7 BEST Travel Purses For Europe That Actually Look Cute

TL;DR: The best travel purses for Europe are the Lo & Sons Waverly 2and the Arden Cove Anti-Theft Crossbody. The Waverly 2 is the most versatile option with its four-way convertible design, while the Arden Cove is the best anti-theft purse that actually looks like a normal bag.

I’ve been traveling through Europe for over a decade now. I’ve lived in Florence, Crete, and Lisbon, traveled through 15+ European countries, and spent a lot of long walking days figuring out what kind of bag actually works when you’re out exploring all day.

I generally travel with a daypack and a smaller crossbody purse that holds my phone, wallet, sunglasses, chapstick, and sunscreen. I don’t like traveling with a large purse unless I’m using it as my personal item on the plane, and even then I usually choose a daypack since my trips tend to be pretty active. 

So, when I’m looking for a travel purse, I want something compact, secure, and stylish enough to blend in on the streets of any European city and versatile enough to take out in the evenings to dinner and bars. This guide breaks down the best travel purses for Europe, depending on what matters most to you.

What to Look For in a Travel Purse for Europe

I took my boho bag that I got in Puerto Rico on a month-long Europe trip. It stuck out like a sore thumb and looked pretty ugly in photos; would not recommend! (left). And wearing my trusty Lululemon Belt Bag at a German festival (right).

Choosing a travel purse for Europe is a little different than picking one for everyday use at home. Here are a few things worth considering before you buy.

• Size matters. You need room for your phone, wallet, passport (on travel days), sunglasses, a small sunscreen, and lip balm at a minimum. But anything larger than a medium crossbody starts to feel heavy and gets in the way on public transit.
• Crossbody is the way to go. It keeps the bag close to your body, frees up both hands, and makes it harder for pickpockets to access. That’s why every purse on this list can be worn crossbody.
• Anti-theft features are nice, but not mandatory. Maybe an unpopular or surprising take, but most pickpockets in Europe go for unzipped bags and loose pockets. Keeping your bag zipped and worn in front of you is honestly the best defense. That said, if you’re someone who worries about theft (no shame), a dedicated anti-theft bag can take that stress away entirely.
• Style counts. Europeans tend to carry sleek, simple bags in neutral tones like tan or black. A neon nylon sling or an ugly purse with a water bottle holder on the side and visible anti-theft branding will mark you as a tourist faster than a fanny pack ever could.
• Leather vs. nylon is a personal call. Leather looks polished and blends in beautifully in Europe, but it’s heavier and less water-resistant. Nylon is lighter, easier to clean, and more affordable. Neither is wrong; it just depends on your preference. 
• Go with zippers over magnetic clasps, buckles, or open designs. A zippered closure is the simplest way to keep your stuff secure while you’re walking, on public transit, or in a crowd. Magnetic clasps pop open too easily, and open-top bags are an invitation for pickpockets.

#1 Lo & Sons Waverly 2

Best Overall Travel Purse for Europe

I own two other Lo & Sons bags (the Pearl and the O.G. 2), so I’m already a fan of the brand. The Pearl is a beautiful bag, but I find it to be an awkward size for travel. It’s medium-sized, but a little too big for going out in the evenings, at least for me. The Waverly 2 fills a different gap. It’s designed to hold just your essentials, and it does that really well.

It also converts four ways (crossbody, shoulder bag, belt bag, wristlet), so you’re essentially packing four bags in one. I’d recommend the large for travel. It’s still compact at 5.9″ x 8.3″ x 2″, but that extra room means your phone, wallet, passport, and sunglasses all fit without the bag feeling stuffed.

The interior has a light-colored lining (a small thing that makes a big difference when you’re digging for a pen), a zippered pocket with card slots, a front pocket for your metro card, and a key leash. Plus, it weighs just 0.8 lbs. 

Lo & Sons offers three leather options for this purse. Saffiano is scratch and weather-resistant (nice for travel), nappa is softer and ages nicely, and cactus leather is the vegan option.

I love my Lo & Sons Pearl for how stylish it is, but it feels bulkier than I’d like, given the limited space it provides (left), and taking my Lo & Sons O.G. 2 on a cruise to Alaska (right). The O.G. 2 has become my go-to personal item for cruises and weekend trips, but it’s too big to bring as a daily purse.

#2 Arden Cove Anti-Theft Crossbody

Best Stylish Anti-Theft Purse

I own the Arden Cove Crissy Full Crossbody, and it’s the bag I grab whenever I’m heading somewhere known for pickpockets. 

What sets Arden Cove apart from other anti-theft brands is that it actually looks like a normal, stylish purse. You’d never guess it’s packed with security features.

The Crissy has a waterproof outer shell, slash-proof lining, locking zippers, and a built-in RFID-blocking wallet with eight card slots. 

The detachable strap can be looped around a chair or pole at a café, which is huge in crowded European restaurants where bags on the floor are easy targets. 

It fits a phone, wallet, sunscreen, sunglasses, and even a Kindle with room to spare. I’d recommend going with a darker color for travel since lighter colors (especially white) show stains quickly.

Cosmopolitan named this the best anti-theft crossbody, and having tested this one for a few years now, I’d have to agree. As a bonus, Arden Cove is a woman-owned, AAPI-founded small business out of San Francisco.

#3 Quince Italian Leather Crossbody

Best European-Looking Crossbody for the Price

I’ve tried two Quince bags so far (their leather crescent bag and woven boho beach bag), and both have been great quality for the price. 

Their Italian Leather Crossbody is the next one I’m eyeing, and it’s the bag I recommend most often for Europe. 

It’s handcrafted in Florence from 100% Italian top grain leather, and it looks and feels far more expensive than its $100 price tag. It looks similar to the Clare V. Midi Sac, which costs three times as much. The design is exactly the kind of simple, classic crossbody you’ll see European women carrying. 

The leather is thick and supple, the adjustable strap works as both a crossbody and shoulder bag, and there’s enough room for your phone, wallet, keys, and sunglasses without feeling cramped. The pebbled leather option is more forgiving with scratches and travel wear, and the quilted version adds some personality.

If blending in with the locals and looking polished matters to you (which, let’s be honest, it usually does when traveling to Europe), this is a great option. 

#4 Cuyana Mini Paloma

Best High-Quality Leather Crossbody

I own Cuyana’s Tall Easy Tote, which I’ve taken as my personal item on weekend trips before, so I can vouch for their leather quality firsthand. 

The Mini Paloma has a different vibe entirely. It’s for the traveler who values clean lines and quiet design above all else, the kind of bag that looks effortlessly chic in a way that doesn’t try too hard.

The bag is crafted from Cuyana’s signature Italian double-faced sustainable leather, which is soft and ages beautifully. Despite its compact size, it holds your phone, wallet, passport, and sunglasses with room to spare. 

The asymmetrical zipper and jewelry-like hardware give it a sculptural, modern feel, and the strap adjusts from shoulder to crossbody length. 

The main downside is the price. And the fact that you’re paying for design and leather quality rather than travel-specific features. There’s no anti-theft tech, no waterproofing, no convertible functionality.

 But if you want a bag that looks like it came from a boutique in Milan and will last for years, this delivers. It’s been spotted on Meghan Markle, if that tells you anything.

The Cuyana Tall Easy Tote is another purse I bring regularly as a personal item for long weekend trips because it fits perfectly underneath the seat in front of you and zips closed (left). It’s also great when I want to carry more items, like my nice mirrorless camera and water bottle, on a Christmas bar crawl (right). But it’s a large purse! The Mini Paloma is a better pick for a daily travel purse for Europe.

#5 PacSafe CX Anti-Theft Convertible Backpack

Best Anti-Theft Convertible Backpack Purse

The PacSafe CX Convertible Backpack Purse is the bag to get if you want serious anti-theft protection and a purse that can transition into your daypack as well for more space. 

This is one of the larger bags on this list, with the ability to fit things like water bottles, an extra layer, snacks, or a small tablet for longer travel days.

PacSafe’s full suite of security features can be found in this bag. It has a slash-resistant body and straps, locking Roobar-style zippers, RFID-blocking pocket, and a TurnNLock security hook for anchoring the bag to a chair or pole. 

The convertible design lets you switch between backpack and crossbody mode, which is especially useful now that some European museums have started banning backpacks. The exterior is ECONYL recycled nylon, so it’s a sustainable choice too.

The trade-off is style. This bag is more functional than fashionable. It looks fine with casual outfits, but it’s not the one you’d pick for a nice dinner in the Marais. The zippers can also feel stiff, and it looks a bit bulky as a crossbody. However, for active travel days when security and capacity are the priority, nothing else on this list matches it.

#6 Lo & Sons Nouvelle

Best Larger Crossbody Purse

If the Waverly 2 is the compact, convertible option from Lo & Sons, the Nouvelle is its bigger sibling for travelers who need a little more space. It’s basically a mini version of Lo & Sons’ O.G. 2, which I’ve owned and loved for years. 

At 7″ x 9″ x 3″, it’s still a crossbody, but with noticeably more room for the days when you want to carry extras like a compact umbrella, small water bottle, or guidebook.

The Nouvelle is made from water-resistant recycled nylon with vegan leather strap accents. The cushioned strap is genuinely comfortable for long days, and the dome shape is cute without being cutesy.

At just 0.7 lbs, it’s one of the lightest bags on this list, which is impressive since it’s also one of the largest. 

But the real standout is the organization, including an exterior zippered pocket, two interior mesh pockets (one phone-sized), an interior zippered pocket, three card slots, and a key leash. That’s a lot of thoughtful structure for a bag this size.

This one has a more casual look than the leather picks on this list, but it transitions well enough from day to evening, especially if you go for the black option. 

#7 Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

Best Hands-Free Option for Active Sightseeing

I’ve tested the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L across multiple European trips, and it’s become one of my go-to travel bags. For days when you want to be as hands-free and mobile as possible, nothing beats it.

It holds more than it looks like it should. My phone, wallet, chapstick, sunglasses, and my passport on travel days all fit without it feeling overstuffed. 

I wear it crossbody style, which keeps it close to my body and makes everything easy to reach. That close-to-body fit also makes it naturally harder for pickpockets, even without dedicated anti-theft features.

This is the bag I pair with a daypack when I’m exploring all day. The belt bag handles my grab-and-go essentials while the daypack carries water, sunscreen, and layers. I love having such easy access to my phone for quick photos while exploring as well. 

At under $50, it’s the most affordable option on this list. The water-repellent fabric cleans up easily, and it takes up basically zero space in your suitcase.

The one downside is that it’s sportier than the typical European aesthetic. It’s still absolutely worth it for the convenience and how well the bag works for travel, but I’d go with black so it doesn’t stand out as much. The only other limitation is capacity, so for longer sightseeing days, pair it with a small daypack.

I love my Lululemon Belt Bag for travel and have taken it with me on many trips, including a 3-week trip to the UK with my dad.

Conclusion: My Picks For the Best Travel Purse For Europe

The best travel purse is the one that fits your travel style and the kind of trips you take. If I had to pick just one, it would be the Lo & Sons Waverly 2 for its size, four-way versatility, and how easily it transitions from a day of sightseeing to dinner. 

If anti-theft features are a priority, the Arden Cove Anti-Theft Crossbody is the clear runner-up because it’s the only security-focused bag on this list that actually looks like a regular, stylish purse.

---

Looking for more Europe packing guides for women? Read our related articles below!

Europe Packing List For Spring For Women

Europe Packing List For Summer For Women

European Cruise Packing List For Women

Europe Backpacking Packing List For Women

Italy Summer Packing List For Women

Best Carry-On Luggage For Europe

7 Best Walking Sandals For Europe For Women

10 Best Walking Shoes For Europe For Women

Level8 vs Monos: Which Suitcase is Better?

Calpak Terra Backpack Review (2026): Is it Worth The Hype?

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

---

Pin one of these images for future reference