Packing List for Switzerland in Summer: A 16-Day Sightseeing Adventure

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Heading to Switzerland this summer? Wondering what you will need to pack? Will it be hot? Will it be cold? Will it be both? Obviously, depending on where in Switzerland you are going, the temps will vary. Therefore, you might need different types of clothing. I did and here’s my packing list for Switzerland in summer!

Trip Details

For reference, I spent 16 days in Switzerland in the month of August and visited Geneva, Zürich, Lucerne, Zermatt and Montreux/Vevey. For the most part, this was a luxury sightseeing trip. There was no backpacking, but there was adventure such as skiing in the Swiss Alps and paragliding with the Matterhorn.

My Luggage

For most of my (nonspecialty) type trips, I travel with 3 things:

My Checked Bag is a Briggs and Riley Expandable Upright. My husband suggested it to me after my other bag bit the dust. I was skeptical because it isn’t cheap. However, it has a lifetime warranty and after a few years of consistent travel, I did test out that feature. I was more than thrilled with the results. They also have an option if you are a spinner fan which I am not…only because they are easier to tear up (and weigh more). Other features are a built-in connector strap and built-in hanging clothes section.

My Carry-on is my Case Logic Laptop Backpack. I like it because not only does it hold a lot, but it has removable organizing dividers to hold things how I want. It has memory foam padding to protect my computer, stands upright and is water-resistant. I can fit my DSLR, with two additional lenses, laptop, external hard drive, sunglasses (in case), GoPro, and Kindle, (sometimes mini iPad) along with snacks and other personal items like medicines and extra underwear in this backpack. I can even strap my tripod to it!

My Travel Purse is the Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bag. I need my hands free for photography, but I don’t want to worry about someone getting into my purse. Its zippers lock onto themselves, it’s RFID blocking as well as slash proof. I can even get a bottle of water in the front pocket.

Inside My Checked Bag

is all of this which doesn’t look like much right?

That’s because everything is neatly packed into my packing cubes which I highly recommend! I bought mine based on sizing I needed so I have these and also use this set too which includes a laundry bag!

What I love about packing cubes is that they keep everything organized and from winding up in a heap on one side of my suitcase. This means I don’t have to iron! 🙌

That gray object up top is the hanging bag that fits in the top of my suitcase. I chose to upgrade to the new built-in model, but I sometimes still take this one. It is holding all of…

this! As you can see, it holds quite a bit!

You might also like: 6 UNUSUAL TIPS + IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR AN EASY PACKING PROCESS

CLOTHES

Tops

1 t-shirt
4 lightweight 3/4 sleeve tunics
1 sweatshirt tunic
1 lightweight sweater tunic

Packed in their cube!

Dresses

4 sleeveless tunic dresses
3 short sleeve tunic dresses
3 maxi dresses

*I took out 2 of these items after the photos were taken resulting in the totals above

Outerwear

1 rain jacket/windbreaker
1 lightweight wraparound cardigan (mainly used on flights)

I love the Charles River rain jacket. It goes on EVERY trip with me. It’s light enough that I can use it as a rain jacket in just about any climate but somehow it’s enough to keep me warm in most cool (not cold) climates. That’s why it was perfect for the cool Swiss nights!

You see it has my monogram on it. That’s a Southern thing. And a “me” thing. I usually have my monogram on me somewhere. It’s just my signature. My husband says I would monogram the toilet paper if there was such a thing. Imagine his face when I told him that exists (but no, I’m not *that* bad)! 😳🤣

Jacket goes in the hanging bag and the cardigan ties around my cross-body purse

Pants

1 pair of lightweight regular leggings
1 pair of lightweight crop leggings
1 pair of fleece leggings
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of capri jeggings

*I took out 3 of these items after the photos were taken resulting in the totals above. Also, I know you are wondering where the shorts are. I much prefer dresses or crop leggings to shorts. Personally, I’m more comfortable. If you prefer shorts, just substitute them right on in.

All packed up!

Shoes

1 pair flip flops
1 pair Toms
1 pair flats
1 pair hiking shoes

These four pairs of shoes turned out to be exactly what I needed. Although, now I do have a couple of different brands I like better. These are the hiking shoes in the photo. They are waterproof and great for summer.

However, I need more ankle support and these Vasques are the ones I currently wear. They are also waterproof and I recently did 9 miles in them in 14″ of snow. Maybe I should mention that was also the first day I wore them?!!

Miscellaneous

1 set of pajamas
1 pair of underwear for every day
4 regular bras, 2 sports bras
3 pairs of socks
1 swimsuit
toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, face wash, sunscreen, etc)
toothbrush (love this one because it’s compact)
makeup
travel umbrella (has a waterproof case)
travel hair dryer
microfiber hair towel

In My Carry-On Backpack

13″ MacBook Pro
Canon SX730 HS travel camera then (now Canon 80D DSLR)
travel camera cross body strap (keeps my hands free and camera at the ready when not in use and keeps the camera secured to my person)
2 extra lenses
GoPro
external hard drive (highly recommend my Transcend as it is military drop tested)
extra batteries for camera, GoPro
chargers for cameras, computer cord, cables
European adapters
mini, flexible tripod
GoPro hand attachment
sunglasses and case
medicine case with meds (I take out the plastic pill case)
glasses/case, contact case and an extra pair of contacts
jewelry pouch
extra pair of underwear
travel power strip
travel luggage scale
manila envelope with extra copies of passport (I explain this here)
waterproof lightweight day trip backpack

In My Travel Purse

passport
wallet (I can’t go on a trip without this travel wallet!)
extra copy of passport
Kindle
Canon SX730 HS travel camera with extra battery
my iPhone
earbuds
adapter for earbuds
my mini pocket spotlight (similar to this as mine has been discontinued)
charging cable
portable phone charger
anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
facial oil absorbing blotting sheets like these
some type of candy such as lifesavers

You Might Be Wondering

where my ski clothes are for this trip? I ~~did ski~~ did get on skis in the Swiss Alps (I’m not very experienced). Since this only took up a half-day of our trip, we decided to rent pants along with the boots and skis. But, I do own ski pants!

PIN IT!

And there you have it! Everything I took for a summer trip to Switzerland. For the most part, it was warm but the nights can get cool and when it’s rainy that always drops the temps. Speaking of rain, I was definitely glad I had both my umbrella and my rain jacket for the downpour we had one day in Zürich.

Hope this helps make your packing experience easier! Do you have anything to add to my list?

‘Til next time…

Trimm Travels,

Heather