The Best Travel Dresses for Europe, by Country

What to Wear on the Plane

A dress can work for travel days as long as it’s in a wrinkle-resistant fabric that won’t come off the plane looking like a wadded napkin. Ponte is one of my favorites because it adds soft structure, holds its shape for hours, and steps off the plane looking exactly like it did when you got on.

This Quince Ponte Dress is made from a substantial 4-way stretch ponte that looks polished but still feels comfortable to wear. It comes in six colors and has a clean, simple design that you can dress up or keep casual depending on your shoes and accessories.

Jersey knits and soft stretch fabrics also tend to keep wrinkles at bay. Layer with a cardigan, cozy wrap, or soft jacket because planes are notoriously hot when you board, then chilly enough to feel like a refrigerator once you’re airborne. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane to save room in your bag.

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Best Travel Dresses For Italy

Italian style has a way of looking polished without seeming fussy. Linen dresses are especially good for Italy because they’re breathable, comfortable, and practical for long days spent walking through towns, cities, and coastal areas. Just keep in mind that if you plan to visit any of Italy’s churches, it’s smart to choose a dress with sleeves or tuck a scarf into your bag for extra coverage.

This Stretch Midi Shirtdress is made of a cotton-spandex blend that feels cool and comfortable. The pattern helps hide wrinkles, and the shirtdress styling adds just enough structure without being snug. This would work with flat sandals, low-profile sport sneakers, or to dress up for the evening.

In Italy, especially in cities, women tend to dress in neutrals such as beige, navy, black, white, and olive. Bright colors can feel more obvious there, while the coastal towns are a little more relaxed.

Linen is ideal for summer in Italy because it stays cool and still looks polished in the heat. A loose linen shift works especially well because it’s easy to wear all day, doesn’t cling, and feels right for both sightseeing and a casual dinner.

This Organic Linen Shift dress would look right at home on any Italian street. The loose styling works in the hottest weather and allows airflow, keeping you cool. Simply slip it over your head, add a belt if you like, and you’re good to go. This linen wrap is a great option for covering shoulders or head if heading into a church.

Best Dresses For France

In Paris, women tend to dress in simple, polished pieces with clean lines and a neutral palette like navy, black, brown, camel, and cream. A dress that looks good with flats during the day and can be dressed up a bit for dinner is usually the best choice.

This Sézane Cotton Tee dress has a side tie for added shaping without being snug. The round neckline and short sleeves couldn’t be simpler, making it easy to dress up or down.

The South of France, whether you’re in Provence or along the Côte d’Azur, feels much more relaxed than Paris. You’ll see more white, softer colors, and breezier shapes that suit the heat and coastal setting.

This breezy, flowy maxi dress is a cotton-rayon blend with 34 sleeves and a V-neckline in a relaxed silhouette. Perfect for breezy days along the coast.

Linen and cotton make the most sense here, with inland towns like Aix-en-Provence and Avignon feeling more casual, while the Riviera tends to be a little more polished. For evenings on the coast, a simple midi or maxi dress with a light layer is usually enough.

This Farm Rio dress is made of an airy linen blend with a resort-ready vibe and seascape pattern. The sleeves have lacey scalloped edging, which lends a playful vibe

What Works Best In Greece

Greece isn’t one single packing situation. Athens dresses more like a European city than a beach destination, so a well-cut dress with flat sandals or clean sneakers works better there than anything too floaty or beachy.

This jersey slip dress is perfectly packable and comes in misses, petite, petite plus, and plus sizes.

The islands are a different story. That’s where softer, more relaxed dresses in breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and gauze make the most sense, especially in white or shades of blue. Maxi dresses work well for beach days, walking around the islands, and dinners by the water. Even then, the mood varies. Mykonos is dressier, Corfu and Rhodes are more casual, and Santorini falls somewhere in the middle.

This smocked maxi dress has a hand-smocked bodice and cascading tiered skirt that will swish when you walk.

One practical note about Santorini specifically: it’s windier than people expect. If you’re sightseeing in a shorter dress on a windy island, a pair of fitted shorts or Slip Shorts underneath is worth considering. Not glamorous advice, but useful.

These Thigh Society are my favorites because they’re lightweight and opaque, so nothing shows if the wind blows your skirt up. They come in 5″, 7″, or 9″ lengths, in several shades.

What To Pack For Spain

Cities like Barcelona and Madrid have a fun, boho style that’s super vibrant. Think dresses with colorful prints and bold patterns that really capture the lively, passionate Spanish vibe. Light, breathable fabrics are perfect for staying cool in the warm Mediterranean weather and for dancing the night away.

This fun linen dress from Boden comes in several colors and print options and is perfect for a sunny holiday in Spain. It comes in petite, regular, and long lengths, in sizes up to 20/22.

Seville in summer is a different challenge altogether. It routinely exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so all-black outfits are a bad idea. Shift to white, cream, and light pastels from June through September if you’re headed south. This pretty shirtdress is perfect for so many occasions.

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One Last Packing Tip

Whatever country you’re headed to, pack less than you think you need and make sure everything you bring can do more than one job. A dress that goes from sightseeing to dinner without a wardrobe change is worth three that can’t, and if it has side pockets, you’ve hit the jackpot. And for the love of cobblestones, wear shoes you’ve already broken in.

Where are you heading this summer, and will you be packing dresses?