The Essentials to Pack for a Trip to Europe
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Raise your hand if you absolutely hate packing.
Ok, so it’s not just me? Great.
I wish that I enjoyed packing for vacation. Sometimes, when I follow the right process, I can sometimes get close to tolerating it.
But generally I find packing for an international trip to be very anxiety-inducing. Packing seems to take hours that, quite frankly, I don’t have to spare in the week before a trip. I’m 99.9% sure that I’m going to forget something important. And the decision fatigue is overwhelming!
If you’re looking for a quick, to the point guide on the essentials that you *must* pack for a trip to Europe, you’ve come to the right place. A lot of packing lists and guides will focus on the right outfits and shoes, but I trust you’ve got that part down, little fashionista!
Here’s the essential guide to everything else that you truly cannot leave home without, presented in order of importance. (Seriously, you cannot even get on the plane without item number one!)
Passport
A passport is the most essential item you need to travel internationally. A passport serves as the primary identification document for travelers crossing international borders. In Europe, the border authorities will stamp those empty pages with entry stamps, while for other destinations abroad, you may have to obtain a visa or entry permit prior to entering. All these live inside a passport. Simply put, it is a legal requirement that you travel with a passport. If you run into any emergencies while abroad, your passport is a way for your home country’s embassy or consulate to verify your identity and provide you with support.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to pack your passport.
I always recommend keeping your passport in a purse or carry-on bag that will stay with you at all times during your flight, layovers, etc. Do not pack this baby in a checked bag! Once you get to your destination, keep it in a safe place, like a hotel safe or a locked suitcase. You do not need to take it out with you every day that you are traveling, and to be honest, carrying a passport non-stop is a great way to lose it.
Must have score: 10/10
You literally can’t get on the plane without it.
Credit and Debit Cards
Before departure, plan out how you plan to spend money during your trip on things like meals, experiences, and souvenirs. Understand the various currencies used in the places you’ll travel to, and have a gameplan for how you’ll handle currency conversions.
(Psst!: I put together a money and cash explainer for traveling through Europe that you can read here.)
I recommend a debit card that doesn’t charge fees for using out-of-network ATMs, and a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Traveler’s Cheques are kind of a thing of the past, and currency conversion kiosks at the airport and in town are wildly expensive. The easiest way to convert to the local currency these days is to make a local currency withdrawal from the ATM.
It’s a good idea to pack more than one debit or credit card, and be sure one of them is a no foreign transaction fee card.
Before your departure, be sure to alert your bank that you’ll be traveling abroad, and specify the countries and dates when you will be traveling. Pro Tip: Just as you shouldn’t be carrying your Passport on you throughout your trip, try to leave one credit or debit card securely locked at the hotel for emergencies.
Must have score: 10/10
You might be able to get by if your smartphone’s digital wallet has credit and debit cards pre-loaded, but accessing cash from ATMs will be impossible without physical cards.
Prescriptions or OTC Essentials
If you are prescribed any kind of medications, be sure to have enough on hand for the entirety of your trip. The same goes for any over-the-counter medications you find essential to your well-being, like pain relievers, antihistamines, or antacids.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications need to be packed in your carry-on.
If you occasionally have stomach issues and use medication to control those symptoms, pack these medications as well. Traveling in general can wreak havoc on the digestive system, and European pharmacies usually have different brand names and formulations for common OTC medications. While my favorite kind of travel is all about making cultural connections, describing my gut-wrenching symptoms to a bewildered pharmacist in broken French is not one of them.
Must have score: 10/10
You need to have a well-stocked supply of any and all prescription medications. You might be able to get by with local formulations for OTC medications, but finding them may be inconvenient and time-consuming.
Phone Chargers, Power Banks, & Data Plans
With so much of our itinerary details and travel confirmations living on our phones these days, having a reliable supply of battery power is a must. I always travel with a USB phone charger since this is the only outlet on a lot of international flights.
You can buy a replacement charger if you forget it, but it’s best to have your own.
It’s also a good idea to take a reliable power bank with you. I like this one for its capacity and sleek design. Oh, and make sure you have the proper converter, below.
Before departure, check with your phone carrier to see if they have any sort of international data packages and what they cost. For example, AT&T offers a flat-fee, per day offer called the International Day Pass. It’s a lot easier to use this than to try and buy a local SIM card for data usage. Between map apps and searching the internet for details about your destination, expect to use your data a good bit.
Must have score: 9/10
Cellular data is probably the most important item here.
Driver’s License or ID Card
For day-to-day identification, be sure to pack your driver’s license or ID card. It’s not very common to get carded for alcohol or cigarettes in Europe, but you may need to verify your identity when joining group tours or picking up attraction tickets.
A driver’s license will absolutely be required if you plan on renting a car. Even if you don’t plan on renting a car, it’s a good idea to bring your driver’s license. You never know when a transit strike may occur in Europe, and if your train from Madrid to Spain is canceled, a trip to the rental car counter may be your only option.
Must have score: 8/10
While a passport can serve for general identification purposes, renting a car is impossible without a driver’s license.
I created this downloadable ⬇️ Packing Checklist ⬇️ that you can snag right now.
It helps you plan what you’ll pack, and then keeps you organized as you cross things off once they’ve been packed.
Luggage
Of course you will need some sort of luggage. The internet is full of brand and model recommendations, so I will just add a few things to keep in mind.
First of all, if at all possible, try to pack light.
A carry-on suitcase is the ideal size for a multi-city trip, bearing in mind that you will need to lug this suitcase from place A to place B. If you are traveling for more than 6 days, consider finding a laundry service or self-serve laundromat halfway through your trip to wash and dry things like underwear and basics that get heavy wardrobe rotation.
A large checked suitcase is suitable for trips where you will be staying in one place for the duration of your itinerary, or if your transfers will be 100% chauffeured.
A roomy carry-on bag that you can tuck under the seat in front of you on a flight will hit that sweet spot of storing your carry-on essentials, without you having to pull down and open your carry-on suitcase.
Make sure your luggage is in good condition before you travel.
All the zippers should open and close properly, and the wheels should work in all directions. Make sure the handles are still well-affixed and not loose. A broken suitcase does not a fun vacation make.
Personally, I travel with the Rimowa Classic Cabin, which I love for its luxe vintage feel and reliable repair and customer service. I had a tough time finding a replacement for my last Samsonite carry-on after the wheels broke - the bag itself was fine, but Samsonite did not have a reliable repair service or replacement parts, so the entire bag was ruined. For a carry-on bag, I use the (now discontinued) Lululemon On My Level bag. These two get me through the majority of my travel across Europe.
I’ve been really happy with my Rimowa luggage.
I also have a large Samsonite checked suitcase for when I travel to the USA, though even this has become less and less practical with tight connection times and the whole re-checking your bag as soon as you get to the US.
What about a good travel backpack for Europe?
I use a small vintage Roots backpack for hiking trips, and I recently tested out this much-hyped travel backpack from Amazon.
It’s just, I don’t know, carrying all of your stuff on your back?
It sounds great and efficient but I found it to be really uncomfortable and heavy. On the portion of my trip where I had the travel backpack and my Rimowa it was a bulky and awkward set-up. The two pieces just didn’t go together. So I don’t know… for all the annoyance of wheeled luggage on European cobblestoned streets, I would take a bag with wheels over a backpack any day.
Don’t forget a good luggage tag.
I add a luggage tag to both my carry-on suitcase and my checked suitcase. No matter what luggage you’re taking, but especially you with a black roller bag, please, I beg of you, put a luggage tag on it or some kind of whimsical marker. (I’ve used a bow tied out of Hermes ribbon before.)
Must have score: 7/10
You need a reliable luggage set up, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.
Electronic Converters
The plugs used on electronic devices in Europe are a different type than the ones used in the United States. While US plugs have two flat prongs, European plugs have two rounded pins.
Beyond that, the voltage and frequency used in Europe (220-240V at a frequency of 50Hz, for my science folks) is very different from the American standard of 120V at a frequency of 60Hz.
As someone who moved all of their American electronics to Germany and then learned about the finer points of electrical voltage and frequency the hard way, please, I implore you, do not simply use a plug adapter. You really need a plug converter. Plugging an American device into a European outlet without a converter will likely lead to damage or malfunction due to the difference in voltage. I recommend this plug converter.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this lesson on electrical voltage in Europe.
What’s the deal with electronic outlets in the United Kingdom?
Great question, I’m so glad we’re getting into the finer points of electrical voltage and frequency 😆.
In electricity, as in most things, the UK is a little different than continental Europe. Just like the US, the UK uses a voltage of 120V. Only the frequency differs: the UK uses 50Hz, while America uses 60Hz. Since most electronic devices today are designed to handle both frequencies, you can use only a plug adapter. This is required because standard plugs in the UK have three rectangular pins in a triangle shape.
Converters and adapters are sold at tourist shops throughout Europe and the UK, so it is not a huge deal if you forget to pack them. Also, because travelers often forget that they’re plugged into the wall, hotel front desks often have a stash of lost and found converters and adapters on hand.
However, in my experience I always realize that I’ve forgotten my converter around 11:58pm, when all the shops are closed, I don’t want to walk down to the hotel front desk, and my phone is on 2%. Do yourself a favor and pack one.
Must have score: 6/10
Travel like a pro and pack your own converter.
Clothing
Don’t we all dream of flying to Paris and just buying an entirely brand new wardrobe while there?
Ok, glad I’m still not the only one 😉.
While shopping for clothes in Europe is a fun fantasy, the reality is not much different from shopping in the US: overcrowded stores, limited availability of the styles you want, and comically inconsistent sizing.
Mix and match pieces to create lots of outfit combinations.
I enjoy a little clothing shopping when I travel, but only if I’m looking for statement pieces or fun accessories. The perfect travel wardrobe is all about comfortable basics that can be remixed with multiple outfit formulas. The goal is to maximize the number of available looks that can be created with a minimum number of pieces.
For footwear, keep in mind that most people walk around 20,000 steps per day when traveling, which means that comfortable shoes are a must. Luckily, tennis shoes and trainers are très chic in Europe at the moment, and can be worn with everything from casual bottom and top combos to sundresses and beyond.
Must have score: 5/10
Of course you must have clothing but more than likely you don’t have to buy anything new. Just get creative with what you already own.
Travel Fan
The cultural norms around air conditioning are completely different in Europe. It’s not as widely used, and if you’re traveling in the summer, you will strongly notice its absence. This is especially true if you are visiting Southern Europe, like Italy, Spain, or Greece, but it also applies throughout France, Germany, and the UK. There’s a crisp coolness at elevation if you’re in the mountains, but if you’re spending time in a city, a small battery-powered fan might come in handy.
Must have score: 4/10
Can you tell we’re getting to the bottom of the list?
Sunglasses
Lots of folks forget to pack their sunglasses. It’s not the end of the world because there is a Sunglass Hut or something similar in every European city.
Don’t feel bad if you forget your sunglasses. It’s one of the most commonly forgotten items.
If you’re going hiking or spending time on a boat, though, where you might want to have your favorite pair of performance sunglasses, be sure they get packed.
Must have score: 3/10
“Do you like these new sunnies I bought in Europe?”
Umbrella
I am not really a poncho person, or a rain jacket person, so I try to have an umbrella on me whenever I travel. This one is super sturdy and compact. If I’m staying at a hotel, I worry about this less, because the bellman should have an umbrella that I can borrow. But if you’re staying in a short-term rental then you’re on your own for amenities like this. If you’re in a big European city and it starts raining, the umbrella hawkers will come out of the woodwork, though their prices may be high. Drug stores or pharmacies may have more reasonable prices.
Must have score: 2/10
Hopefully it doesn’t rain.
If you can ensure that these essentials make it into your luggage, you’ll be in good shape for your trip to Europe.
Of course, this is a rather general list, and there are likely to be must-pack items specific to your own interests and itinerary. Prioritize, plan, and set a reminder. Spend some time thinking about what you plan to pack at least a week in advance of your departure, so that you still have time to launder or replace any items that aren’t ready to be packed.
A quick word about what not to pack.
Heavy books are always a risk, especially if you aren’t currently engrossed in the story. I load multiple novels onto my Kindle before long trips, instead.
Resist the temptation to take a laptop. This might require some advance planning to get certain tasks you might need your laptop for done prior to departure, but I promise, it will be worth it. Traveling with your laptop distracts from leisure time and leads to worries about its value and what might happen if it were lost or damaged.
I’d also advise against taking anything that you don’t typically use in your daily routine. It’s easy to convince ourselves that we’ll start a new skincare regimen or begin running each morning while we’re on vacation, but extra beauty products and running shoes are likely to go unused if there isn’t an established routine already in place.
Either way, take a breath, relax, and do your best with packing. So long as you have the top essentials on this list, you’ll be fine. 🖤
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