What I'm Glad I Packed for Vienna (and What I Didn’t Need)

Vienna in the fall is stunning. It’s beautiful, elegant, and…colder than you expect when you’re packing from somewhere where it was still eighty degrees and sunny. Looking back, there are things I absolutely should have packed more of, and things that took up precious space in my bag for absolutely no reason.

Let’s start with what I didn’t need.

I brought way too many summer clothes. Online, the weather in Vienna said it was warm and sunny, but that would change in a month or two. In reality, Vienna was blue skies, cold mornings, and constant layering. I wore my summer outfits until late September until October hit and I had to invest in some more sweaters and jackets. Most of my warm-weather clothes stayed folded at the back of my closet the entire time. I packed very well for Vienna in the summer and early fall, but forgot that most of my time abroad would be in the winter. 

I did not bring any of my shampoo, conditioner, or face wash from home. This I planned to purchase here and I am so glad I did! Vienna has great drugstores on almost every corner, and the products are honestly the same as what I use at home. All it would’ve done was make my luggage heavier and I’ve used up almost all of the products in the last four months so I have barely anything to bring home!

Another major regret was bringing my hair curler and straightener. Between the voltage differences and plug situation, it just wasn’t worth the effort. My favorite hair curler did not survive this abroad ordeal (RIP). It took up space, added stress, and barely got used. If you’re staying in Europe for more than a few days, it honestly makes more sense to just buy a cheap tool with an EU plug once you’re there and not worry about converters, overheating, or damaging your hair.

Now for what I wish I brought more of.

Sweaters. So many more sweaters.

I packed some, but not nearly enough. What I really needed were thick, cozy, layerable pieces. Chunky sweaters, zip-ups, long-sleeve tops, turtlenecks, and THERMAL LAYERS.  Vienna fashion is beautiful, but it’s also practical. People dress classy and warm, and I found myself wishing I had more than just one neutral sweater almost every single day. I ended up hitting H&M and Pull & Bear multiple times just to get other sweaters to layer with. Mornings were cold, nights were windier, and my outfits had up to five layers at different points of abroad.

One thing I am endlessly grateful I packed correctly was all of my medications from home. Prescriptions, over-the-counter, everything. It was hard to organize all of my dosages beforehand but it was so worth it! It gave me so much peace of mind. Trying to navigate pharmacies, new brands, and language barriers while not feeling well would have been miserable. Bringing everything with me meant one less thing to worry about in a new country and ensured that I had comforts of home with me. 

And finally, two things I’m so glad I brought: my camera and my journal.

The camera captured Vienna in a way my phone never could! All of the trips, the food, and the sights! And my journal became a time capsule of my time abroad. I wrote about my experiences in the places I traveled, how my classes were going, and what I wanted to take away from this experience. Years from now, it will help me remember how I felt in this precise moment. 

Another thing I am endlessly glad I brought: My friends from home! Going to such a small school means that you recognize everyone else from your home university that goes abroad in the same location! And I am so glad I have had a bit of home with me during my time abroad! Being able to come back to the apartment and watch a TV show with Sophia, just like how we would at school, completely eliminated my homesickness. Being able to study for an Economics exam with Ishita was familiar and comforting. Being able to lock in on government internship searches with Mia helped me stay focused. It was so nice to be able to share these experiences with some of my best friends whether it be traveling with them or just catching up over a collaborative dinner. 

If I had to sum it all up, Vienna taught me this: pack for the version of life you’re actually going to live, not what you imagined in your head. Fewer summer clothes. More warmth. Fewer “just in case” items. And never forget the importance of taking home shared experiences with others, whether it be with friends you make during your time abroad or those familiar faces from home that you see in a brand new environment. 

And most importantly, have so much fun!