What to Pack for your European Summer

In Europe the weather can vary considerably depending on your destination and the time of year you will be travelling. If you are travelling earlier or later in the year remember that it can get much cooler in the evenings.

Health, safety and wellbeing

In addition to any testing requirements prior to arrival, we recommend that all guests bring a sufficient supply of rapid antigen tests for the duration of their trip to Europe for their own peace of mind. We also recommend that all guests bring their own hand sanitiser and masks for their own protection and comfort.

Face Masks Standard Requirements

In continental Europe few people wear cloth masks as protection against COVID-19 and instead are utilising surgical masks of a specific standard. Increasingly FFP2 masks are the required standard of use.  In Australia we know these masks as KN95 or by N95 standard.

• FFP stands for “filtering face piece”. It is a European standard for mask efficiency, ranging from one, the lowest grade, to three, the highest. FFP2 masks filter at least 94% of all aerosols, including airborne viruses such as COVID-19.
• Please ensure that you have an adequate quantity of these masks to use while on your journey.  These may be purchased before you leave Australia or locally once you have arrived in country.

Visiting Churches & Basilicas

Many churches and religious sights require conservative clothing to be worn when visiting. In European countries, ladies and gentleman are both required to wear modest skirts or shorts covering your knees and tops to cover your shoulders down to the elbows. Short skirts, tighter shorts, singlets or bare mid-riffs are not permissible. We suggest you carry a scarf during the day to wrap around your shoulders or legs if needed.

Dressing for Dinner

‘Smart but casual’ is probably the easiest formula. We do not expect anyone to particularly ‘dress for dinner' however perhaps bring along at least one dinner outfit, for the special dinners and events. Can we ask the gentlemen to wear long pants to dinner. Please make sure you also pack acceptable footwear as thongs and sneakers are not acceptable footwear for inside hotel and local restaurants in the evenings. Thank you.

Bathing clothes and towels

Depending on your tour, some hotels you will be staying in may have leisure facilities including swimming pools, whirlpool/spas and sauna. We suggest you consider packing your bathing suites and a light travel towel to use at hotel pools and beaches. If you plan to use the hotel towels, please check with the hotel as to their policy re: pool/beach towels as many provide towels for use at pools or beaches, and bathroom towels are not to be used.  Please be mindful of the rules and regulations of the places that you will be visiting. Some towns and villages do not allow you to walk on the street in your bathing attire, if in doubt please ask your Tour Manager.

Footwear during the day

Comfy shoes are always a must. When sightseeing you may be spending some time on your feet so please make sure you bring comfortable shoes. As indicated in the sales brochure, especially in Italy, we visit a variety of medieval hilltop towns which may have some steep, uneven cobbled stone streets or castles with various levels accessible only by long or steep stairwells. Additionally, some larger cities only provide coach passenger drop off points 15 minutes or so walk from the old town centres. Please ensure you bring appropriate footwear.

Tour Specific Information

Please also refer to the Tour Suitability page for your tour's specific information or pre-departure documentation.

Italy, the Deep South & Sicily tour travellers

Please ensure you have the correct footwear - comfortable enclosed walking shoes are required for your visits in Matera and up Mount Etna.

Glorious Germany & the Czech Republic travellers

Please note we recommend you pack insect repellent for this tour, the mosquitoes can be hungry while you stay in Lübbenau in the Spreewald Forest.

Scandinavia, In the Footsteps of Vikings travellers

• Please note it is essential you pack waterproof footwear, gloves and hat for RIB boat excursion in the Lofoten Islands.
• This tour has a baggage restriction of 20kg per person on the internal flights that form part of this tour.
• Any excess baggage is to be paid locally per flight by the traveller directly and is subject to the carriage conditions of the airline. Albatross Tours is not liable for any additional luggage costs incurred while travelling.

Contact Us

If you have any further questions, please contact us, your European Tour Specialists for any questions or return back to the Pre-departure Information page for more details.