Best Bags for International Travel

• The best bags for international travel keep your essentials organized, your hands free, and your outfits pulled together from airport to destination.
• Look for secure closures, comfortable straps, versatile silhouettes and colors that can be mixed and matched with your travel wardrobe.

Whether your destination is a lively European city with friends, a tropical spring break with beach activities from sunup to sundown, or sightseeing in a charming town lined with cobblestone streets—when you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need more than just your passport; you’ll want the perfect bag to carry your most important essentials, too.

The best bags for international travel are as stylish as they are functional, versatile enough to wear multiple ways, secure enough for your phone, cards and keys, and light enough to not weigh you down from Point A to Point B.

Read on for our top picks for travel bags when you’re packing for long weekends, weeklong vacations or work trips alike.

Looking for a bag that works before, during and after your flight? Spacious totes and carryalls—that adhere to airline capacity standards, of course—will do the trick. Sized to hold your passport, wallet, phone and chargers, essential toiletries and any extra layers you’ll want to wear on the plane, carryalls are the bag that really do it all.

Look For: Features that will secure your belongings, such as a top-zip closure or interior zip pockets and compartments; comfortable shoulder straps; durable materials that will withstand any travel wear and tear or hold up for potential dashes through the airport.

Best For: Long flights, airport days, and when you want an easily accessible quick change of clothes or shoes.

Try: Soft Empire Carryall Bag 40, Cargo Tote Bag, Soft Empire Carryall Bag 48

A crossbody bag is the travel essential you’ll want to reach for, especially if you’ll want to keep your hands free later as you spend days walking about sightseeing, flipping through books at the local store, shopping for global treasures, or navigating public transportation. And, due to the way it sits snugly across your body, a crossbody tends to feel more secure than a shoulder bag, making it ideal for wearing in more crowded event spaces or city streets.

Look For: An adjustable strap for the perfect fit (bonus points if it’s detachable, and you can wear it as a shoulder bag, too). You’ll also want it to be compact, yet still have enough room for your phone, keys, and cards.

Best For: Hands-free travel days—sightseeing, city exploration, walking tours, riding bikes, and more.

Try: Tabby Chain Crossbody Bag 19, Tabby Shoulder Bag 20

No matter where you are in the world, a streamlined shoulder bag is as timeless as it is stylish, and makes the perfect counterpart to pretty much any look. Pair a softer silhouette bag with off-duty cargo pants and a cropped tee when you’re exploring cafes and book shops all day, or sling a more structured bag over your shoulder with your favorite LBD when headed out for the night. Dress it up, dress it down—the choice is yours.

Look For: Sizes small enough to pack easily yet big enough to carry your absolute essentials, like your phone, keys and a card case; colors that pair well with your travel wardrobe while still expressing your personal style.

Best For: Dinners, nights spent dancing, or any occasion you want to add a bit of polish to your vacation look.

Try: Chelsea Shoulder Bag 30, Tabby Shoulder Bag 26