10 Essential Things to Pack for a European Trip

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Packing for a trip to Europe can be surprisingly overwhelming.  Especially if you are visiting multiple cities.  This is made even harder when there is a weight limit for your luggage.  When coming to Europe it is important to pack smart and there are some essentials that you should have with you upon your arrival.  

Some may seem very obvious, like comfy shoes and adapters, however, in the midst of packing it can be very easy to forget the basics.  There are certain things that you need to make sure you have and others that are good pre-cautionary items to have with you in case anything happens.  So, we have a list of some must-haves essentials for your European Vacation. 

Are you travelling to Paris? Make sure to download our free maps and guides to the city!

 

1. An adapter for the European Socket

If you are travelling from countries outside the EU, your electronics and their chargers will not be able to fit into European sockets.   So, make sure to have an adapter with you.  You can buy these at most airports, so you can pick it up before or after your arrival.

In Europe they use the Type C plug, this will be found in all EU countries.  If you are, however, travelling to the United Kingdom then you need to make sure to have an adapter with a Type G plug.  If you are travelling to both UK and European countries then you should get a universal adapter.  They will have an adapter for each country including England and the EU and its a good investment for future travels!

 

2. Coloured Photocopy of your passport (and visas) and credit cards

There is nothing worse than getting your passport and credit cards lost or stolen.  It is, unfortunately, an occurrence during travels so it is important to have coloured photocopies on you in the event of any loss of theft.   Make sure to have copies of your passport and any visas that are in the passport.  You should also photocopy any credit or debit cards that you are taking with you.  This will make the process of reporting it much easier and faster.  Once it is lost, you can report it to the police and give them the photocopies which will allow them to make you a detailed report for your bank or embassy.  Also, make sure to keep these in a secure and waterproof file! 

 

3. A Water Bottle

European travel calls for a lot of walking, meaning that you will also be drinking a lot of water.  Especially in the summer, you will and should be consuming water regularly, however, many tourists buy plastic bottles.  While they are easily accessible they can often be expensive, especially if you are buying them on a daily basis.   And they are not at all eco-friendly.

So, we suggest that you bring a reusable water bottle with you on your travels.  This way you can have water on you all times and not keep buying plastic bottled water.  Most European countries like France, England and Germany have safe drinking water from the tap, this can vary depending on what countries you are visiting so check this list to make sure.    Cities like Paris also have safe drinking public fountains for you to refill your bottle.  

If you want to be extra careful then you can buy a Brita water bottle that will filter the water within the bottle itself.

 

4. Personal Hot Spots

While travelling in Europe it can be quite difficult to navigate the cities without any mobile data.  This is especially difficult in countries that don’t speak your native tongue.  It is important to get a personal hot spot or a temporary SIM card while visiting different countries so that your process of getting around and understanding things is not limited.  There are often cell companies in the airport or in the city centres that can help you obtain one.

If you are visiting Paris however, INSIDR has a Smartphone rental service for only €3 a day!  The phone will give you access to all kinds of navigation and communication apps and keep you connected while you are in the city! You can also use it as a personal hot spot for your own phone.  Learn more about the phone or order one here. 

 

5. Portable Chargers

Very often you will spend the entire day exploring a city and not have easy access to plugs.  To ensure that you always have your phone for safety or even picture taking, make sure to carry a portable charger. It gives you peace of mind knowing that you have your phone on you while walking around any new city! And you can even buy really cute versions like the one in the photo above!

 

6. an umbrella

The weather in Europe can be very interesting.  Cities like Paris and London are affected by temperamental weather so it is important that you always have an umbrella on you in the event of rain.  Many travellers forget to check the weather when they see blue skies so it is important that you have it on you just in case the weather changes.   Make sure to get a foldable one so that it is easy to carry!

 

7. A hooded jacket

As we said the weather in Europe can be strange so it’s safe to pack a parka in case the weather suddenly drops in temperature.  Especially if you are visiting cities when its winter or even when they are transitioning from seasons like winter to spring or summer to autumn, this jacket will come in very handy.  The nights can also get pretty cold so it is just a good precaution to take.

 

8. A dress Shirt (for men) and an elegant dress (for women)

A big part of coming to Europe is to enjoy fine dining and shows.  If you want to experience some fine dining on one or many of your trips then carry a dress shirt or elegant dress to make sure that you can fit in certain dress codes. You can’t come to Europe and not enjoy one really good meal so make sure you have the right clothes to enjoy it fully!   While visiting cities like Paris, you can spend a night enjoying a great dinner and then a show at places like the Moulin Rouge or the Opera Garnier, it will be a truly memorable experience!  However, both places have dress codes to adhere to!

 

9. An Extra Shopping Bag 

It is important to have a relatively good sized bag with you. Especially, if you plan on shopping.  Bags that are lightweight and easily packed in a suitcase are ideal as they won’t be too heavy, it will carry a lot and they can be used as a carry on if need be.   You will also want to make sure that the bag closes at the top if you are putting anything valuable in it.  We recommend a bag like the Longchamp Nylon Bag, for its durability and size.

 

10. Medical Kit

In the event of any medical emergency, it is important to carry a medical kit with you or a medical bag. It should have basic things like band-aids, medication and certain creams in the event of any medical related problem.  In some countries, it can be hard to get certain medication over the counter, so make sure that you have any necessary medication that you may need, like allergy or headache pills in this bag as well.

 

 

Also available in: 繁體中文 ไทย 日本語 Español