Don't Forget To Pack These Essential Items For Your Next Trip To Paris
So you've booked yourself a spring or summer trip to Paris. Good choice! Paris is beautiful in the warmer months. If you've clicked on this post, you're probably wondering what you need to take with you. After all, nobody likes taking too much with them or realising when they arrive that they forgot something important.
In today's post, we're sharing our packing list and the essential items you won't want to forget when visiting Paris in spring or summer.
Let's Start With Clothing
• Cute Swimwear. Probably not the first thing you'd think of when packing for Paris, but if you're lucky enough to be staying in a hotel or Airbnb with a pool, having a dip is a great way to cool off. So if your hotel has a pool, don't forget to pack some swimwear. We recommend packing 2 swimsuits / shorts / bikinis so you can wear one as you let the other dry.
• Dresses, Skirts, Shorts & Lightweight Trousers. Paris can get very hot in the height of summer. We have recently returned from a trip where it hit temperatures of 34°C. When it's this hot, jeans are too thick and heavy to wear for a day of sightseeing. So pack a couple of casual dresses, lightweight trousers and/or pretty shorts in your suitcase. And don't forget any matching lightweight tops to match.
• A Light Jacket, Jumper or Blazer. I like to pack a light jacket or blazer to dress up my outfits if we have a nice dinner booked or we're planning on going out for drinks. A light jacket or jumper is also good for keeping the chill off when you're visiting the breezy top of the Eiffel Tower or for when you're waiting for the Tower to light up at night.
• Lightweight Pyjamas. A good night's sleep is always important. For the warmer months, bring pyjamas that are lightweight so you're not too hot in the night. Pack just 1 or 2 pairs depending on the length of your trip.
• A Rain Jacket. Even in the spring and summer, we have been caught out by the rain. Make sure to put a rain jacket in your suitcase to avoid ruining your well thought out outfits.
What Footwear Will You Need?
• Trainers / Sneakers. If you have been to Paris before, you'll know it involves a lot of walking. But if this is your first trip, you may be surprised at how walkable the city is and how many steps you're likely to get in. Comfy footwear is essential, so bring shoes that you can walk in all day. I usually pack a couple of pairs of plain white trainers/sneakers as they go with dresses for a smart/casual look. Remember to break in your shoes before your trip to avoid rubbing and blisters. If you're visiting for a few days, pack two pairs as even the comfiest pair of trainers can rub and cause blisters after a few days. When visiting in the warmer months, you'll also want to wear trainers that are breathable, because nobody wants hot feet.
• Sandals. I like to pack a pair of sandals to either dress up my outfits if we have a nice dinner planned or if it's too hot for trainers.. When it comes to choosing which sandals to bring, I would recommend skipping the heels and opting for a flat pair instead. The uneven paving and cobblestone streets of Paris don't work well with heels. And remember, comfort is essential for any sight-seeing trip, so bring a comfy pair or 2.
Bags & Accessories
• A Small Bag. When it comes to choosing which bag to bring, try not to make it too big or bulky. When visiting some of Paris' more popular monuments and museums, you should expect bag searches. To make this run smoother, make sure to bring a small bag and don't overfill it. You also want to avoid overfilling your bag as you'll be carrying it all day and it will start to feel heavy quickly if you're carrying too many items.
• A Hat. Protect your skin from the sun and bring a hat.
• Sunglasses. Bring your sunglasses and enjoy the views from the Arc De Triomphe, or Galeries Lafayette (pictured below) without squinting. I also like to bring a backup pair, just in case.
Protect Yourself From The Sun With These Items
• Sun Cream / Sunscreen. It's important to protect your skin from sun damage, so don't forget to pack some sun cream. I use Nivea UV Face Sun Cream for my face. It looks nice under makeup (if you're wearing any) and has a nice, gentle scent to it. I would highly recommend if you're looking for a good facial sun cream. We also like to use the NIVEA Sun Protect & Dry Touch Invisible range as it's a clear spray and doesn't leave you feeling sticky.
• Lip-Balm With SPF. Alongside the general toiletries and make up, I always make sure to pack a lip-balm with SPF. My lips dry out in the sun and using a lip balm with SPF also prevents them from getting burnt.
• Heat Defence Spray. If you have longer hair, you likely use a heat defence spray to protect it when using hot styling tools. But the sun can also cause damage to your hair, so I always pack my TRESemme Heat Defence Hair Spray when travelling in summer. Bring a full-sized bottle if you already have one, or pick up a travel-sized bottle before your trip.
• A Good Moisturiser. After being out in the heat all day, make sure to look after your skin and hydrate it.
• Aftersun Lotion / Aloe Vera Gel. Along with a good moisturiser, pack some aftersun lotion or aloe vera gel. Take care of your skin and apply some aftersun, especially if you feel as though you've been burnt.
What Other Things Might You Forget?
• European Adapter. Chances are you're bringing electrical items with you such as a hair dryer, hair straighteners and phone chargers etc. Make sure to pack your UK to European adapter with you so you can use them.
• Umbrella. Unfortunately it's often rainy in Paris, even in spring and summer. Avoid getting caught out and pack a small umbrella in your case.
• Handheld, Rechargeable Fan. A rechargeable fan is always handy to have in the summer heat. We bring our rechargeable fans for those times when waiting in long queues in the heat is just too much.
• A Coin Purse. We like to bring a small coin purse to carry our bank cards and euros in. But we also bring a second little pouch to keep our metro and train tickets.
Top Tip: You should keep your metro tickets away from items that can demagnetise your tickets. We found out the hard way when on our first trip to Paris, we kept our metro tickets in a pocket next to my phone. The tickets wouldn't scan at the barrier and an attendant had to come help us out. So keep you metro tickets away from other items in your bag.
• A Pen. If you're buying a Paris Visite travel pass for the trains and metro system around Paris, make sure to bring a pen so you can write your name and the date on your ticket.
• Powerbank. We use our phones a lot in Paris, for taking photos, to display our tickets to the attractions and to navigate the metro system to name a few. So along with our phones, we always pack a portable phone charger. Don't forget the charging cable too.
• A Mini First Aid Kit. I usually pack some plasters (band aids), antiseptic wipes, mini scissors, tweezers, pain killers and allergy medications, especially in summer. But make sure to pack whatever you and your family might need personally.
• Hand Sanitiser, Wipes & Face Mask. As a result of covid-19, these items have now become essential on all our packing lists.
Hopefully this post has helped you when making your Paris packing list. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comment section below.
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