Suppose you’re putting together your packing list for a European trip. In that case, you’ll likely need a good piece of luggage with plenty of internal space for all your belongings.
We have five excellent options: the traditional suitcase for lengthy trips and carry-on bags. Let’s look at the best luggage for European travel.
Comparison Chart
Best Luggage for European Travel: Reviews
Amazon Basics ABS Hard-Shell Suitcase
This is the perfect luggage for longer trips where you need lots of packing space and something durable to keep your belongings safe.
Review
This sizeable 30-inch suitcase has plenty of interior packing capacity. It features a 105-liter volume, which should be enough for a few weeks in Europe. Even better is that it comes with an expandable feature. You can add up to 50% packing capacity to this suitcase by undoing a zipper.
In terms of organization, the suitcase’s interior is divided into various compartments to ensure that you can keep your belongings separate and neatly organized. It has a fully lined interior, a divider, three zippered pockets, and compression straps.
Surprisingly, the suitcase is relatively large and weighs under 12 pounds. This makes it fairly lightweight for its size, which is ideal for portability. In addition, it has a telescopic walking handle and double-spinner wheels. The luggage’s design enables you to roll it along without tipping it over.
You might also like how this is made with highly durable ABS plastic. This hard-shelled luggage should stay in one piece no matter what kind of punishment it goes through. This means that it also helps protect your belongings on the inside. Overall, for the price, considering the size and features, we think it is one of the best on the list today.
Pros
- Durable
- Lightweight
- High capacity
- Good organizational features
- Budget-friendly
- Good organizational capabilities
Cons
Zippers can be a bit sticky
FIGESTIN Luggage Sets
If you need a full luggage set for the entire family with plenty of space, this three-piece hard-sided set might be right for you.
Review
This luggage set comprises three pieces of different sizes. First, there’s a small 20-inch carry-on bag, a medium 24-inch piece of luggage and a 28-inch piece of luggage. Between the three pieces, you should have more than enough interior capacity for a long trip for multiple people. The two larger pieces of luggage, the 24- and 28-inch pieces, are also expandable. Opening a zipper can expand both by up to 15%.
The interiors are outfitted with tie-down straps and a large interior mesh zippered pocket to keep your belongings organized. The interior is also fully lined, which should help to protect your belongings. In addition, all three pieces have anti-theft zipper designs and an embedded TSA lock system.
All three suitcases are made with tough propylene, a very hard type of plastic. It should handle a lot of punishment, even if those airline agents aren’t too gentle with the bags. These suitcases are durable enough to last for many years.
In addition, all three suitcases have three-gear adjustable telescoping push button handles that are very easy and comfortable to hold.
Pros
- 3 sizes
- Great deal
- Good organizational capabilities
- Very durable
- Highly portable
- Features TSA locking system
Cons
Handles and wheels can be a bit wobbly
U.S. Traveler Rio Rugged Fabric Expandable Carry-on Luggage Set
If you are looking for something simple and affordable and you need a tote bag and a small carry-on bag for shorter trips, this two-piece is suitable for you.
Review
The first bag measures 21 by 13.5 by 8.5 inches, although it can expand to 10.5 inches. That said, whether expanded or not, it is small enough to be considered a carry-on. In addition, it weighs just over 6 pounds. This makes it more than small and lightweight enough to be taken on any airplane.
This small carry-on suitcase features several exterior and interior pockets and a zippered divider inside, which should help with organizational purposes. Keeping your belongings separate and organized is easy with this piece of luggage. The interior is also fully lined to help protect your belongings from damage. This suitcase also has inline skate wheels and a telescopic handle for easy portability.
You also get a smaller bag for essential belongings you want to keep on hand, which measures 4 by 10 by 6 inches and weighs just 1.3 pounds. It is more than lightweight enough to carry on your person at all times, and it also comes complete with a piggyback strap for easy carrying on the suitcase. This tote bag also comes with various pockets and dividers for easy organization.
Keep in mind that these are soft-sided bags made from polyester. While they should last for quite some time, keep in mind that they aren’t hard-sided. They’re just not as durable or protective of your belongings as hard-shell luggage.
Pros
- Ideal for shorter trips
- Lightweight
- Good capacity and organization
- Super portable
- Both qualify as carry-on
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not ideal for longer trips
- Somewhat limited durability
Samsonite Aspire DLX Softside Expandable Luggage
This is a very large soft-sided suitcase for European travel.
Review
Thanks to the massive 29-inch design, this suitcase has a large interior capacity for all your essential belongings. The internal capacity is well over 120 liters, which should be more than enough for several weeks of travel. In addition, it has an expanding feature, which can make it even larger for extra space.
As for organizational capabilities, it has a zippered mesh pocket on the inside, a larger zippered mesh packing pocket, and various exterior pockets.
Although this suitcase is quite large, it’s not all that heavy, thanks to it being soft-sided piece of luggage made of polyester. This lightweight design makes it ideal in terms of portability, plus it has double-spinner wheels that rotate 360 degrees. It also features a telescopic locking handle that makes it easy to pull along. In addition, the soft grip handle is exceptionally comfortable to hold.
Although the suitcase is designed to be durable, keep in mind that it is not hard-sided. So, although it should last for quite a few years, it’s not quite as protective of your belongings as a hard-shelled suitcase.
Pros
- Huge capacity
- Great organizational features
- Very portable – comfortable handles
- Reasonable price
- Retractable ID tag
- Padded carry handles
Cons
- Not as durable as hard-sided luggage
- No locks
Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Carry-On Luggage
This small carry-on bag is perfect for shorter trips and the ideal size for fitting into overhead compartments. It features a high-quality design and a high price tag, although we think it is worth the investment,
Review
This is a small 16-inch carry-on bag. Its small size ensures it can be considered carry-on luggage on any airline. In addition, it weighs just under 7 pounds, making it lightweight. It’s some of the lightest luggage on our list.
Its small size and lightweight design make it ideal in terms of portability. It’s so light you could easily carry it with a single hand with the padded carrying handle. Moreover, it has inline skate wheels and a long extendable handle, so you can easily pull it along.
One cool feature is the external USB port to charge your electronic devices. In terms of organizational capabilities, the interior comprises several divided sections. There are also some exterior pockets to help keep your belongings organized.
We like that this suitcase is made of extremely thick, high-quality polyester and premium leather. This makes it one of the most durable pieces of luggage on our list, especially for soft-sided luggage.
Pros
- Great durability
- Small, lightweight, and convenient
- Ideal for tight spaces
- Highly portable
- Great organizational capabilities
- Ideal for shorter trips
Cons
Big price tag
Buyers Guide
Let’s review a few quick tips to help you find the perfect wheeled suitcases for your next trip.
Durability
If durability is your main concern, go for hard-shelled luggage instead of soft-sided. Again, polycarbonate or ABS plastic is called for.
Size
Consider whether you need a full-size suitcase or a small carry-on bag. The longer your trip, the more capacity you will need. However, a compact and sleek design will help make life easier.
Weight
A good suitcase should be durable without weighing too much. Even the largest luggage shouldn’t weigh more than 12 pounds. It’s always best to go for lightweight bags.
Capacity
Always pay attention to the internal capacity in terms of liters. For example, a 100-liter suitcase should be good for about two weeks of travel.
Compartments
The interior and exterior should have pockets and compartments with zippers to help keep belongings organized.
Wheels
Always go for a rolling or wheeled suitcase with 360-degree spinner wheels, as this will allow maximum portability.
FAQ
What kind of luggage should I take to Europe?
A durable yet lightweight piece of hard-shelled luggage is the No. 1 recommendation.
How much luggage should you take to Europe?
If you are going for a week or longer, it is recommended that you take at least one large checked bag and one smaller carry-on.
What size luggage is carry-on in Europe?
The standard carry-on in Europe is usually 20 or 21 inches at most.
Backpack vs. Suitcase: Which is suitable for my trip to Europe?
If you are going to be on the road and staying in hostels, a travel backpack with padded shoulder straps might be ideal. However, if you need the packing capacity, a suitcase is called for.
Conclusion
The best luggage for travel to Europe is the Figestin Hard Luggage Set. It comes with three pieces, making it ideal for the whole family, plus it has plenty of other great features.