How to Pack Carry-on Only for One Month in Portugal

Portugal
Written By Anna Dueck

If you’re planning a trip to Portugal (or anywhere in Europe) and want to pack carry-on only, for multiple seasons + save on checked baggage fees, then keep reading! I'll share with you how I managed to fit all my essentials in a single carry-on bag for a whole month-long trip to Portugal. We’ll walk through which items to bring for a minimalist capsule travel wardrobe, outfit ideas, helpful tips, tricks + how I managed to fit it all into my carry-on luggage!

Categories:

  1. Luggage

  2. Packing List

  3. Jewellery

  4. Toiletries

  5. Clothing

  6. Packing Tips and Tricks

  7. Fanny Pack

  8. Content Creator Gear

  9. Miscellaneous

1. Luggage

Before we start packing, let's talk about luggage. The first step is to figure out what we're going to use to carry everything.

  • Suitcase | I travelled with my trusty Samsonite four-wheeler carry-on suitcase. It's a hard case with a convenient lock at the top.

  • Backpack | I took my 26L Osprey Aphelia backpack. While I'm not sure if they still make this model, it has been a genius backpack for my travels. Here’s a similar model that would do the trick for me.

  • Fanny Pack | More on this below, but I found a fanny pack at a garage sale for just one dollar, and it will come in handy for carrying essentials like my e-reader and camera. Vessi’s Shoreline Belt Bag is my replacement (waterproof too).

2. Packing List

Having a packing list takes away the stress of wondering if you've forgotten something important. It's a comprehensive list that ensures you won't miss anything essential on your trip. I've created a packing list that I use for all my trips to help me double check I haven’t missed anything important ⤵⤵⤵

3. JewelLEry

Now let's talk about jewellery. While some may consider it non-essential for a carry-on trip, I find that jewelry can make a difference in how I feel during my travels. It's a fun way to accessorize outfits and add a touch of elegance, especially when you don't have many clothing options.

To keep them organized and protected, I'll be using a silk pouch that belonged to my grandmother. Any small jewelry bag will do, just something where you can remember to keep them all in one spot.

4. Toiletries

Most hostel showers do not come with a shelf or strategic place to put your belongings when getting into the shower. This often results in your items getting wet, dirty + making the bathroom experience unpleasant. I highly recommended a hanging toiletry case, similar to the one I borrowed for my Mom to help save me the hassle of trying to figure out where to place things.

Watch my packing video to see how I fit it all into my toiletry case.

5. Clothing

Now comes the trickiest part—packing clothes. I wouldn’t consider myself to be a fashionista, however after a few previous trips to Europe, I learnt that people in Europe generally dress more classic, polished + put together in comparison to most folks in North America. Athleisure wear is not as common, and leggings are not a popular choice. Given these considerations, it was challenging to decide what to bring for this trip. However, I made sure to select versatile pieces that could be mixed and matched.

Here are a few of the items I decided to bring with me for easy outfit choices:

6. Packing Tips and Techniques

To make the most of your packing, one unique trick I use is rubber bands! You can see in detail how I use them in my packing video, in short, they help to keep larger bulk items compressed, you can label clean clothes in your bag by having rubber bands on them + you never know when you may need an extra hair tie, or elastic for your open bag of snacks.

A few other items that will make your trip easier is laundry strips, packing cubes to help categorize your tops from bottoms, a shoe bag (or two) to not get your dirty shoes everywhere + a travel towel to save a few bucks at your hostels instead of renting.

7. Fanny pack

Think as your fanny pack, belt bag or purse as your personal safe lock. On the plane, take it with you to the bathroom, in a restaurant, when you’re in the shower lock it up. This has everything inside that if the rest went missing you’d still be okay because it has what you need to access people, money or resources. I kept items inside like my passport, sim card (although now I’m 100% converted to using an e-sim), headphones, wallet + items that help reduce my travel anxiety like essential oils + gum.

8. Content creator gear

As a content creator, freelancer + someone who identifies with the term digital nomad, creating space for my gear is super important! Let this be a good reminder to make sure you have all your chargers, batteries + devices you need to either work remotely, create beautiful YouTube videos, be a TikToker or connect with others around the world!

9. Miscellaneous

Lastly, let's cover some miscellaneous items that are random, + for some unnecessary, however I consider them essentials for a successful trip:

I hope this packing guide has been helpful for your upcoming trip to Portugal. Remember, packing light and efficiently can make your journey more enjoyable and stress-free. Feel free to leave a comment below, + let me know if you have any other packing tips or questions. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram when you begin packing to share in the excitement of your adventure ahead!

Safe travels + enjoy your time in Portugal friend 👋🏻!

Note: Some of the links included in this description may be affiliate or referral links. If you make a purchase using those links, I may receive a small commission, which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Anna Dueck
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