Packing For A European Winter Trip – Avoid Our Mistakes
Packing for an adventure is always fun; if it is an experience you have not had, things can get tricky. While preparing for our first European Winter trip, we did all the research and watched loads of packing Videos…and I still made many mistakes; it could be just us, but in this post, I will share what we learned, and I will share with you the packing lists I will use if we ever get the chance to make another winter trip.
Before you click off, hear me out. We are a middle-aged couple travelling from Australia, where even though we live in a Mountainous area, our winters are nowhere near those of central Europe. Our uncertainty about how we would handle the cold was a pivotal factor in the overpack. All the Second-guessing and what-ifs having too big a voice contributed to our better safety than sorry packing strategy.
We are relatively new converts to packing light, and for months, my goal was only to use our Away Large carry-on bags. However, as we finalised our “stuff,” we needed to upscale in size slightly. I was devastated when I claimed defeat and took the bigger bags out of storage. But I needed some room for decorations, and I had to swallow my pride and get on with packing.
Apart from my jacket, I am confident that if we were to make a month-long trip in the depths of winter again, this new list would comfortably fit in the “Away” bags and a small amount in my personal item bag to use on travel days.
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I may seem stupid, but I want to discuss our experience candidly. If I can help someone take less, it is worth looking like a fool. Our trip was to visit Christmas Markets in 9 of the 11 destinations on our itinerary, so we knew we would be out in the cold most days. Being warm and comfortable was necessary, and one big lesson was that we needed fewer layers than we thought. Most days, Phil wore a rugby shirt, coat and scarves, gloves and beanie, and he was very comfortable. I usually added a jumper, but I often found I was lowering my jacket zipper to cool off a little.
For context, our trip started in Vienna and travelled through the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Baltics, finishing in Helsinki. We travelled from late November to late December. We expected snow in the Tetra Mountains in Poland and later in the trip as we got in the Baltics, but December 2023 brought a big dump of snow on the 1st. As a result, we had snow all the way, starting in earnest in Prague.
Packing Layers
You will find that you constantly disrobed when entering the room, it is all part of the experience.
I knew Layers would be critical to a trip like this. The number of times you would take off a layer or two a day was never-ending but necessary, and with everyone else doing it, there was a camaraderie in the process. You will be surprised how often you take off a layer to adjust your comfort level once you go indoors.
My base and mid-layers were similar; I only needed less than half of what I took. I brought some good base layers for both of us. I wore my long thermals most days. Due to the warmth of his fleece-lined jeans, Phil only wore his thermals a couple of times, needing only one pair.
Most days, I wore a base-layer jumper and then a jacket; Phil’s jacket was double-lined, so he only wore a shirt most days, and he was warm enough. He wore the same combo even when we updated his Jacket when the zip failed.
Neither of us could refute the importance of a scarf, gloves, beanie, or head covering. Early on, we both got away without not too much, but for most of the trip, we needed all three to help keep us warm. “I brought some touchscreen gloves so I could film, but the payoff was they weren’t very warm — my fingers froze. Next time I’d go for something like these insulated gloves, which would have saved my fingers in the Christmas markets. I actually had hand warmers with me but forgot to use them — they would have helped so much on those long outdoor days. Later in the trip, Phil gave me a pair of woollen fingerless/mitten gloves, and they were amazing for when I needed to use my camera.”
Shoes
Phil packed two pairs, but really only needed his Keen Hiking Boots — he wore them every day, and they kept him comfortable on icy cobblestones and in the snow. Something like these waterproof hiking boots would work perfectly if you’re after a solid pair. His lighter shoes could have stayed home.
I also took two pairs: my Keen Walking shoes and Ara Snow boots. Both were great, but when it comes time to replace them, I’ll go for boots similar to these ones and add a lighter pair of casual walking shoes for flights and evenings. That combo would have been plenty.
Washing
Waiting for washing in Zakopane
It did not take long to realise we had too many clothes. Hotel rooms and most apartments are really warm, so if you need to wash your clothes by hand, your clothes dry quickly. In most places, if we washed our socks in the evening, they would be dry by the following evening, even quicker if there was a towel warmer in the bathroom. Towel warmers were our best friends; as we got into the Baltics, we did not have them, and we missed them.
Washing was part of our planning, so we worked Washing Machines into our accommodation apart from the first couple of stops. When we had access to one, we did all we could and then hand-washed as needed. “Even though I knew hand washing was vital, I didn’t trust it would work — but it did! Clothes always dried before we had to pack and move on. What made it easier were simple tools like Portable Fabric Hangers and compact detergent sheets. They take up no space in your bag and mean you can wash socks or base layers in a hotel sink without any fuss — a big help on longer winter trips.
Another big lesson was that you can get away with wearing clothes for more than one day due to the cooler weather. Phil does not like wearing shirts more than once between washes, but he could do it in cooler temperatures. If it was five or six days between washing machines, we could get by and have the time to hand wash a shirt and let the thicker material dry.
We sent one-third of our clothes home.
As the trip went on, we realized we were lugging around too many clothes we had not worn, so we packed stuff into a box and sent it home. We sent shirts, base layers, a couple of jumpers, and even some of Phil’s socks he was not wearing home to make room for the decorations and lighten our loads.
Even though it did not change much in the scheme of things, lightening the load proved great mentally; the bulky bag did not feel as cumbersome, and we felt in control even with less to work with. We never missed the items we sent home.
Souvenirs
Our latest souvenirs from the Christmas Market Trip.
I know you are tempted to buy many gifts or souvenirs when you head to the markets or on any trip. Now, I love taking home souvenirs as much as the next person, but when you pack light, this needs to be considered, as your shopping space must be limited or allowed for. I learnt on our first trip to the UK how quickly I could get caught up buying big presents for our kids, and we ended up sending a huge package back to Australia ($$$, ouch). If you want the best of both worlds, this could be an option, but remember to include postage in your overall budget.
For the last few trips, we have limited our shopping to magnets, tree decorations, and the odd caps or pieces of clothing. I must admit that walking through 23 markets and knowing I had put a cap on the amount of shopping I was permitting myself to do was frustrating when looking at all the marvellous things I could have taken home. But I have never been upset with what I brought home, and our budget was also happy. I can honestly say I have never truly regretted limiting the souvenirs I have brought home or given much thought to the ones I left behind.
What Should you pack?
So far, I have shared what we got wrong and the lessons we learned from packing for our last trip. Now, I will share what I would pack if we head to Europe again in the winter. This slimmed-down List is based on what I unpacked from our bag on our return.
Kerryns Packing List
4 Tops – Including thermals
3 Jumpers – 2 knit jumpers and a lined polar fleece
2 Pairs of Pants – Jeans and heavier softshell pants from Macpac.
1 thermal pants and a singlet thermal if needed.
pJ’s
1 swimming costume if going to places with saunas or spas.
2 scarves, beanie knitted headband and warm Gloves
2 pairs of shoes – Hike shoes and snow boots
Enough underwear and socks for five days – I had 3 pairs of thick Merino socks.
Phil’s Packing List
7 pairs of Undies
3 singlets
5 socks
P.j’s
1 thermal pants
2 pants – fleece jeans & cargo pants
4 waffle shirts
2 rugby shirts
Beanie, Gloves, 2 scarves
I jacket
We have created a Printable PDF of our packing list, which you may find helpful. Sapphire Blue Travel Christmas Packing List
Final Thoughts on Packing Light for a winter trip
squeezing into a small lift in Vienna
We were so worried that if we packed light, we would not be comfortable, but in hindsight, our concern was for naught. We do not pack light for the flight from Australia; Phil and I are happy to book through. Packing Light is about making the on-the-ground experience more manageable for us.
When your itinerary includes multiple destinations, packing light will be helpful and often makes hotel rooms feel less crowded. Historically, Old buildings did not have lifts; if they are modernised, the lifts may be tiny. The smaller the bags, the easier this will be. If there is no lift, you may have to carry your luggage upstairs, which can be narrow and steep.
You can get away with wearing some clothes for multiple days. Laundry can be done as you go; you don’t have to have a washing machine in every stay. Hand washing is easier than you may think. The rooms are nearly always warm, and drying is reasonably quick. If we have a few stays without a machine, we look for a local laundrette; this may mean venturing to another part of town and checking out a new area. Even though you have to go to different places, I find having to do a load of washing helps you slow that day down as you wait for the washing.
Our journey towards packing light in winter was not without its challenges. I put so much pressure on myself and the trip, starting to pack months before we left. The more I stressed, the more what-ifs crept in, and the more I needed to upgrade our bag. However, when we finally admitted defeat, we realised it was okay. We adapted and learned from the experience, gaining confidence for our next trip. Even with larger bags, we managed a bearable weight, and the size was rarely an issue, except for our mindset.
I look forward to getting a win next time we go on a winter trip.
You’ve Got This
Packing light was our goal and aspiration, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea, I hope this post will inspire you to pack as you dream for a winter European adventure. Remember, the benefits of packing light far outweigh any initial concerns, but if you are uncomfortable, do your best and don’t let it hamper your time away.
Want more from Sapphire Blue Travel?
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