I backpacked across Europe for 2 weeks. Here are the best things I packed and the items I wished I'd left at home.

Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . I traveled by train through four European countries for two weeks with just a backpack. I packed light, but there were some items I could have skipped to save room for souvenirs. I was glad I brought a tote and quick-dry clothing, but I wish I had brought fewer pairs of socks. Two weeks, six cities , four countries, and one backpack. In 2022, I spent two weeks living out of a backpack while traveling from NYC to Europe by plane and train . I flew from NYC to Berlin and traveled by train from Berlin to Vienna , Rome, Milan, Venice, Italy , and Zurich. I explored cities in each country on foot, taking photos and notes along the way. I also stayed in a variety of accommodations, from train bunks to unique Airbnbs and luxury hotels . Packing for this trip was hard for me. It was the lightest I'd ever packed for the longest trip I'd ever taken. However, after a few practice packs, I was surprised to find that I could fit everything I truly needed in a single 32-liter backpack. For this trip, I used a 32-liter backpack, the largest one I own, to hold everything I needed for two weeks. I packed my work computer, camera, and chargers; snacks, toiletries, and medications; one packing cube stuffed with clothing; and additional necessities, including a raincoat, a tote, and a pair of shower shoes. While I longed for more outfit variety, I was glad I packed so little. I didn't feel as weighed down by my backpack as I have on previous trips, so I had more energy throughout the day. One of the most important things I packed was an all-in-one soap that cleans everything from clothes to bodies. When I pack light , I usually bring laundry sheets, which are small, dry, scented squares that resemble dryer sheets but are actually pads of laundry detergent that turn into a bubbly soap when mixed with water. But I wanted to save more space on this trip, so I brought a 2-ounce bottle of Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castille soap, which is an all-in-one soap that cleans everything from dishes to bodies. It also works as laundry soap. I plan to travel with it from now on instead of laundry sheets and a separate container of body wash. Aside from Dr. Bronner's soap, the most essential toiletries I made room for were my electric toothbrush and sea salt hairspray. No matter how lightly I'm packing, I always make room for my electric toothbrush. Although I find it bulky, with a battery, charger, and case, maintaining my usual hygiene routine away from home makes me feel more comfortable while traveling. Another necessity I packed was for my hair: the Sea Spray from Lush. I hate doing my hair. I like to just let it do what it wants, avoiding heat products and gels, but this hair product has...

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