11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (2024)

This post may contain compensated links. Please refer to my disclaimer here for more information.

Wondering what to bring to Europe? Adding a these Europe travel essentials to your luggage will help make your trip a lot easier. Travel in Europe can be a little bit frustrating at times but my list of the best travel accessories for Europe will help keep you calm, comfortable and safe.

We spent 5 weeks traveling around Europein 2015 and four months traveling around Europe in 2018 as a family and, while it wasn’t always easy, it was a lot of fun. My list of things to to take to Europe is partly made up of items we packed ourselves. It also included a couple of European travel essentials that I wished we had along the way but didn’t, like a portable Wifi device or a physical guidebook, and because we didn’t have them we got into frustrating or expensive situations. Hopefully my list ofthings you need when traveling toEurope will prevent you from making the same mistakes we did!

What You'll Find in This Post

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe

My picks for the top travel essentials for Europe to make your trip easier, safer and less frustrating. All of these items are pretty reasonably priced and are definitely worth it.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (1)

Eye Mask

Add this to the top of your list ofthings to pack for Europe! For some reason, hotels and Airbnb apartments in Europe don’t have great curtains and blinds. An eye mask will really help you sleep well especially if you’re headed to Northern Europe in the summer. It’ll also help you sleep on the plane and get over jet lag faster after a long flight.

You can buy thismemory foam eye mask here.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (2)

Headphone Splitter

One of my essentials for traveling to Europe is a headphone splitter. Why? If you’re travelling by train or budget airlines then you a can share a device and watch a movie on the ipad or laptop together. It’s such a simple, cheap item to throw in your your laptop bag or backpack and makes such huge difference.

You can buy headphone splitters on Amazon very cheaply here.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (4)

Slash Proof Bag

A slash proof bag is definitely one of my top picks for travel necessities for Europe. If you’re concerned about the safety of your belongs then a slash proof bag or backpack will put your mind at ease when you’re out and about sightseeing at busy tourist attractions. I have this cross body purse by Travelon which works great. It’s large enough to carry a water bottle, guidebook, camera, wallet etc but not heavy or bulky. The actual bag is reinforced with a slash proof mesh and the shoulder strap has an internal wire that also prevents slashing. It has an RFID pocket too to keep your credit card details safe and secure. You can read my complete guide to the best crossbody bags for travel.

If you don’t want a bag or purse, then look for slash proof backpacks like this one also by Travelon.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (5)

RFID Blocking Travel Wallet

Europe has problems with credit card fraud. Our card was skimmed right at the start of our five week trip and our bank cancelled it right away which was a huge pain! I would definitely recommend using a wallet with RFID blocking technology to prevent credit card fraud and identity theft. It’s atravel necessities Europe travelers should choose if they want to keep their personal information safe and secure. The purse I mentioned above has an RFID blocking compartment but if you don’t buy that then definitely pick up acheap RFID blocking wallet like thisfor your trip.

You can purchase thisRFID Blocking Travel Wallet here. It comes in 8 cool colors.

Plug Adaptor

A plug adaptor is one of the most important Europe travel necessities! You’ll need it tocharge your laptop, camera, phone and any other electronic devices you bring along on your trip to Europe. Definitely bring it with you! We accidentally forgot to pick up an adaptor on our trip to Europe and spent the first two days in Paris without one. We looked everywhere! And just couldn’t find an adapter to convert our New Zealand plugs to European ones. We had to wait until we went back to the airport for your flight to Barcelona before we could find one. We were able to charge our iphone by plugging the USB cord into the back of the TV and modem in our Airbnb luckily. But no computer for 48 hours was tough considering we work online.

Anyway! Pick a good plug adapter like thisthat you can use forany countryand also has slots for USB charging. That way you don’t need to bring the wall adapter for your iphone, just plug the USB cord straight into this adapter.

Click here to buy theIspira Plug Adaptor.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (6)

Power Bank or Portable Charger

When you’re out and about taking photos all the time you can quickly run the battery on your phone or camera into the ground. Don’t miss out on capturing precious memories because of a flat battery!Bring along a portable charger / powerbank to save your butt when your battery dies. It’s simple to throw in your day bag and have at the ready. Just remember to charge it again at the end of the day if you’ve used it. Power banks likes these can hold afull charge for an iphone and weigh less than an egg and is the size of a lipstick.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (7)

Instagram Paris on the Go!

European SIM card or Portable Wifi Device

Free wifi is hard to find in Europe and data roaming can be very expensive. We got a data only SIM card from MTX Connect that allowed us to use maps, social media, check hotel bookings, send emails etc from our phone while we traveled across Europe. You can get 2GB for a month which is plenty so long as you’re not streaming videos. You do have to order it in advance as they post it to you from Europe so allow enough time to get one before your trip.

If you don’t want to take your sim card from home out of your phone, then get a portable wifi device to bring along instead. This one from TEP Wireless is very popular with several travelers we know although I haven’t tried it out myself yet. It costs $9.95 per day for unlimited internet in Europe. This is often cheaper than paying for hotel wifi so not a bad deal at all.You can get the TEP Wireless device here.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (8)

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (9)

Guidebook

Don’t under estimate having a physical Lonely Planet guidebook. They’re useful for planning but they’re also very handy things to bring to Europe for your day to day sightseeing, understanding the sights you’re visiting and offline maps if you can’t get wifi (see above!). If you’re flitting around to a lot of different cities, get a general Europe or country guidebook. If you’re spending longer in just a few cities, then the pocket guidebooks to individual cities are great and usually include a pull out map.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (10)

Comfortable Pair of Shoes

You’ll be doing a lot of walking on your trip to Europe so make sure you pack a comfortable pair of shoes that you can walk all day in without getting sore feet. Sketchers Go Walk shoes are my absolute favourite shoes for travel. They’re light as air and made with memory foam soles so stay comfortable all day. If you’re traveling to Europe in summer or spring, definitely throw in a comfortable pair of sandals too.Check prices on the Sketchers walking shoes here.

>>> You can read my list of the best travel shoes for Europe in every season in this post.<<<

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (11)

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (12)

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (13)

Packing Cubes

Using packing cubes is my #1 tips for how to pack for Europe. Packing cubes compartmentalize your luggage, help you pack light and keep your belongs organized. A set like these ones are great. They’re super versatile and will allow you to pack your tops, bottoms and underwear separately making it easy to find what you need when you need it.

>>>You can read my full guide to picking the best packing cubes here.<<<

Check prices on this packing cubes set here.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (14)11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (15)

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (16)11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (17)

Laundry Detergent Sachets

A pack oftravel laundry detergent sachets or these little laundry detergent sheets make it quick and easy to wash your items in a hotel sink in the evening and leave them to dry overnight. Hotel laundry is expensive and there are rarely self-service laundries in hotels in Europe. A travel sink stopper is also a good idea. It’s cheap and easy to throw in your luggage without taking up much space or weight.

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (18)

Reuben Chasing Pigeons in Milan, Italy

Questions or Comments on My Europe Travel Essentials

Got a question about something on my list of essentials for European travel? Leave me a comment below and I’d be glad to answer your questions.

More Useful Posts About Packing for Europe

  • If you’re travelling in Europe soon then check out my pick for the best backpack for Europe! (Coming soon!)
  • Need a complete list of what to bring when traveling to Europe? Here’s my complete European packing list.(Coming soon!)
  • Going on a European cruise? Read my packing list for cruising in Europe here.(Coming soon!)
  • 10 Tech Tips for Travelling in Europe
  • Stylish Walking Shoes for Europe – Pick the Best Travel Shoes for Europe!
  • Best Travel Purse for Europe
  • Best Travel Tote for Europe
  • Best Anti Theft Backpacks 2019 – For Every Type of Trip!
  • Best Carry On Backpack 2019: The Best 40L Backpack for Travel

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (19)

Flashpacker Family in front of Sagrada Familia, Spain

Visiting Europe with Kids

Visiting Europe with kids? Here are some posts that will help you out:

  • 40 Tips for Traveling to Europe with Kids
  • 10 Tough Things About Travelling in Europe with Kids (And How to Make It Easier)

Pin this post for later!

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (20)

11 Best Travel Accessories for Europe (2024)

FAQs

What bag to bring around Europe? ›

Look for a rolling bag that's as roomy and sturdy as possible while still being small and light enough to lift and fit in a plane's overhead bin. Plenty of wheeled bags are well-designed for a typical European trip — most of my staffers prefer to roll with one.

What is the best size luggage for travel to Europe? ›

If you go on a 2-week trip to Europe, there is a good chance you'll need at least a 25” suitcase, and perhaps even bigger 28” luggage will be more suitable. Still, within these suitcases, you want to choose one that weighs the least.

Is it better to roll clothes or fold? ›

Rolling your Clothes

Rolling your clothing when packing also makes it easier to stuff and store within the suitcase, therefore saving MORE space. For example, you can roll socks, and stuff them into pairs of shoes, or roll something and squeeze it into an awkward space where a folded top would not fit.

Is it better to travel with a backpack or suitcase in Europe? ›

In general, spaces are a lot smaller, the infrastructure isn't very suitcase friendly and if you're backpacking, you'll probably be flying with a lot of low-cost airlines or taking the train or a bus. All this is what makes travel backpacks the ideal packing method for a European vacation.

What is not allowed in hand luggage Europe? ›

Such articles would include: gases and sprays such as pepper sprays; sharp objects such as knives or razor blades; drills or saws; baseball bats or clubs.

What are you not allowed to bring into Europe? ›

Sharp objects: Everyday objects like a corkscrew knife, scissors, or a nail file will be taken from you through the security checkpoint. If you really need to travel with these items, it is best you pack them in your hold luggage. Explosives and inflammable items: Fireworks and aerosol paint are strictly forbidden.

Do they weigh carry-on bags Europe? ›

Domestic airlines typically have weight limits for checked luggage but often do not disclose weight restrictions for Carry-on bags. On the other hand, international airlines may have weight limits ranging from 8 kg to 15 kg (17.6 to 33 lbs) However, it's rare for them to weigh carry-on bags.

Which luggage brand is best for international travel? ›

Our best overall pick is the Monos Carry-On Pro, but for travelers on a budget, we recommend Samsonite and Travelpro, which are trusted brands favored by pilots and flight attendants, but there are some great newcomers out there as well, like Monos, Away and July.

Which bag brand is best for Travelling? ›

Samsonite, Skybags, American Tourister, and VIP are the four top luggage brands in India. Other than these, there are various brands like Amazon Basics, Swiss Gear, Dussel Dorf, Aristocrat, and more that bring you sturdy suitcases, rucksacks, and duffel bags ideal for travel.

Which suitcase is better for international travel? ›

Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Spinner

“I like to use these best for international travel because I don't have to worry about them getting banged up or scratched. They're economical and lightweight.” Travelpro is used by many flight crews around the globe, so they know the qualities that you want in a bag.

What size luggage for a 4 week trip? ›

Large Suitcases: Large suitcases are ideal for long trips or when you need to take a lot of luggage. They usually have dimensions of about 75x50x30 cm to 85x60x35 cm. With a large suitcase you can accommodate enough clothes, shoes and other necessary items for a long stay or a trip to a colder environment.

Can you do Europe in 4 weeks? ›

I'd say 4 weeks is ample, provided that you accept that you won't be able to see everything in each city. I suggest that you get a guidebook for each city to see what you want to visit so that you can work out how to "weight" each destination.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 5792

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.