Packing for A Family Trip to Europe with One Backpack Each

If you're planning to travel to Europe with kids and know you want to pack light but are unsure how to do it, keep reading!

We took our first trip to Europe as a family of 6 last summer. We visited 3 cities in Italy, plus a Greek island, and Athens in Greece. Here is our itinerary for 2 weeks in Italy and Greece!

We were 2 adults in charge of 4 little kids, and we knew packing light would make our lives easier on travel days. We also had a stroller for our youngest, who was 3 at the time.

I've always relished the challenge of packing light, and this was my ultimate test as a mom! For weeks ahead of our trip I planned out outfits for myself and my 4 children. I strategized about what would make the cut, and what would stay home. I was ruthless in cutting things I thought were extraneous. I even had dreams and nightmares about packing for Europe!

But I pulled it off, and we ended up packing:

1 backpack for each person (6 backpacks total)
1 stroller
1 small carry-on suitcase

I was bummed we ended up needing to bring the carry-on suitcase, but with young kids, there were a few items we just could make fit in the backpack.

We wanted to make sure we had enough diapers and wipes for our youngest who wasn't potty trained yet. She had just turned 3, and while we were close to potty training success, we weren't quite confident and didn't want to risk accidents during the trip. We only brought enough diapers and wipes for our first few days, then we just purchased them as we went.

We also used the extra space in the suitcase for snacks, since I knew we would be hitting the ground running once we arrived, and we wouldn't have a lot of time to go grocery shopping. Finally, I added a medium-sized cross-body purse as my day bag for sightseeing so I would have easy access to my camera.

As the kids get older, the suitcase won't be necessary, so I look forward to taking another trip to Europe in a few years to test out packing light with older kids!

We didn't bring any car seats since we were using public transportation during the trip.

Here's how and why we packed personal item only for a 2 week trip to Europe with young children.

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Why We Chose to Bring One Personal Item Each for Our Trip to Europe

Packing personal item only is a lot of work before the trip, so I wanted to make sure I had a good reason for limiting the amount of things we brought on the trip. There are several reasons I think packing light for a trip to Europe is a good idea:

Easier to Navigate

Have you ever tried to wheel a suitcase over old cobblestone streets or uneven sidewalks? It's not fun. Now imagine walking through a crowded city with cobblestone streets herding 4 kids, all wheeling suitcases over bumpy surfaces.

We took 6 planes, 4 buses, 3 trains, 3 vans, 2 ferries, and 1 metro ride. Having only 1 suitcase to maneuver through crowds, up and down stairs, and to load and unload made our lives so much easier.

We often had to walk up to a mile to get from the train station to our apartment, too.

Ultimately, I think having fewer bags and suitcases was the best thing we could have done for all of the moving around we did. That way we could keep our kids safe, push the stroller, or hold their hands when it came to crossing busy streets, navigating crowds, and boarding public transportation.

Eliminate Decision Fatigue

My husband and I both commented several times during the trip how nice it was to only have a few clothing options to choose from. We didn't have to think about what we were wearing each day because there were only so many choices!

We did pack specific outfits for visiting churches or religious sites when we knew our shoulders and knees had to be covered, but other than that, everything we packed was able to be worn multiple ways. It was all mix and match.

When you're away from home with kids, there are a million decisions that need to be made during the day: Where should we eat? Should we push the kids to keep going, or take a break in our hotel room? Am I going in the right direction? What time do we need to leave? What should I bring in our day pack?

If you can take a few decisions off your plate by limiting what you bring on the trip, you'll thank yourself later!

Saving Money

We flew Ryan Air and Aegean Air to get to and from Greece, both of which are budget airlines that charge for carry-on bags. We were able to save money by not having lots of suitcases for those trips!

Tips for Packing Light

Packing light is a huge challenge that requires organization and foresight. This is especially true when traveling with toddlers and young children. Here are my best tips for packing light for Europe with kids:

Make a Packing List

I always end up overpacking when I just throw whatever items I see around the house in my bag. When I have specific outfits picked out for the trip and an exact list of what I want to bring, it helps me stay focused on bringing only essential items.

Or save time and grab my free packing checklist here!

Use Packing Cubes

Packing cubes keep clothes organized and tightly packed so I can fit more in my travel backpack. You can choose one large packing cube that fits inside your backpack, or two smaller ones.

There are also compression packing cubes (these compression packing cubes from Eagle Creek are a great option), and vacuum bags (which I use for winter trips) to minimize the space your clothes take up.

Another benefit of packing cubes is that all of your clothes stay grouped together so you can pack other miscellaneous items in the main pocket of your backpack.

Limit your Toiletries

When my goal is to pack light, I only bring the essential toiletry items. Now that I'm in my mid-30s I have an established skincare routine, but I whittle it down to the basics for a 2-week trip to Europe. I can survive a few weeks without my serums!

I challenge myself to fit my makeup in a reusable quart-size bag and fit the rest of my toiletries in my favorite small TSA approved clear packing cube.

Part of the fun of travel is going shopping in local supermarkets or pharmacies, so if you're really in need of skincare or other toiletries, you can always go shopping!

Choose One or Two Pairs of Shoes

Shoes take up so much space, so it's helpful to limit your options. For a summer trip, you might consider a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of sandals.

I packed 2 pairs of sandals: my Xero hiking sandals since they are lightweight, comfortable to walk in, and have a low profile, and my Greek sandals which are a little dressier but still easy to walk in. It is nice to have 2 options because alternating which shoes you wear can prevent your feet from getting too sore.

For the kids, I had each of them bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes (tennis shoes) and a pair of sandals or Crocs.

Mix and Match

Nowadays we have so many examples of capsule wardrobes online to help us figure out how to make tons of outfit combinations out of just a few pieces.

Bring 3 bottoms that match several shirts. If you're traveling in summer, one or two pairs of neutral shorts and one or two skirts or skorts should do the trick. Then bring 4-5 solid color tops that can match with several of the bottoms. Shirts are usually smaller and lighter so it's a bit easier to have more options.

I also like 1 or 2 sundresses that can be dressed up or down!

Because we travel so often, I've made a habit of buying these 3-packs or 5-packs of t-shirts for my kids. They are bright and fun, and they photograph well! I also like basic sundresses for the girls with bike shorts underneath.

Repeat Outfits

If you're traveling for more than 5 days, you will be wearing your clothes multiple times. The trick is to wash your clothes after each wear and air dry them while you're sightseeing the next day!

We mostly used Airbnb or apartments from Booking.com that gave us access to a washing machine. If you're staying in hotel rooms you can always wash clothes in the sink with travel laundry sheets. This stain remover was a lifesaver for me, too! I ended up using it almost every day on the kids' clothes with all the gelato and pasta sauce they were spilling.

You can change outfits up with jewelry, belts, and scarves that don't take up as much space.

Remember They have Stores in Europe

As a mom, I often pack with every "just in case" scenario in mind. For this trip, I had to let go of that mindset and realize that I could buy things when we arrived at our destination.

We hit the ground running with a packed itinerary when we first arrived, so I did want to make sure we had everything we needed for the first 2 or 3 days. However, once we got settled in on our trip, we enjoyed stopping at supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies to see how things like diapers, wipes, toiletries, and snacks differed from similar items in the USA.

Invest in a Travel Backpack

I invested in the Beis travel backpack for our Europe trip, and I'm so glad I did! It has a full zip opening for the main pocket so you can open it like a suitcase. I fit a large packing cube in the main pocket of the backpack with all of my clothes for the trip, plus my mirrorless camera.

There were plenty of other pockets for my makeup, toiletries, and smaller action cameras, plus a first aid kit, snacks, and my laptop.

Having a back pack that is specifically designed for travel is the best way to fit as much as you need for your long trip.

The only thing I would change about the Beis backpack is wider and more padded straps, plus a waist or chest clip to help distribute the weight. I'll be testing out a different travel backpack for my winter trip to Europe, so I'll be sure to review that one, too!

Choose Fabrics Wisely

Limit bulky fabrics like denim that take up a lot of space in your bag. Choose lightweight, breathable fabrics. Even better if they are antimicrobial and wrinkle-resistant like merino wool!

Wool sounds like it would be a bulky fabric, but my shirts from Unbound Merino are some of the lightest fabrics to pack, plus they are super soft and I can wear them several times without having to wash them, and they don't smell!

Merino wool is good option for creating a capsule wardrobe for travel!

Wear Bulkiest Clothes and Shoes on the Plane

If you do want to bring a few bulkier items, wear them on the plane to save space in your bag. Tennis shoes, a pair of jeans, or a sweater or sweatshirt fo chillier days. You can get away with layering bulky clothes on a plane since temperatures can vary widely.

How to Choose Your Travel Backpack

There are many variables to consider when you're looking to invest in a backpack specifically for backpacking Europe with kids.

It should

be spacious enough to fit all the clothes you need for a week or more
have wide straps and a waist strap or chest strap to distribute weight easily so it doesn't hurt your back when you're walking for long distances
have several small pockets to help organize odds and ends
be made of quality material so it doesn't break or fall apart on the road
be waterproof or water-resistant to protect your belongings

Other things to look for or consider:

If you're bringing a laptop or iPad, does it have a laptop sleeve to protect your electronics?
A compression strap might come in handy to create more space.
Do you need a pocket for water bottles?

What The Kids Packed

Clothes

My oldest daughter's Europe Packing list was probably the most difficult because her dresses were a little bulkier. We needed to bring something that covered her knees and shoulders for religious sites, so the dresses and skirts she picked for those experiences took up a lot of space.

Next time I would bring a lightweight skirt in a neutral color that covered her knees that she could wear multiple times for religious sites, and pair it with a short sleeve shirt so her shoulders are covered.

Here is her packing list (she turned 10 during the trip):

1 midi-length sundress
1 jumpsuit
1 midi-length skirt
1 knee-length skirt
1 pair of jean shorts
1 athletic sundress
1 matching set (lightweight pants and tank top)
2 solid color ribbed tank tops
1 dressy flutter sleeve top
1 white sweater
1 pair of leggings (worn on the plane)
1 sweatshirt (worn on the plane)
undergarments
2 pairs of sandals
1 pair of pajamas
1 book
1 reading light
Kindle Fire tablet
headphones
snacks and candy
travel journal
Instax camera

We could fit all of this into 1 regular-size school backpack, though it was a very tight squeeze. She carried her own bag for most of the trip.

I pretty much packed the same things for both of the boys. Their outfits seemed to be a little easier to choose. I included a pair of pants and a polo for religious sites, but otherwise, we had no trouble finding mix-and-match options with t-shirts and shorts.

Here is my packing list for my 6- and 7-year-old boys:

6 t-shirts (solid color or striped)
1 polo
4 pairs of shorts
1 pair of lightweight khaki pants
1 set of basketball shorts and a T-shirt for pajamas
underwear/socks
1 pair of joggers (worn on the plane)
1 sweatshirt (worn on the plane)
1 pair of tennis shoes (worn on the plane)
1 pair of sandals
1 book
1 reading light
Kindle Fire tablet
headphones
snacks and candy
travel journal

My youngest daughter was the easiest to pack for! She was 3 at the time of our trip, so her clothes were still very small and lightweight. The only obstacle is that she wasn't quite potty trained, so we had to resort to diapers and wipes. Even though we bought some throughout our trip, we still wanted to make sure we had enough for the first few days in case any delays happened or we weren't able to get to a store.

Here's what we packed in her backpack:

6 sundresses
3 pairs of bike shorts for under the sundresses
1 sweatshirt (worn on the plane)
2 pairs of leggings (1 worn on the plane)
1 white sweater
1 pair of shorts
1 tank top
socks and underwear
1 pair of tennis shoes (worn on the plane)
1 pair of sandals
Crayola Color Wonder coloring book and markers
snacks and candy
Kindle Fire tablet
headphones

Swimsuits

You might be wondering about swimsuits since we spent some time at the beach in Greece. We decided to move all of the swimsuits into 1 packing cube that we put in the carry-on bag.

Since we had to bring the suitcase anyway, we thought we would keep the swimsuits there since we wouldn't need them the entire first week. We also brought inflatable water wings for the younger 2 kids.

Toiletries

Toothbrushes and Toothpaste: We put all the toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids in one quart size bag.
1 travel-size hairbrush
ponytail holders
deodorant

My Europe Packing List

We spent all of our time in Southern Europe where we had warm weather then entire time we were there. Here's what I packed in one backpack for 2 weeks in Europe. I used the Beis backpack which was a game changer since it opens like a suitcase and has a compression strap!

Clothes

1 midi dress with covered shoulders for religious sites (I splurged a little on this dress. I bought mine from a local boutique but I was able to track it down online!)
1 nice dress (I only wore this once and felt like it was unnecessary)
1 merino wool dress (SUPER soft, lightweight, doesn’t wrinkle or get smelly! My favorite travel dress)
1 skort (another favorite travel piece - I bring this one almost every trip and it’s SO comfortable for walking around but still looking nice)
2 skirts (midi length - found mine at Kohls but I can’t find a link to the ones I have)
1 pair of bike shorts for under the skirts
4 solid color tank tops (white, 2 black, navy blue)
1 merino wool t-shirt (again, don’t be fooled by the word “wool.” This is so soft and lightweight, helps your body regulate temperature, doesn’t need to be washed often, and doesn’t smell)
1 pair of hiking sandals
1 pair of Greek sandals
1 pair of leggings (worn on the plane)
1 lightweight jacket (perfect for travel days)
1 summer sweater (did not use this once the entire trip. I totally regret bringing this)
1 swimsuit (in the carry-on suitcase)
1 coverup (in the carry-on suitcase)
socks, bras, underwear

Toiletries

quart-size makeup bag
dry shampoo (travel size)
moisturizer
toothpaste
toothbrush
facial sunscreen
razor
travel size shampoo and conditioner (I was glad i brought this! Many of the apartments we stayed in didn't have any in the showers)
deodorant
coconut oil (to remove makeup)
makeup remover cloth

1 had 1 quart-size bags for my makeup, and this clear organizer for the rest of my toiletries. I put my deodorant and makeup remover cloth in one of the small pockets in my backpack.

Electronics

laptop and charger
iPhone and charger
portable charger (this is the best option for charging your phone on the go!)
Sony Alpha a7 ii mirrorless camera and charger (in this protector case)
GoPro camera and charger
Cannon vlogging camera
mini tripod (waste of space - I did not use this)
cord organizer for all the chargers

Miscellaneous Items

Protein shakes and bars. I almost left the protein shakes at home, but since we decided to bring the suitcase anyway, I ended up throwing them in.
Shaker cup for the protein shakes
small backpack or purse for sightseeing
extra canvas bag or drawstring bag for overflow (THIS was so important to have as we bought more diapers and wipes and snacks along the way)
printed out travel plans in a folder (we traveled with my parents during the Italy portion of the trip, and I wanted to make sure everyone had access to the itinerary)
crossbody bag (worn on the plane)
small wallet with a few credit cards
passports and passport holder (I've been using the same one since I was in highschool)

Now that I'm looking back at a written list of everything we brought, I think I overpacked and could easily have packed much lighter!

I think I was too worried about trying to look stylish like the TikTok girlies, but the truth is that wearing what you're comfortable in is much more important than trying to wear the latest trends. Those are the clothes I reached for over and over again since we were doing so much walking and it was so warm outside!

International Coverage for Cell Phones

We use ATT for our cell phones, and just use the international plan. We just add the International Day Pass, and it costs $10/day for each day we use it abroad for unlimited talk, text, internet usage, etc. It's $5/day for each additional line, so for my husband and I it's $15/day. They only charge you for the first 10 days, anything after that is free! So we ended up paying $150 for our international plan on our trip.

That is definitely not the cheapest way to do it - just the most convenient. I know many people use a local sim card or even an e-sim card.

Baby and Toddler Gear

On this trip our youngest was 3 years old and we were not renting a car during our trip, so we didn't need to bring much extra gear. Our daughter sleeps in a regular bed, and we didn't have to bring a car seat.

Even though she wasn't fully potty trained, she was doing a pretty good job during the day so we didn't need to carry a diaper bag around. I always threw one or 2 extra diapers or pull-ups and a small pack of wipes in my purse or in the bottom of the stroller just in case.

The one thing we did bring was a GREAT travel stroller. We use the Zoe Tour+ stroller and LOVED using it in Europe! It's very lightweight and maneuvers easily, even on cobblestones and uneven sidewalks. It's also easy to collapse or set up with 1 hand, which was so nice when were were boarding busses, trains, ferries, and planes. I will definitely be bringing this same stroller on our next trip to Europe in winter!

We took our oldest to London and Paris when she was 14 months, and still managed to pack very light! We stayed only in places that had a crib to use. If you are traveling with a baby or younger toddler, here are some things to think about bringing:

comfortable baby carrier (we always loved this one when our babies were little!)
diaper bag with diapers and wipes
travel bed/crib (if your hotel or apartment doesn't provide one)
car seat (or rent one when you arrive) if you're renting a car
Slumber Pod
portable sound machine
manual breast pump (if you're pumping)
bottles
formula and bottles (if you formula feed)
sippy cup
a great travel stroller

Taking the whole family to Europe with a backpack each is a great way to move around the continent and see as much as you can!

Our particular trip was easier to pack for since we were not moving around different climates, and we only had to pack items for warmer weather.

Try to remember that you don't need that much stuff for a great trip, and the worst thing that can happen is you'll have to stop and buy an umbrella or sweater. As long as you have the important things (phone, wallet, and passports), you can get away with much less than you think.

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