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Many women love dresses for travel because they offer an all-in-one outfit without the need to mix and match tops and bottoms. In summer, they can be particularly practical keeping you cool in the heat, but not all dresses are made equal.
If you’re headed abroad, take a look at our carefully curated list of dresses that aren’t just pretty, they’ll actually help you stay fresh and cool, too.
Dresses for Traveling Europe
Table of Contents
Despite the fact that I’ve been to various parts of Europe in summer, the heat in certain cities seems to always catch me off guard.
Rome with a Halter Neck Summer Dress with Packable Braided Straw Hat
As I’ve trudged through the hilly streets of Lisbon or sweated my way around the ancient sites in Rome, I always cursed myself at the fact that my dresses never seemed to be the right fabric. They were either pretty but not breathable because they were made from polyester or thin but clung to my body because they were made from a jersey blend.
TFG Editor in Rome wearing dress with Naot Sabrina Sandals and Rebecca Minkoff Backpack
Below you’ll find a list of the dresses I wish I’d brought on all my past European summer travels. I’ve chosen classic, timeless, versatile styles in the most featherlight fabrics that would be perfect for Paris or just about any other hot summer destination!
Plus check out our Guide to Europe in the Summer for more tips to help you put together the perfect packing list!
What are the best lightweight, comfortable, and stylish dresses for summer in Europe? Here are our favorites!
Quince 100% European Linen Button Front Dress: Regular XS-XL | Plus 1X-3X
Linen Shirt Dress
You can never go wrong wearing a shirtdress for a trip abroad, just make sure it’s in a light, breathable fabric such as this linen shirtdress by Quince.
Beautiful yet easy to wear, this is the perfect type of dress to take with you anywhere you go! Wear it with comfortable sandals for effortless European fashion flair.
If you’re looking for a sleeveless shirtdress, here’s a great option too!
Land’s End Chambray Smocked Dress with Ruffle Straps
Sizes: Regular XS-XL | Petite XS-XL | Plus 1X-3X | Also available at Nordstrom
Chambray Midi Dress
Embrace effortless European style with this beautiful chambray midi dress. Perfect for exploring cobblestone streets or relaxing in a café, its smocked bodice and delicate ruffle straps add a touch of femininity, while the lightweight, breathable cotton keeps you cool during sunny days. The tiered skirt offers a graceful silhouette, and the on-seam pockets provide both convenience and a relaxed vibe.
Fully lined for added comfort, this dress is as versatile as it is stylish—ideal for sightseeing in Paris or enjoying a leisurely weekend in the countryside. Whether paired with sandals or espadrilles, this dress is your must-have for a relaxed, yet polished look.
If you’re looking for a chambray dress with sleeves, this cotton wrap dress is a great option too!
Boden Anna Linen Tiered Midi Dress
Sizes: 0-22 Regular | 0-22 Long | 0-22 Petite
Linen Midi Dress
This beautiful linen midi dress with sleeves is the perfect companion for a chic European summer getaway. Crafted from breathable, lightweight linen, it keeps you cool and comfortable through sun-drenched strolls and balmy afternoons. The tiered silhouette offers an effortlessly feminine touch, while the structured yet relaxed fit flatters without feeling fussy.
Ideal for transitioning from morning markets to evening aperitifs, this versatile piece balances style and practicality—exactly what you want when packing light for a stylish summer abroad.
Athleta Presidio Traveler Maxi Dress
Sizes: Regular XXS-3XL | Tall S-XL | Petite XS-L
Sleeveless Maxi Dress with Secret Pockets
The Presidio Traveler Maxi Dress from Athleta is the ultimate travel essential for your European summer adventures. It offers a comfortable, eco-conscious fit with a breathable, wrinkle-resistant fabric that keeps you looking polished from Parisian boulevards to coastal walks in Greece.
Its sleek, sleeveless silhouette is both flattering and functional—perfect for staying cool on warm days. Quick-drying and rated UPF 40+ for built-in sun protection, it’s ideal for full days of sightseeing. With hidden pockets for added convenience and easy-care fabric you can toss in the wash, this dress is ready for wherever your travels take you.
If you’re looking for even more dresses with pockets this is for you!
Anthropologie The Somerset Maxi Dress | Sizes XXS-3X
V Neck Tiered Maxi Dress
Whether you’re traveling for business, touring Italy’s religious sites, or simply want to exude a sophisticated look while staying fresh in the heat, this Somerset maxi dress from Anthropologie checks all the boxes.
Its soft A-line silhouette, flattering smocked waist, and everyday-elegant tiers make it an ideal go-to travel dress.
Steve Madden Amira Tiered Cotton Midi Dress | Sizes XS-XL
Tiered Cotton Midi Dress
This tiered midi Dress is a must-pack piece for your European summer escape. Made from soft, breathable cotton, it’s designed to keep you cool and comfortable as you wander through sun-soaked streets in cities like Barcelona and Venice.
The sleeveless, tiered silhouette offers a flattering, laid-back fit, while functional front pockets bring a touch of practicality to its effortless style. Whether you’re sightseeing or enjoying a café terrace, this dress combines ease and elegance for every summer moment.
Faherty Eden Dress Blue Water Floral | Sizes XXS-XXL
Sleeveless Lightweight Maxi Dress
This Eden Dress by Faherty combines flowy, effortless style with eco-conscious fabric. Made with sustainable materials, this dress features a beautiful floral print and a flattering silhouette that is perfect for warm-weather adventures. Its breathable fabric keeps you cool as you explore, while the sleeveless design allows for maximum comfort on sunny days.
This dress offers both style and practicality, dress it up with comfortable low wedges for outdoor dining in a Parisian cafe or wear it casually with secure slides for a seaside stroll in Dubrovnik.
Wear with a cute, lightweight denim jacket for cooler days.
Spanx AirEssentials Midi Wrap Dress | Sizes XS-3X
Midi Wrap Dress
The Spanx AirEssentials Midi Wrap Dress is where effortless style meets travel-ready comfort—ideal for European summers on the go. Crafted from ultra-soft, breathable fabric, it keeps you cool and comfortable whether you’re exploring historic landmarks or enjoying an alfresco dinner.
The flattering wrap silhouette offers an adjustable fit that moves with you, while the midi length brings a polished, sophisticated edge. Lightweight and easy to style up or down, this dress is perfect for days when you want to look chic without compromising on ease.
Old Navy Fit & Flare Linen-Blend Midi Dress
Sizes: Regular XS-4X | Petite XS-XXL | Tall XS-XXL
Linen Blend Sleeveless Midi Dress
This gorgeous linen midi dress from Old Navy is the perfect companion for a trip to Paris or island hopping in Greece. With a flattering smocked bodice and a chic midi length, it’s designed to keep you comfortable and stylish throughout the day.Made from linen blend, this dress is breathable, making it ideal for warmer climates. The stunning flax linen color is a standout, but it’s also available in other colors and prints too.
Quince Washable Stretch Silk Tiered Maxi Dress | Sizes XS-XL
Short Sleeve Midi Maxi Dress
If you prefer more coverage for the legs, the fluid tiered silhouette and short sleeves of this Quince midi maxi length dress makes it wearable year-round.
Wear with cute and comfortable white sneakers during the day or take take it out at night with some cushioned, stylish wedges and jewelry.
Columbia PFG Freezer III Dress | Sizes XS-3XL
Moisture Wicking Short Sleeve Dress
The best balance of form and function is found with the Columbia Freezer Iii Dress. It’s perfect for hot weather because the technical fabric is moisture wicking, lightweight, and breathable, yet it still looks like a cute regular dress.
Featuring so many different colors including the Tiki Pink Waterbrush Print pictured above!
TFG editor-in-chief Alex in Greece
What shoes should I wear with my dresses?
Pair Summer Dresses with Cute Comfortable Walking Sandals
When visiting Paris in summer, you’ll want to be comfortable, so be sure to pick shoes that are both practical and fashionable. You can pair any of the above summer dresses with cute walking sandals like the one above.
Dress for Europe with stylish and comfortable footwear!
See our list of comfortable walking sandals that are stylish, too!
Taos Footwear Plim Soul Sneaker
White Sneakers for Summer Dresses
The canvas leather and removable footbed makes these easy to wash and keep them clean. With a lace-up closure, rubber outsole, and soft textile lining, you can be sure of having a flexible fit with traction for various landscapes. This Taos Footwear Plim Soul Sneaker also has a great arch support perfect for walking around.
Halter Dress paired with Taos Plim Soul Lux Leather Sneakers
One reader shared, “Taos are awesome. They’re comfy and have great support. My feet were never tired after a day in them.” Overall, these Taos sneakers rank as the number one seller with our readers!
Find out the top recommendations from our community for the best white sneakers!
Thigh Society The Cooling Shorts | Sizes XS-6X
Shorts to Wear Under Dresses
If you’re looking for shorts to wear under your dresses, Thigh Society’s The Cooling Anti-Chafe Shorts are a reader favorite for their silky, hi-tech performance fabric. These shorts pull heat and moisture away from the body, keeping things cool, fresh and chafe-free on even the hottest of days.
They’re tagless, don’t roll or bunch, and are ultra-thin and lightweight yet stretchy and durable as can be. Plus, they come in a wide range of colors, lengths and sizes from XS-6X!
How do I pack my dresses?
Compass Rose Carryon Size Packing Cubes: Slim Size Cubes | Medium Size Cubes
Packing Cubes
Dresses are the easiest thing to pack for a warm weather trip. If you’re going on a seven-day trip, pack seven dresses and you’re good to go. It’s as easy as that! Then, use slim packing cubes to save space in your suitcase and travel carry-on only.
Many of our readers use Compass Rose Packing Cubes to organize and compress their clothing and other items they plan to bring. These packing cubes are the only ones on the market with a number and color-coded system, so you know where you packed everything.
And now the Compass Rose Packing Cubes are offered in two sizes: slim and medium. The slim size cubes measure 13” x 5” x 2.8”, and the medium size cubes measure 2.8” x 13” x 8.5”. Both fit an international carry-on suitcase. Users say the medium size is great for bulkier items!
Learn how millions of women have traveled in a smaller suitcase using packing cubes!
What are your recommendations for top summer dresses for a trip abroad? Share in the comments below!
For more tips on what to wear in Paris, please read these posts:
- Ten-Step Packing Guide for Paris
- What to Wear in Paris Packing List
- What to Wear in Paris in Summer
- What to Wear in Paris in Winter
- Paris Travel Essentials
- French Fashion Tips
- What Shoes to Pack for Paris
- Best Luggage for Paris
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My Outbound Merino Wool dresses perfectly navigated the heat while traveling to Spain and Portugal last July. They are comfortable, stylish, moisture-wicking, and, importantly, roll up and pack in the cubes with no wrinkling. They are perfect for sightseeing and can be dressed up with different sandals and jewelry for the evening. I highly recommend them!
I was happy to see Thigh Society shorts mentioned. I have 3 pairs in various colours and I never leave home without at least one pair in my carry-on. Perfect under pants and dresses.
Very popular with our community Frieda, thanks for adding on your review!
I have been looking for the perfect dress that I can wash and that will dry overnight. But your idea of taking 7 dresses for 7 days eliminates the need to wash clothes. Great!
Totally love the chambray midi dress for my 2 week trip to England next June! I travel frequently to Beirut to visit family and have used your site so many times to hone my packing list.
Thank you for this dress inspiration and for including different size options. The moisture-wicking one looks perfect for this super hot summer.
Highly recommend Reformation dresses. They’re so cute, come in a million styles and prints, and are airy and easy wearing. I prefer a midi dress and they’ve got the most diverse selection. I’ll be taking at least two on my upcoming trip to Italy.
Thank you for sharing your recommendation with us Katie. 🥰 Have an incredible time in Italy
I agree. I love Reformation dresses and I also love the Somerset dress from Anthropology.
Your posts have been my go to for a long time now! I love the new packing ideas, styles and comfortable clothing/shoes! We travel a lot, so I’m reading your posts regularly. Thank you for what you do! You are making a difference ?
Wow thank you for saying that Amanda, I really appreciate your kind words and I’ll let the team know you feel that way ☺️
Thank you
You’re welcome Brenda 🙂
Aritzia has gorgeous linen and broderie anglaise dresses.
I wouldn’t have thought to wear dresses a few years ago when I started traveling internationally, but they are a great addition to a travel wardrobe. You only need a few accessories and your packing is done. The red print dress is my favorite, it’s a very versatile design.
Super easy and cute outfits too 🙂
I don’t usually wear dresses, but would like to get one for my upcoming trip to Europe. These suggestions give me a great place to start looking.
I just got back from a trip to Paris, Rome, Venice and Nice. In Paris, I kept seeing women wearing body-skimming (not tight and not overly revealing) knee length dresses with metallic flat sandals or white thick-soled sneakers. I had taken an ankle length dress and I ditched it because it looked so frumpy.
Not long ago, I don’t think I’d be brave enough to take a dress for every day. No shorts? No skirts? What will I do if….. Then I realized there really wasn’t an “if”. They are pack and require minimal matching (always a good thing for a match-a-holic). Thanks for the cool picks–I really like the patterned red one!
Thank you!
I love the idea of the dresses instead of anything else. Recently bought “one for all and all for one” dress that doesn’t wrinkle or shows stains, has a comfy fit and looks good in any situation. I wish there were more dresses like that because this one inspires me to be more feminine while staying comfortable. OMG, and the way it folds: takes less space than my bra. Thank you for the post! I would love to see what you will recommend for winter of fall.
Thanks Julia!
These dress ideas are perfect! I just came back from a trip to Italy in May and my most comfortable outfits were dresses. You feel put together, but they are nice and breezy for the heat. Also took along a pair of those iPanema’s you suggested and they ended up being the shoes I wore most! We were walking close to 7 miles a day and they were comfortable. Keep the great advice coming 🙂
Glad you had a great trip and enjoyed my tips 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to give me feedback.
Leaving for Rome and Germany in two weeks and loved these tips! I see a shopping trip in my future! 🙂
Thanks!