Backpacking Europe Packing List & Pre-Trip Checklist

So you’re nearly ready to embark upon your European adventure, but you still haven’t packed your bag! Figuring out what to pack when Backpacking Europe can be a daunting task, but luckily, I have been there before and can offer sage words of advice to guide you through this stressful time!

Checklist Before You Start Packing

Before you start thinking about what items to include on your packing list, it’s worth taking time to make sure you’ve got all the crucial components of your trip organised.

Have a Rough Route & Budget

It’s worth picking out a few must-sees for your trip and then determining a rough route around those destinations. There’s no need to over-plan your route as you’ll want some flexibility.

However, if you want to visit a popular festival or city that is known for getting a lot of tourists in high season then it’s worth planning that well in advance.

Once you have a rough route in mind, this will help determine what daily budget you need. An average daily budget for backpacking Europe is around €42 – 105/day.

This will cover you for most places in Central and Eastern Europe, however, you can expect to pay more in Western European countries and less in the some of the more affordable countries in the East.

In addition to your daily budget, you need to make sure you have enough funds to cover pre-trip expenses such as flights, gear and travel insurance.

Organise Your Transport

Hopefully, by the time you’re thinking of packing, you’ve already got flights booked to Europe. If not, it’s worth taking the time to play around on Skyscanner to find deals on flights to Europe.

If you plan to make use of the extensive rail network, consider booking some popular trains in advance (particularly in summer!) as you will get cheaper rates and there will be a lot more availability.

Finally, if you’re planning on using the train extensively over a short period of time, a Eurail or Interrail pass can be incredibly good value.

Choose the Right Debit or Credit Card

What is the right debit or credit card you might ask? The ones with no foreign transaction fees!

Applying for a debit or credit card without foreign transaction fees will mean you won’t get charged extra each time you withdraw money which can save a lot over the course of a few months backpacking.

Make sure you do this as soon as possible as it can sometimes take a little while for banks to approve your application.

Consider Travel Insurance

For many backpacking trips, we have used World Nomads. They offer flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.

An alternative option is SafetyWing which offers travel medical insurance policies.

Book a Night or Two or Accommodation

After getting off a long flight and being jetlagged, the last thing you want to be doing is walking aimlessly around a new city trying to find somewhere to stay. Book your first few nights in a hostel and have the comfort of knowing that you have somewhere to stay when you get off the plane!

Top Things To Consider

Choosing A Travel Backpack

One of the biggest tips I or anyone else could give when you’re assembling your packing list for backpacking Europe is to make sure you travel light.

There is nothing more uncomfortable than having to lug an outrageously heavy backpack through winding European streets, which is why I would suggest that you aim to keep the weight of your bag under 15 kilos (33 pounds), and ideally under 10 kilos (22 pounds).

The second thing you need to consider is the actual bag you plan to take. It can be really confusing as there are seemingly endless options.

I would suggest you try to keep the main bag under 50 litres, mainly because it both prevents overpacking and also because a smaller backpack is a lot easier to manoeuvre.

You want to look for luggage — whether you are planning of going for a backpack, wheeled backpack, or even a traditional suitcase — that is durable and can withstand a fair amount of wear and tear.

Personally, I use the Osprey Farpoint 55 (also available on REI here). The main pack itself is 40 litres and it also comes with a 15-litre detachable daypack. It is incredibly well-made and also comes with a lifetime warranty.

It’s come with me on many a trip, and I’ve yet to come up with any complaints. Michael uses the Osprey Farpoint 70 over the Farpoint 55, which is slightly bigger but essentially the same backpack. 

If you’re looking for more stylish options for your European backpack, then other options include the Thule Subterra, which can be used as carry-on luggage or the Osprey Farpoint Wheels (also available on REI here), which is a great choice if you’re after a wheeled backpack.

Organising Your Gear

There are a number of techniques you can use in order to maximise the space in your bag, from rolling your clothes to stuffing your socks and undies in your shoes.

However, I’ve found that the best way to keep organised and to save space in my backpack is to use packing cubes.

Honestly, they’ll just completely change the way you pack and I don’t know what I’d do without them.

Decide Which Electronics You Need

Unless you’re working online there’s little point lugging around a large laptop during your backpacking Europe trip and it’s best to pack light.

However, you might still be keen on having something to browse the web, upload photos or chat with friends back home. In this case, a lightweight tablet like the Amazon Fire Tablet might be a good option.

This is a good option if you plan to access WiFi on your trip, just make sure you have a subscription to reliable VPN such as NordVPN before you leave!

Another electronic item that I specifically bought for my travels was a Kindle Paperwhite.

Finally, make sure you have a camera so you can document some of the amazing memories you will undoubtedly have.

If you’re not into photography, then the camera you have on your smartphone is likely to be sufficient. If you want to get more professional with your snaps, then I recommend the Sony A6400.

It’s a mirrorless camera, lightweight and a good mid-range camera if you want to learn more about photography.

Backpacking Europe Packing List

The packing list for Backpacking Europe below is a variation of what I brought for three months travelling through the Balkans and Eastern Europe, but could just as easily last you two weeks to six or more months. It also can be used in any season, with some variations.

Clothing

The biggest tip I could give when you’re wondering what clothing to bring is to only pack versatile, neutral-coloured clothing that can be mixed and matched with most things you’ve included in your backpack. 

• 4 t-shirts
  • Depending on the season you are travelling, I recommend taking a mix of short and long-sleeved t-shirts.
  • These long-sleeved t-shirts make a great base layer in the colder months and will keep you nice and toasty!
• 1 fleece outer layer (men’s click here)
  • These fleece sweaters will keep you WAY warmer than cotton and stay warm even when wet. Great to have if you’re travelling outside of summer or plan on going hiking
• 1 regular sweater
  • I would also recommend bringing a sweater that can be dressed up, so you can look nice even when it’s chilly outside.
• 1 compactable ultra-light down jacket (for men’s click here)
  • They’re super warm, durable, lightweight, pack down very small and are quite affordable. I really can’t say enough good things about these jackets.
• 1 waterproof rain jacket
  • I like this North Face jacket. It’s lightweight, durable, and keeps you dry above anything else. It’s also great for layering on top of a jacket and a sweater to keep you extra warm.
• 2 pairs of pants/trousers
  • One pair of jeans, I like darker jeans that I can easily dress up or down depending on the circumstance
  • One pair for hiking/walking pants/trousers or another pair of jeans or chinos if you don’t plan to be that active
  • You can browse some great options in our best travel pants in Europe guide.
• 1-2 leggings/thermals
  • Leggings/thermal pants are great if you’re travelling in winter for an extra layer under your jeans.
  • I also wear leggings when hiking and opt to bring two pairs of jeans rather than a dedicated hiking/exercise pant.
• 1-2 pair shorts
  • For late spring, summer, and early autumn.
• 1 nice outfit
  • For nicer restaurants/going out
  • Collared shirt for men, dress/skirt/nice pants for women (or whatever is a little bit nicer than your typical backpacker wear and makes you feel comfortable)
  • Bluffworks has a great range of nicer clothes that are still practical for travel – you can read more about them here.
• 5-10 pairs of underwear
  • How many pairs you bring really depends on how often you want to do laundry!
• 5-10 pairs of socks
  • Again, this really depends on your typical laundry habits.
  • If travelling in winter, make sure to pack some thick wool socks (men’s click here)
• 2 tank tops
  • Good as a base layer in the winter or chilly autumn days, or as a top when it’s hot outside
• 2 Bras
  • One regular, one sport
• 1 pair of pyjamas
  • I’ve also noticed a lot of men (Michael included) tend to wear just a comfortable shirt over underwear
• 1 swimsuit
  • If you’re travelling in summer and planning on swimming a lot, I like to pack two just in case one hasn’t dried when I have to pack up to avoid a mildew situation

Shoes

One of the most important things to do is ensure you have comfortable shoes to walk in. After all, you will probably be spending a lot of time on your feet!

Make sure you plan appropriate footwear for the activities you plan on doing and the season you are travelling in.

I’ve listed the shoes that I always recommend taking below. I have also written a detailed guide for choosing the best shoes if you want some more advice!

• 1 pair of boots or hiking shoes (for men’s click here)
  • For autumn and winter or if you plan to do a fair amount of hiking.
  • They are also available on REI for women here or for men here
• 1 pair of walking shoes (for men’s click here)
  • Nice trainers or other comfortable & breathable shoes for traipsing city streets
• 1 pair of rubber flip flops
  • For the beach and grubby hostel showers — no one wants athlete’s foot ruining their travels!
• 1 pair of sturdy walking sandals
  • For spring and summer, I like Birkenstocks (also available on REI here).
• 1 pair of ballet flats (optional)
  • For women wanting a nicer shoe, there are a number of foldable ballet flats on the market that can make your outfit look nicer without taking up a bunch of space.

Electronics To Pack

The number and type of electronics you take with you depends on your planned usage and whether you need to do any work on the road.

• Camera/extra battery
  • Michael is the photographer among us and he travels with a Sony A6400. It’s a mirrorless camera that is lightweight and a good entry-level camera for budding photographers.
  • Bring an extra battery and SD card for your camera. You don’t want to be short of power outlets or storage space and not be able to photograph something amazing.
  • He also travels with a Joby GorillaPod Kit which is a fantastic lightweight tripod.
• Kindle E-Reader
  • I’ve found an e-reader is essential for a traveller who likes to read!
• Tablet
  • If you’re not working online then we recommend bringing a lightweight tablet (such as the Amazon Fire Tablet) or simply leaving the electronics at home! 
• Universal plug adaptors
  • I love this adaptor as it works in all countries and contains two USB ports meaning you can charge multiple electronics overnight!
• Headphones
  • I like in-ear, noise-cancelling headphones because they take up less space.
• Power bank
  • For charging your electronics when there are no power outlets!
• Various electronics chargers
• A deck of cards
  • For playing games with friends, you make on the road!

Travel Accessories

• Packing Cubes
  • As I mentioned earlier, these are invaluable on any trip and will make your life so much easier.
• Anti-theft travel purse
  • If you prefer to travel with a more stylish purse for walking around cities then I recommend purchasing an anti-theft travel purse from Pacsafe.
  • Check out our detailed guide to the best purse for Europe for more tips on choosing a great travel purse
• Microfibre travel towel
  • These towels pack down small and are super lightweight and quick drying. A lot of hostels, especially in Western Europe, don’t provide towels so one of these can be invaluable. 
• International SIM Card
  • I recommend buying a prepaid SIM card before leaving home to ensure you have data access as soon as you arrive
  • Check out our detailed guide to the best international SIM card for Europe with data for more tips!
• Earplugs
  • Because you don’t want the snorer or to impede your sleep in a hostel dorm!
• Eye mask
  • For the times when the drunk backpacker leaves the lights on at 3 AM.
• TSA-compliant lock
  • Great for both securing your luggage and for a hostel locker.
• Travel cable lock
  • Great for locking your bag to a stationary object (i.e. your hostel bunk!)
• Umbrella
  • So you can keep exploring in the rain!
• Water Bottle
  • There are plenty of water taps around Europe to fill up your bottle
• Notepad & Pen
  • For writing a journal or your new friends’ contacts details!
• Pocket knife 
  • While many people opt for a swiss army knife, I personally like the Leatherman Wave. It’s an all-purpose tool that includes both a serrated and regular knife, a saw (perfect for hacking through baguettes when you’re picnicking!), a bottle opener, pliers, and screwdrivers.
• Small first aid kit
  • I recommend including some basic medicines such as paracetamol/Tylenol and cold & flu tablets
• 1 scarf
  • A useful accessory for all seasons!
• 1 pair gloves
  • For winter and chilly autumn evenings
• 1 warm hat
  • Winter and autumn
• Sunglasses

Toiletries

There is no need to overpack on toiletries when travelling to Europe. You can find a pharmacy almost anywhere and chances are if you’ve forgotten something, you’ll be able to find it quite easily.

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
  • If you’re travelling for a shorter period of time or packing only for carry-on, I would recommend getting refillable shampoo bottles rather than wasting money on travel sized bottles.
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Hairbrush/Comb
• Women’s Razor/ Men’s Shaver
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunscreen
• Contact lenses
• Contact lens solution
  • For some reason, in a lot of places in Europe you can only purchase this in optical shops. So if you wear contact lenses, sometimes it can be hard to find solution if you forget it. 
• Condoms
  • Because it’s better to be prepared!

Obviously, there is always room for flexibility when packing for your backpacking adventure. Remember as well, that if you forget anything you are almost always able to purchase it on the road!

Are you wondering what to pack for Europe? Anything that you can’t travel without? Let us know in the comments!