Your Perfect European Christmas Market Packing List in Only Carry-On Luggage

Traveling to a European Christmas Market sounds magical, but packing for it, especially in just a carry-on, can feel overwhelming in the winter.

As a pilot’s wife, I’ve compiled my top list for women. In this 6-part packing guide, you’ll get my full strategy, including the perfect warm-weather travel outfits, what anti-theft gear and outdoor essentials to bring for crowded markets, and my top carry-on packing tips. I also cover the technology you’ll want and, crucially, what items to leave at home.

Coat Choice

We all know you need to pack a winter coat for European Christmas Markets, but here are 2 tips I learned.

No fur on the hood in case of rain or when snow melts
I packed my water-resistant coat as well as a disposable poncho in case it was pouring rain.

After 23 years of flying with only carry-on luggage as a pilot’s wife, here’s my packing list for a capsule wardrobe for crowded cobblestone streets in Europe without overpacking.

Part 1: Under a winter coat, add these travel outfit clothes to your European Christmas Market packing list.

1 light-colored sweater or light-colored hat, and this is why: the light cream color photographs beautifully against dark European churches draped with Christmas lights at night.
- Travel tip is the best time to see Christmas Markets is in the evening or dusk, so that the lights are twinkling and the mulled wine is hot. I would take a tour during the day or a chocolate-making class.
1 festive top—like a green top or red cashmere sweater. This is the number 1 way I am able to pack in only carry on bags for winter travel outfits. Cashmere is very effective in retaining body heat yet being very lightweight. My favorite is the Nordstrom brand which can be worn alone; it is not itchy whatsoever.
- You could opt for a cashmere blazer type sweater that skims your body, retains the heat and can easily be taken off if you get warm.
Choose a fair isle type sweater that is festive or your color style with the shoes you’ll be wearing.
- If you like color, pack a couple of cardigans in a Christmas color that will go over your neutral t-shirts.
Fleece lined wide-leg pants are not bulky. The fleece is brushed and so soft. I wore them in NYC in the 30s. This year I have the fleece lined leggings that feel like pants. They have tummy control and are very high waisted. But again, the fleece is brushed and not bulky or stiff. I was very hesitant and love both of these for a travel outfit in the winter.
2 thin long-sleeve tops in neutral tones (black, gray, navy).
- You can use this trick for Europe: wear a thin shirt, then a vest to have your passport if needed, packed in the hidden pocket, and your cash for tipping tour guides.
2 short sleeve shirts. When I was in Brussels for their Christmas Market, I was so hot even with the window open so I slept in my exercise shirt. Europe does winter heat really well. But if I need air flow, it can feel stagnant and then hot.
1 base layer, and because you’ll have your coat, I think this should go in the bottoms section.
Do not forget about silk. 100% silk is a hidden gem of travel outfits in the winter. They also regulate your body temperature and can be worn like a t-shirt. Love these short sleeved ones from Quince!
1 idea you may want to consider is a tank to wear under sweaters (for skimming your body + keeping tops clean). I would rather just have a short sleeve top as my base layer since I’ll have a coat.

The goal for this is that you copy what I wore and wear what is comfortable for you. But everything fits in a carry-on suitcase with this system.

Every top matches every bottom.
Layers keep you warm outdoors but not overheated indoors.

Here are bottom pieces in a capsule wardrobe specifically for Christmas Markets in Europe.

1 pair of black jeans or dark denim for 3 reasons
- Don’t show stains
- Easy to re-wear
- You can easily be dressed well enough for a dressy restaurant for Christmas tea or more.
By the way, if you are going to NYC for Christmas, I have a where to eat and what to do broken down into locations THIS guide.
1 pair of trousers that mix with multiple tops. Could be ponte fabric. Or dark gray denim.
- Travel tip: one of these bottom pieces should come from your airplane outfit.
Optional: thin joggers for hanging out time. Or, and this is where thermal base layers like I talked about for tops can be helpful.
- I prefer Hot Chillys. I learned about Hot Chillys from a Colorado native. Ultra thin but keep you very warm. They have their own site, but I will also put some from Amazon in the …more paragraph or first pinned comment.

Outerwear & Accessories for a European Christmas Market Trip

1 water-resistant jacket + maybe 1 or 2 little ponchos if it is absolutely pouring
Gloves (fleece-lined for very cold but remember one could be holding an umbrella and could get wet). Last year Costco had mine in a puffer type style. You can easily and correctly type on your phone wearing these hybrid gloves. Very limited amounts but I’ll put the link. They are by Head.
A scarf (doubles for warmth on the plane and for an additional vacation outfit look).
Hat or earmuffs
- Travel tip I learned: satin lined hat that I have does not allow your hair to frizz!
Shoes (limit to 2):
- 1 pair water-resistant boots or sneakers with support (wear on the plane).
- Here are some waterproof shoes that are very comfortable and supportive:
  - This is the first Columbia shoe I have found comfortable and supportive enough. And it is waterproof. They go with so many outfit colors.
  - Merrell are low and have a rugged sole. Tons of colors.
  - These calf boots are waterproof and have grooves in their sole.
  - If you only want waterproof sneakers, these are awesome but I just don’t need them so I returned them. Surprised at how comfortable they were.
  - Blondo have been heavy in the past, but these are amazingly comfortable. And since they are waterproof and tall, they would cover your denim from rain.
1 additional pair of shoes (ankle boots or flats if the weather is dry). I love these waterproof, rugged sole tennis shoes, but also Ecco’s sneaker that comes in black. They hug my foot and have pockets of pillow support down my entire foot.
Travel tip: Avoid packing bulky extra shoes—two pairs are plenty when every outfit works with both.

Part 2: Before You Go to a European Christmas Market:

Do 2 things before you pack:

1. Always check your airline’s carry-on size limits.

Travel tip: European carriers are stricter than U.S. airlines. Some charge if over a certain weight. Some require obscenely small personal item bag dimensions.

2. Also check the forecast for your destination the week beforehand. Weather will tell you if you need waterproof layers or just a lighter jacket. Mine had 40% chance every single day so here is what I did. And it only sprinkled once.

I packed my tiny travel size umbrella because it fit in the bottom of my crossbody bag. And I had the poncho in my inner pocket. I went with pilot wives, and when we knew rain was headed to Amherst, we went to another market that was in a different city. The European markets are so close together that you can see so many during Christmas!

Part 3: Practical Packing Hacks

Wear bulky items on the plane (puffer jacket and heaviest shoes).
Sink packets are an easy liquid to pack that would wash 4 shirts or other clothing.
Roll thin layers and use a compression cube—it doubles as a pillow on the flight.
Travel Tip for Christmas Markets: you will need euros for small things you buy at the Markets and for toilets. Mulled wine was 3 euros, and a stick of fried mozzarella was 5. Many toilets were still 50 cents. And the public ones were very clean and had plenty of toilet paper.
- In Greece, my husband needed something to carry euros around, and I was happy to oblige with the pill packs that come in a set of 35.
My slash-resistant crossbody bag has a short pocket at the bottom that I used for euros.
A frequently asked question about Europe is when do you get euros? One travel tip for obtaining euros is to use your bank here ahead of time, use the atm that your hotel recommends, and break the large bills ASAP if you cannot choose small quantities. You’ll use that for tipping your bus driver if you are on a river market cruise and to tip the tour guides.

Part 4: Outdoor Essentials for Comfort and Protection Against Theft in Crowded Markets

Supportive shoes with merino wool socks—cobblestones can be tough. But test them at home first.
Gloves for sipping mulled wine outdoors. You will have your hands in your pockets alot.
A crossbody bag (mine has a slash-resistant strap and panels). I liked that mine stuck out a little below my jacket. So it was somewhat covered.
Travel Tip: Practice pulling out your credit card AND sliding it back in your wallet several times at home so you can be swift and exact.
Zipper clips are easy to use, but may slow down a pickpocket thief. My pilot wife friends took their backpack for buying souvenirs, and I had it but did not take it. It has zippers that clip. But that’s if you like getting souvenirs.
Tip is that you want to buy the mug from each market you visit. But go early before the crowd at night because they will run out in the early evening.
Pack layers you can peel off easily because trains, buses, and restaurants get warm fast or have no air flow.
If you are going on a Christmas Market river cruise, one great tip is that you’ll be bused to excursions so you won’t have to walk all day long and will be able to sit some.

Part 5: Technology for European Christmas Market Trips & Travel Essentials

European adapter (if you don’t need a bulky converter). You only need to pack a bulky converter if you will be using your hair dryer or curling iron that you bought here. Every other electronic can just plug into the adapter for that country. Mine is like an extension cord in one block. One for each family member.
Download movies/shows before your flight. I have a quick video on how to watch Netflix in the air.
A neck pillow that attaches to the airplane seat’s headrest so your head doesn’t bob forward. Note that this one is best for tall necks. I can also recommend this wrap one.

Part 6: What NOT to Pack

Do not pack bulky sweaters (wear one or two thin effective cashmere ones instead of packing bulky sweaters or sweatshirts).
Do not pack more than 2 pairs of shoes.
Do not pack big earrings or bracelets. Hoop earrings get caught in scarves. And gloves and your coat will cover your bracelets.