High Heels And Other Impractical Footwear<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEurope is best explored on foot, so comfortable, stylish walking shoes are a must,\u201d said Liam Dunch<\/a>, the Europe product manager for tour operator Abercrombie & Kent. \u201cHigh heels, especially stilettos, aren\u2019t suited for cobblestone streets and can lead to ankle injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n Unless you\u2019re there for a fancy gala, you can limit your shoes to more practical options for navigating uneven streets and climbing historic steps. <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t waste time with high heels,\u201d echoed Gray Grandy<\/a>, a travel adviser with Fora. \u201cAn adorable pair of strappy sandals is perfect with your flowy summer dress.\u201d<\/p>\n A cute pair of sneakers can also prevent a lot of hassle and pain. <\/p>\n \u201cLeave the fancy shoes at home, but make sure the comfy sneakers are stylish,\u201d said Melanie Fish<\/a>, a travel expert with Expedia. \u201cLeave the athletic shoes at home.\u201d<\/p>\n Olga Rolenko via Getty Images<\/p>\n Impractical footwear and handbags that don’t zip are among the items experts recommend leaving behind. <\/p>\n Snacks From Home<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting to toss snacks into your bag, but travel journalist and content creator<\/a> La Carmina<\/a> says it\u2019s unnecessary<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t load up your luggage with snacks unless you have special dietary needs,\u201d she said. \u201cEurope is famous for its cafes, supermarkets and bakeries, and you won\u2019t be at a loss for finding delicious, inexpensive food on the go \u2015 whether it\u2019s pastizzi stuffed pastries in Malta or sm\u00f8rrebr\u00f8d open-faced sandwiches in Denmark.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that there are also plenty of snack options these days for people with special diets or allergies, particularly in large Western European cities. <\/p>\n Pickpocket Magnets<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wise to skip flashy or overly expensive-looking items, as pickpocketing is unfortunately common in many European cities, especially around popular tourist attractions,\u201d said Jonathan Alder<\/a>, CEO and founder of Jonathan\u2019s Travels.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want to pack your common sense and awareness, but leave open handbags at home. <\/p>\n \u201cNever bring a purse that doesn\u2019t zip,\u201d said travel expert and point.me<\/a> co-founder Tiffany Funk<\/a>. \u201cA bag that can\u2019t be securely closed is an invitation for pickpockets looking for an easy target.\u201d<\/p>\n And if you just don\u2019t want to look so obviously like a tourist in general, there are other accessories worth reconsidering. <\/p>\n \u201cLeave your baseball hats home,\u201d advised Doni Belau<\/a>, founder of Girls\u2019 Guide to the World. \u201cThey peg you as a tourist.\u201d<\/p>\n Bulky Luggage <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLeave the giant suitcase at home,\u201d said Tomiko Harvey<\/a>, founder of the travel blog Passports & Grub. \u201cYou\u2019ll be dragging them up cobblestone hills, down narrow alleyways and into tiny hotel rooms with no elevator. Trust me, I\u2019ve tried.\u201d<\/p>\n She recommended traveling with midsize luggage to avoid \u201cwheeling your life around in a suitcase bigger than the rental car\u201d rather than enjoying the European experience of train rides, ferry hops and walking tours. <\/p>\n \u201cTrains especially can be tough as there\u2019s often limited luggage space and nowhere to stash big bags,\u201d said Dollar Flight Club founder and CEO Jesse Neugarten<\/a>. \u201cStick to a carry-on and pack layers. It\u2019ll save you time, money and stress.\u201d<\/p>\n Think about the type of trip you\u2019ll be taking and whether your luggage choice suits the journey, added Katy Nastro<\/a>, a spokesperson for the flight alert service Going.<\/p>\n \u201cWill you need to walk to your Airbnb for 20 minutes after navigating public transport, or can you take an Uber<\/a> easily?\u201d she asked. \u201cOpting for a small carry-on or backpack style carry-on can help not just the transport process while on ground, but can also help you avoid pesky checked bag fees if your case is too large for the notoriously small cabin luggage sizers on budget European carriers.\u201d<\/p>\n Hair Tools<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLeave that Airwrap at home,\u201d said Fora travel adviser Gabrielle Brechner<\/a>. \u201cIt never works, even with a converter, and then you\u2019re stuck lugging it around! I learned that the hard way.\u201d<\/p>\n Rather than use up more space and weight in your bag, try the hair dryer at your hotel, book a salon blowout appointment or buy a hot tool there.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can buy a European one at Boots for 30 euro,\u201d said Fora adviser Aleksandra Coric<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can get creative with smaller products, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI use a small amount of serum to keep my hair looking smooth after a wash, and mostly towel dry it,\u201d La Carmina said. \u201cI also learned to tie my hair around a long piece of rope and leave it overnight for bouncy, heatless curls the next day, so I no longer need to bring a curling iron.\u201d<\/p>\n A Wardrobe\u2019s Worth Of Clothes<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t waste luggage space on new dresses or outfits you think you\u2019ll need,\u201d said Gabby Beckford<\/a>, founder of the travel site Packs Light. \u201cIf you\u2019re the type who loves shopping, pack your basics \u2015 underwear, socks, your go-to walking shoes \u2015 and buy the rest when you land. Shopping in Europe is half the fun.\u201d<\/p>\n She noted that prices can be similar to those in the U.S., plus you can ensure you\u2019re buying for the actual weather and temperatures you\u2019re feeling, instead of your best guess. Plus, clothes make great travel souvenirs that can truly capture the experience and remind you of your trip.<\/p>\n \u201cKeeping it light means no checked bags, which saves time and hassle,\u201d said Sarah Dines<\/a>, chief commercial officer at the tour booking platform Viator. \u201cPlus, it\u2019s easier to get around with less weight, especially when you\u2019re dealing with trains, stairs or cobblestone streets.\u201d<\/p>\n Remember, you can also do laundry at some point during your trip. <\/p>\n \u201cWe often believe we will need dozens of outfits for certain scenarios that play out in our heads, yet unless you are going for a wedding or special occasion, you will be surprised at how many items you will want to just wear on repeat,\u201d Nastro said.<\/p>\n Avoid overpacking by choosing items that are comfortable and can work with multiple outfit options. That includes accessories<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a big proponent of leaving 700 jewelry options at home,\u201d Brechner said. \u201cPick one look for the trip \u2015 I like small gold hoop earrings and a few necklaces that I leave on. Or buy it on vacation!\u201d<\/p>\n Too Many Adapters And Electronics<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need a whole bag of plugs,\u201d Neugarten said. \u201cJust bring one solid universal adapter and you\u2019re good.\u201d<\/p>\n Remember that USB outlets are more common now as well, so you don\u2019t have to overthink it. <\/p>\n \u201cSkip the bulky plug adapters or voltage converters,\u201d said Sarah Silbert<\/a>, managing editor of Points Path. \u201cMost modern phones and laptops are dual-voltage and can charge via a universal USB charger or travel power strip instead.\u201d<\/p>\n And don\u2019t waste your luggage space with electronics that only function on the standard voltage in North America. <\/p>\n \u201cMy portable clothes steamer ended up being completely useless on a recent trip to Portugal,\u201d Dines said. \u201cLesson learned \u2015 the hard way, and with wrinkled shirts.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol Yepes via Getty Images<\/p>\n Hair tools and toiletries can take up valuable real estate. <\/p>\n Full-Size Toiletries \u2015 Or Any At All<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhile you may want to pack all your own toiletry products, skip the full-size bottles and opt for travel sized,\u201d said Reesa Avelino<\/a>, vice president for Southern Europe at Goway Travel. \u201cMany hotels have decent shampoos, soaps and lotions, or you can purchase necessities once you get there, so there\u2019s no reason to take up too much room in your luggage.\u201d<\/p>\n In fact, you might even reconsider packing any toiletry items like sunscreen and skincare products. <\/p>\n \u201cJust hit the pharmacy when you arrive,\u201d Funk said. \u201cEU pharmacies have great, inexpensive skin care brands, and the sunscreen options in particular are far better than what\u2019s available in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n Excess Cash And U.S. Dollars<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEurope and the U.K. are very card-friendly,\u201d said Bryan Lewis<\/a>, the founder of Tenon Tours. \u201cIf you do take cash, just bring small denominations for tipping purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n Dunch noted that even previously cash-heavy destinations like Italy and Greece now have tap-to-pay options. Don\u2019t forget to remove your U.S. dollars from your bulky wallet before traveling as well. <\/p>\n \u201cIf they do take cash, they expect the local currency,\u201d Dunch said. \u201cSo, leave the greenbacks at home and load up your Google<\/a> Wallet or Apple equivalent.\u201d<\/p>\n For travelers who have several credit cards, you might think about lightening your wallet load there as well. Belau suggested leaving your American Express card at home.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not nearly as widely accepted in Europe as your Mastercard or Visa,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Workout Gear<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEspecially if you\u2019re visiting cities, you\u2019ll easily walk 20,000+ steps a day just by exploring the sights,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cWalking is part of life in Europe, so there\u2019s really no need for extra workouts if you\u2019re constantly on the move.\u201d<\/p>\n So unless you\u2019re actively training for a marathon or weight-lifting competition, you can probably leave your gym shoes and clothes at home. <\/p>\n Heavy Denim In Summer<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t bring denim in summer,\u201d Funk said. \u201cA lot of Europe has limited air conditioning, and jeans are hot. And most apartments don\u2019t have dryers, so if you wash them, the humidity means jeans may never dry.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead, opt for lighter fabrics like cotton and linen, she advised. <\/p>\n![\"Impractical](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/689a54c018000032108c52a4.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Hair](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/689a5a5d180000c2118c52a6.jpeg\")
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