Women's Around-the-World Minimal Packing List

Kepler Great Walk, New Zealand

Dread packing? Me too! It's overwhelming!

How do you pack for a round-the-world trip?

My husband Adam (you can see his packing list here) and I were midst preparing to leave it all and travel the world for two years. We had a general idea of where we wanted to go, but no set plans. What kind of clothes would I need? What kind of weather were we getting ourselves into? I had to be prepared for everything.

With some good music and time in front of my closet, I made one decision at a time.

I traveled for 2 years with this packing list below to over 19 countries.  

If I can do it, you can too! Use my list below as a guide. You got this, lady!:)

 This packing list will guide you in packing for:

• Carry-on luggage only

• All weather- hot and cold you may encounter

• Covering you for many months and years!

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A note about my list: On this trip, Adam and I focused on camping, backpacking trips, and hiking. I decided hiking pants were more of a necessity than jeans. I also packed more workout style clothes than casual clothes. If this isn't your style, that's okay! Use my list as a guide to help you with your packing. I also used my own list for our four months in Europe with a carry on.

I've also included affiliate links to share the gear I love. By purchasing your gear through these links, you're supporting us. Thank you!

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WOMEN'S MINIMAL PACKING LIST

FOR ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP

LUGGAGE

1: 40L GoLite Backpack

*MY EXPERIENCE:

We used a 40L backpack because we had a lot of camping gear we took with us. If I were to do this again, I would skip packing the camping gear (if you need a tent, you can rent one) and I’d pack a 30L backpack. We took backpacks for back packing trips out in the wilderness and also a lot of blogs said it’s easier to have in your lap on packed buses. For me, I disagree. Now, if we’re not planning to go backpacking in the back country, I always take my carry on rolly bag. With a backpack, you tend to heft your pack on and off your back a lot and I prefer saving my back and using the rolly bag now.

CLOTHING

Tops

1: light rain jacket with hood

1: HH fleece pullover

1: long sleeve

2: casual t-shirts

3: tank tops

1: work out t-shirt

*MY EXPERIENCE:

I used the “layering” technique. I was ready for hot muggy weather with 3 tank tops. I was also ready for cold weather and I could layer a tank top with a long sleeve, with the fleece pullover, with the rain jacket. The fleece keeps you warm and the rain jacket is the wind breaker and protects you from the water. If you need anything more, you can always buy it wherever you are, like gloves, hat or scarf. I bought my gloves, hat, and scarf in rainy and cold Denmark.

Bottoms

1: pair hiking pants

1: pair yoga capris

2: casual shorts

2: work out shorts

*MY EXPERIENCE:

This set-up of bottoms worked really well for me. In cold places (like New Zealand), I used the yoga pants as extra warmth under my pants. But, they weren’t really necessary (especially in humid Southeast Asia) so I gave away my pair of yoga pants along the way.

Unders

1: bra

2: pairs of underwear

2: pairs socks

2: sports bras

1: pair of wool Smartwool socks

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Again, this set up worked really well for me. Underwear is the fastest and easiest clothing to clean in a bathroom sink with soap and water and then hang dry. I did this whenever needed. We were gifted these Tide travel sink packets to wash your clothes in the sink and these were awesome, too. Also, two pairs of socks worked well for me because they were really just for working out in hot places. I love my pair of socks because I’ve had them for three years and have never gotten holes in them!

Accessories

1: Buff (headband/hat/neckguard)

1: pair wool gloves

1: swim suit

2: sarongs (you can get these along the way)

2: scarves

*MY EXPERIENCE:

The Buff: My buff is my favorite piece of gear because you can use it in hot and cold weather in so many ways! It’s a long column of stretchy material that you can wear: 1. As a headband. 2. As an ear warmer on cold days, 3. As a sun block for your neck on hikes, 4. As a hat in cold weather by tying the end to cover your head. 5. As an arm sweat band. and 6. As a rag for unexpected happenings. It’s awesome, and packs light and small!

Sarongs: Sarongs are awesome to have. You can get these along your journey for less than $5 each. And, they can be used in so many ways: 1. Skirt or dress for fashion, 2. To cover your shoulders or knees at temples, 3. Bathing suit cover up, 4. Scarf for warmth, 5. Practical souvenir to remember your trip with.

SHOES

1: pair of Chacos

1: pair of Montrail trail running sneakers

1: Road ID Shoe ID

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Shoes were so hard to decide on! But, they are heavy and take up a lot of space. I dwindled my options down to a pair of Chacos and a pair of trail running shoes.

Chacos: I chose Chacos because I could use them for several purposes: 1. Everyday wear, 2. In spontaneous water outings in rivers, oceans or streams, and 3. In public showers at campsites.

Trail Running Shoes: I chose trail running shoes because they would also cover me for several purposes: 1. work outs, 2. hiking shoes with more traction than running shoes, and 3. Warm shoes in cold weather with socks on. The traction on my Montrail’s saved my life on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai during a storm!

Road ID Shoe ID: This is a must have for safety precautions. We each got an ID with our emergency contact info engraved on them that Velcrove’s to our shoes, so if anything happened to us, when someone found us, they had our emergency contact information available on our shoes.

JEWELRY

1: Qalo wedding ring

1: watch

1: pair of earrings

1: necklace

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Qalo ring: I left my wedding ring at home with my parents, because I didn’t know where we were going and I didn’t want to bring any unnecessary attention to myself. Also, I didn’t want to worry about my ring while we were abroad. I really like the Qalo one. However, sometimes if I wear it without taking it off it makes my skin peel underneath. I found a cheap one on our travels at the Acropolis in Greece. This can be a fun treasure hunt for you on your travels, too! Find a new travel ring you love:)

Watch: I chose to bring a watch for the sole purpose of knowing the time and having a morning alarm for early flight wake-ups without relying on my cell phone power. Our phones spend a lot of time being on airplane mode or off to conserve battery power.

Earrings and Necklace: I chose one pair of earrings and a delicate necklace that would match every outfit. Along our travels, I got tired of them, so I traded them out for new finds:)

MAKE UP

1: stick of mascara

1: eyeliner

1: blush

1: concealer

*MY EXPERIENCE

This is all I carried. In hot humid places, you don’t want to wear much make up anyway. If I needed more, I went shopping. Shopping for makeup in other countries is a cultural experience in itself seeing what other women wear and how they shop around the world:)

NECESSITIES

1: towel

1: lotion

1: face lotion with sunscreen

1: chapstick

1: retainer (you know I work that retainer!)

1: toothbrush

1: toothpaste

1: floss

1: pair of glasses

1: year's worth of contacts

1: bottle of contact solution

1: contact lens holder

1: bottle of ibuprofen

1: hair brush

1: stick of deodorant

1: travel shampoo

1: razor

3: hair bands

6: bobby pins

1: tweezer

1: cosmetic scissors

1: nail clippers

q-tips

contraception

feminine hygiene items

ELECTRONICS

1: cell phone

1: cell phone charger

1: portable charger

1: laptop

1: laptop charger

1: outlet adapter for all countries

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Portable charger: It’s really important to carry an extra cell phone charger with you. Your cell phone always dies when you need to figure out how to get home for the night! Having an extra charger on you can be a life saver!

Adapter: We each carried an international adapter that can change the type of plugs you plug into with each country. This is important to have!

Laptop: If you’re in a couple, we recommend each having your own laptop. Adam and I attempted to share one laptop and the other person could use the ipad. This was a good idea in theory but not in reality. We both work way faster and are more efficient on a laptop than ipad. We’d argue who would use the laptop first and for how long. And, we’d also stay longer at coffee shops because we took turns with the computer. We finally bought another laptop in Malaysia and it made a huge difference for our marriage, our efficiency on projects, and minimizing our time in coffee shops.

EXTRAS

1: book

1: journal for memories

1: pen

1: sunglasses

1: small/foldable purse

1: 501 Questions: A Travel Game

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Purse: I found a cross strap purse that had everything I needed: 1. A cross strap so someone couldn’t easily yank it from me. 2. It had interior pockets I could stash my passport and money in if needed. 3. It could fold flat or be rolled into my luggage. 4. It could fit my DSLR camera and lenses for a day trip out.

Book: I’m a paper book girl. Lots of hotels and hostels have lots of book options to trade in your read book for a new one. I didn’t want a Kindle to worry about one more thing to keep charged.

501 Questions: A Travel Game: This is our new game we wrote and published that includes over 500 awesome conversation starters. We realized on our travels we’d turn to scrolling our devices during down times. However, the richest moments and memories we have from our travels are when we talk to each other and the new people we meet and have meaningful conversations. Our book is compact and light to carry with you on every adventure (or you can get it on Kindle) so you always have fun questions to spark fun new conversations with your travel pals. You can get it in Kindle and paperback on Amazon here. Thank you for supporting us!

Documents

1: official marriage license

1: passport

1: copy of our passports

1: list of emergency contacts

1: shot/vaccination documentation

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Marriage License: Adam and I had just gotten married a year before so I took our marriage license just in case I forgot to change my name on a credit card or something I forgot about. We never needed it, but I took it just to make sure.

OUTDOOR GEAR

1: Kelty 2 man tent

1: Thermarest sleeping pad

1: silk liner

1: inflatable pillow

1: headlamp

1: spork

1: camelback water bladder

1: roll toilet paper (does come in handy!)

*Adam carried more of our outdoor gear. Check out his packing list for more camping gear we packed.

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Tent, Sleeping Pad, Pillow: We took camping gear thinking we’d do a lot of backpacking trips. We did, however, in our year of traveling abroad, we spent way more nights in hotels, hostels, and our campervan in New Zealand. If I were to pack again, I’d leave the tent, sleeping pad, inflate-able pillow, and water bladder at home. You can rent or buy a tent and sleeping pad and sleeping bag if you need to (we bought sleeping bags in New Zealand for some camping trips). And for water for hiking trips, you can pack a big water bottle.

Silk Liner, Headlamp, Spork, Toilet Paper: I think everyone should carry the: 1. Silk Liner, Headlamp, Spork, and toilet paper with you. Headlamp: Good to have if the power goes out where you’re staying. Spork: For a spontaneous snack! Toilet paper: Some bathrooms do not have toilet paper in Southeast Asia. Silk Liner: Protection from questionable sheets or overnight ferry sleeping situations.

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Save this list for later!

1. Pin this post to use later here.

2. And, download this checklist by sharing your name and email below so you can easily pull it up later when you’re ready to pack!

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WANT FUN CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP?

Get our new game 501 Questions: A Travel Game!

We realized we were turning to scrolling our phones during the down times of travel, but the richest memories are when we turn to each other and have meaningful conversations! So, here’s 500 fun conversation starters we wrote for you and your travel pals to create new memories together on your trip whether you’re waiting forever in airport security or chilling at the beach! Get it on Kindle or paperback on Amazon here.

“This is gold! It transforms conversations into something with more meaning, more intention!”

-Joy Morehead, @More_Ahead

Buy on Amazon

Have fun with the questions and thank you for supporting us!

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6 Must Have Items for Better Sleep in Your RV

How to get good sleep in your RV? We want it, too! As full-time RVer’s we’ve had our fair share of no sleep nights. Either, we find an awesome, secluded spot and in the middle of the night someone pulls up next to us with their lights on, music up, and generator running. Come on, y’all! Or, one of us is ready to sleep and the other’s not and wants lights on, so we’re both frustrated.

We’ve been there, too! Here’s a list of 6 must have things to get good sleep. And, through researching, here are 7 tips we’ve found to get better sleep in your RV.

6 Must Have’s for Better Sleep in Your RV

1. Ear Plugs

Adam’s a super sensitive sleeper, so if he gets woken up, it’s a good chance he’s up the rest of the night tossing and turning. So he keeps a tiny bag of ear plugs under his pillow to keep any noises (my turning of a book page or noisy neighbors) out of ear shot.

He has the bright orange neon ones just like these I found on Amazon.

Foam Ear Plugs

Buy on Amazon

2. Eye Mask

If you want to take a nap in the camper mid-day or your partner wants to read with the lights still on, snag one of these. We got ours from an international flight we took and still use it. Or, grab one on Amazon. Ooooo! Silky, silky!

Silk Eye Mask

Buy on Amazon

3. Head Lamp

For us, we rarely doze off at the same time. A lot of nights one of us is still reading while the other wants to pass out. Instead of keeping overhead lights on to light our book, we’ve found that using our head lamps is better for the other person sleeping. The headlamp keeps the light more directed into the book instead having an overhead light on making it hard for the other person to fall asleep.

Here’s the headlamp I use and it has three settings of light.

Head Lamp

Buy on Amazon

4. Awesome Mattress

One of the best things you can do for yourself is invest in a good mattress! We LOVE our mattress and it’s not expensive- less than $250!

The best sleep we get is on this mattress in our camper! We’re not exaggerating. We’d rather sleep in our camper at family and friend’s houses when we’re visiting. Shhh… don’t tell them:)

We bought our camper from another couple and they included this mattress in the sale. However, we love it so much, when we recently moved back into our house in Colorado, I bought these same mattresses for in our home while we’re base camping there part time of the year. We totally recommend this mattress with five stars!

Spa Sensations Memory Foam Mattress, 8 inch, Full Size

Buy on Amazon

5. Cool Sheets for Summer

We’ve found that our sheet choice really affects our sleep in the different seasons. We have cool sheets for hot, muggy summer nights and flannel for cold, winter nights.

I’ve been hearing a lot about these bamboo sheets that stay cool all night. Right now we have cotton, but we may try these for next summer! Wanted to share this with you:)

Cool Sheets for Summer

Buy on Amazon

6. Flannel Sheets for Winter

We love our flannel sheets! They make a huge difference in the winter months keeping us warmer all night. Here’s a list of must have winter items I keep on hand too to make sure I keep myself warm. If not, I’m a cold grouch!

Just seeing these flannel sheets makes me want to crawl into bed for a nap:)

Deliciously cozy Eddie Bauer flannel sheets… time for a nap!

Buy on Amazon

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Make Shopping Later Easier! 

1. Pin this post to use later here.

2. And, download this packing list so you can easily pull up the list when you’re out shopping next!

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What to Pack for a Day Trip on Your Travels: 16 Small Essentials We Always Carry

What should you remember to pack for day trips while you're out traveling? We've been traveling for over 3.5 years and boy do we have horror stories from forgetting things like wallets and keys. Forgetting one tiny essential can make for a very stressful day.

So, to help us remember and to help you prepare for your day trips, here's our checklist for what we carry on fun day trips while we're out traveling.

16 Essentials to Pack For Your Day Trips

1. Collapsable Backpack

ChicoBag Reusable Travel Pack rePETe Shopping Tote (Black, Bag Body 17.5-Inch x 9.5-Inch, Pouch 6-Inch x 8-Inch)

Our friends gifted us this Chico collapsable backpack and it's been a game changer for us! We love it! It folds down into a small square to make it easy to fit in your carry on luggage bag for the plane and then you can pull it out on your trip and carry everything you need for your day trips. We even use it to carry our computers to coffee shops for work days.

Here's the one we use and love!

Buy on Amazon

2. Water

Wherever you're headed, you always want to carry water on you. You never know how long your day trip may be and when/if you'll see your opportunity to get water and how much it will be. 

We always carry water with us when we take off on a day trip just to be certain we can stay happy and hydrated. 

Adam loves his Nalgene and I love any collapsable water bottle that decreases in size as I drink it. With my camera gear, I like the collapsable ones that can easily be stashed away and make my load lighter as I go. 

Adam's Choice:

Nalgene Tritan 1-Quart Narrow Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle, Trout Green Buy on Amazon

Lindsey's Choice:

Platypus SoftBottles with Closure Cap Buy on Amazon

3. Snacks

Larabar Gluten Free Bar, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, 1.6 Oz Bars (16 Count)

We gotta keep that hangry monster at bay:) We've learned to always carry snacks.

We normally pack some fruit, a bar of some kind, and chocolate. Don't forget the chocolate:)

Lately, we’re digging Larabar’s peanut butter chocolate chip bars because they’re delicious and great to grab on the go!

Buy on Amazon

4. Sunscreen

Beyond Coastal Active SPF 34 Sunscreen (4-Ounce)

Getting burned on a trip is a major bummer. You end up in pain and having to stay out of the sun. No fun in that!

So we always keep sunscreen on us.

We're huge Beyond Coastal fans and have a box of these! This sunscreen is magic. It doesn't leave you feeling greasy like all the others. And, it comes in tiny travel sizes to carry with you so you can reapply on your shoulders and nose if needed throughout the day.

Buy on Amazon

5. Chapstick

Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm, Superfruit - Pink Grapefruit, Mango, Coconut & Pear, Pomegranate - 4 Tubes

It's the worst when your lips are chapped and you have nothing to relieve them. Am I right? When my lips are burning I can't think of anything else, so having some chapstick with me is a must! It's the little things, isn't it?

We love the classic and simple Burt's Bees:)

Buy on Amazon

6. Sunglasses

NEW Peppers 2-Step Grey Red Mirror Polarized Mens Sunglasses Msrp$35

Remember your sunglasses. Adam gets in a funk if he's squinting, so sunglasses are a definite on our list!

Our friends gifted us fun sunglasses like these and we love 'em! When we wear them, we feel like we're off chilling on a tropical beach somewhere. Life feels more fun in these:) 

Buy on Amazon

7. Journal and Pen

RITR954-BRK Field Flex Pocket Memo

You never know when you need pen and paper to scribble down directions, or a new friend's email, or a brilliant idea that springs itself on you:)

We love Rite in the Rain's pocket size journal. It fits in Adam's back pocket and in my purse or the backpack easily. And, the pages wont be ruined if it rains or your coffee spills on them! I have so many pages of journals that are smudged with normal paper. We love these memo books!

Buy on Amazon

8. Phone

And, don't forget your phone!

9. Extra Battery for your phone

EnerPlex 4000mah Power Bank With Built In Lightning Cable - Super Slim Power Bank For Apple Iphone/Ipad And Samsung Devices - Small Portable Charger - MFI Certified

And, an extra battery pack for extra charge!

We've learned to always carry an extra battery pack for our phones. Whenever something terrible is happening like we're lost and need Google maps, or our car was towed and we have to find where it is, our battery is about to die at 5%. ARG!

We were gifted this Enerplex power pack and it's been a life saver for us on our day trips when we're out and away from a power supply. 

Buy on Amazon

10. Camera

If you carry a fun camera or GoPro, remember that too!

I carry a small DSLR, a Canon Rebel, and it fits in a small purse. I love the small size for day trips because it's light and I can keep it discrete by keeping it stashed away in a small purse or pull it out when needed. Check out the Rebel and the other camera gear I carry here. 

11. Tickets

Do you have tickets for your day trip? Remember those!

12. Wallet

And money.

13. Keys

Do you have your keys? Just checking!

14.  ID & Passport

I always have some sort of ID on me in my wallet, but for our passport it depends how we feel where we are. Sometimes we carry our passport and sometimes we don't. 

15. A good book

At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe

These are crucial for all the down moments during an adventure:)

Here's our favorite book right now about a couple traveling the world with their three kiddos! Amazing!

Buy on Amazon

16. Light Jacket

Lands' End Womens Packable Waterproof Raincoat Black Petite Medium

Lands' End

And in case of rain and for all of us who tend to get cold, remember a light jacket just in case:)

I had a super light GoLite wind jacket I took on our round the world trip that I loved, but they've discontinued it. I just replaced it with this one from Land’s End. It’s super light and can fold down into the pocket and fits in a purse or backpack. It also has a hood, is wind resistant, and water repellent for spontaneous rain. Everything I need to keep me covered. 

When we're headed somewhere colder, I pack a fleece and slip my fleece under this jacket and stay cozy warm!

Buy on Amazon

17. Fun Conversation Starters

501 Questions: A Travel Game: Second Edition

By Nubern, Lindsey Desmarais

Lastly, don’t forget fun conversation starters for the in-between moments - on the car ride, shuttle ride, waiting for a table for lunch, and any other downtime during your outing. I created this game to keep Adam and I engaged with one other during our adventures instead of turning to our phones.

Be prepared for fun, laughter, and good conversation with our game!

“…highly recommend for your next trip (and all trips!). It’s a fantastic way to start conversations while you’re driving, out on a hike, or hanging around the campground!” -CAMPING WORLD

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Make Remembering Easier! 

1. Pin this post to use later here.

2. And, download this packing list so you won't forget like us!

Yes! I want the packing list!

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8 Tips for Visiting the Parthenon & Acropolis: 8 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Going

What should you know before visiting the Parthenon and Acropolis? Here's eight tips for your trip I wish I'd known before going.

8 Tips to Visit the Acropolis & Parthenon:

1. Go to the museum first.

We got this advice before going and we totally agree. We recommend going to the museum first to learn the history of the Parthenon so when you get up on Acropolis you know what you're looking at. Also watch the movie they show on the top level of the museum. It quickly shows you the history of the Parthenon. So interesting! And, here's good news, too: The museum's cheaper than a ticket to Acropolis. It's only 5 euro and is air conditioned:)

2. Consider splitting up your visit to the museum and Acropolis into two different days.

There's so much to learn and see! We split our visit to the museum and going up on Acropolis into two days. We (I mean Adam) likes to read every placard and sign. After several hour of this, my brain's fried. So, we spent half a day in the museum and I spent another half a day on Acropolis (Adam wasn't interested in going- so I went solo). You're learning centuries worth of history here. This makes for a great but exhausting experience if you try to cram it all in.

3. Go to the Acropolis early.

I went around lunch at the heat of the day. Mistake! This meant the lines were long to get in and it was so hot, and so bright up there. I made a lot of mistakes with no sunscreen, no water bottle, no hat. I ended my experience fried, dehydrated and exhausted. Learn from my mistakes, and make sure to pack these items. 

4. Make sure you're in the right ticket line.

To get a ticket to enter the Acropolis and head up to the top, you have to pay 20 Euro at the ticket booth. However, there's two lines to buy tickets. One line is for credit cards and the other one's for cash. There's little or no signage to know which line is which, so make sure you're in the right one. This leads to my next tip.

5. Eat before you go and pack lots of water. 

The ticket lines are long and you'll want to spend several hours exploring, so make sure you go on a full belly, pack a snack, and carry water with you to stay hydrated in the lines and up on Acropolis. There's lots of cheap gyro places with bottles of water near the entrance to the Acropolis to get stocked up. 

6. Prepare for the intense sun and bright surroundings!

This means pack your sunglasses, hat, I recommend an umbrella even, and sunscreen. The Acropolis and the area surrounding the Parthenon is very exposed to the intense sun and has little shade. To make the sun's rays even more intense, there's white rock reflecting light at every angle making it super bright up there. So, make sure you're ready for it. Check out my packing list for visiting the Acropolis and Parthenon here. 

7. Wear shoes with good traction.

The ground is uneven and it's slippery up there! The rock is so warn down from centuries of heavy traffic, I was slipping around up there with my shoes with no traction. I don't recommend flip flops. Make sure to wear shoes with good traction. Again, see my packing advice here. 

8. Take your time and enjoy it up there!

I share all of these hydration and gear tips to help you prepare for a comfortable experience so you can stay as long as you'd like learning, seeing and exploring. The Parthenon is over 2,400 years old and is still standing. What a special place in the world. Enjoy it and soak it in! 

9. Bonus: Read Before You Go

One of the biggest lessons we've learned on our travels is to read a book about the places and topics you'll be traveling to. It's just like when people tell us to read the book before seeing the movie. You learn so many more details from a book than the movie can provide. And once you see the movie, you'll know all the background details and you appreciate the visuals. Same with reading a book before you visit somewhere. By reading the history of the Parthenon before arriving, you'll have a better understanding of this special place and appreciate your visit even more. You'll be able to visualize what happened there.

We recommend these two books to learn more about Acropolis and the Parthenon before you visit:

The Parthenon Buy on Amazon

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome Buy on Amazon

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Gift Yourself a Great Visit to the Parthenon!

Download our Packing List for everything you'll need for your visit. 

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