ULTIMATE Women’s Backpacking Europe Packing List For Summer

I learned the hard way that a rolling suitcase has no place on a whirlwind multi-country trip through Europe. My first lengthy trip to Europe was at 21, on a three-week Contiki tour after studying abroad in Florence. I showed up with an overpacked, unwieldy suitcase that I had to haul up multiple flights of stairs at every single stop. It was terrible.

Since then, I’ve embraced packing light and backpacking a lot in my travels. I’ve backpacked through the Greek islands, Iceland, the UK, Croatia, Italy, and a long list of countries outside of Europe. I’ve lived out of a 40L backpack for up to three months at a time, and I’ve figured out exactly what you need and what you can leave behind.

This is the backpacking Europe packing list I wish I’d had before that first trip. Everything here is based on what I actually pack now, tested across 45+ countries and over 15 years of travel.

Summer Weather in Europe for Backpackers

If you’re backpacking Europe in summer, you’ll likely be moving through multiple climate zones in a single trip. Here’s a general idea of what to expect in the destinations most popular with backpackers.

Average Summer Temperatures by Popular Backpacking Destination (ordered hottest to coolest, low/high in °F):

Destination	June	July	August
Athens	78-88°F	83-93°F	83-93°F
Rome	75-84°F	80-90°F	80-90°F
Barcelona	75-82°F	80-88°F	80-87°F
Dubrovnik	73-82°F	78-88°F	78-88°F
Budapest	60-78°F	63-83°F	63-82°F
Prague	57-73°F	60-78°F	60-77°F
Paris	62-73°F	65-78°F	65-78°F
Berlin	57-72°F	60-77°F	60-76°F
Amsterdam	55-66°F	59-71°F	59-70°F
London	55-68°F	59-73°F	58-72°F
Dublin	50-63°F	54-67°F	54-66°F
Edinburgh	48-60°F	52-64°F	52-64°F
Reykjavik	45-55°F	48-57°F	47-56°F

Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia) is where the heat hits hardest. Coastal spots and the Greek islands get some relief from sea breezes, but lightweight, breathable fabrics are nice to have here.

Western and Central Europe (Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest) is warm and pleasant most of the summer, with occasional heatwaves. Evenings cool down enough that you’ll appreciate a light layer, especially if you’re out late or catching an early morning train.

The UK and Ireland (London, Edinburgh, Dublin) stay the mildest. This is the one stretch of a backpacking trip where you’ll actually use a packable jacket.

Scandinavia and Iceland can surprise you. Summer days are long (nearly 24 hours of daylight in parts of June and July), but temperatures sit in the 50s to mid-60s. If your route includes this region, plan for cooler weather than the rest of your trip.

What to wear & Packing Tips for Backpacking Europe in Summer

Having a fun summer meeting a bunch of other backpackers who I ended up traveling with in Crete, Greece (left), and spending a summer in Portugal while living out of a backpack (right).

Packing for a backpacking trip is different from packing for a vacation. You’re carrying everything on your back, moving between cities every few days, and likely staying in hostels where space and privacy are limited. Every item has to have a purpose.

• Prioritize quick-dry, wrinkle-resistant fabrics. This is my biggest tip for backpacking through Europe. You’ll likely be doing sink washes and stuffing clothes into a backpack, so what you pack needs to dry fast and not come out looking like a crumpled napkin.
• Use packing cubes. When you’re living out of a backpack and digging through it in a dark hostel room at 6 AM, trying not to wake anyone up, packing cubes are the difference between grabbing what you need and pulling everything out onto your bunk.
• Bring versatile pieces that mix and match. You don’t have room for single-use outfits. Every top should work with every bottom. Stick to a fairly neutral color palette with a couple of accent pieces, and you’ll get way more outfit combinations out of fewer clothes.
• Dress up a bit more than the usual backpacking trail “look”. Backpacking through Europe isn’t the same as backpacking through Southeast Asia. You’ll stand out (and not in a good way) wearing fisherman pants to dinner in Rome or Barcelona. Casual and comfortable is fine, but put-together goes a long way.
• Layer for transport, not just weather. Overnight buses can be freezing with the AC blasting, even in the middle of summer. A light layer you can throw on during a 12-hour bus ride or an early morning train is worth the space.

What to Pack for Backpacking Europe in Summer

Tops & Layers (7)

1. Casual tops (alternative 1, 2) (3) – Your everyday base. Go for some basic options, but also some nicer casual tops that will make you feel stylish while sightseeing.
2. Nicer tops (alternative) (2) – Something you feel good wearing to dinner or a night out. Pack an extra “going out” top if you plan to go to a lot of bars and clubs during your trip.
3. Lightweight Button-down (1) – Works as a light layer over a tank on breezy evenings, sun protection on hot days, a cover-up for churches, or on its own as a standalone top.
4. Light cardigan or sweater (1) – Your main layer for staying warm in summer. Make it something lightweight that you could also wear with your nicest top.

Bottoms & Dresses (7)

1. Lightweight shorts (alternative 1, 2) (2) – Your go-to for hot days in Southern Europe. Quick-dry fabric is a bonus for backpacking since you can wash them in a sink and have them ready by morning. Denim shorts work too, especially in more casual destinations like the Greek islands or coastal towns.
2. Lightweight, flowy pants (alternative 1, 2) (2) – For cooler evenings, travel days, or destinations where shorts feel too casual. Look for something with a little stretch that won’t restrict you on long bus rides or walking days. Avoid heavy denim since it takes forever to dry and adds unnecessary weight to your pack.
3. Casual dresses (alternative 1, 2, 3) (2) – Always nice to have a couple of cute dresses when you don’t want anything clinging to your legs.
4. Going-out dress or outfit (1) – If you’re planning some nights out at bars and clubs, it’s nice to have a dedicated going-out outfit.

Shoes (2-3)

1. Supportive sandals (alternative) (1) – Your primary shoe for most summer days. Look for something with arch support and a sole that can handle cobblestones, not just a flat flip-flop. Leather sandals or sport sandals both work, depending on your style and itinerary.
2. Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers (1) – For longer walking days, hiking, or cities with rougher terrain. A lightweight, breathable pair is key since your feet will swell in the heat. These also double as your travel day shoes when you want something more secure than sandals for running through train stations with your pack on.
3. Going out shoes (alternative) (0-1) – Optional, depending on how much nightlife is in your plans. A strappy sandal or nice pair of flats works well here.

Accessories & Extras

1. Sun hat (alternative) (1) – You’ll want this for any days spent walking through open plazas or along the coast.
2. Sunglasses (alternative) (1) – Summer sun in Southern Europe is intense.
3. Crossbody bag or fanny pack (1) – Keeps hands free and valuables close in crowded cities and on public transit. Look for something with a zip closure for pickpocket-heavy cities like Rome, Paris, and Barcelona. Although not as stylish, I’m a big fan of Lululemon’s belt bag for its affordable price and how convenient it is to keep close to my body and have easy access to my phone.
4. Daypack (alternative) (1) – For water bottles, sunscreen, your light layer, and everything you accumulate during long sightseeing days. Don’t store valuables in here.
5. Swimsuit (0-2) – A summer staple for hostel pools, beach days, island stops, and spontaneous lake swims. Add one or two in, depending on where you plan to go.
6. Lightweight scarf (0-1) – Can double as a cover-up for churches, a blanket on overnight buses, or a beach wrap. Lightweight enough that it takes up almost no room.
7. Jewelry (alternative 1, 2) – Keep it minimal and nothing you’d be upset about losing. Hostels mean shared spaces, communal bathrooms, and a lot of moving around. A few simple pieces you can wear every day are better than a rotation you have to keep track of.
8. Underwear (your trip length +2, up to 12) – Pack more than you think you need. Doing laundry in hostels isn’t always convenient, and you don’t want to be sink-washing underwear every other night.
9. Bras (alternative 1, 2) (2-4) – Including at least one sports bra if you’re planning any hiking or active days.
10. Socks (3-5) – Breathable no-show or ankle styles for summer.
11. Sleepwear (alternative) (1) – Something lightweight and comfortable you’d be fine wearing in a shared hostel room. Shorts and a tee work well.
12. Slip shorts or anti-chafe stick (1) – If you’re wearing dresses or skirts in the heat, some sort of anti-chafe product is nice to have.

Europe Hostel Essentials

• Padlock (1) – Most hostels have lockers, but don’t always provide a lock. Bring your own so you’re not scrambling to buy one at reception or leaving your stuff unsecured. A small combination lock is easiest since you won’t have to keep track of a key.
• Quick-dry travel towel (1) – Most hostels don’t provide towels or charge a fee to rent one. A microfiber travel towel dries fast, packs down to almost nothing, and is one of those things you’ll use a lot.
• Shower flip-flops (1) – Hostel bathrooms are not always clean. A cheap pair of rubber flip-flops keeps your feet off questionable shower floors and takes up barely any room in your pack.
• Earplugs – You will get woken up. Whether it’s someone packing at 5 AM, coming back from the bar at 3 AM, or just snoring from the bunk next to you. I love Loop earplugs so much more than those cheap squishy ones that always fall out of my ears.
• Sleep mask (1) – A sleep mask can be the difference between decent sleep and none at all. I used to think I didn’t need one because I was a heavy sleeper, but hostel noise and light are on another level.
• Headlamp or small clip light (1) – For navigating a dark hostel room without turning on the overhead light and waking everyone up. If you go with a headlamp, look for one with a red light mode, which is much less disruptive to sleeping hostel mates than a white beam. A small clip light is also great for reading in your bunk after lights out, and you can still use it for navigating dark hostel rooms.
• Laundry bag (1) – A drawstring bag to separate dirty clothes from clean ones in your pack.
• Travel laundry detergent (2-3) – Small packets of laundry detergent that you can use for hand-washing in sinks or hostel washing machines if they don’t provide soap.
• Portable charger (1) – Hostel rooms don’t always have outlets near your bunk, and when they do, you’re sharing with everyone in the room. A portable charger means you’re not tethered to a wall or competing for socket space.
• Travel adapter with multiple USB ports (1) – One adapter with a few USB ports lets you charge your phone, headphones, and portable charger all at once when you get access to an outlet.
• Hanging toiletry bag (1) – Hostel bathrooms rarely have shelf space. A toiletry bag with a hook that hangs over a door or shower rod keeps everything off wet counters and questionable floors.

Choosing the Right Backpack

My Osprey Fairview 40 has taken me through many trips abroad and has been my favorite backpacking pack for years.

The backpack you choose will make or break your trip. I’ve used my Osprey Fairview 40 for years now, and it’s the one I recommend to every woman planning a backpacking trip through Europe. I’ve traveled in it for up to three months at a time, and it fits within carry-on size limits for most airlines.

Here are a few things to look for when choosing a travel backpack:

• Size. 40L is the sweet spot for most backpacking trips. It’s big enough to fit everything on this list and small enough to carry on a budget airline without paying bag fees. Going bigger than 50L is tempting, but the extra space just means you’ll overpack.
• Women-specific fit. A pack designed for women will have shorter torso lengths, narrower shoulder straps, and contoured hip belts. This matters when you’re carrying it through train stations and up hostel staircases for weeks at a time.
• Front-loading (panel) access. Top-loading backpacks are great for hiking, but terrible for travel. You don’t want to dig through everything from the top just to grab a shirt at the bottom. A front or panel-loading pack opens like a suitcase, which makes packing and unpacking so much easier.
• Hip belt. A good hip belt transfers the weight from your shoulders to your hips. This is important if you’re carrying your pack for anything longer than a quick walk to the taxi.

Packing cubes are also worth grabbing if you don’t already have them. They keep everything organized inside your pack and make it way easier to find what you need in a dark hostel room without pulling everything out.

If you’re not a fan of the Fairview 40, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack (if you want an even smaller pack) and the REI Trail 40 are both solid alternatives.

Other Europe Summer Backpacking Essentials

I have a detailed list of the travel essentials I bring on every trip, including electronics, toiletries, and everything in between. Rather than repeating all of that here, check out my complete travel essentials packing list for women.

Packing Adjustments by Region For Europe in Summer

Southern Europe Islands and Coastal Destinations (Greece, Croatia, Spain, Portugal)

If your route includes the Greek islands, Croatian coast, or anywhere along the Mediterranean, there are a few extras worth adding to your pack.

• Extra swimsuit (1) – Having two means you’re not putting on a damp suit every morning. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference when you’re doing beach days back-to-back.
• Cover up or sarong – A lightweight cover up can be nice for walking from the beach to a restaurant or bar without changing.
• Waterproof phone pouch – Your phone is your everything on a backpacking trip, and one splash of saltwater can ruin it. A good quality waterproof pouch is tiny, weighs nothing, and is worth the peace of mind for boat trips, beach days, and kayaking. I’ve been using my Pelican one for years and it works great.
• Small dry bag – Useful for ferry days, boat excursions, or any time your stuff might get splashed. Keeps your valuables, towel, and electronics safe from water.
• Breezy going-out clothes – Beach towns and island bars have a more relaxed dress code than cities. A flowy dress or shorts you can throw on over your swimsuit works for most casual evenings.

What Not to Pack For Backpacking Europe in Summer

• A backpack bigger than 50L. I’ve already mentioned this above, but I want to repeat it here. It’s tempting to size up so you can fit more, but a huge pack is harder to carry, won’t fit easily in overhead compartments on buses and trains, and might not fit in your hostel locker. A 35-40L pack forces you to pack smarter, and you’ll thank yourself every time you’re sprinting to catch a connection.
• Your own sheets or a sleep sheet liner. Hostels provide bedding. Some backpackers pack a silk liner for “extra protection,” but it won’t prevent bed bugs (they live in the mattress, not the sheets), and it’s just one more thing taking up space. I got bed bugs at a nice hostel in Killarney, Ireland, and a liner wouldn’t have stopped that.
• Valuables you can’t afford to lose. I accidentally left my wallet under my pillow at a hostel in Santorini once, and someone stole all my cash while I was out. It was devastating on a shoestring budget. Leave expensive jewelry at home, don’t carry more cash than you need for the day, and always use your locker if they provide one.
• A separate outfit for every day. You don’t need 14 outfits for a two-week trip. Stick to mix-and-match pieces, do laundry on the road, and save the pack space.
• A money belt. These used to be standard backpacker advice, but they’re unnecessary if you’re using a crossbody bag with a zip closure and locking up valuables in your hostel locker. The only time I’ve actually found a money belt helpful was at Carnival in Brazil. Europe is not that intense.
• Physical guidebooks. Download everything to your phone. A physical guidebook adds unnecessary weight, and you’ll have access to better, more current information online anyway.

Hostel Tips For Solo Women Backpackers

This section could easily be its own article, but here are the things I wish someone had told me before my first hostel stay.

• Book women-only dorms when possible. Most hostels offer them, and they’re worth it for the peace of mind alone. You’ll generally get a quieter room, less chaos at odd hours, and you won’t have to worry about changing in front of strangers. This is especially the case for party and drinking-focused destinations like Mykonos or Dublin.
• Choose a top bunk in co-ed dorms. If women-only isn’t available, grab a top bunk. It gives you a little more privacy and separation, especially when sleeping. And it feels safer when a group of drunk guys comes back at two in the morning. One of my girlfriends, whom I was traveling with in Southeast Asia, had a drunk guy try to climb into bed with her multiple times in Cambodia, and then threw up next to her bed. I’ve also had a drunk guy pee in the middle of the floor after he came back from the bars. Trust me, the top bunk is much nicer as a woman.
• Boutique hostels over party hostels. If getting a full night’s sleep matters to you, skip the party hostels. They’re fun if nonstop socializing is what you’re after, but boutique hostels tend to feel safer, cleaner, and calmer as a solo female traveler.
• Don’t let party hostels scare you away from hostels entirely. There’s a huge range. Many hostels are closer to budget hotels than anything resembling a frat house. Read reviews, look at photos, and filter by vibe before you book.
• Take advantage of hostel tours and activities. Especially if you’re backpacking solo. Walking tours, pub crawls, cooking classes, and day trips organized through hostels are usually cheaper than what you’d find elsewhere and are one of the best ways to meet other travelers.
• Be a good hostel mate. Pack your bag the night before if you have an early morning, and leave as quietly as you can if people are sleeping. I can’t tell you how many times a rude hostel mate turned on the overhead light and started noisily packing their bag at 5 AM while talking loudly with their friend. Please don’t be this person. Just because you’re never going to see these people again doesn’t give you an excuse to be a dick.

Backpacking Europe in Summer Packing Quantity Guide By Trip Length

Note: These amounts assume you’ll do laundry every 7-10 days.

Item	1 Week	10 Days	2 Weeks	3 Weeks+
Tops	4	5	5-6	5-6
Bottoms (shorts, pants)	3	4	4	4
Dresses	2	2-3	3	3
Layers	1	1	1	1
Shoes	2	2-3	2-3	2-3
Underwear	9-10	12	12	12
Bras	2-3	3-4	3-4	3-4
Socks	2-3	3-5	3-5	3-5
Swimsuit	0-1	0-2	0-2	0-2
Sleepwear	1	1	1	1

*Add one packable jacket and one warmer mid-layer for a backpacking trip that also goes to Northern Europe, Scandinavia, or Iceland in summer.

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