When I went abroad, I was there for five months.
I was told to bring just enough to wear for two weeks, since I was able to do laundry whenever I needed to.
Whether you are going for a few weeks or a few months, packing lightly is definitely important.
You will most likely find at least a few things you will want to buy while you are traveling and you will need a place to put it when you want to return! When I went to Sweden, I only packed one suitcase of clothes and left another piece of luggage completely empty and checked it for my flight.
This was helpful when it came time to come home because I had so much extra room.
This strategy, however, is not very helpful when it comes to backpacking because you will not want to drag an additional suit case around Europe with you just so you have something to put your newly bought items in.
Instead, you should pack lightly to begin with so you have some extra room for purchases along the way.
You could also put your shopping and souvenirs purchases off to the end and possibly buy another bag at the end of the trip.
Most international airlines will allow you to check up to two bags.
When you are deciding what to bring on your backpacking trip try to think comfort is key, while also considering dress code in certain places.
Most times, you will not see Europeans walking around in sweatpants and hooded sweatshirts with gym shoes.
I know this is comfortable and probably the most appealing outfit to sit for long periods of time for while traveling, but it is not always the most appropriate.
If you are planning on traveling during the summer, bring just on pair of jeans or long pants should be sufficient.
You will also want to bring cover up or cardigan of some sort for chillier days and nights.
If you plan on going out to the bars and clubs while abroad, you only need about two of those outfits because you will be in different cities and it is okay to repeat outfits (I know that may be hard for some of you fashion savvy people out there!) Other than that, try to pack separates.
Shirts and shorts or skirts that you can mix and match for different days are great.
Shirts that are lightweight and flowy are great because if you sweat, it will be less likely that it will stay in the shirt.
Shoes are always the most difficult things to pack.
Since you are going to do a lot of walking, bring a pair that is light and extremely comfortable-but also somewhat trendy, so you do not stick out as much.
I would recommend Toms or Pumas because they are so light and have support that will help your feet hold up longer.