Spending two months in Europe - what to pack

For that same timeframe the past two years, I packed lots of layers for weather that varied from warm and sunny in the more southern regions, to cool in the daytime and cooler at night, to rainy. Add or subtract layers as the day's forecast dictates. Layers that range from camis (for women) under a short- or long-sleeved layer, plus a sweater or cardigan, to a lightweight and easily packable vest, to a lightweight raincoat.

At that time of year, I brought sunscreen and the umbrella!

Also pack gallon-sized ziplock bags in which to do some sink laundry. And pre-research hotels with laundry service, or for (likely) a less expensive option, laundromats - either self-service or full-service - near your hotels at various points in time.

When I traveled for two months I just packed for about a week or so and planned laundry every 7-10 days. I'm not a fan of sink washing except for emergency cleaning of underthings, I prefer laundromats or laundry services. My trip was all in the middle of the summer so just needed summer clothes, but I still packed some layering clothes because you never know when it will get chilly in the evenings and at higher altitudes. Don't over pack just because it's a long trip. Be selective in your clothing - practicality wins over stylish.

For that length of trip and with so many climates, I wouldn’t dream of just taking hand luggage, as I don’t want to be spending holiday time organising laundry.

What are you doing on your trip - just seeing cities or hiking in rural spots? There are many websites that will show the average temperatures for the places you are visiting.

I would take a pair or two of jeans or cotton trousers, shorts/skirts, a mix of vest tops, short sleeved t-shirts and a couple of long sleeved t’s for cooler evenings. If you are staying in smarter hotels, you will want something dressier for the evening. A scarf is always useful as an extra layer. Take a fleece or two or cardigans plus a waterproof. You need a pair of good waterproof pair of shoes or boots, something comfortable to wear all day when it’s warmer in Spain plus something a bit dressier for the evening.

Many thanks for the suggestions!

Liz,

If this is your first trip to Europe, I would highly recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door prior to your trip. That provides a lot of good information on what to expect there and how to "travel well" in Europe. As I recall, it includes a section on packing.

You might also want to have a look at some country-specific guidebooks for the places you'll be visiting (preferably RS guidebooks). Those will have information on sightseeing, transportation, hotels, etc.

Monaco is not very big and probably won't take more than a day or two.... are you planning to see any of southern France while in that area? Monaco is probably more enjoyable for those with a "comfortable" income level.

Take a good pair of walking shoes and take two pair.
I am a guy, so I can't advise a woman as well, but take enough underwear for 10 days.

Tops and bottoms should be interchangeable. Make sure colors match all around. It will get chilly, especially late in your trip, so take a nice warm jacket, as well as a lighter sweater.

I roll my socks and underwear and stuff them in large kitchen zip bags and try to press out as much air as possible.

Take a hat to protect your face and eyes from the sun.

When you plan your trip, try to use the internet to search for where you can do laundry (coin operated). If not, you will pay through the nose if your hotel does the laundry. Some laundries will do a bag of dirty clothes for you, for a flat rate. If you want to save time, check on that.

Also, research and research some more the places you plan to visit. Look for things to do and tentatively decide on what you plan to see. In some cases, you may need to book ahead. Also, for Hotels or B&Bs look for convenient places within your budget, use Kayak.com to search for lodging.

If you plan to rent a car, go to AAA and get an international drivers permit.

If you don't have health insurance while overseas, check AmEx and others places for health coverage as well as medical evacuation insurance. It is not terribly expensive.

I'm going to echo packing light, layering and doing laundry along the way. Although it sounds shocking, it is possible to pack wisely for a week and travel as long as you want. In fact my personal experience is that it's easier in colder weather than in warmer. My first trip to Europe was for 4 months in 1977 (pre-Schengen) starting in September and ending in January, and I did exactly that.

It requires more focus now in my 70's. Perhaps I'm vainer than I was at 31, but I still coordinate everything and do laundry along the way. I'm not a fan of sink washing, but I do it when I have to. I much prefer using laundromats. I've met some fun local residents and other travelers there.

You can learn a lot from Travel Tips: Packing Light. Assuming you are going by train to most of your destinations, the last thing you want is a lot of or heavy luggage since you will have to schlep it yourself.

And you can learn perhaps even more from the Packing forum where the ins and outs of packing are thoroughly discussed. What to pack, how much to pack, how to pack it, you get the idea.

good advice here: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light

Hi Liz, your traveling during my favorite months! Grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage, get comfy and start watching tube videos of this exact subject! So many great idea on there, from what to pack to how to pack. Everything from clothes, toiletries, your personal item, your day pack, organizing your travel documents etc. There are many videos on long European vacations using just a carry only packing for women. You will find packing minimalist to people (like me) who like to have options, makeup, hair care, fashion, comfort, respectful attire for events, etc. I have taken ideas from lots of different people to create my own system.