I’m back from my dream sabbatical trip to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest–where I was lucky enough to browse many, many Christmas markets. I haven’t packed for temperatures this cold in a long time, let alone in a carry-on, so today, I’m sharing my European Christmas market packing list, plus a few snaps of the trip!
So you may not be off on a European Christmas trip, but I’m hoping some of the tips I used to pack light and pack warm will be helpful, whether you have a cold-weather conference in your future or fun holiday plans! Here’s what I learned that worked well:
Pick the right fabrics
I’m a broken record on this one, but the right fabrics make all the difference, in any temperature, especially for staying warm on a cold-weather trip. I brought a polyester Banana Republic sweater and this wool cardigan (on sale!), and it was no contest which one I wanted to wear every day.
I also brought a cashmere beanie and scarf, and I was in heavennn! I was so cozy and warm, which helped me shop for longer.
The coat is all that matters
About a week before your trip, someone will say, “oh, it’s 45 all week in Vienna, that’s no so bad.” It’s very important that you ignore that text and bring a big ass coat anyway. Being a tourist in 45 degrees is very different than having a normal day in 45 degrees.
I brought a coat I rented from Rent the Runway (you can get 50% off your first month of RTR with my code!). This was a delightful way to make a statement without owning the item — and the burgundy looked pretty cute. Which is great, because if you’re doing any winter tourism, I guarantee your coat will be in 85% of photos.
The pants hack you might not expect
My first instinct for European Christmas market packing was to pack jeans, but the more I thought about it, they were 1) bulky and 2) impossible to put a base layer under. I ended up with wide-leg sweater pants and cargo pants. Both were roomy enough for this pair of leggings underneath on really cold days!
I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I liked having cargo pants with me. Instead of packing basic items, a little personality goes a long way toward making you feel like you’re wearing real outfits.
The two bags you need
On every trip, I tend to pack a canvas tote bag and a crossbody. I stash the crossbody bag in the tote bag, which I use as a personal item on the plane. Then, I have two options every day, and the tote bag can be neatly folded up in my suitcase. My Polene bag was such a champ on this trip–it felt chic but was the perfect everyday size!
Oh, and my flight attendant mom always recommends this packable duffel bag. I throw it in my suitcase and then can use it to check a bag home if I end up with too many souvenirs.
My packing fail
It wouldn’t be a packing list without a fail or two. Mine were 1) packing sneakers (I wore them for one day–then the Blundstones came out). 2) I didn’t pack great socks. I packed a few pairs I love, but the rest were only so-so, and they just weren’t comfy enough! The good news is I packed my favorite travel laundry detergent, so it wasn’t so bad.
There you have my European Christmas market packing list! This was such a dream trip, and it felt like a peak sabbatical experience for me–thanks for reading, and if you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend it! 🙂
PS– off to a winter conference? There’s a packing list for that!
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