I'm heading out next week for a 2 month trip - February to April. I'm going to Italy for the Olympics and then around the rest of the continent by rail. It seems like all of the sample packing lists I've come across are geared towards summer travel. I'm planning on staying in hostels, no camping.

Should I bring a sleeping bag? Or blanket?

More clothes than normal? Or just warmer clothes?

Two pairs of shoes? What kind?

Any help/suggestions from veteran travelers would be excellent.

Where are you from? Warmer clothes are a good idea. And dress in layers. Some parts of Europe are going to be much colder than others. And prepare for rain! You may not need an umbrella but a waterproof jacket-- a shell is fine-- will be invaluable. Bring a sleepsheet if you have one, don't worry about it if you don't because almost all hostels will have blankets and sheets. If you're really worried about it you could bring a sleeping bag if it compresses down really small, otherwise it'll take up precious space in your pack and you certainly don't want to strap it to the outside in inclement weather. :)

Europe in winter/early Spring is great because there are far fewer tourists. :cheers:

Thanks! I'm from New England so I'm used to the cold, but I've never traveled during the winter before. o no sleeping bag? Rainjacket is a must. What about shoes - my friends are telling me to bring hiking boots but I'm against it.

You're welcome! :cheers: You'll be doing a LOT of walking and typically, hiking boots are not really the best for traversing city sidewalks. On the other hand in nasty weather they'll (presumably) keep your feet a little more dry. I don't know what kind of hiking boots you have, but I'd NEVER bring mine to Europe unless I was planning on doing some heavy-duty forest hiking.

Bring some good, stout shoes that will keep your feet at least mostly dry in the rain or snow and have a bit of tread on the bottom of them. Probably with nasty weather it's a good idea to have a stand-by pair handy, but if you want, you could always get them over there as a souvenir of sorts instead of bringing them with you. :)

If you have a pair of Dr. Martens, they would be great. My husband wore his every day for two years (he has more than one pair!) in Lithuania - winter, snow, sleet, ice, rain, the whole works. Make sure you have really good socks, too. Ditto the rain shell, no need for a sleeping bag. Fleece is great for lightweight layering. And if you have a pair of flannel or fleece lined jeans or chinos, they'll be quite a good option for all but the most inclement weather. Also have a lighter pair of chinos for warmer days and a couple of lighter shirts. That should easily cover you through the spring, I doubt it'll be warm enough for shorts or the like.