shelves while the suitcase is standing upright, fold down to close the bag, and pull the shelving back up when you reach your destination. All of your clothes stay organized and no unpacking or repacking is required! This is a great alternative to packing cubes and something I plan to invest in before my next extended vacation.
Brand: Solgaard
Price: $345.00
Travel laundry soap
I have found time and again that when I take trips longer than one week I always end up wanting to wash at least a couple articles of clothing. It is pretty uncommon for European hotels and Airbnbs to have laundry services and if they do they tend to be expensive. So, in order to skip the expense and the hassle, I plan to start packing travel laundry soap. Brands have now been coming out with travel packs that allow you to hand wash clothing safely and effectively. Packing these will help me avoid overpacking while still being able to enjoy fresh clothing mid-trip.
Minisoak Laundry Soap Travel Pack
Brand: Soak
Price: $11.00
Small (yet mighty) power bank
A power bank is so essential for long travel days! I have used the same one for years, and although it is powerful, this recent trip made me realize how bulky it is. I like to carry a small fanny pack with me during the day while exploring cities, but my current power bank takes up almost all of the space in my bag. I took a look at some of the smallest and mightiest power banks on the market and found the Baseus PicoGo AM31 Mini Magnetic Power Bank. This little powerhouse is about the size of a credit card and can charge two devices at once - perfect for on-the-go travelers.
Baseus PicoGo AM31 Mini Magnetic Power Bank
Brand: Baseus
Price: $69.99
Cute walking shoes
Although tennis shoes always make the cut for me when packing for long trips, I found myself wanting something a bit more polished, yet still comfortable on this trip. European fashion tends to be a bit more put together than ours here in the Midwest. You will not often find athleisure or tennis shoes outside of the gym and, when abroad, I like to adopt some of the local trends. With that said, every day involved a lot of walking, so comfort is still key. Here are some shoe options I plan to include on my next Euro vacation.
Brand: Allbirds
Price: $90.00
Brand: Adidas
Price: $100.00
iPad or tablet
Now I know this is a bit more of an investment item, but as someone who works remotely I have found myself wanting something bigger than my phone on long trips. I could just lug my laptop along, but that tends to be a bit of a hassle and take up too much room. After this trip, I have finally caved and plan to purchase an iPad through a promo with my cell phone provider the next time I update my phone. There are so many options for travel cases and flip down keyboards as well that I am always checking out when I see other remote workers using their tablets in coffee shops. Additionally, we used my friend’s iPad to watch a movie on a 7-hour train ride mid-trip and it was a great way to pass the time and watch something as a group!
Brand: Apple
Price: Starting at $599 or $49.91 for 12 months
Brand: Samsung
Price: $319.99
The things listed above are definitely the items I wanted the most while on this Europe trip! I was also reminded of a few packing tips to make the next go around easier. First, and maybe a bit obviously, always pack more socks and underwear than you think you will need. These items are small and compact, but they can make or break your day - fresh undergarments are unmatched when traveling. This is also one of the reasons I listed laundry tabs as an item I will bring next time - if I am unable to pack as many pairs of socks as I would like, I can just wash some mid-trip. Additionally, I plan to leave at least a little bit of room available in my suitcase for shopping while across the pond. I ended up buying some pants and sweaters while traveling, which are notoriously bulky items, so I had to wear layers on the plane. Since I love shopping abroad, I may just bring a few less items than I think I will need and plan to buy and wear them during my travels.
What items will you never be caught without when on multi-city Euro trips? We are always looking for more ways to pack better!
Written by Erin Finneman
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