We just returned from our latest European family vacation, and I felt like I needed a vacation from our vacation. Although we went on a guided trip with Adventures by Disney, I still had so much advance preparation that I needed to do before we left.
When traveling to Europe with the family, it’s so important that you have everything that you’ll need. You want to maximize your vacation time, as well as your comfort, during the trip. If you are planning an overseas trip, be sure to add these items to your European packing list. (Traveling to Spain? Check out this list with what to pack for Spain).
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Europe Packing List for a Family Vacation
At the bottom of this post, you’ll find our city and/or beach vacation lists. These include some basics that you’ll want to include, such as clothing, toiletries, and other essentials. Since you are unlikely to have access to a washing machine in your hotel room, you’ll want to make enough items while still making sure you pack light.
I also recommend using packing cubes, which can be a great way to organize items and keep them wrinkle-free. It’s also important that you look to see if there is a dress code you’ll need to follow at any of the destinations. For instance, for our summer travel to Greece, there was one restaurant that didn’t allow shorts.
Pack neutral colors so you can mix and match things, and re-wear items that you only wear for a short time.
For a trip to Europe, you may want to add some of these additional items that will make things easier. Here are some of the things we recommend:
Lightweight Backpack
When I head out for the day, I tend to bring along a lot of things, including EpiPens, a cell phone, a spare charger (power bank), a waterproof camera, water, snacks, etc. A lightweight backpack is essential.
You can use it as a carry-on bag for the plane, and then daily as you venture out into town. Just make sure that you keep it carefully secured when you are in crowded areas since pickpockets can target tourists.
I like this lightweight, affordable backpack. It has side pockets that are perfect for holding water bottles. Even if you have a different bag that you want to use in Europe, it can be a great idea to pack a small backpack in your suitcase. It can be a great way to bring home items you’ve purchased on your trip and won’t take up much space.
Handbag
I also like bringing along a lightweight handbag for the times when I’m just running out to dinner and don’t want to bring along a huge bag. A black, anti-theft bag is versatile and perfect for travel. Here’s one on Amazon that is great for travel.
You may also consider a lightweight tote bag, a money belt, or a cross-body bag. You’ll use this for the times when you don’t want to use your day bag / larger backpack.
European Adaptor
If your family, like mine, has a large selection of devices that need to be charged each evening, you’ll need to pack numerous European adaptors.
I love this adaptor, which can charge multiple devices at once. We used this during our trip and it was perfect. I put it in our carry-on bag, so I could also use it to recharge our devices during our layover in Zurich. That way, we only needed to find one outlet to use in the airport.
If you are visiting multiple European countries during your trip, this can be one of the most important items. Some different countries, like England and France, for instance, use different outlets.
Medication
In addition to the prescriptions that you should bring with you, you should also consider packing some over-the-counter medications that you may need. I brought a few things so that I had them in case I needed them.
Luckily, we didn’t, but it was good to have them with us. One thing that I wish I brought was hydrocortisone cream – my daughter got hives on our third day and it would have been helpful.
If you have a child with food allergies, it’s also a good idea to bring a food allergy card. I purchased two online in the languages of the countries we were visiting, so we didn’t have any language barriers in expressing that crucial information.
Once I printed it, I laminated it so it wouldn’t get damaged during our travels. It came in handy when we went for lunch and dinner on our own (not with our Adventures by Disney group).
If you do pack a first aid kit with over-the-counter medications, make sure that the medications are permitted in the countries you are visiting.
Google Maps
This isn’t something specific to pack, but it’s still important. While you are on cellular data or WiFi, you can download Google Maps for the local area that you are traveling to. That way, you can access Google Maps data while you are not connected. Do it before you leave so you don’t forget.
Portable Charger
Although I don’t use my phone as much when I’m traveling overseas, it still seems to run out of power halfway through the day. Bring along a portable charger to make sure that you can charge on the go. This is my favorite one – just be sure to pack a separate European adaptor since this plugs directly into the wall.
Water Bottle
I use a water bottle from the moment my flight takes off until the minute I land back home. Bring along a reusable water bottle (plus dishwashing soap to wash it on the go) for each person in your family. Fill them up at the airport, and then use them during your trip. Because you can’t bring that much liquid through airport security, you’ll want to fill them up after the TSA checkpoint.
For places where it isn’t safe to drink tap water, refill them with bottled water. A good reusable bottle will keep the water colder than a regular disposable bottle will. Just remember to wash them each night, so that they are nice and clean in the morning for your next day.
Travel Journal
It’s easy to forget everything that you did on your adventure, so I recommend bringing along a travel journal. Take notes daily in the evenings so that you don’t forget anything about your trip. You can put together a traveler’s notebook, or just bring along any notebook. I also take tons of pictures, which serve as a visual reminder of our vacation.
Airplane Essentials
If your European trip includes an overnight flight, you’ll want to be comfortable while you try to get a little bit of sleep. If you are flying in economy, you may want to bring a travel pillow and a comfortable blanket.
Comfortable Shoes
You should make sure that you bring along some comfortable shoes for your European family vacation. I usually wear FitFlops on my travels, but I found that some of our stops in Greece required more substantial shoes. Flip Flops don’t necessarily have the best support, especially if you are going to walk most of the day.
The Acropolis, for instance, had some very slippery rocks to walk over. If you don’t enjoy wearing tennis shoes, these KEEN sandals I wore worked well. Otherwise, my favorite walking sneakers are OnCloud.
Document Holder/Folder
When you travel to Europe, you’ll have some important documents including passports and travel confirmations. I like to bring a travel documents holder for these travel essentials. Be sure to put these important items in your personal item on the plane so they have no risk of getting lost.
Credit Cards
Using credit cards can be the easiest and most convenient way to make purchases in Europe. You’ll want to check with your credit card providers in advance to make sure there are no foreign transaction fees. I usually won’t use debit cards and find credit cards to be easier.
Have you traveled to Europe with your kids? What do you include on your Europe packing list for a family vacation?
More Packing Tips Resources: Looking for more packing tips and recommendations? Here are all of our posts including packing lists, product recommendations, and ideas for specific trips.
