What I Packed For My European Vacation

Similar Dress, Sandals, Purse, Sunglasses

We recently returned from a magical two-week vacation to Portugal. Packing is not my area of expertise; I tend to overbuy before my trip and want to bring my entire wardrobe. My suitcase was only 72 pounds this time (yikes!), but we did some rearranging of bags to avoid the extra fee.

I know a handful of you are heading on European vacations this fall and I thought it would be helpful to share all of the outfits I wore while on my trip (in hopes to help you not overpack as I did). We vacationed in Portugal in August so the weather was warm (but not hot). There were actually a couple of days I had to get creative with what I brought in order to dress warm enough.

I adore easy and flowy dresses for travel as you can see (both for daytime and evening). For those hard-core tour days, a cute athleisure outfit is a great idea. With that being said, below you will see really casual ideas from beachwear to dressier options for nights out.

My most significant word of advice is to NOT pack new clothes for a trip! Make sure you wear your pieces before you choose to pack them to ensure they are comfortable and to work out any issues like what undergarments may be needed or if the pieces stretch out, or just any little annoyances you may discover (like a falling tanktop or dress strap). ALWAYS wear your shoes and break them in before a trip too – happy feet are a must-have for any trip!

I hope this serves as a guide for your next vacation!