Essentials For Backpacking Europe: 10 Items You NEED To Pack

Essentials For Backpacking Europe: 10 Items You Need On Your Packing List

Planning your first backpacking trip and not sure where to begin? You’re not alone! Deciding what will be important to pack for your upcoming adventure is a daunting thought, especially if this adventure is something you’ve never done before.

A quick google search will have you spending hundreds of dollars to prepare for your upcoming trip, leading you to spend more money than necessary on items you will probably discard to make extra room throughout your trip. (Believe me, I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit.)

Lucky for you, backpacking Europe most summers throughout my 20’s has allowed me to master the art of packing for months at a time with little clue what’s in store… That being said, below are my top 10 items you MUST have on any Europe Backpacking Trip.

Backpacking Essentials for Europe

1. Hanging Hygiene Bag

Showering in a hostel is difficult enough with the cramped stalls, wet floor, and fellow travelers waiting for their turn to clean up – Any old hygiene bag will NOT do the job on this trip. Find a bag that includes as many CLEAR pockets as possible. Make sure the bag has a hook so that you can hang it on the shower stall or sink while you’re preparing for the day/night in a crowded bathroom.

I’ve been using something very similar to This Bag for 5+ years, stuffing it to the brim each time, and it continues to hold strong.

2. Quick-Dry Towel (XXL)

While we are on the topic of showering – Relying on the hostels to provide a towel will not only cost you money throughout the trip, but will leave your bunk stinky in its attempt to dry amongst a stuffy room full of people. Pack a quick-dry towel like the one shown HERE and you will be able to shower the night before a travel day with zero stress.

Additional Perks Of The Quick-Dry Towel:
Beach day blanket, picnic blanket, privacy wall for bunk beds without a cover, blanket on a plane or train – The uses are endless! Just wait and see. 🙂

3. All-In-One Soap

I’m going to hold your hand while I say this…
You will not – under any circumstances – be able to pack enough of your favorite shampoo and conditioner to last through your trip.

You’re better off packing Dr.Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap, which will keep your body and hair clean for months before you reach the end of the bar! In addition, this soap will act as laundry detergent, dish soap, face wash, shaving gel… Really, anything your heart desires. Dr. Bronner’s will be there to support you!

Don’t forget to purchase a travel soap dish so you don’t end up lugging around a soapy ziplock you can never fully dry or trust in a bag with all of your belongings!

4. Laundry Detergent Sheets

Like I said above, you will be able to use Dr. Bronner’s soap for your laundry if push comes to shove or if you’re only washing a few small items in the sink. However – After a couple weeks of traveling, you will be jumping at the chance to use a washing machine and these laundry detergent sheets will save you from paying the extra few dollars for soap or searching for some in the market!

Laundry Detergent Sheets are compact and convenient to pack, but be sure to secure in a ziplock bag so the sheets do not end up damp from other products in your hygiene bag.

I especially find these helpful when I am staying in Airbnbs, as these typically will have a washing machine with no detergent provided.

5. Silicone Body Scrubber

Silicone scrubbers are a crucial component to optimal hygiene whether you’re at home or abroad. Let me tell you, once you make the switch – You will never want to turn back. As I’ve mentioned throughout this post, we want our belongings dry and compact to make travel organized and functional – This Silicone Body Scrubber will dry twice as fast as that flimsy travel loofah you were planning to waste money on at the grocery store.

6. Travel Power Bank

Nothing is more terrifying (or exhilarating… sometimes) than finding yourself lost in a foreign place with no means of communication, and if you hadn’t guessed from the title of this blog – I have personally experienced this exact situation more times than I’d like to admit.

The solution to this embarrassing and slightly dangerous dilemma is simple and well worth the investment – Do NOT forget your battery pack. This Power Bank is compact and light, making it the perfect travel companion for your trip.

7. Packing Cubes

You will find packing cubes on every packing essentials list, regardless of the destination or budget. There’s no denying it – Packing Cubes are an essential component of organization on the road.

I’ve used Travel Bug brand for the past 7 years and they are still going strong! I can fit 3 cubes into my Osprey backpack, which is what I typically bring along for my adventures. However, I love to use all 4 cubes when I’m checking a bag!

8. Pad Lock

If you’re planning to stay in hostels – Be prepared for lockers with missing locks or no locks provided all together. This padlock can be a great item to bring on your adventure for a multitude of reasons, including: securing your belongings at a hotel or hostel, in a luggage room, or even on a bus or train!

9. Collapsible Water Bottle

After going back and forth between packing and not packing a water bottle for my adventures – I’ve come to the conclusion that bringing one along will save me money in the long run and will make me feel a lot better about my wastefulness as a traveler.

I really loved This Water Bottle I brought on my recent trips through Albania, Paris, and Morocco. I loved that it collapses when not in use and is light enough to hang on my purse or backpack while I’m out and about! Note – I did bring a shoelace along to secure the bottle to my backpack, rather than using the rubber piece attached to the bottle, which is not made for this intention.

10. Shoelaces

One travel hack I am happy to share with as many new travelers as possible – Pack a couple shoelaces!! And no, I’m not talking about the ones attached to the tennis shoes you will be wearing.

Grab a couple shoelaces off an old pair of sneakers you will NOT be packing, and keep them in the back of your mind for when inspiration strikes, because I guarantee it will. If you prefer to buy a pair instead, here is a cheap set of shoelaces on Amazon.

From hanging laundry to dry, fixing a broken backpack, or securing your backpack to a chair so that it won’t be snatched on the streets of a big city – You will get a ton of use out of this silly addition to the list.

Thank me later 😉

I hope this list helps you prepare for your adventure of a lifetime! I can’t wait to see how that shoelace comes in handy throughout your trip!!