{2024} The Ultimate Guide to Picking a Purse for Europe

Wondering how to find the right purse for your trip to Europe? Your favorite Europe travel gal has created a step-by-step guide to finding the ideal purse for your trip 'across the pond!'

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Searching for the perfect purse for your Europe trip?

You've come to the right place!

I love nothing more than helping Americans prepare for their trips to Europe, particularly in the shopping and packing space. 

While traveling to Europe is certainly not 'all about' what you're wearing, feeling comfortable and having the right items for your trip can really help you enjoy your vacation and spend that precious time 'across the pond' efficiently.

I always say that the three most important items you'll need for your trip to Europe are the best pairs of comfortable walking shoes, the right jacket, and *surprise!* the perfect travel purse. It is highly probable that, after reading my tips below, a purse that you already own will fit the bill. While I always advocate buying something new if you need it, I wouldn't be too surprised if you have something suitable in your closet for your time in Europe.

Alright! With the intro complete, we can move onto walking through two sections, and finally onto the purse recommendations. First, we'll talk about a few high-level ideas to keep in mind when picking a purse for Europe. And then we will move onto the 6 essential qualities that the purse you select should have. And finally I'll link to a few purses, if you need inspiration.

A few things to keep in mind when purse shopping for Europe:

​Be realistic about how much you actually need to bring in your everyday purse

One of the easiest pitfalls when packing for any trip, especially a long one in a foreign country (or multiple foreign countries!), is to overpack. 


I would quite strongly recommend resisting this impulse, both with regard to your actual luggage and with regard to what you want to carry with you on a daily basis. Be VERY strict with yourself about what you want to have on your person for 20,000+ steps per day. 


At a maximum, I would have these items in my purse:

• Cell phone
• One or two credit cards (don't forget to warn the company that you'll be traveling abroad, especially if you didn't buy your tickets on that card)
• A small amount of cash in the local currency
• Hotel keys & car key (if you rented a car. Leave your house key in your hotel room)
• Driver's license (DO NOT put your passport in your purse. Too easy to lose it. Not really a huge deal if you lose your driver's license. You can get another one when you get home).
• Essential medications
• 1 or 2 Bandaids
• Hand sanitizer

(This is obviously not contemplating the idea that you could be traveling with a small child/diaper bag. If you are, we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.)

Do you really want to check your bag at museums?

Many (most) major museums, and some 'tourist attractions,' will insist that you either check a large back in the 'clock room' or wear it on your front. I'd avoid this if you can, as there is often a large line in the morning of people checking, and then in the afternoon of people recouping, their large bags. 


Fun fact: If you're worried about suitcases/backpacks at the beginning or end of your trip, almost every hotel will keep your bags for you. If you're checking out in the morning and want to go run around before your flight, just leave your bags at the hotel if at all possible.

Think about the airplane logistics

Stay with me: the fact I'm pressuring you into carrying a small purse for day-to-day tourism does NOT mean you are limited to a small purse on your flights. 


I bring a small, reasonably collapsible tote bag on my flight. I use my "tourism purse" that will be for everyday use as my 'wallet' and keep it inside my tote and the tote is my airplane "personal item." That allows me to have a spacious bag for my travel days, that can hold a water bottle, snacks, reading material, etc., and then I just leave it in my hotel room during my time in Europe. Be sure that it's small enough to fit on the floor in front of you, or they'll make you put it into the overhead bins where it's harder to access it during the flight.

Let's talk about pickpockets

The reality of visiting any tourist destination, not just in Europe, is that where there are tourists, there are going to be some pickpockets. I don't say this to make you paranoid, but to save you from a bad situation. There are a few easy things you can do to keep yourself and your possessions safe during your time in Europe:

• Make sure your purse zips fully and keep it closed when you're walking around.
• Only carry essentials with you. If at all possible, it's a good idea to leave your passport and most of your cash in your hotel/hotel safe.
• Don't leave your purse on the ground under your seat at a restaurant. Keep it in your lap, or leave it on if it's a crossbody bag (I'm just going to keep bringing them up).
• Don't talk to strangers. The scams are always changing, but pickpockets and con artists often work in pairs. For example, a common one in Paris: a person (often a woman or young person) will ask you to sign a petition in support of something really, really sympathetic. Last time we were there it was "disabilities" and a huge picture of a wheelchair. While the tourist is navigating this and trying to be polite, an accomplice will pickpocket them. Just keep walking. Or pretend you don't understand them.

How to look like a local in Europe

With the exception of students, you won't see adult Europeans going about their daily activities wearing backpacks. European women tend to carry small, usually leather, purses.


With the exception of a very few luxury logos, and even with those, keep logos to a minimum. And, even with luxury logos, showing up head-to-toe in Louis Vuitton is not going to make you appear 'classy' in Paris. Europeans, especially wealthy ones, are far more understated than we are.

Don't go overboard

I love clothes and dressing up, but I've never brought more than 2 purses to Europe at the absolute maximum. I'd try to keep it to one, unless you're attending a wedding or extremely fancy dinner.

6+ Qualities Your Purse for Europe Should Have

The best purse for a trip to Europe should have the qualities below. Ready to shop? Skip to the bottom for my actual purse finds after a few hours of scouring the internet and Nordstrom (always hard at work, I am!)

1. Oh-So-Small

Overall, the purse you bring to Europe should be small, offering you quick access to the limited number of items you'll need on a daily basis. Give yourself plenty of room (it can be more than a wallet on a chain) for your phone, cards, keys, some cash, and hand sanitizer.

FAQ: Should I carry a water bottle in Europe?

This is a matter of budget, personal preference, environmental concern, and bag size. While I use a reusable water bottle (and bring my own bags to the grocery), I forgo this in Europe. I do not want to carry a purse large enough for a water bottle. I drink water at meals, and occasionally will buy a disposable bottle if I run into a cafe or Pret a Manger to use the restroom. There are plenty of places to fill bottles in public in Europe, if it is your preference. Rome has stunning public fountains for this purpose.

Light weight

Both the purse itself and the contents should be as light as possible. 20,000+ steps is a lot of steps in a day and hauling around a heavy purse isn't going to make those tourism days any shorter. I'd hate for you to slowly tip sideways as the significant weight of your ill-conceived shoulder bag jammed with too much stuff drags you down.

Hands free

Ideally, opt for a crossbody purse, or at least a purse with a shoulder strap long enough that you don't have to keep pushing it back up onto your shoulder all day. You want your hands free for getting on and off public transportation, opening doors, carrying new purchases, and holding hands as you stroll in Rome - not clutching a purse.

FAQ: Can you wear 'bum bags' in Europe?

Yes! You can wear a "fanny pack" or Lululemon belt bag with an adjustable strap across your torso, like we do here in The States, with a few ground rules. If possible, I'd go for a leather bag, just to fit in better, and look less "athletic." Additionally, if you're going with the nylon material bag or a canvas material, I would bring a different purse if you'll be going to high-end restaurants, the theater, high-end shopping.

Zips fully

As we've discussed, whatever purse you've selected simply must zip fully, to protect against pickpockets. No matter how cute a purse is, it's not worth losing your peace of mind worrying about someone reaching into your wide open tote bag.

FAQ: Do I need an anti-theft bag for my trip to Europe?

If you are interested, there are many anti-theft purses to be had, often fairly inexpensively. They also come in cuter styles than they used to (see, e.g. this reasonably normal looking anti-theft bag from Amazon. There's even a crescent bag option.).

Generally, an anti-theft purse offers strong zippers and extra compartments to protect you from pickpockets. Some even have lockable zippers and they rarely have an outside pocket. Another option is a money belt, worn under the clothes, containing your valuables.

I, personally, have never carried one of these bags. A bag that zips and that you keep a close eye on should be fine. You will not be under constant siege from pickpockets.

Water resistant

The reality of any long trip is the risk of rain, and your purse, and your shoes, should be able to survive if you get caught in a sudden downpour. The ability to survive could be because it is small and can be tucked into your coat, or because it is made from a water resistant material, or both. This is particularly important if you're visiting my favorite place in the world: soggy London.

Stylish

And don't worry - I haven't forgotten what matters most to me on my domestic bag purchases: style. How to fit in with the Europeans? Stick to neutral color options, far fewer logos (if any), clean and classic silhouettes and you'll fit right in.

Thanks for Stopping By!

I hope I've given you some food for thought as you search for a purse for your trip to Europe. Small, light, hands-free and zips fully. You can do it! Bring only travel essentials and you'll do great.

​And while you're here, I hope you're explore the many, many free resources I've created for Americans planning trips to Europe. I'd love nothing more than to assist you in planning your next adventure.

Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and keep in touch! xx

My round-up of the best travel purses for Europe: