Traveling to Europe on a budget? Discover 25 essential carry on budget travel tips for Europe that will help you pack smart, travel light, and save money. As avid travelers, we’ve mastered everything from choosing the right bag to maximizing space. We’ve got you covered! Whether you’re exploring iconic cities or hidden gems, these tips will ensure you make the most of your trip without the hassle of heavy luggage.

Essential Carry On Budget Travel Tips Europe
Carry On Travel Backpack VS Suitcase
First, decide if you prefer a backpack or a suitcase. Both offer different features and are convenient in their own way. This will depend on your own needs and preferences.
Backpacks keep your hands free and doubles as a travel pack for exploring. If you plan on carrying a lot with you while you explore, you might want to invest in a good backpack that can fit everything you need on the go and can double as a main travel bag.
If carrying that weight all day doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, a suitcase might be a better choice. One important thing to note is that in most low cost airlines, they prioritise suitcases over backpacks to be stowed in the overhead lockers. If you have a backpack, it is more likely that you will need to place it under your seat, sacrificing leg room.
Choose a 40L Backpack
If you opt for a backpack instead of a suitcase, we recommend a 40L size—it’s airline-friendly and surprisingly spacious.
The largest hard-shell spinner-wheel bag you can bring on board is going to be 40L. But that space also accounts for the inset wheels, which eats up a lot of space.
It’s Best To Take A Small Suitcase
With a small carry-on, you’re free from checked luggage hassles and struggling when packing and unpacking. You’ll enjoy more flexibility, save on baggage fees, and travel stress-free knowing everything you need is right with you. Plus, you don’t need a giant suitcase to pull off cute and comfy travel looks!

Wear Your Bulkiest Items
Maximize space in your carry-on by wearing your bulkiest items on the plane—think heavy shoes, a jacket, and any extra layers you might need. This clever hack not only frees up valuable packing space but also keeps you warm and comfortable during the flight.
Security Check Friendly Toiletry Bag
Ensure your liquids are under 100ml (3.4 oz). Use clear travel bottles if needed, and check current rules, as many airports now require toiletries to be in clear ziplock or clear toiletry bags.
Maximise Your Personal Bag
Ensure your personal bag can easily attach to your carry-on. Pack it with essentials for the flight and items needed for security checks to avoid rummaging in a rush.
Things that usually get asked to be visible during security check are tech items like your phone, laptop, tablet, etc. Another one are your toiletries. So make sure those are easy to reach to avoid rummaging last minute or needing to open your whole suitcase.
Here’s a helpful tip to speed things up through security: wait until you’re through to put on your jewelry, belts, and heavy accessories. Since you’ll need to take them off for screening anyway, it’s easier to pack them in your bag beforehand and put them on after. This saves time and hassle at the checkpoint!

Pick A Color Scheme
When packing, choose a color scheme to ensure all your clothing items match. This allows you to mix and match outfits easily and prevents overpacking and excess weight.
A good rule of thumb is making sure all your bottoms match all your tops. Also, make sure your everyday shoes match all your outfits. More on how to pack shoes efficiently below.
Avoid Overpacking On Shoes
Overpacking on shoes is a very real struggle that all of us have dealt with at some point. But if you pack your shoes based on occasions and not colors, you can match your outfits accordingly. That way you’ll have 2 to 3 pairs (if as many!) and not 7 pairs to match all your outfits.
Pack Pairs Separately
If you are packing shoes or any other items that come in a pair, consider packing them separately in your luggage. Most of the time, packing them together can take up valuable space.

Multipurpose Items
To minimize, focus on multi-purpose items: clothing that works for both casual and formal occasions, dual-function toiletries, and multi-use tech to reduce what you pack.
Another great multipurpose item is a stuffable neck pillow. You are allowed to carry a neck pillow on the airplane without paying extra, so why not take advantage of that space to pack some things you can’t fit into your suitcase?
Compress As Much As Possible
When travelling in winter, you need to pack more layers and heavy outerwear which can take up a lot of space. We recommend using these compressing packing cubes or these vacuum storage bags. You can also invest in a travel bag with built in vacuum seal compartment.
If you’re watching this last minute and don’t have time to buy any of these, you might be able to get your hands on some ziplock bags as an alternative. They aren’t the best, but they work just fine if you’re in a pinch.
Should I Roll Or Fold?
There’s plenty of debate about whether rolling clothes saves space or is just unnecessary. The truth? It depends on the clothing. Here’s our 7-step guide to packing each piece the best way possible:
Step 1: Place your suitcase wide open and flat.
Step 2: Roll t-shirts and light dresses
Step 3: Lay your pants flat over the rolled items, placing the top of your pants facing each other in the middle, with the rest hanging outside the suitcase.
Step 4: Roll more light items.
Step 5: Fold your cardigans and heavier outerwear. Use vacuum bags if necessary.
Step 6: Fold the end of your pants over the heavy items.
Step 7: Put your shoes, underwear and smaller items in any sides, corners or hidden spaces you can find.
We recommend putting your toiletry bag in your personal bag. This way it’s easier to reach at security check and you don’t have to open your suitcase.

Hidden Spaces
Maximise your space by packing smaller objects in pockets, shoes and hollow objects. For example, packing your socks in your shoes or valuables in an empty travel bottle.
Make a Packing List
Not only do we believe in creating a packing list as not to forget anything, we also think you should create a fixed packing list. A fixed packing list is a list of things you realise you didn’t think of packing on your trip but you find out you really need. That way on your next trip you add it to your current packing list and you’ll never accidentally forget that item again.
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Distribution Is Key
Pack hard and bulky items on the sides and more mouldable and soft items in the middle, and vice versa on the other side. If you pack mostly bulky items in the middle of your suitcase, it will be harder to close.
Take a Day Pack
A small sling or packable daypack is a smart way to carry essentials like your wallet and phone without exceeding bag limits. When worn, it often counts as part of your outfit rather than extra luggage.
We recommend ensuring your personal bag or backpack fits easily under the seat in front of you. On full flights, many European airlines prioritize suitcases for overhead lockers, which means your backpack might need to stay with you. To avoid the inconvenience of managing two bags, consider packing your day pack inside your backpack for easier handling.
Weight Matters As Much As Volume
I’ve learned that a great travel wardrobe isn’t just about fitting everything in your bag—it’s about keeping it lightweight and practical. Choosing lightweight fabrics, versatile pieces, and skipping bulky extras makes all the difference. I’ve also realized I don’t need to cram my suitcase full. Packing only what I truly need, with some extra space, makes packing and unpacking a breeze—and leaves room for those souvenirs you’ll want to bring back!

The “What Ifs” Aren’t Real
What if it rains? What if I pass by the beach and wanna go for a swim? What if we go to a fancy dinner? What if it suddenly snows in the middle of Summer?
The truth is, most of these things probably won’t happen—and if they do, you’ll figure it out and make it work.
The “better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” mindset often leads to overpacking things you’ll likely never use—and turns the experience into a total nightmare.
Plan Your Outfits in Advance
Plan your outfits ahead of time and skip packing clothes “just in case” to avoid overpacking items you’ll never wear. Instead, lay out your favorite pieces and experiment with mixing and matching until you have just enough for your trip’s duration. Remember, you don’t need as many bottoms as tops, as they tend to stay cleaner longer, making it easy to reuse a single pair of pants for multiple outfits.
Digital Travel Planner with Outfit Planners, Packing Lists & More!
To help you pack, we’ve created the ultimate digital travel planner with outfit planners, packing lists for all the different categories, everything you need to plan your trip and keep all of your info in one place!
The best part is, it’s fully editable and hyperlinked, so it works like an app on your phone!
Get Yours Here: Ultimate Digital Travel Planner



Accessorize Smartly
Accessories can elevate any outfit, so choose them wisely. Some fun, fancy or minimal jewelry (depending your style) and a stylish pair of sunglasses can add flair without taking up much space. Stick to pieces that are versatile and can be worn with multiple outfits.
Simplify Your Skincare & Makeup Routine
You might have heard about a “capsule wardrobe” and that is great advice, especially for travelling, but consider creating a capsule makeup routine. Choose a few key makeup items that you can easily travel with and apply on the go, that are also true to you.
As for skincare, think about purchasing tiny containers for your must-have products. Or, if you don’t need need all of them, consider investing in multipurpose products to avoid filling your toiletry to the brim.
Invest In An Airtag
We recommend putting an AirTag in your luggage because it’s a simple, budget-friendly way to track your bag. If your luggage gets lost or delayed, you can quickly locate it using your phone, saving you time and stress. This can also save you money—you’ll avoid spending extra on replacing lost items or buying temporary clothes. Plus, AirTags are reusable, so you get long-term value for a one-time investment. It’s a small step that can make a big difference for your peace of mind and your wallet!

Consider Doing Laundry
If you’re really tight on space and need to pack a lot of clothes, consider washing your clothes during your trip. This way you can pack less.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: who wants to do laundry on vacation or sit around and wait for an open spot at a laundry mat? However, it is totally doable without taking up a lot of time.
Pack some laundry detergent in a 100ml bottle, a thin rope of sorts and a couple of pegs. Before you leave to explore, wash 2-4 items in the sink with some of the detergent. Then, tie the rope wherever you can and hang the clothes up to dry while you’re out and about. The whole process shouldn’t take more than 15 mins!
Lightweight, quick-drying fabrics are best for travel as they can be washed and dried overnight. You can wash dirty jeans in the hotel sink and they only take a day to dry.
Final Carry On Budget Travel Tip: Stay Informed
Always stay updated with new security rules or airline restrictions to avoid unpleasant surprises and extra fees.

If you need more budget travel in Europe inspo, check out these blog posts:
For useful budget travel hacks when travelling in Europe, don’t miss “EUROPE ON A BUDGET TRAVEL HACKS YOU NEED TO KNOW”.
Traveling during low season in Europe (January to March)? Check out our post “BEST WINTER DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE ON A BUDGET” where we share some of our favorite cold and warm European destinations during these months.
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