As a travel blogger I frequently spend my summers hopping on and off various modes of transport all across Europe, from planes to trains, manoeuvring around airport terminals, locating those hidden gem boutique hotels along narrow lanes and often I have a short turn around before I’m jetting off again!
While I have a lot of fun dashing from one destination to another, I also need to be practical and my quick and efficient packing skill is something that I’ve honed along the way! This style of travel maybe daunting for some, but not for me, I have developed a knack for packing exactly what I need for any style of trip and with just a carry-on!
Starting with a well-organised piece of carry-on luggage and packing cube set to creating a proper capsule wardrobe including an ‘everything dress’ and versatile sandals that you don’t even have to think about, here are my personal tips for how to pack a carry-on only for Europe, that’s going to make journeys so much easier!
PROFESSIONAL CARRY ON PACKING TIPS FOR EUROPE!
1. Start With A Well Organised Carry-on Suitcase
One of my favourite carry on packing tips is to start with a beautifully organised strong suitcase, years of experience has taught me that having the right piece of luggage can make all the difference and while I’ve tested many styles of luggage my favourite is the LEVEL8 Voyageur carry-on suitcase! A stylish hard-shell case designed with organised packing in mind. I love having dedicated compartments for keeping my clothing, shoes and travel essentials neatly separated, making everything much easier to find when I arrive at my destination!
Why I Chose the LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On for Europe
When travelling around Europe, I want a suitcase that’s as practical as it is stylish, especially when I’m moving between airports, beautiful boutique hotels and different destinations. The LEVEL8 Voyageur carry-on suitcase caught my attention with its sleek hard-shell design, TSA lock, spacious compartments and thoughtful organisation features.
What I particularly like is the wide-handle design, which makes the suitcase feel comfortable to manoeuvre, while the separate packing compartments help keep my clothing, shoes and travel essentials neatly organised – there’s even a useful waterproof pouch. I also cannot be without smooth spinner wheels, another wonderful feature when navigating busy airports and hotel corridors!
For me, travelling carry-on only doesn’t mean compromising on style or leaving behind everything I love. It’s about packing smarter, choosing versatile pieces and having a beautifully organised suitcase that makes the whole journey feel a little more effortless.
Special Level 8 Voyageur carry-on suitcase offer for my readers – use code “littlewanderblog15” at checkout for an additional 15% discount!
2. Have A Go-To Personal Item Bag
Often your personal item bag can be equally as important as your main carry-on case for smoother travel days! I typically use the water resistant Atlas Laptop Backpack, which holds my laptop safely in a secure heavily padded compartment – there’s 26 organiser pockets in total for stashing your most valuable items such as money, passport, cards and electronics with a strong top handle and thick back straps for comfort – its something I always grab!
Tip! As I usually travel hand luggage only, I often find taking the Level 8 Voyageur hard-case carry-on plus a laptop-friendly backpack plentiful for trips around Europe, packing my essentials in the Atlas backpack and everything else in the carry-on case, which remains locked – it works everytime!
3. Use Packing Cubes To Maximise Space
Packing cubes are my go-to for keeping my capsule wardrobe organised, saving time and maximising suitcase space! Using this set from Level8, I separate tops and bottoms in to one cube with nightwear and underwear in another, rolling them neatly to complete my well-oiled system, it’s something I return to for every trip!
4. Organise Electronics & Accessories
Electronics and Accessories are best separated into smaller cubes for a more streamlined packing process! As a frequent traveller, I always bring the same items, using two of my smaller Level8 packing cubes to neatly organise electronics such as plug adaptors, chargers and earbuds etc and my personal accessories like jewellery, make up, hair, vitamins and other easy-to-misplace items – you can quickly locate them as needed!
5. Keep Important Documents Within Easy Reach
Continuing with your travel organisation, you should absolutely keep your most important items together and within easy reach, for this you can use a passport organiser and if you have a Level8 Atlas backpack there are plenty of safe internal compartments to store your passport, cards, money, keys and cash, I just put them in the same place every time when I’m ready to go to the airport!
6. Create A Easy Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is going to be your time saver both abroad when deciding what to wear, packing and creating a lightweight effortless wardrobe, a handful of put together planned outfits that you know will worth together! How? Pick a selection of three colours and fabrics that blend well, recently I took, spring blue, pink, lemon and white along with layering items, such as a white tank, blue shirt and crotchet cardigan – these are always my go-to!
7. Pack One “Everything Dress”
At some point on your holiday you’ll want a more elevated look whether that’s for a beach club, walking around Rome or an evening out and this is where the ‘everything dress’ comes in! A simple but effective dress that takes you from day to night depending upon what you pair it with! For me, that’s a cream or white flattering bodycon dress shin length – pictured!
8. Choose Versatile Footwear
Footwear can quickly take up space in your carry-on, so you want to carefully select three different pairs that will go with all of your planned outfits! A pair of walking shoes/trainers and two pairs of versatile sandals are all you need for a week in Europe. a dressy pair – gold is best, low healed or sliders that work with skirts or trousers and a comfortable neutral leather pair!
9. Keep It Simple!
For carry-on only you just need to keep things simple to avoid overpacking! Ideally pieces that rotate effortlessly, are lightweight and great for layering, avoid throwing in random tops that will never see the light of day, instead pack thoughtfully and intentionally – remember you don’t need a brand new outfit everyday! Packing for a carry-on only has definitely taught me to make better choices!
What I Actually Pack for a Week in Europe
After years of travelling around Europe, I’ve become much more selective about what makes it into my suitcase! For a week away, I like versatile pieces that mix and match effortlessly, with a few stylish extras for evenings out. Here’s my typical summer packing list, all designed to fit neatly into my Level8 Voyageur carry-on suitcase!
My 7 Day Europe Carry-On Packing List!
- 2 x lightweight trousers
- 2 x shorts (casual/structured)
- 1 x versatile skirt
- 1 x tank top
- 3 x tops (tops or blouses)
- 1 x summer dress (everything dress)
- 1 x lightweight cardigan or jacket
- 1 x swimsuit & cover-up
- 3 x pairs of shoes (sandals and trainers)
- 1 x small crossbody bag
- 1 x small clutch bag
- 1 x foldable sun hat
- 1 x underwear & sleepwear
My secret? I wear my bulkiest pieces on travel days and use packing cubes to keep everything organised inside my LEVEL8 Voyageur carry-on!
What I Pack in My Personal Item Bag
I always keep my in-flight essentials in a separate personal bag, so everything I might need during the journey is within easy reach, without having to open my carry-on suitcase! My personal bag essentials:
- Passport & travel documents
- Bank cards, cash & travel wallet
- Essential makeup & skincare
- Travel-size toiletries & lip balm
- iPad, phone & earbuds
- Chargers, cables & power bank
- Kindle or a good book
- Sunglasses & a small jewellery pouch
- Medication & personal essentials
Tip! I only take my face skincare – packing 3-4 travel sized favourites, I use the hotel’s own shower gels and body lotions, in Mykonos I was provided with Jo Malone products, which more than helped!
SUMMER CARRY ON PACKING TIPS FOR EUROPE!
Travel Day Outfit – Important
Choose an outfit that makes you feel put together from the airport, flight to hotel check in, it needs to do everything at once; comfort, polished and flexibility. Layer a soft knit set, tank top and shawl, jacket or cardigan knit for cold cabins, plus your one pair of trainers!
Lightweight Summer Linen
Breathable linen is wonderful for hot weather, bring two or three key pieces that are weightless, a skirt or trousers, top or shirt in mix and match neutrals that you can easily wear – and the crumple look still comes off as structured and effortless!
Statement Accessories
Use statement accessories to elevate an neutral linen outfit without adding extra weight, a stylish pair of sunglasses, colourful summers scarf (for your hair/straw bag/shoulders) or a few statement jewellery pieces can make all the difference!
Foldable Sun-Hat
Foldable sun-hats should be your priority, they pack well and are light weight I always take a foldable large hat that will elevate my outfits and double as a sun protector.
Swim & Cover Pieces
A swimsuit and cover up piece can be extremely versatile! A well-fitted swimsuit can double as an outfit under shorts or a skirt for example, while your cover up should feel like a real piece of clothing, a shirt or wrap around skirt can take you from the pool to lunch without the need for changing!
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE FOR EUROPE TRAVEL: FAQ
What makes a good cabin suitcase?
What makes a good cabin suitcase is great design, durability and smooth movement, I look for ease of use, a strong and tall handle with additional side handles and smart compartments to maximise packing space, such as Level 8 Voyageur carry-on– hard-shell my favourite!
How are spinner wheels more beneficial?
Spinner wheels are incredible, they rotate 360-degrees, which offer a smoother experience when wheeling across the airport terminal and your hotel lobby! Spinner wheel effortlessly glide!
Is there a universal airline size for hand luggage?
No, unfortunately this is not possible due to the differences between the airlines size and weight limits and whether you’re travelling on budget airlines within Europe or internationally – check the policy with your carrier before flying!
The Secret To Packing Carry-On Only For Europe!
After years of travelling around Europe, I’ve learnt that packing carry-on only is all about choosing versatile pieces, staying organised and keeping things simple! My favourite carry on packing tips are to create a lightweight capsule wardrobe, use packing cubes and wear bulkier items on travel days. With a well-organised suitcase like my LEVEL8 Voyageur, I can enjoy a stylish week away without the hassle of checked luggage – and still have everything I need!
Level 8 Voyageur Discount Code
If you have decided to explore Level 8 Carry-on Luggage, you can earn yourself a 15% discount right now with my personal code littlewanderblog15 – happy shopping!
This post is part of a paid collaboration with LEVEL8, who also gifted me the Voyageur carry-on suitcase. All opinions and packing recommendations are my own.
Read Next:
- Level 8 Voyageur Suitcase – My Honest Review!
- Carry-on Luggage For Europe Travel: Which Style Should You Choose?
- Carry-on Essentials: Complete Packing Checklist
- Winter City Break: Complete Packing List!
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Michelle Trudie, is the founder of Little Wanderblog, a luxury boutique travel site. She has travelled to over 30 countries in the last 15 years. Michelle share’s her passion for stylish and affordable luxury travel experiences in Europe and beyond! Her goal is to make travel planning easier to hidden gem places!