London, Paris, Rome – Europe | Fall 2023
Three countries. Ten days. One carry-on.
In October, a 10-day adventure unfolded across London, Paris and Rome. All with just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. No checked luggage. No overpacking. Just smart layers, a few go-to staples and room for a little shopping along the way.
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Traveling light in the fall isn’t just doable. It’s freeing.
What to Pack for a 10-Day Fall Trip to Europe
London, Paris and Rome
Fall in Europe calls for layers, comfortable shoes and versatile outfits that can handle chilly mornings, sunny afternoons and unexpected rain. Everything below fit into a carry-on and a personal item with room to spare. Outerwear was worn in transit and shoes were tucked into my backpack. I rewore jeans, sweaters and base layers across cities, and built outfits around a cohesive palette, which is how it all fit.
- Platform Converse
These were my everyday city shoes, comfortable for long walks but still stylish enough for cafés and museum stops. Worked well across all three cities. - Over-the-Knee Boots
The statement piece. Great with jeans or a skirt and warm enough for windy evenings. - UGG Slippers
Wore these on the plane, train rides and around hotels. Easy to slip on and off and surprisingly practical for light walking on travel days, around hotels and stations, not for long city walks. - Small Winter Coat
Warm but packable. Wore this in London and on the plane. Perfect for layering over sweaters and base layers when the temperature dipped. - Peacoat
Sleek and structured. I wore it when I wanted a more polished look than the packable winter coat, and it layered well over sweaters. - HeatTech Long Sleeves
The MVPs of this trip. These Uniqlo base layers kept me warm without bulk. Wore them every day and they worked under everything. - Three Lightweight Sweaters
Soft and packable. Perfect for layering over base tops or wearing alone on sunny days. - Two Pairs of Jeans
Classic and reliable. One light wash, one dark. Great for mixing with boots, sneakers and layering with just about anything. - Long Denim Skirt
This was one of my favorite pieces. Wore it in Windsor and Paris with sweaters. Comfortable and cute. - Cozy Sweatsuit
Doubled as a plane outfit and something comfy to wear during downtime at hotels or on chillier travel days. - Crossbody Bag
Lightweight, secure and easy to carry through museums, metros, and crowded streets. No pickpocketing over here! - Makeup Bag
Packed travel-size beauty products only. Enough for a polished look without overloading space. - Small Travel Blanket
Used it on long train rides and the airplane. Cozy and compact. - Compression Packing Cubes
The real MVPs of this trip. These Amazon compression cubes kept everything organized and compact.
What I Picked Up in London
A quick stop at Primark Oxford Street added some fun fashion pieces:
- Rain boots for those classic London drizzles
- Mini skirt
- Scarf with my initials
- Harry Potter T-shirt worn on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour
- Pack of stockings for added warmth and layering, to save space and stay organized
Outfit Ideas by City
Here are five outfits from the trip, from the Louvre in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, plus Pompeii and Windsor Castle.
What to Wear to the Louvre in Fall: Bold Stripes, Jeans and Cream Boots for a Comfortable Paris Museum Look 
What to Wear to the Colosseum in Fall: Pea Coat, Yellow Sweater and a Plaid Mini Skirt in Rome 
Harry Potter Studio Tour Outfit in London: Harry Potter Graphic Tee, Denim and Converse Sneakers 
Comfortable Travel Outfit for Exploring Pompeii: Black Layers, Jeans and Red Converse 
Windsor Castle Fall Outfit: Long Denim Skirt and Cutout Top and Over the Knee Boots for a Chic Royal Day Trip Look
How to Make It All Fit in a Carry-On
- Roll clothes to maximize space and reduce wrinkles
- Use compression cubes for bulkier items like jeans and sweaters
- Place extra shoes in a personal item
- Wear the bulkiest coat and boots on travel days
- Build outfits around a cohesive color palette for easy mixing and matching
The Carry-On That Made This Trip Possible
This entire 10-day trip was powered by one bag, the Amazon Basics 21-inch Hard side Carry-On. It’s been my go-to for over four years and the expansion on this thing is unreal. Even with boots, sweaters and a travel blanket, everything fit.
It is sturdy, sleek, and glides like a dream. If you’re serious about traveling light without sacrificing space, this is the bag to get.
Mine has held up for over four years. If I ever replace it, the rose gold one is calling.
