Packing for winter travel can be super stressful. You want to be prepared for every possible weather condition, but airline baggage restrictions mean you can’t bring your entire wardrobe along. Plus, bulky winter wear takes up all the extra space you’ll need for your souvenirs on the way home. Whether you are chasing the aurora borealis in Lapland or Christmas market hopping in Germany, here is my tried and true list of what to pack for winter in Europe.
(Note: I am not affiliated with these companies and don’t earn anything for recommending these products. This is not a sponsored post.)
Updated for 2024!
Outerwear
A good coat is the most important article of clothing you can pack. Puffer jackets will be warm enough, but the issue I’ve found is that they don’t stay dry. It snows and rains a lot in Europe and, even with an umbrella, you can quickly find yourself soaked to the bone. To avoid this, look for coats with water resistant material and a hood. I’ve been wearing the Arctic Down Parka from the North Face for years.
Boots
There’s not much worse than having cold, wet feet. That’s why you need waterproof insulated boots. I’ve previously recommended these LL Bean Boots paired with thick wool socks, but I don’t find them as comfortable as I get older.
Lately I’ve been rocking these Josef Seibel Selena boots. (Though full disclosure, I wear them with Dr. Scholl’s heal cushions for extra support.) I also pack these Columbia Ice Maiden boots for those below freezing days. And these knee-high Bombas socks are perfect to wear with both.
If you have plans to attend the opera/ballet/theater in Europe, carry your dress shoes with you and change in the coat check. Everyone will think you’re a local!
Be sure to check out my Christmas market guides, which include things to do and places to eat in each destination.
Base Layers
The tricky part about dressing for winter is not overdoing it on the layers. You need to strike a balance between being warm outside and not sweating profusely indoors. My preferred undergarments are UNIQLO HEATTECH Innerwear long sleeve t-shirts and leggings. On super-cold days I upgrade to fleece-lined tights, worn beneath jeans and a merino wool sweater. Avoid cotton undershirts as they won’t wick away perspiration.
Accessories
You will want a scarf and hat, even if your coat has a hood. I really like the accessories from Latvian brand Mice, especially the slouchy fleece-lined beanie. (This is the link to their Etsy store, though it no longer seems to be active.)
It took me a while to find gloves I like, but am currently satisfied with these Head Sensatec ones. (I got mine at Costco.) On less cold days, l prefer fingerless Latvian mittens.
If you have any other suggestions for what to pack for winter in Europe, I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Save this guide for easy reference!
Great post, Heather! I am in total agreement with the cold and wet feet, especially after having had frost nip twice. I was so happy to find the self-heating hand and toe warmers here in Riga at Depo. I use the toe warmers in my shoes on really cold days (even when I run), and the hand warmers in my pockets to warm up my hands and fingers. Thanks for these tips!
Ooh, I’ll be on the lookout for those hand warmers! That could be just the trick I need to warm up my fingers after taking hundreds of photos!
It sure was cold when I was in Riga last winter! My mistake was wearing one too many layers. And the wool hat I bought drove me crazy because it was so itchy. But I still had a good time! Riga is beautiful in the snow.
No snow yet this year. I sure hope we get some!!
Excellent tips! I need a new pair of boots, and had actually been considering that LLBean style – glad to hear those have worked out for you. Agreed that keeping hands warm is particularly tricky! I’ve been eyeing a pair of expensive gloves at REI – they are not pretty, but maybe they’ll do the trick.
I’ve learned that comfort and function trump fashion. Let me know if you end up getting those gloves!
Love this post! We have the same coat and I love it too! 🙂
I bought felted wool shoe inserts that they sell at the markets here in Finland and put them in my rubber-soled Chelsea boots. Paired with the wool socks I bought in Riga my feet stay warm and dry! I have the same glove conundrum though. Mittens are too awkward and my gloves just don’t keep my hands warm enough when I’m outside for longer periods of time.
Wool shoe inserts… I bet they have those here in Riga. Sounds like the perfect excuse to go shopping! 🙂
Great post!! I also hate to be cold! On a winter trip to Canada a few years back, I discovered those heat-tech thermals (long underware/turtle necks) which I wore under everything, and they really did help produce more heat!! And thick socks are a total game changer!
I went out yesterday without my heat-tech thermals and regretted it instantly. It’s amazing what that thin material can do!
You may want to try to do as locals when it comes to gloves – my auntie swears by it and when it drops below -20°C I have to agree. Wear two pairs. First put on basic gloves with touchscreen fingertips so you can use your tech, then mittens on top. Ideally those would be the kind of mittens with a fold-over top so you can just take it off when you take photos and have your gloves under there. I think I saw some of the fold-over type mittens here in Riga’s Christmas markets but sometimes regular clothes shops will sell them too.
Chai, thank you (and your auntie!) for that great glove tip! I’ve been wearing mittens on top of my gloves for the past week and they have saved me from frostbite! Riga is finally having a real winter with heaps of snow and -20C temps. It’s absolutely beautiful! And now I can comfortably walk around taking photos 🙂
Hello!! great article thank you for the tips!!
In which winter month were you in Europe? I am hoping it doesnt get as cold as Canada? jeje
thanks
Diana
I’m happy to help! I lived in Latvia for two years and got the full winter experience. I haven’t been to Canada in winter, so I can’t make a comparison. But I can tell you that December in Tallinn is about the coldest I can remember being in my life. I’m sure Riga got just as cold, but I had the pleasure of staying inside my house there 🙂