Packing for Germany, Austria, Switzerland tour

We’ve taken 3 RS tours and I’ve only managed to take a carry on for one. As long as you can manage your suitcase on your own, that’s the only real requirement.

There’s an amazing amount of people on the forum who can tell you how to buy merino wool shirts that weight 3 oz etc. and other real helpful suggestions for carry on but it just doesn’t work for me.

We took the Munich Salzburg and Vienna tour the last week of August a few years ago and it was hot.

I always pack just for a week + laundry day and I try to wear things more than once before they need a wash. I wash under things in the sink every couple of days. If you get creative with how you can mix and match your tops and 'bottoms' it is no problem to get it all in a roll aboard carry on. For varying temperatures layering is the key. I have a rain jacket I always bring and also a shawl to go outside the jacket and a cardigan sweater or fleece vest to use as an inner layer if it is really cold. However, I bet in early September temps will still be mild or even hot unless you are at high altitudes.

Hi, we took that tour several years ago and enjoyed it! During the subsequent years, we returned to most of the cities in that tour. My husband’s favorite area was the Jungfrau region, and we returned and stayed in Wengen.

For packing light with just a carry on, I like to bring the very light 32 Degree long sleeve scoop neck tops that layer under clothes when needed, or I have worn one by itself with a pair of pants and scarf to look nice for dinner. I am allergic to wool, so I can’t go the Merino wool route. The second time we were at the Jungfrau region, it was very cold in September, and I still did fine with just the 32 Degree top layered with a long sleeve thicker T, and my Columbia rain jacket. I did bring a pair of grocery store tights to wear under my pants for that day.

During that second trip, we had those cold days in Switzerland and ended the trip in Rome when it was hot, and we did fine for still just bringing a carry on and small backpack. The 32 Degree tops will easily dry overnight from sink-washing, and my other lightweight cotton tops dried fine on the 2-day stops or overnight. I brought two pairs of pants, a capri, and a dress and three tops, plus a 32 Degree layer.

One hint that has helped me immensely: pick out your favorite clothing items that you might like to bring. Then weigh each one with a kitchen scale (place them in a large bowl). Select the ones that weigh the least. Those tend to dry faster, plus less weight. Do this for everything- this toiletry kit, or that one, etc.

Thank you all for the helpful hints. We're really looking forward to the trip!

The temperature should be fairly constant along your route in Sept. But there's a good chance it will rain. That's what I'd prep for, because you can always buy another shirt, or whatever. Nikwax is your friend.

Wear a pair of jeans and carry a pair. 7 blouses, which you can wash by hand and hang up to dry, same thing with undies and socks. Long sleeve, permanent press blouses are best as you can roll up the sleeves if it is warm and it can often be warm or hot in Germany those first 2 weeks. Blouses are lighter than t-shirts, dry quicker and look better. Roll everything.