Need advice on prescription sunglasses for European travel

And, wear a hat with a brim.

Forget the photochromic glasses if you don’t have them.
I have prescription sunglasses. But if you don’t have the need for this expensive option, then buy clip on sunglasses to wear over your glasses. What do you normally use in the summer where you live? You should go to an optician for them.

Until I had cataract surgery I used Fitover sunglasses. They look like real sunglasses but fit over your existing glasses.Going in and out of museums etc they were easier than trying to get the clip-ones attached.

I usually just get a pair of my normal lenses with the darkest tint available to use for sunglasses.

Last time I got polarized lenses which are a problem with the LCD display on my Canon G7X Mark III camera. The image disappears when I attempt a vertical shot and only reappears when I return the camera to a horizontal position. Take the glasses off and the vertical LCD display is fine. I hate that.

Go to Costco. Sometimes a 2 for 1 special is available.

I have prescription sunglasses that I wear to drive. I don’t carry a purse.

When I’m out my sunglasses are always with me as I use Chums to secure them. Have 3 different colors, Navy, Black and Yellow.

Take 2 pair when I travel.

As a dweller in LA when sunshines the majority of the time and whose career had me outside 99% of the time Chums were invaluable.

Google Chums.

I buy prescription sunglasses, which I use nearly daily. You can even get them for progressives, though this can be an investment (*worth it to me, in a sunny area and outdoors often with light eyes). Warby Parker and Eyebobs are two companies I have used.
My mom uses the "transitions" that change. I don't think I would enjoy those, but if I wanted them, I'd get them through my eye dr.
Clip-on is the cheapest option, so I would try that and see how it works for you, but this is a good idea to take care of--you'll be glad come summer! The sun reflecting off all that stone and sea can be really blinding, and being able to read while you are out and about is vital.

As Claudia has suggested, any solution involving two forms of eye-wear means thinking about what you'll do with the pair you're currently not wearing. It's quite risky to just hold the second pair in your hands. I haven't done it with glasses, but I've put things I was carrying down on check-out counters in Europe and walked off without them.

I have prescription sunglasses--expensive sunglasses with progressive lenses. Not being willing to risk abandoning them on a counter somewhere, in Europe I use a purse with end pockets, one of which houses the glasses I'm not wearing, in an eyeglasses case.

I really would prefer not to have two more things around my neck, since I already have my smartphone on a lanyard. I believe there are eyeglass clips one can attach to a shirt pocket; that might work for someone not carrying a purse.

Clip-ons will be the cheapest option, but they're rather fragile, so be sure you have the storage solution figured out before the trip. My mother took at least one European trip with clip-ons; I don't remember her complaining about them.

An advantage prescription sunglasses have over clip-ons is that you can choose a frame larger than your standard glasses, for better coverage when you're out in the sun.

Unless your clip-ons are custom made for the glasses (same lens shape and securely fasten to the lenses) they can look tacky and awkward to use.

Photochromatic lenses are OK, but the glasses I have them on, often get dark when I really do not want them to, especially for reading, that unless you want a pair to use as sunglasses, while having a second non-chromatic pair, then I would stay away from them. It is maybe the best of both worlds to have a regular pair and a photochromatic pair.

That leaves dedicated prescription sunglasses, bit of a hassle to have to carry the other pair, but it works. If you get dedicated sunglasses, you might look for a pair with larger than typical lenses (or larger than you might normally wear) for better protection.

I find that clip ons do not block enough of the sun coming in from around the sides of my glasses. And I have found that prescription sunglasses require a cumbersome switching which other posters have noted. I tried photochromic lenses but didn’t like The lag time for clearing up when you walk inside a building and they also tend not to darken as much in super hot weather or inside cars (unless the technology has changed in the last 10 years.)

So the solution that works best for me is to use fitover sunglasses that have a wraparound feature. It’s easy to take them off when you walk in to a building, I just pop them on top of my head or tuck them into a pocket of my purse. The brand I use are Cocoons and they are polarized.
https://cocoons.com/product-category/cocoons/fitovers/cocoons-polarized-fitover-sunglasses/
They come in different sizes so that you can get the smallest size that fits over your glasses so as to avoid the post-cataract surgery giant sunglasses look. They also come in different tints, for example, gray or dark amber. I used gray when I was young, but as I have aged, I switched to dark amber for increased contrast. They also have a nice guarantee. Available online or through opticians.

Costco makes rx progressive sunglasses/ regular glasses for a little over $200, total, including frame. And has been noted, sometimes there's a special for two pairs. Mine have lasted a very long time, no complaints.
The sunglasses that darken in sunlight may not work in a car or bus, if the windows are treated.
Have a great trip.

Before I had cataract surgery and no longer need glasses (bless you science and technology) I always had prescription sunglasses in addition to my regular glasses. While this was fine when I was home I did not want to travel for long periods messing with two pairs of classes taking one off, putting one on all the time. So I got a pair of transitions glasses (prescription lenses from my optometrist) for traveling. They didn't get as dark as I liked when in the sun but I always also wore a floppy brimmed hat that shaded my eyes so they did the trick, espeically in places like Italy, Greece, Turkey. And it was nice to not have to take them on and off when going into museums and then back outside, etc. The main downside for me was when entering a bldg it took a bit for them to go back to clear lenses so I sometimes had to take them off for a minute if the bldg was dark inside. That was several years ago and I believe the newer combo lenses are quicker to change between clear and sunglasses.

I usually wear bifocal contacts, and my only pair of glasses is photochromic from my optician.

I've been wearing the glasses almost daily while working as an election judge. What I don't like about them is they don't darken enough in the car. Every morning, I get in the car in the dark garage, so they never darken enough inside the car to be as effective as my regular sunglasses driving into the sun (I need to remember to go outside and darken them before I get in the car). In regular sunlight they darken as much as my regular sunglasses, and I don't need 2 pair of glasses. That's a win for me! I don't know how long they take to lighten, but it doesn't affect my ability to see clearly.

We were in Croatia in September and the times I wore the photochromic glasses I was happy with them. I brought a hat thinking everyone would be wearing them, but hardly anyone did. I found a hat to be warm and will leave it at home next time.

I have worn transitions for years. They don’t work in the car but they are great outdoors. The only place they don’t darken quite enough is on a very bright beach, but then I always have a sun hat or beach umbrella. I like not having to deal with two pairs of glasses.

I agree with Pat that Costco is a great source for prescription glasses, both regular and for sun. Once you buy a pair there, they will change out the lenses for the cost of the lenses if your prescription changes. They offer this service for frames not purchased there if from major brands, such as Ray-Ban, for an additional $25 fee.

Progressives are an advantage for sunglasses while traveling for reading maps, guidebooks, your phone, etc.

I'm scratching my head as to what I'd do different about prescription sunglasses for travel, or in any foreign country, over what I wear at home.

Not sure there is any major difference between brands, since Luxotica owns a huge chunk of the different brand names, storefront operations, and optical service providers. It's all about frames that fit for me. I know that Ray-Ban frames in a certain size fit best for me, and I order them online using the prescription from my annual check-up. They come from R-B quickly, and cut out the middle man.

I've never seen photochromic that get dark enough (or light enough). No to clip ons if you're driving, and they just don't look cool.

I have worn them all: (magnetic) clip ons or over your own glasses sunglasses you have to carry an extra thing to fumble around with. Prescription sunglasses can be too dark if you’re going in and out of shade/stores/restaurants. I settled on transitions as most flexible for single pair. Choose the “black “ (not “brown “) shade and the “higher” degree of darkness if you can, otherwise they won’t be dark enough in bright sun areas. 25 yr active outdoors Arizonan.
I do use over your own for driving since transitions won’t darken in car plus you can whip them off and on if entering a tunnel or it’s getting dark or shady while you’re driving.

I’ve tried all the options. I hate the photochromic lenses, they just take too long to lighten when you’re going in and out of shops. My favorite option has been glasses with a magnetic sunglass option. I bought them from Zenni. They have some styles that include this custom option. You do want a plan for what to do with them while you are indoors. I have a very compact eyeglass case.

https://www.zennioptical.com/p/64996?skuId=6499621

Thank you very much. Although I have seen this brand of glasses before, https://www.vooglam.com/goods-list/prescription-sunglasses, and was attracted by the fashionable styles, I will reconsider my equipment, such as wearing a hat, carefully choosing photochromic glasses, and will also look at other brands. Thank you again.

I'm w patty regarding fit over. I had transitions, they don't darken in a car, and there is a lag time when entering a museum or store. I got an expensive pair of fit over thru my optometrist... $100

A few years ago for a trip to Mexico i bought a "fun" pair off of Amazon for $11, they are still going strong, rhinestones and all. The other advantage to this style is they usually include some wrap around side coverage which stops some blowing dust, etc helpful if you are touring the ancient ruins