What to Pack for Europe

Before you book your trip to see the Roman Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, or Big Ben, here are some things you should put in your bag to make your trip easier.

Table of contents: (Hide)

• Electronics
  • European SIM Card
  • Data Block USB Adapter
  • Power Plug Adapter
  • Current Adapter
  • Laptop
• Pickpocket Protection
  • Pouch Money Belt
  • Pickpocket-proof pants
  • PacSafe Purse
  • PacSafe Backpack
  • Camera Strap
• Money
• Appropriate attire
  • Shoes
  • Scarf
  • Jeans
  • Shirts
• Miscellaneous
  • Empty Water Bottle
  • Bathrooms
  • Suitcase
  • What Not to Pack

Electronics

European SIM Card

If you plan to use your cell phone on your trip, and it will make many things simpler, you can spend a large fortune on data roaming charges if you just turn on your phone and use International data roaming. For American travelers, the exception is those with a T-Mobile One Plus International plan, who get free international data roaming (5 GB per month), or those with Google Fi.

You can also get a special international data plan, but that only reduces the cost to a small fortune.

eSim

If you have a modern cell phone, you can probably use an eSIM, which means you don’t need a physical SIM card. Your phone will need to be unlocked. I use esims.io to buy an eSIM. 

SIM card

If you need a physical SIM card, the best option I have found is to make sure my phone is unlocked (I pay for my phone upfront so it comes unlocked, to unlock your phone on some carriers you may have to pay off your plan) and to buy a local SIM card.

Before a trip to Spain, France, and Italy, I purchased a SIM card online for $50 that works in most countries in Europe and gives you 20 GB of data over 2 weeks. I also took some French lessons on Skype at https://www.learnfrenchathome.com/ so I could at least learn how to say “hi”. You can register the SIM to add additional data or time if needed. This plan lets you tether your laptop to your phone to use the phone’s data connection on your laptop as well.

Getting a local SIM card means you will have a different phone number, but think of it as a chance to choose who you want to contact you while you are traveling.

• Orange Holiday Europe prepaid SIM card 10GB

Data Block USB Adapter

If you do take advantage of free places to recharge your cell phone, whether at the airport, on an airplane, or outside a metro station, you should carry a data block USB cable or a data block adapter. This cable can be used to recharge your phone, but it can’t be used to transmit data to your phone. An adapter can turn any USB cable into a data block cable. Some public USB ports are used by the bad guys to hack your phone. A data block adapter will turn any USB cable into a data block cable.

The same “bad guys” logic applies to public WiFi in airport lounges and hotel lobbies, just on the network side rather than the cable side — if you’ve never read up on what is a VPN and how one fits into a travel kit, it’s worth a few minutes before your phone connects to its first free network in Europe.”

• 3rd Gen USB Data Blocker (2 Pack)

Power Plug Adapter

Most of Europe uses a two-pronged Type F plug, while Great Britain uses a much bulkier 3-pronged Type G plug. I recommend a universal adapter or two, which will work in any country and solve one of the two power issues: physically plugging things in. I usually carry one of those and then a handful of simple plug adapters, as the type G European adapters are smaller.

• Worldwide All-in-One Universal Travel Adaptor
• [6-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, US to Europe Plug Adapter

Current Adapter

The second issue with power for people coming from the U.S. is that while the U.S. uses 110 volts for all but appliances, Europe uses 220 volts. When you plug in a device that can only handle 110 volts into a socket that provides 220 volts. volts… bad things happen… bad things that involve smoke and/or fire.

The good news is that some of your more expensive travel devices, like your smartphone adapter, camera battery charger, and laptop power brick, probably already support a range of voltages from 110 volts to 220 volts. The voltage supported by each device should be printed on the device. Check each item before your trip.

Consumer electronic devices like hair dryers and curling irons are much less likely to support the voltages you need. You can either purchase a voltage converter that will step down the 220 volts to 110 volts, or in some cases, you can purchase a dual voltage version of a device.

• Power Step Down 220V to 110V Voltage Converter with 4-Port USB International Travel Adapter
• Compact Dual Voltage Folding Handle Travel Hair Dryer
• Dual Voltage Curling Iron

Laptop

The best laptop for travelers depends on whether you are a Mac or Windows person. Many travelers can just leave their computers at home and get by with a smartphone or tablet, but as a content creator and part-time digital nomad, I need to carry one.  I love my  MacBook Air.

Pickpocket Protection

Europe is generally a safe place for violent crime, but you are much more likely to run into pickpockets. Don’t put a wallet in your back pocket. Wear a purse with a strap across your body, but there are further things you can pack that will make you a poor target.

Pouch / Money Belt

Even better than a wallet in your front pocket is having your money and credit card in a safe place under your clothes. When I am in a city like Rome, I sometimes wear a pouch around my neck that goes under my shirt. Some prefer a money belt.

• Neck Stash Anti-Theft Hidden Wallet
• Money Belt & Passport Holder

Pickpocket-proof pants

I feel a bit more comfortable in crowds when I am wearing my Clothing Arts Pickpocket-Proof pants. These pants have zippered pockets, which are then covered with a buttoned flap. The idea is just to discourage a thief from targeting you. These pants are more expensive, but I also like the style and feel. They are also a bit bulkier to pack. See my discussion on the Best Travel Pants for Men.

PacSafe Purse

My wife carries a PacSafe purse when we travel. This purse has a clasp that locks in place, which makes the zipper a bit more complicated for someone to open. It also has a slash-proof metal mesh in the purse fabric and a metal cable in the strap, again to thwart a purse snatcher from cutting the strap.

• Pacsafe Citysafe CS200 Anti-Theft Handbag
• Pacsafe Citysafe CS50 Anti-Theft Cross-Body Purse

PacSafe Backpack

I remember seeing a YouTube video of a pickpocket outside the Naples train station, with people sneaking up behind them and rifling through their backpacks. Many people will switch their backpacks to the front when they are in areas where they are apprehensive about theft. I carry a PacSafe backpack, which, again, is harder for a thief to open and has a metal mesh that makes it slash-proof.

• Pacsafe Ultimatesafe 22L Backpack

Camera Strap

Your expensive camera is not quite as big a target as your wallet, but to protect mine, I use a wrist camera strap that holds it securely when I am using it.

• Pacsafe CarrysafeTM 50

Money

People still ask me if they should bring traveler’s checks on their trips, but I have not used any in this century. These days when I arrive in a city I look for an ATM and use the same ATM card I use at home. You may need to have a 4-digit PIN on your account to use an ATM in Europe.

The other thing you will need is a credit card that has a smart chip. Most credit cards do these days. You should assume that if your card does not have a chip, it won’t work at automated kiosks, and I’m increasingly finding that even cashiers no longer have a way to swipe a credit card.

You should also look for a credit card that has no additional foreign transaction fees while you are at it.

Appropriate attire

Shoes

Stylish shoes are quite popular in Europe, but keep in mind that if you are visiting many historic sites, you will find yourself walking on cobblestone streets or along ancient Roman Roads. So pack a pair of sturdy walking shoes or sneakers.

My friend Deborah recommends that in the winter and wetter seasons, women should bring a pair of boots to Paris. That’s what the other women will be wearing and they will be more practical for puddles or snow drifts.

Traveling Soon? These useful links will help you prepare for your trip.

• Get a Car Rental
• Buy Travel Insurance
• Get a universal plug adapter
• Get an eSim to be able to use your smartphone abroad.

Scarf

For women, packing a nice scarf can not only give your ensemble a great look, but it can also help if you are going into a cathedral, where you may be stopped if you are wearing short shorts or have bare shoulders. A scarf over the bare shoulders will fix that issue. You might even have a lightweight wrap skirt in your day bag to throw on. What is appropriate attire, or how much a dress code is enforced, can depend not just on the country but on the individual church. But you don’t want to be the woman I saw at St Peter’s in Rome who had to cover their shoulders with toilet seat covers because they did not bring a scarf.

Jeans

I live in jeans when I am at home in California. I have raised funding for startup companies while wearing jeans and gone out to dinner while wearing jeans. It is no longer true that the people you see wearing jeans in Europe are Americans, but still, jeans are not the most practical for travel because you can’t wash them out at night and expect them to be dry in the morning. I often pack convertible travel pants (where the legs zip off and turn into shorts) or pants with pockets for my devices or guidebooks. My travel pants look a bit more dressed up, are comfortable, take up less space, and dry faster than my favorite pair of jeans.

Shirts

What will make you stand out as a tourist in Paris, besides that camera you are carrying, is that T-shirt with the ironic saying. I wear button-down collared shirts, which are not only a bit more dressed up but also cotton/poly blend, so they can be hand-washed in a sink and will dry in a couple of hours.

• Port Authority Men’s Short Sleeve Easy Care Shirt

Miscellaneous

Empty Water Bottle

Generally, the water in Europe is safe to drink from the tap. Some countries, like Italy, also routinely have local spigots where you can refill a water bottle. Especially during warm European summers, carrying a water bottle is a good idea. One kiosk I saw in Rome, just outside the Colosseum metro stop, even had refrigerated free water, both still and fizzy. The same kiosk also had 4 USB ports for recharging your phone.

Bathrooms

My wife Joan has started packing a washcloth because she finds it less likely to be available in a hotel room outside the USA.

Our friend Deborah brings along travel toilet seat covers because she does not always expect to find them in foreign bathrooms.

If you plan to wash clothes in a hotel sink, you might want to pack a portable sink stopper, since not every hotel has one.

Suitcase

You can save money in Europe by booking a 2-star hotel instead of a 3-star hotel. One of the differences will be that you will have to shlep your suitcase up the stairs or you will find a very small elevator. Having a smaller suitcase, like a carry-on, will help you at these hotels, in smaller cabs, and on public transportation.

I use a Pacsafe Toursafe Lifestyle 21-inch and like its durability, but honestly, I used to use a $20 suitcase I bought on sale at Payless. It is the size that matters most. But I would say the wheels and handle are the first things to break on a cheap suitcase.

What Not to Pack

While we have been talking about what to pack, what not to pack can be as important. I can pack for a 5-week trip in the same suitcase I use for a one-week trip because, like at home, I plan to do some laundry. Also, keep in mind that people live in Europe. Their stores sell many of the same things you buy at home. So you don’t need to bring everything with you.

Europe is the most popular foreign destination for Americans. Your trip will be even better with a little planning. What is on your packing list?