We’ve created the ultimate Winter in Europe packing list that has all the essentials, as well as what NOT to pack. Plus, we’re sharing what to wear to Christmas Markets and how to curate a perfect capsule wardrobe.
After four European Christmas market trips, we know a thing or two about what to pack and how to dress for winter in Europe!
We’re walking you through all the things you’ll want to pack as well as what to wear to Christmas markets so you stay cozy, yet chic. Plus, we’re sharing some travel essentials you won’t want to forget to bring with you.
The best part is that if you follow this guide, you should be able to fit everything into a carryon, which will make your life so much easier. (Trust me when I say you don’t want to lug around a giant suitcase on cobblestone roads in the cold!)
Get ready to start packing!
Winter in Europe Packing Guide
For more tips and advice for planning your winter in Europe packing list, jump to the following sections (or just keep scrolling to see it all!).
- What to wear to Christmas markets
- Travel essentials for winter in Europe
- Packing tips for visiting Europe in winter
- Winter in Europe packing checklist
- European Christmas Market resources
What to wear to Christmas markets
There are some trips where you probably won’t think too much about how you look – like trekking to Everest Base Camp or spending hours each day underwater on a liveaboard diving trip.
But for Christmas markets in Europe, you might be thinking about how you’ll look in photos (and next to all those famously chic Europeans), in addition to staying comfy and cozy. And striking a balance between the two can be a tad overwhelming.
I can help with that!
While you’re going through this list of what to wear to Christmas markets, keep in mind these 2 guidelines:
- Think of your clothing as a capsule wardrobe. Pack items that work well with each other so you can create multiple outfits from fewer individual pieces. You want to be prepared with layers, but you don’t want to overpack. Trust me.
- Pack only enough clothes for 2 weeks. Even if your trip is longer, aim to only pack 2 weeks worth of clothes and plan to do laundry while you’re on your trip.
Women’s clothing
- 2-3 sweaters and/or cardigans in varying weights
- This sweater is made with alpaca wool and is super soft and cozy
- This cute chunky sweater is a great affordable option
- Long sleeve shirts: This is one of my favorites and goes with everything
- Short sleeve shirts
- Jeans and/or pants
- Leggings
- Skirt or dress with fleece-lined tights (optional)
- Swimsuit (optional, for hot tubs or saunas)
- Thermals: I love this thermal shirt
- Lounging clothes for in your accommodation and/or pajamas
- These joggers are so cozy for lounging
Men’s clothing
- Long sleeve shirts
- This men’s long sleeve is super comfy and looks nice too
- Short sleeve shirts
- This men’s performance t-shirt will wick away moisture, but doesn’t look like athletic wear
- Flannels/button ups
- This long sleeve button up can be casual or dressed up
- Sweater or fleece (like this warm and cozy half button sweater)
- Jeans
- Pants: Ben is obsessed with these pants that are super comfy (and good for hiking), but also look really nice and can be dressed up.
- Swim trunks (optional, for hot tubs or saunas)
- Thermals: This is a solid base layer and this one is a nice quarter zip (Ben loves a good quarter zip!)
- Lounging clothes for in your accommodation and/or pajamas
- These joggers are so cozy for lounging
Outerwear
- Winter jacket
- This is the jacket I wore for our most recent Christmas market trip
- This men’s coat is warm, waterproof, and looks nice
- Lighter jacket
- Ben has this stylish jacket and loves it
Accessories
- Winter hat
- I’ve had this one for years and really like it!
- This is Ben’s go-to
- Mittens or gloves: this unisex pair is made with wool and is touch-screen compatible
- Sunglasses: I’ve been wearing these for years and love that they are polarized and affordable
- Scarf
- I have this scarf with a hidden pocket, which can be a good way to stay warm and keep your valuables safe at Christmas markets.
- Jewelry (optional)
Footwear
- Warm and comfortable boots: I like a Chelsea style because they work well with lots of different outfits. Depending on what activities you have planned, you might also want to bring a pair of proper winter boots.
- These Chelsea boots are versatile and have an excellent grip
- I also love these boots, which are unisex
- Ben has had these boots for years and loves them
- Wool socks (these say men’s, but they also work for women!)
- Lighter-weight socks
- Comfy walking shoes
- Travel slippers
Tips for what to wear to Christmas markets
- Christmas markets are almost always outside, so keep that in mind when choosing your clothing and outerwear.
- Christmas markets typically begin in the afternoon and go until after dark (aka the coldest part of the day!).
- Pack a coat you love. You can put lots of effort into your outfits, but you’ll end up mostly looking the same in photos since you’ll be outside and wearing your coat a lot. So this is the item I’d put the most thought into. Your coat should be one you really like that fits over your layers.
- Thermals are your friend. They can go under your outfits and will keep you warm on the coldest days.
- Be prepared for all types of weather – rain, chilly temps, and warm, sunny days. You will likely get all of the above.
- Plan to wear layers that you can easily add or remove.
- Pack light, especially if you are traveling around Europe by train
- Europe is large and each region has its own climate. Check out this breakdown to get a better idea of average temperatures and snowfall in the areas you are traveling, as this will impact your clothing choices.
- Know that you can buy things pretty easily in Europe. All the big cities have stores like H&M and Zara, as well as smaller clothing stores. Don’t stress too much when you’re packing because if you do find you need something, you should be able to get it without too much of a hassle.
- Choose comfortable shoes! You will be walking a ton, and heels on cobblestone is not a good combination. Comfort is key.
- Pack 2 weights of most things. You’ll want a warm jacket and a lighter-weight one. Same goes for sweaters and socks.
What NOT to wear to European Christmas markets
I’d recommend dressing in what you’re comfortable in, but here are two basics that can be helpful:
- Many Europeans tend to wear dark colors, so if you want to blend in, you can go this route. However, I think a brightly-colored jacket or sweater is beautiful, so don’t shy away if that’s your style!
- Aim for the middle of the road in terms of dressiness. You won’t want to wear sweats out of your hotel, but you also won’t want anything too dressy (unless you’re planning to attend a fancy event). Everyday casual is where it’s at!
Travel essentials for winter in Europe
- Travel insurance
- We have an entire guide that goes over how to choose the best policy for you in detail.
- eSIM
- If you’ve never done this before, our guide to getting an eSIM will be super helpful!
- Quality, hard-sided luggage (we love our Away suitcases!)
- AirTags (optional): we like to put these in our luggage to be able to track it (this is especially helpful in case of lost luggage)
- Crossbody bag or fanny pack
- Water bottle (I love this one because it has a built-in straw)
- Packing cubes
- Dirty laundry bag
- Laundry detergent sheets
- Stuffable shopping bag
- Electronics
- What you need will vary from person to person, but this can include a laptop, phone, chargers, earphones, etc.
- Camera equipment
- Again, this will vary from person to person. Some people will only need their phone, while others (like us!) will want to bring a camera, drone, tripod, batteries, SD cards, lens cleaner, etc.
- Kindle
- Universal adapter
- Power bank
- Toiletries
- We pack our toiletries in a bag like this one to make sure everything stays organized.
- These bottles are great for filling with shampoo, face wash, body wash, etc.
- These zip pouches are super handy for things like Q-tips, cotton pads, etc.
- Makeup basics (optional)
- Travel-friendly straightener or curling iron (optional)
- Homeopathic jet lag pills (optional)
- Travel umbrella
Packing tips for winter in Europe
- Don’t pack too much. You’ll be carrying your luggage through train stations and over cobblestone roads, and you really won’t want to overpack. Trust us!
- Carry both cash and credit cards. Though some markets in bigger cities are completely cashless, you’ll want to have some cash and coin on you as well. We always withdraw from an ATM when we arrive in a new country, as they have a better rate than exchange booths or ordering from your home bank.
- Read more about our personal credit card recommendations!
- Leave room for souvenirs! One of the most fun things about going to Christmas markets is buying gifts and souvenirs to bring home, so you’ll definitely want to save some space in your luggage.
- Use sweaters or socks to wrap around any mugs you bring home. Each Christmas market has a collectible mug you can bring home. Whether you bring one or a bunch home, you’ll want to be sure to wrap them well so they don’t break in your suitcase. Some people pack bubble wrap for this purpose, but I’ve always just wrapped them in sweaters or socks and it has worked great without adding any extra bulk to my packing.
Skiing in Europe?
If you’re planning to ski during your European winter getaway, you’ll have a few more items to think about.
- Snow pants
- Ski jacket
- Goggles
- Waterproof gloves
- Scarf or buff
- Decide if you want to pack your own gear or rent it: skis/snowboard, boots, poles, helmet, etc.
Traveling to Christmas markets with a baby?
We did a Christmas market trip with our daughter when she was 1 year old, and it was absolutely magical! Here are a few tips and items you’ll want to pack for Christmas markets with a child:
- Pack clothes and warm layers for them, just like you would for yourself
- Rain jacket (this is the rain jacket we brought for our daughter)
- Mittens, hat, boots
- Bring a few toys (don’t overdo this part)
- Digital camera for toddlers
- Busy board
- Sewing cards
- Amazon Fire tablet
- Stickers (all the stickers!) and travel sized blank notebooks
- Some snacks from home (anything where you care about the ingredients or brands they’re particularly fond of)
- We also usually travel with oatmeal mix that we make (with chia, flax, coconut milk powder, peanut butter powder, dried fruit, etc.) so that we can simply add warm water for a healthy meal. This came in super handy on many mornings where it was hard to find a proper breakfast.
- A good travel stroller is a must. Don’t forget a rain cover for the stroller (even just to keep them protected from wind and chilly temps) and a cozy blanket.
- If your stroller doesn’t come with a rain cover, here is a budget-friendly universal rain cover
- A baby carrier is also a good idea for crowded markets, rough cobblestone, or any other situation where you might not want to use a stroller.
- A diaper bag fanny pack is a much better option than a full diaper bag
- If possible, book accommodations that offer a crib so you don’t have to carry around a pack and play. That said, if you prefer to bring your own, we really like this travel crib (and it’s the lightest weight one we’ve found!).
- Travel car seat and carrying case (if you plan on renting a car)
Winter in Europe packing checklist
We’ve organized everything you’ll need to pack for a winter trip to Europe into a handy, printable checklist. Just enter your email below and get a PDF of this FREE checklist sent right to your inbox!
European Christmas Markets resources
Planning a trip to Europe for the famous Christmas markets can be pretty overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. Luckily, I’ve done this 4 times now (and counting!) and I’ve put together some info-packed guides that will be super helpful as you plan your trip.
- See our picks for the best European Christmas Markets to start planning your route.
- Not a fan of making tough decisions? Skip that step and follow our perfect winter in Europe itinerary for a route that includes top markets, as well as off-the-beaten-path winter adventures!
- Read up on these essential Christmas Market tips and avoid some easy-to-make mistakes.
- Check out our list of drool-worthy Christmas Market food & drinks you have to try.
You might also like…
- Best Time to Visit Europe
- Best Cities to Visit in Europe
- Why You Should Visit Eastern Europe
- Best Places to Visit in Eastern Europe
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We want to hear from you!
Are you planning a winter trip to Europe for Christmas markets? Still have questions about what to pack? Leave us a comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!
Nodoubt a very helpful article!