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We bring you the perfect Europe travel outfits for the winter because we know keeping warm always goes hand in hand with looking stylish.
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If you are traveling to Europe in the winter, one of the most important things to consider is what to wear to Europe in winter. Because surviving the cold is essential to enjoying your trip and having the best European experience, we’re going to delve into the intricacies of packing for a winter trip to Europe in this post.
Winter Travel Tips
For every Europe trip, especially in winter and those other times when it’s cold, our goal should always be three things: one, keep warm; two, pack light; and three, always look great all the while.
1. Pack Light
Packing light is very important. Between navigating Europe’s small, cobbled streets and trying to fit into cramped elevators (or in most cases, just a narrow staircase, really) in tiny hotels, you don’t want to be lugging around large, heavy suitcases. That’s just really inconvenient and tiring! So it’s best to just bring a carry-on with you.
2. Stay Warm
Staying warm is essential because you don’t want to be freezing your behind and not enjoy your Europe trip as a result.
3. Look Stylish
Lastly, don’t sacrifice being stylish and looking fashionable to achieve the first two. You can still look your very best and keep up with those chic Europeans even when you packed light and are trying to keep yourself warm.
Tips on Packing Your Europe Travel Outfits for Winter
1. Pack for the Coldest Region
Since Europe is huge, one part of the continent may have a different kind of winter weather than another part. For instance, winter in Scandinavian countries is not the same as those in the southern portion like Italy or Spain. One rule to follow when packing for outfits to wear in Europe during winter is to pack for the coldest region or country you’ll be traveling to.
2. Dress in Layers
Another rule to follow is to dress in layers. Dressing in layers enables you to keep warm while also traveling light. Since you’re bringing lightweight clothes that you can layer on while in Europe, your luggage won’t be heavy.
3. Choose Neutrals
When selecting the travel outfits you’ll be bringing to Europe, go for those in neutral colors as they’re easier to mix and match. Neutral-toned clothes almost always go with anything, so you wouldn’t have a hard time trying to pair them up with other pieces.
Europe Travel Outfits: Bags
Let’s briefly touch on the most basic gear you’ll need for your winter travel: bags.
Carry-on Luggage
Keeping your Europe travel light means carrying just one piece of luggage for your Europe travel outfits, which is ideally your carry-on. “Is that even possible?”, you ask. Of course, it is! I’ve done many a winter travel with just a carry-on and I’ve been more than fine. So I’m sure you would be too.
With just a carry-on, you don’t need to check bags at the airport, which makes arriving and departing easier and faster. This is also handy when traveling within Europe using budget airlines like easyJet and Ryanair as you no longer need to pay for checked baggage. Plus, as I’ve said earlier, carry-on makes navigating Europe’s narrow streets much easier.
Day Pack
You need a day pack for your day trips. A day pack allows you to bring just the few things you need for the limited purpose of day excursions. Like maybe a place to put in your maps, water bottles, food, or extra change of Europe travel outfits.
Choose a day pack that’s light and can be folded or stored easily in your luggage when not in use. If you’re bringing laptops or tablets with you during day trips, however, get a sturdier day pack that can better protect your electronics and gadgets.
This ultra-lightweight backpack makes a perfect day pack! It’s foldable and water-resistant, has enough pockets for all the things you need to bring for a day, and has an ergonomic design that benefits your shoulders. No wonder it’s highly rated by many!
Extra Bag
An extra bag comes in handy when you’re going to do some shopping while in Europe. They’re perfect as storage spaces for those souvenirs or whatnot you bought. An extra bag could be a satchel, another backpack, or a duffel bag.
Compression Packing Cubes
Compression packing cubes ensure your things will fit better in your carry-on luggage. That down coat you must bring in winter would fold and store better with a compression packing cube.
Europe Travel Outfits: What to Wear in Winter in Europe
So the next question is: what to wear in winter in Europe? Regardless of where in Europe you’re going, you always need to pack these basic clothes for winter travel.
Thermal Clothes
The secret to packing light and keeping warm without resorting to bulky winter wear is thermal clothes. Also, thermal clothes are basic wear in Europe in the winter.
They’re perfect for layering since you can wear them under your regular street clothes. They are the reason why many can pull off the skinny jeans look even at the height of winter. Just throw a pair of thermal leggings under your jeans or don a regular shirt with a thermal top underneath and, voilà, you’re still warm. You can even rock a long skirt in the middle of winter because you are wearing a pair of thermal pants below!
Winter Coat
Don’t forget to bring a trusty winter coat. It doesn’t matter where in Europe you are in winter, a coat is always your best friend. Choose a thicker one for freezing temperatures and a thinner coat in milder winter weather.
When choosing coats for winter, I look for three things: one, they must be made of wool as I’ve noticed that they’re much more effective in keeping me warm. Down jackets are great too! Second, I like them waterproof because they help me stay dry in the rain. And third, it’s better if they’re oversized to give me enough room underneath for effective layering.
For the best coat to wear in Europe during winter, check out our top coat picks that combine functionality and style.
Knitwear
Good knitwear is a staple piece in your winter wardrobe, traveling or not. Whether it’s a sweater or a cardigan, these pieces will keep you warm and cozy.
When Europe-bound in the winter, I usually pack one thick sweater and a few lightweight ones. Since I’ll be wearing a thermal top underneath, I can then afford to wear lightweight sweaters that look more stylish.
Here are some beautiful sweaters to consider.
Turtleneck
Timeless and elegant, turtlenecks make fabulous additions to your winter wardrobe. They give you that classy vibe and look attractive whether alone or under your coat.
You can also choose to wear a high-neck mock collar like this which similarly protects your neck from the cold like a turtleneck would, but is more versatile since you can wear it with other tops.
Pants
Don’t forget to pack a pair of pants. Skinny jeans are fine, but if you’re traveling to places where temperatures tend to drop so low, then it’s best to choose looser ones to make room for a pair of thermal pants to wear underneath them.
Shoes
Since we’re traveling light, pack just one pair of shoes. And because we’re limited to only a pair, a pair of comfortable boots would fit the bill nicely. Boots not only keep your feet warm, but they also ensure they’re dry.
When choosing boots, get the ones that are comfortable and versatile enough to be worn with just about anything. Also, slip-on ones that would be easy enough to wear on and off are convenient, especially when you’re going through airport security.
Related Read: The Best Ankle Boots for Walking in Europe
Europe Travel Outfits: Other Essentials
Don’t forget to pack your other small essentials like a hat, scarves, gloves, and socks.
Hats
For hats, a cute knitted wool beanie will not only do the job but would look pretty as well.
Gloves
Knitted gloves are great, but you can always choose the leather variety if you want to look sleek and fab.
Scarves
I always love to bring a few different scarves with me. They not only keep me warm and cozy when traveling, but they’re great fashion statements as well–add color when you want to look bright and interesting, bring a new dimension to your look, or make you all kinds of stylish. These are all especially true when you’re wearing mostly neutral-toned clothes. Plus, they don’t take up much luggage space, so they’re super convenient to bring.
I love scarves like this.
But my super favorites are chunky ones like this that envelop me just so and feel like a comfortingly warm hug, especially on those biting cold winters.
Socks
When it comes to winter socks, look for lightweight ones that will still keep you warm, but won’t take up much space in your luggage.
Others
Don’t forget to pack an umbrella, a lotion, and a lip balm. An umbrella for those inevitable showers. Lotion and lip balm because nothing brings out skin dryness more than cold weather.
Related Read: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm for Luscious Lips with a Pop of Color
Wrap Up
When traveling to Europe in the winter, be sure to pack right by carefully choosing the clothes and items you will be bringing. This will ensure you will have the best experience during your travel. Also, remember that packing light and keeping warm is not mutually exclusive with looking great and stylish. So happy packing and happy Europe travels in the winter!
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