14 European Christmas Market Travel Essentials

With the arrival of December and the noticeable chill in the air, ‘tis officially Christmas market season in Europe. The continent is known for hosting some of the most whimsical holiday markets in the world, influenced by unique cultural traditions and backdropped by centuries-old buildings and beautiful landscapes. As a travel writer from Rome, I can say that the word “dreamy” doesn’t even cut it. I grew up visiting Christmas markets across Europe, but the one closest to home in Piazza Navona has yet to be matched, in my opinion; it’s literally built above an ancient Roman stadium and the smell of roasting chestnuts weaves through the piazza’s many stalls, food trucks, and carousel.

If you’re planning on visiting a European Christmas market to soak in some of the same magic, I’ve got you covered. I’ve crafted a brief list of 14 items you should pack for your upcoming trip, with essentials from traveler-loved brands like Monos, Béis, Madewell, and more. To help you travel light this holiday season and avoid unwanted airline checked bag fees, I’ve tailored the list for carry-on luggage only and included some of my tried-and-true packing tips to help you maximize your precious luggage real estate — without compromising the whimsy of perusing stalls and sipping on mulled wine. 

Gonex Compression Packing Cubes

I’ve been a compression packing cubes enthusiast ever since I tried them out during a week-long road trip through Ireland. This bundle of four from Amazon-loved brand Gonex, in sizes ranging from S to XL, can compress a wardrobe’s worth of bulky clothes, which is great for traveling during the winter months. I’ve packed these to the brim with thick sweaters, jeans, base layers, and more and have experienced no ripping or tearing, so they’re a great long-term investment for carry-on-only trips.

Monos Carry-on Pro Plus

This expandable carry-on suitcase from Travel + Leisure editor-loved Monos is great for international trips, and I’ve been able to pack up to a week’s worth of winter clothing in it. Its crowning feature is its padded, front zippered pocket that boasts three internal pockets (two slip and one zippered) that fit laptops up to 16 inches, plus notebooks, loose cables, and more. Inside, you’ll find a removable compression panel that works great for freeing up luggage space. There’s also a small discreet pocket ideal for storing Bluetooth tracking devices like Apple AirTags. 

My favorite features, however, are the thoughtful extra touches, like the two antimicrobial shoe bags and one laundry bag for separating your dirty clothes and shoes from your clean ones, the vegan leather luggage tag with a privacy cover, and the included transparent, jelly-like protective cover that you can stretch over the entire suitcase to ward off scuffs and scratches.

Béis The Mini Weekender

This Mini Weekender is, without a doubt, my favorite personal item bag for international trips. Durable, compact, and sleek, the flight attendant-loved bag is the perfect carryall to fit extra clothes, accessories, and essentials when traveling carry-on-only. 

Its structured bottom shoe compartment, which is trimmed with stylish vegan leather, is useful for holding bulkier items like extra shoes, a travel hair dryer, or even a smaller compression packing cube filled with additional clothing. The spacious main compartment and a slew of pockets are ideal for holding your tech and, of course, your Christmas market souvenirs.

Travel Inspira Portable Luggage Scale

Overweight luggage fees, begone! Compact enough to pack away into a personal item, this easy-to-use scale can weigh your luggage in both pounds and kilograms. While carry-on suitcases aren’t typically weighed as often as checked luggage, this handy little gadget is good to have on hand just in case. Besides, it’s always helpful to know how much you’ll be lifting into the airplane’s overhead space.

Madewell Double-faced Brush Long Wool Coat

Crafted entirely from wool, this long coat will keep you nice and toasty as you explore the holiday markets. The comfortable robe-like style and bulk-free design make it ideal for wearing on your flight (which will save you luggage space). With a notched collar, easy drop shoulders, and tie waist, it’s an elegant transitional wardrobe staple that can also be worn in the late fall or early spring. Match it with some square-toed booties, a warm turtleneck, a cashmere scarf, and some leather gloves, and voilá! You’ll have achieved an effortless European look while staying warm against the chill.

Want the look for less? Amazon shoppers have given the Hooever Long Wool Coat their stamp of approval and it’s only $60. In fact, one traveler said it kept them warm in “cold Norway.” 

Quince Cashmere-lined Leather Gloves

Gloves are a must for winters in Europe, especially if you’re heading to northern countries with colder and snowier temperatures. Gloves crafted from leather are my favorite, not only because of how warm they are but because they have the added benefit of looking incredibly sleek. This pair from Quince in particular really takes the cake when it comes to warmth and style. Crafted entirely from lambskin, they’re lined with soft, warm Mongolian cashmere to keep your fingers luxuriously toasty and comfy, even when perusing Christmas stalls at night. As an added bonus, they’re also touch-screen compatible. 

J.Crew Brushed Cashmere Scarf

Scarves are a must-have in the winter, and this high-quality brushed cashmere scarf is the perfect soft and warm accessory for the colder weather. Featuring a classic, minimalist design, it’s gentle on the skin and available in two neutral colors: warm ivory and heather gray. Best of all, the scarf is currently on sale for just $67. 

Jennie Liu Cashmere Turtleneck

Cashmere is one of my favorite materials to wear in the winter. It’s comfortable, elegant, and incredibly toasty while still being lightweight. While the luxurious fabric is not generally known for its affordable price tag, right now you can snag this simple cashmere turtleneck from Jennie Liu. With various shades to pick from, it’s the perfect staple to dress up or down for whatever mood or occasion, and its snug fit ensures that it’s comfy to layer under your winter coat. 

For $98, the Naadam Cashmere Crewneck Sweater offers the same level of luxe coziness at a slightly lower price. Or, you can opt for this oversized turtleneck from Amazon-favorite brand YKR; it’s only $40. 

Everlane The City Boots

Square-toe boots are my favorite to wear in the fall and winter for an edgier alternative to the classic rounded or pointed toes. I usually wear mine with a pair of flared jeans and a longer jacket, like a trench coat. While I purchased my go-to pair from a small boutique in Rome years ago, this option from Everlane is a great alternative. Pro tip: Don’t forget to prime your leather shoes with boot wax to protect your shoes from the winter elements. 

Athleta Cozy Hour Beanie

This wool and cotton blend beanie is designed for a cozy fit and to help retain heat. Featuring a ribbed design and available in nine colors, including feather taupe, cypress green, and clover berry red, it’s compact enough to fit into a purse or even your pocket for easy access once the temperatures drop. The beanie also has the added benefit of being quick-drying, which is ideal if you find yourself somewhere prone to flurries and snow.

UTO 3-in-1 Crossbody Bag

An open-top purse or tote bag isn’t an ideal option to travel with because it increases the risk of your personal belongings falling out, getting lost, or worse, being pickpocketed. Uto’s three-in-one crossbody bag has been my go-to travel purse ever since I purchased it nearly a year ago. Although small, the bag sits comfortably on my person and boasts a slew of organizational options: three zippered compartments and a removable and zippered, chest-level coin purse. 

Inside the bag, I can pack away my three passports, my wallet, a portable charger and its cable, my Apple AirPods Pro, and so much more — with room to spare. It can easily survive the wear and tear of traveling long distances thanks to its water- and scratch-resistant, synthetic-washed leather exterior, which is also great for traveling to countries with rainy or snowy weather. Plus, it’s cute enough to wear around while sightseeing, which is always a bonus.

Simo Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot

Staying connected while on the go is essential to any kind of travel. Instead of paying for expensive international passes or hoping that there will be public Wi-Fi at your destination, consider investing in a portable hotspot. This one from Amazon is small and thin enough to fit into a purse and offers 1GB of data each month (although you can upgrade to plans with more data via an app). It works in over 135 different countries, has a 16-hour battery life, and can connect up to 10 devices at once.

Camp Snap Digital Camera

Recalling the nostalgia of disposable cameras without the hassle of getting your photos developed, the rechargeable Camp Snap Digital Camera is the perfect compact and lightweight tool to capture your European holiday market memories. It’s sleek enough to fit into a purse, has an LED flash option, and comes pre-installed with a 4GB TF memory card capable of holding up to 2,000 photos at a time. Simply connect your camera to a computer to view and download your images. You can also download image filters onto your camera, including a black-and-white one and a vintage-style option, to spice up your snapshots.

Keote Keychain Tote

If you struggle with buying too many souvenirs, this small, pocket-sized foldable keychain tote bag may just be the answer to your problems. When unrolled, the keychain transforms into a roomy tote bag that can be seamlessly folded back up into its pebble vegan leather flap accented with brushed gold hardware. As it can easily clip onto your purse or personal item bag, it’s great to have on hand to use as an easy-to-carry tote while shopping. 

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