You have booked your dream vacation in Europe, and are eager to explore and experience this continent’s rich cultures, spectacular scenery as well as delicious cuisines. But wait, the tapestry of countries that make up this wondrous continent are diverse enough to pose challenges and inconveniences if you are not well-prepared. So here is a list of 10 essential packing list items for Europe, to make any kind of trip as smooth-sailing as possible. Don’t leave for Europe without it!
1. Europe power adapter
If you are coming to Europe from other continents, you will quickly realize that the electric outlets may have different plug shapes than what you have back at home. To complicate things, there are four different types of outlets in Europe (Types C, E, F and G); for instance, plugs in the United Kingdom would not work in European Union nations. Imagine not being able to charge your mobile phones or laptops because you could not plug into the airport or hotel outlets. Save the agony, and get a Europe power adapter which has all or at least three of the plug types. In fact, get two if you are those social media regulars eager to post your trip details and photos every day. You simply cannot travel around Europe without this.
2. Rain jacket
Many travelers prefer to go to Europe during spring or autumn, as the weather is milder than the cold winter or the sweltering summer. There is a catch: Rain, plenty of it everywhere on the continent. And when it rains, the temperature can drop to chilly degrees. So don’t let the weather bring you down, and bring along a good-quality rain jacket to ward off the rain and the chill. You will still be able to enjoy sightseeing even in the drizzle. The best rain jackets are “breathable”, meaning that it allows moisture (i.e. sweat) to escape so you won’t get all clammy and balmy.
3. Packing cubes
Whether you are packing a backpack or a suitcase for Europe, you would want to be able to find and retrieve things easily. Therefore it is essential if you have a set of quality packing cubes to compartmentalize your clothes, toiletries and electronic gadgets. Instead of digging through everything you have packed to see if there’s one clean T-shirt left, just pull out the cube that your shirts are in. To complement this game-changing organization tool, bring along some sealable plastic bags (Zip-Lock or similar) to pack some of your liquid items like shampoo or moisturizer.
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4. Rolling suitcase
Not everyone can strap on a heavy backpack, so in this case, it makes more sense to use a rolling suitcase. It is still the most popular style of luggage for traveling around Europe, as there are paved pedestrian paths around most of the towns and cities to lug the suitcase around. Since you’re wheeling the bag around, you do not have to worry too much about weight. However, it is important to note that some hotels and public transportation in Europe do not have elevators or escalators, so you might still encounter some inconveniences. Nevertheless, If you plan on mainly taking taxis from your hotel to the airport/train station, then traveling with a suitcase makes sense.
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Thomas Boeer
Dear travellers, since 1992, when I began my studies as an expert in tourism at the International School of Tourism in Zürich, my life has been completed thanks to representing this wonderful country to people from all over the world. Today we work for the most important companies from this country as a guide and driver. we know every corner of this beautiful paradise made by hand. We know their traditions and customs, their best routes and the best places that few tourists have had the opportunity to enjoy. We have had the great opportunity to guide very important people of different cultures and we have excellent references. Our passion for this job will offer you an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. We will make you feel at home. Welcome to Switzerland, the whole year around! The slowness gives us the time to enjoy what we do.
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5. Portable charger
Traveling in Europe is essentially about basing yourself in a convenient city, and taking day trips to attractions outside of the city such as castles, scenic parks or historic villages. However, electrical outlets are scarce when walking through the ancient streets of Europe, so you will definitely need a backpack-friendly power bank to ensure your battery is always ready to go. After all, you can’t take a stellar Instagram shot, or use Google Maps to navigate back to your accommodations when you are in the red.
6. Water bottle with built-in filter
If you are backpacking to the more rural areas of Europe, bear in mind that water quality can be tough to predict. Some places have delicious, drinkable tap water, while others have little to no drinkable water available without buying pre-bottled water. So if you are going on the road less traveled in Europe, stay healthily hydrated by bringing your own water bottle with a built-in filter to ensure that your water is safe to drink. This type of water bottle has an inset filter to do the work for you without any extra steps. Just fill and drink.
7. Lightweight day-trip backpack
One of the great joys of sightseeing in Europe is to wander along its atmospheric streets or scenic gardens. You can spend the whole day exploring in this manner, so it would make sense to have a lightweight backpack to carry along your miscellaneous necessities like camera, souvenirs, rain jacket and guide books. Ideally, get those daypacks which are foldable, so that you can pack it into your main backpack without it taking up a ton of space.
8. Flexible phone tripod
Whether you are traveling alone or in groups in Europe, you would often run into the challenge of how to get good photos without asking a random, reliable stranger to take a picture. So bring along a flexible travel tripod, especially one which can grip onto trees or railings if there is no obvious place to set it flat. Also, a tripod which can mount DLSR cameras as well as mobile phones would be ideal, as is one which comes with a Bluetooth shutter release.
9. Comfortable walking shoes
With all the gorgeous accommodations, swanky shopping malls and alluring beaches all over Europe, you may be tempted to dress up to fit the stylish settings. By all means go ahead, but there is one accessory which you have to prioritize comfort over style, and that is your walking shoes. The reason is that you are going to be on your feet a lot while in Europe, so you would really want a sturdy pair of comfortable shoes for sightseeing. Try finding one that is comfortable during the day and nice enough for going out at night.
10. VPN network
It might be surprising to find this listed here, but a high number of websites are blocked in many European countries. A good virtual private network (VPN) like NordVPN will make it possible to visit every website without censorship. More crucial is the security that a VPN gives you. Whenever you go on someone else’s Wi-Fi – whether it’s at a cafe, airport, Airbnb or hotel – you’re potentially putting your passwords, credit card and identity at risk of being hacked. With a VPN app, you can protect your sensitive data on any device.
Prepare well to truly enjoy Europe
Europe is undoubtedly a fascinating continent – and a relatively small one, one that you can easily cover a handful of countries in weeks. This means that you will encounter different cultures and traditions all over Europe, and they can vary wildly even in neighboring countries. So be well-prepared for any occasion with this essential packing list, and you can be assured that your Europe trip is nothing but blissful.
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