Travel Packing Checklist for Europe – Top 7 Essential Things to Bring

You’re probably all ready for your exciting trip to Europe and the days are passing quickly by towards your departure date. Have you thought about packing yet? Maybe you are one of life’s planners and you have it all in your case ready to go but, for most of us, it’s one of those jobs that we put off until the very last minute. That’s when your stress levels soar wondering what to take, what the weather will be like and a million other things that might creep into your head. So, it’s a good idea to start packing at least a week before you jet off, so you can get back to getting excited about what lays ahead.

Whether you are prepared or not, here is the best travel packing checklist for Europe to help you get started.

What type of luggage should I use?

This is a good question and it really depends on where you are going, for how long, and what you will be doing. The obvious choice for short stays is a robust suitcase, big enough to hold everything without being so heavy that you struggle to carry it. It’s recommended you buy one with wheels, so the job of transporting it from home to check-in is less arduous. If you’re planning a longer stay, you’ll obviously need a bigger suitcase or why not use 2 smaller ones. Just make sure they are within your weight limit. A luggage scale is ideal for use at home before you leave. The last thing you want to do is to get to the airport only to be requested to remove some items.

If you are planning to travel around your destination and not stay in one place for a long period, a backpack is perfect. One disadvantage is that you’ll have to carry it everywhere you go, but if this isn’t a problem for you, then you should be fine. Another downside is that when you want something in particular, you generally have to unpack the whole thing to find what you’re looking for.

Got your luggage sorted? No problem, let’s look at what you should take with you.

What should I Pack?

There are many factors involved in deciding what to pack for your trip. First, let’s look at your destination.

Destination

Which country you are going to will have an impact on what you take with you. You may be spending time in a city, so you’ll need to take casual clothes, comfy shoes, and a camera if you are sightseeing. Formal clothing depending on where you spend your evenings – some restaurants will have a dress code. If you’re going to the countryside, you’ll need to pack sports clothing and/or hiking gear if you want to explore or get involved in outdoor activities. For beach resorts, you’ll need swimwear and sunscreen.

Weather

Generally, the weather in Europe is warm but, depending on where you are going, it can experience very hot summers and equally cold winters. We all know the weather isn’t predictable and you might be surprised to know that the day could start out cool before turning warmer throughout the morning with rain showers in the afternoon, and possibly a little snow! So, when it comes to the climate, packing for Europe is a little hard, but if you pack sensibly, you can be prepared for any type of weather.

How much is too much?

It’s so tempting to pack everything! More clothes than you will wear, full-sized shampoo and shower gel, toothpaste, even T-bags – just to be sure that you have all that you’ll need when you’re away. There really isn’t any need to do this. For one thing, you only get so many kilos, plus Europe is a developed country with plenty of supermarkets, clothing stores, and pharmacies. What you don’t take with you, you’ll definitely be able to find it there. If you happen to be going to a remote area, then that is a different story and you’ll need to take more, but don’t pack your luggage full of things that you can easily buy in Europe – probably at a cheaper price than in your home country. Do some research on what amenities there are in the place you are planning to go.

Can I take my gadgets?

Yes, you sure can. But, don’t forget that European countries may have different power outlets to that of the country where you reside. Your laptop, phone and tablet will run out of charge and you’ll need to power them up regularly. That’s why you should buy a universal adapter, so you won’t run into any problems. The beauty of the universal charger is that one size fits all – no matter where you go in the world, it caters for all types of power outlets. Luckily, the whole of Europe operates using the same outlets with 2 prongs.

Should I take books?

This is entirely up to you. If you are an avid reader, then you will surely want to take some of your favorite novels, but it depends on how much room you have in your luggage after everything else has been packed. Books can be heavy, so it might be a good idea to invest in a Kindle reader. That way you can have hundreds of your paperbacks available instantly. Plus, you won’t have to carry them everywhere you go.

What else should I take?

Tickets and passport

The most important thing to remember is your tickets and passport! Obviously, you need these items from the moment you step into the airport and check in for your flight. It’s a good idea to have all the necessary paperwork and documents together in one place, so you don’t forget anything.

Money

You’ll need some money too. These days you can withdraw money from a bank anywhere in the world as long as you have a Visa or MasterCard etc., but it might be wise to have a handful of foreign currency for the country you are going to. That way, when you arrive at your destination you’ll have money available for your onward journey to your hotel without the worry of not knowing where the ATM is.

Travel insurance

It’s also important to have the correct travel insurance. When you travel to a Schengen country in Europe, it’s a requirement of the visa application to have at least €30,000 travel insurance. Insurance covers things like medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation, but it also covers things like lost baggage, delayed or cancelled trips. In addition, if you take prescription drugs, a travel insurance policy may cover the expenses of getting a new supply while you’re away. If you do not have travel insurance in place before you leave and you fall ill or have an accident, you will have to pay for the costs yourself, so it’s vitally important that you arrange this.

Travel Packing Checklist for Europe

Packing for Europe doesn’t have to be a massive worry. All you need to do is follow this travel packing checklist and you’ll be done in no time. Time to enjoy that holiday!

Essential

1) Passport and tickets

2) Travel insurance

3) Money

4) Universal travel adapter

Clothing

1) Warm coat or Jacket

2) The lighter coat which is suitable for all weathers

3) Long-sleeved tops

4) Short-sleeve tops/T-shirts

5) Jeans and pants

6) Shorts

7) Skirt/Dress

8) Swimwear

9) Underwear

Footwear

1) Comfortable shoes/trainers

2) Dressy shoes/sandals

3) Flip-flops

4) Socks-warm and lightweight

Toiletries

1) Travel-size shampoo and conditioner

2) Travel size shower gel

3) Travel size toothpaste

4) Cosmetics

5) Travel sized shaving cream

6) Sunscreen

Devices

1) Phone

2) Laptop/Tablet

3) Kindle

4) Camera

Health

1) Painkillers/antibiotics

2) Travel sickness medicine

3) Band-aids

Accessories

1) Sunglasses

2) Scarf

3) Travel pillow

4) Eye mask

5) Earplugs

6) Luggage locks

7) Battery charger/cables for devices

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