Paris Packing List • 22 Items you NEED (2024)?

Best Luggage For Paris: AER Travel Pack 2

You don’t need to pack too much stuff for a Paris trip, just the essentials. There are no weather extremities and the chances are you are not headed to Paris on a camping trip. Therefore this AER backpack is fully featured, big enough to hold an extended weekend of clothing, and tough enough to last years of travel abuse. 

I have taken the AER Travel Pack 2 on multiple trips and since then it has risen in the ranks as my go-to travel backpack. 

Check out our AER Travel Pack 2 review to learn more.

Best Suitcase For Paris: Nomatic Carry-On Pro

Are backpacks not your thing? That’s ok. Our friends at Nomatic are back again with a great alternative to their badass Travel Bag; the Nomatic Carry-On Pro. 

This suitcase is ultra-durable, sleek, and comes with a handy tech compartment for transporting your laptop and other electronic bits. Nomatic has been an industry leader when it comes to travel gear and that reputation is reflected in the quality build design and functionality of the Carry-On Pro suitcase. These things fit all you need for a Paris trip but are a bit of a pain in the ass to carry on and off the metro.

Check out our Nomatic Carry-On Pro review to learn more about this epic suitcase. 

Best Camera For Paris: GoPro Hero9 Black

For most of us, our smartphones now feature cameras with stunning photo capabilities.

But… if you are an aspiring photographer who wants to take next-level photos and video beyond iPhone selfies, I recommend going with an action camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black.

It does deliver pro-quality video and gives you a bunch of different angle options and shooting speeds to work with for photos (including a selfie mode).

Think of a camera purchase like this as a long-term investment that will have you capturing epic shots well beyond your time exploring here. If you are looking for something cheaper for video specifically, check out these epic GoPro Alternatives.

Best Walking Shoes For Paris – Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero

Visitors to Paris have a tendency to underestimate the amount of walking that is part of the day-to-day Paris experience. But the city is huge and the main attractions are very spread out. Whilst public transport is good, there is still a lot of walking to be done. In fact, exploring the Louvre alone clocks up a fair few miles. Besides, Paris is simply one of the cities best explored on foot.

I admit that most shoes that are also good for hiking are not the most attractive pieces of footwear and bearing in mind that Paris is still a fashion capital, that kind of matters. But they are some of the most comfortable walking shoes and deliver good ankle support for a long day of walking about town. These ones are not too garish and will look good in chic Paris.

Check out the women’s Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero. 

Best Jacket For Paris: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody

Depending on when you’re visiting Paris, you’ll be in need of a warm, but light jacket. Granted if you visit Paris in the summer you probably won’t need to bring this. But from October temperatures plummet in the city and you’ll be happy to have this ultra-warm down jacket with you. 

It weighs just under a pound and provides an excellent weight-to-warmth ratio. If you don’t go for one of the super bright colors, it is pretty stylish and city-worthy also, and ideal for those rainy days!

If visiting Paris in the winter, then consider something even thicker.

Check out our best travel jackets article for more inspiration. 

Best Daypack For Paris – Osprey Daylite Plus

The days spent exploring Paris can be long. Therefore taking a good daypack like this small backpack is often a good shout. They are great for carrying water, hats, and jackets and for packing sandwiches for lunch. We love Osprey products and this daypack is our personal pick if you are packing for Paris.

The Osprey Daylite Plus has a mesh-covered panel to keep your back cool and fresh by minimizing contact with the back of the pack itself and allowing air to get between you and the pack.

Check out our full review of the Osprey Daylite plus for more details.

Additionally, you can attach it to other Osprey packs in case you want to add more capacity and carry just one piece of luggage… but the reviews on this feature are mixed.

Travel First Aid Kit

You don’t need to tote around half a pharmacy, but a well-stocked first aid kit should be in all our backpacks. Stuff happens on the road and it’s inconvenient and embarrassing when you can’t manage small situations like a cut finger or hangover migraine.

You can tuck this lifesaver away in a forgotten pocket – and it’ll be there when you need it.

Tip: Add a few bits and pieces to the first aid kit after you purchase it, like extra headache medicine, any personal meds you need (like allergy pills), whatever you take to calm your stomach, and a few more plasters.

Travel Insurance From World Nomads

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Money Belt – By Pacsafe

Whilst Paris is not particularly dangerous, petty crime and pickpocketing do still happen and tourists are sometimes targeted; therefore it’s important to travel safely.

Therefore it is always a good idea to use a money belt to hide your cash just in case something does go wrong. We recommend trying not to carry too much cash.

As well as this, take care on the Metro, in busy tourist spots, and also take good care of your bags.

Water bottle – Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle 32 oz. 

Packing a reusable water bottle is probably the best thing you can personally do to combat single-use plastic bottle use whilst traveling. There is simply zero need to buy plastic water bottles.

In theory, tap water in Paris is fine to drink. However, I spent a lot of time in the city and found it does not agree with me personally at all. What I do is buy a big water bottle from Lidl (under $1) and fill my reusable water bottle each morning before I head out.

We love the Hydroflask Vacum Bottle for its quality and because it keeps cold water cold for many hours and vice versa for hot beverages. This bottle is the ideal reusable water bottle to get not just for your Paris trip but for daily use. Please don’t be that person buying plastic water bottles. We are all judging you…especially mother earth. 

If you go with the Hydroflask, you’ll probably never need to buy another water bottle again. 

On top of the essential items listed above, here is an additional suggested checklist of what to pack for a Paris trip;

• 1-2 pairs of comfortable pants/jeans
• 1-2 pairs of shorts (summer/late spring)
• A few pairs of socks
• (Sexy) underwear x 2/3
• Ladies: a few dresses, pants, outfits, or desired lady apparel for a night on the town.
• Dudes: A few collard shirts or something halfway decent for a night on the town.
• Smartphone with a good camera for photos if you are not bringing an actual camera
• Portable power bank for charging your phone on the go
• Phone charger
• Copy of your passport just in case
• Cash (not too much, there are ATM machines everywhere!)
• Packable Towel
• Wear comfortable walking shoes