A teenager’s winter packing list for Europe

Hi Frugalistas!  When my daughter was 15 she took a school trip to Europe in winter.  Her school rules and trip itinerary created two packing inefficiencies.  The girls were required to wear their sport uniform (school track suit and Tshirt) on the plane, and then there was a formal function at Yprès in Belgium where full winter school uniform was required (including school shoes).  Despite MissG being an excellent one bag packer, we therefore made the decision that this teenager’s winter packing list for Europe would not fit in one carry on bag.  Being on an organised trip without Mum and Dad, we took care to plan a wardrobe and packing list that gave her maximum independence, and also plenty of warm clothes and little extras she may have needed.  While this is a packing list for a teenager, it would also work well as a packing list for a young woman for Europe in winter.

This post was updated in December 2025.

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How to pack for a school trip to Europe

While we decided that trying to do this trip to Europe with just one carry on bag was not an option, it didn’t mean that MissG and I couldn’t use some of the principles we both use for one bag packing.  This was especially important as the airline baggage limit for her group was strictly 20kg.  It was also important as there was no porterage included in the trip costs.  The girls therefore had to be able to get their bags off the bus and around the hotel.  They also needed to be able to manage their own bags at the airport in Sydney plus for an internal flight from Italy to Paris.

We bought a new suitcase.  It was 72cm (28inch) suitcase, which is just one size up from an international carry on.  We bought the lightest one we could find that was within our budget.  The other thing I like about the case we bought is that it had a zip to expand it in case shopping gets the better of her. I always choose a coloured suitcase rather than black – it is easier to see on the carousel.

The other things we did was use packing cubes, and a light weight toilet bag to minimise space and weight.  I think packing cubes are an excellent idea for young travellers without Mum or Dad as they help keep everything together.  I particularly like using both packing cubes and toilet bags in bright colours as they are easy to see in the hotel room, and therefore are not so easy to miss when leaving. 

A toilet bag with a hanger makes sharing a bathroom much easier – you know what teenage girls are like in the bathroom.

What to include in a teenager’s packing list for Europe

Her school provided MissG with a detailed packing list, so we were largely guided by that.  There was no requirement for dressing up apart from the formal function in Yprès, so jeans and jumpers could easily form the basis of MissG’s wardrobe for Europe.

A good coat is, of course, essential.  We went for a down coat, long enough to come down to mid thigh.

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Thermals were a given, as were thermal socks.

I normally suggest cashmere for winter packing, but my cashmere jumpers and cardigans just weren’t going to cut it for a teenager.  We therefore used layers to keep MissG warm.  A mixture of shirts, jumpers and hoodies can be layered to keep warm.  We packed three of each, making sure that every item matched every other item she took.  Because she didn’t want to wear a hat, her hoodies were worn with the hood up instead (as was the hood on the down coat).  We also went for a slim fitting zip up fleece.  These can be worn over the top of shirts, or under looser jumpers and hoodies.

So we packed two pairs of leggings (that can be worn with thermals underneath) and also two pairs of black jeans.  One pair were quite light weight denim, so dry quickly if rained on.  The other pair were thicker and looked a little dressier.  Both are stretch denim so MissG remained comfy on long bus trips, and in case there was too much spaghetti consumed at dinner.

I always recommend good walking shoes for Europe.  In winter this means boots.  We elected a walking boot with a good thick sole.  These wi her go to wear every day shoe.

Because she needed school shoes for the function in Yprès, there really was only room for one other pair of shoes in her suitcase.  We therefore packed leather look sneakers.  Because they were not canvas were better in wet weather.  MissG wore these mainly for dinner at night or for indoor sightseeing days.

She needed both a scarf and gloves.  We found some thermal gloves quite easily.   With her scarf, she packed two.  One, a thick ultra warm possum and wool scarf that I bought in New Zealand.  It’s not very trendy and not to her taste, so we added a trendier option, that wasn’t so warm, but c be worn over the top of the “sensible” warm scarf for the slightly edgier look she prefers.

Rather than packing her own pyjamas we included a pair of my Qatar Airways Business Class pyjamas.  She packed them in her hand luggage to change into on the plane as well as wear them as pyjamas during the trip.  

Toiletries for a teenager packing list for winter in Europe

We went light for toiletries even though she was checking luggage.

Like most teenagers MissG is picky about her hair, so she packed her own shampoo and conditioner in some Go Toobs.

She also packing a travel sized kit of her preferred pimple management system.

Toothpaste and toothbrush and a travel size deodorant completed her toiletries.  She decided against packing make up as there are no evening functions where make up is necessary.

The school’s packing list suggested packing travel laundry wash so they can wash underwear and clothes while travelling.  We decided not to pack this.  Instead, MissG used my preferred one bag strategy for washing while travelling – use the hotel shampoo to wash underwear and shirts in the shower.  I did persuade her to pack a microfiber towel though.  Sharing a bathroom with other girls I think towels for drying hair will be at a premium, and I also use them to dry excess water from washing.  They dry very quickly and take up almost no space, so are an easy addition. Again, a bright colour that coordinates with her toilet bag and packing cubes makes ensuring she has all her things easy as pie in a shared room.

Extra items a teenager needs to pack for a solo trip to Europe

I must admit when I travel to Europe, or when we take family holidays I am a little lazy about packing “extras”.  I take the view that we can always find a shop or pharmacy and buy any extras.  But on an organised group trip, this isn’t necessarily the case, and being young it can be a bit intimidating, even with a teacher to help.  So I made sure MissG had all the little extras we can think of that she may have needed.

A do it yourself first aid kit for travel in Europe

I put together a ziplock bag of things that may come in handy in the event of minor illness.  As well as headache tablets and ibuprofen for period pain, I packed some anti-diarrhoea medication and some electrolyte sachets she could make up in the event of a bout of gastro.  She also had some bandaids and safety pins.  A ziplock bag takes up far less space than a full first aid kit, but also meant she (or a teacher if she was really unwell) could easily see what she had.

The little extras

The itinerary was full of outdoor activities.  The school had advised that they will be proceeding with the itinerary regardless of the weather, so a travel umbrella was a must pack.  I also bought a cheap rain poncho to keep the worst of the wet off her coat.

Last update on 2026-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API