We travelled through Italy, Austria, and Croatia in the middle of summer with our kids, and a big part of our trip included hiking, biking, swimming, and spending a lot of time outdoors.
Because of that, what to pack for Europe in summer with kids really mattered.
These are the items we brought that we actually used again and again, the ones that made a big difference in the heat and made our days easier. Read below for our packing list for Europe with kids.
This was all part of our larger Italy, Austria, and Croatia trip, which you can read more about here:
This post about Europe summer packing list may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things we’ve personally used and found helpful when travelling.
Heat Essentials
The summer heat in Europe can be intense, especially when you’re outside all day.
These were the items we used the most:
Handheld Fan
This was one of the most used items we brought. The heat and humidity can be a lot, and having a small portable fan made a big difference, especially for the kids. It’s small enough to stick in your backpack, great for standing in line at an amusement park and you can even fold it so that it sits by itself (great for the train or nightstands).
Cooling Towels
We used these constantly. Just wet them, wrap them around your neck and they instantly cool you down, which was so helpful on long, hot days.
Food & Drinks (Big Money Saver)
Backpack Cooler
This was one of our best purchases.
We used it almost every day to pack lunches, snacks, and cold drinks. It saved us a lot of money and made it so much easier when we were out exploring for the day. We got our from Costco a few years ago but here’s a very similar one.
Beach & Water Essentials
Between lakes in Austria and the beaches in Croatia, we used these items all the time.
Waterproof Phone Pouch
Perfect for the beach, boats, and anywhere near water. Put your phone, money, hotel key cards, anything you need to keep safe, on you. Peace of mind for very little money!
Water Shoes
These were great for rocky beaches and lakes. Definitely worth bringing if you’re heading to Croatia, Italy or similar areas. We didn’t bring any and bought ours in town. But if you’d rather come prepared and not overpay at a market, these ones are very similar.
Lightweight Travel Towels
These dry quickly, don’t take up much space, and were perfect for swimming days. Biking the Drau Cycle Path, you’ll be bringing the towels in your backpack, you need something that rolls up very small and doesn’t weight much. You may also hike to beaches in Croatia like we did and for the same reasons you’ll want the towels to be very lightweight.
Pool Floats
Pool floaties that are small and blow up quickly. We used them in all 3 countries! Pools, lakes, waterslides, ocean – I was so glad we brought these! These are great for kids and easy to pack.
Activity-Specific Gear
Cycling Gloves
We brought these for biking the Drau Cycle Path, and they made a big difference on longer rides.
Kids Extras
These were simple but ended up being used more than I expected. Are they necessary? No. But if you have the room in your luggage, it’s nice to have a few small pool toys for the kids.
Reusable Water Balloons
Great for lakes, pools, and just easy entertainment for the kids.
Dive Toys
Another easy win for the pool! Small and packs easily.
Would I Pack All of This Again?
Yes.
But if you need to pick and choose what to pack for Europe in summer with kids, my top 3 would be the beach towels, the water shoes and the cooler backpack!
They’re the kind of small things that don’t seem like a big deal at home, but make a big difference when you’re travelling.
Planning a Trip to Italy, Austria or Croatia?
If you’re planning a similar trip, you might find these helpful:
- Biking the Drau Cycle Path in Austria with Kids
- Taking the Overnight Sleeper Train from Austria to Croatia with Kids
- Our 3 Weeks in Italy, Austria and Croatia with Kids (Route, Stays & Costs)
- Split, Croatia with Kids What We’d Do Differently Next Time
- Alpe di Siusi with Kids: Hiking, Cable Cars and What We Learned
- Our Italy Dolomites Farm Stay (Agriturismo Experience)
Want My Full Packing List?
If you’re planning a similar trip, I’ve also put together a full carry-on packing list with everything we bring when travelling as a family.
Need pet care while you travel? We use TrustedHousesitters to look after our dog Archie when we’re away.
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