Words and photos by Gianna Messia, who studied abroad with ASA in Florence during Fall semester 2024.
You may be asking yourself: What am I supposed to pack for almost four months in another country? Am I even allowed to bring all of these gadgets and hair tools overseas? Is one suitcase going to be enough—or should I just take four? The answer is no: the less, the better! This process doesn’t have to be as stressful as travelers make it out to be. Here are all the packing tricks and tips you need to know before moving abroad!
First, I'd like to share exactly what I packed before moving to Florence and the tips I was given to last four months overseas. My biggest piece of advice is to pack light! This is easier said than done, but the less you bring, the easier it is to travel. You won’t have to worry about lugging your suitcases up stairs, tracking multiple checked bags, or stressing about repacking everything to come home. When I traveled abroad, I brought a backpack, a carry-on, and one checked bag—and it was plenty!
Another key piece of advice is to pack neutral colors (black, white, beige, gray, etc.). This makes it easy to mix and match outfits each week. Believe it or not, Europeans re-wear their clothes often; it’s totally normal! Earmuffs, hats, and scarves are great accessories to spice up your outfit choices for colder months. You’ll also have the chance to do laundry. While some apartments have washers included, there are always laundromats in cities and hostels. What surprises most Americans is the rare access to dryers. Instead, clothes are air-dried on racks or clotheslines. This can be both a blessing and a curse: they dry naturally, but wrinkle easily and take much longer than a normal dryer.
So, what else should you pack? Shoes! I recommend a solid pair of sneakers for airports, hikes, and exploring bigger cities. Depending on the season, a pair of sandals or flip-flops can be useful for the beach or dressing up an outfit. Lastly, bring one “going-out” shoe. This could be a pair of black boots for women or low-rise sneakers/boat shoes for men—whatever suits your style.
Before studying abroad, I also thrifted many of my jackets and tops. That way, I didn’t feel bad leaving them behind after four months of wear and tear. You’ve probably heard this before, but you will shop abroad—so leave space in your suitcase for souvenirs, gifts, and new clothes you’ll want to bring back home.
Packing cubes were a lifesaver for me. I had one each for short sleeves, long sleeves, pants, jeans, jackets, and underwear/socks. Unpacking felt so organized, and I instantly knew how I wanted to set up my drawers.
As for toiletries and medicine—don’t forget these! Many European countries don’t carry the same over-the-counter meds, hair products, face washes, or feminine hygiene items that you can find in the U.S. I specifically packed tampons, DayQuil, NyQuil, ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Vitamin C hydration packets. If you forget something, you can usually find a similar product—but always ask a pharmacist or someone you trust before trying anything.
You’ve probably heard this one before, but you’ll definitely need a wall/outlet adapter. Every country has different outlets, and the last thing you want is a dead phone when you’re trying to snap photos of the Duomo or record videos of your weekend trips. I personally recommend investing in a universal adapter—like the Apple charger that works across multiple countries—so you don’t have to juggle a bunch of different cords and plugs. Trust me, this little gadget will travel everywhere with you! With that being said, a portable charger can be just as helpful when traveling.
I hope this was helpful for you or someone you know who’s getting ready to live abroad. This is such an exciting chapter of life—you’ll learn so much, make mistakes, and collect memories that will stay with you forever. Bon Voyage!
Thanks, Gianna!