If you're new to travelling then packing can be a daunting experience. There are so many things to pack but so little space. Even experienced travellers find packing a little stressful. Well, worry not! I experienced this stress when packing for my three week Interrail trip, so I have you covered with my basic Interrail packing guide!
If you're a complete newbie to Interrailing, then I also have a post on 'Interrailing for Beginners' and 'How to Plan the BEST Interrail Trip Ever!', so feel free to check them out.
What Bags Do You Need?
So, I managed my three weeks Interrailing with two small to medium-sized bags. I used an older version of the 23L Head Rebel backpack for carrying my valuables and anything I needed for a day of exploring, and the 55L Cabin Max trolley backpack for the rest of my things. These bags are reasonably priced compared to some on the market and they've served me well as I still use them to this day! For three weeks of travelling I found the two bags I used to be enough and I would've had more space if I didn't have my camera gear with me.
When considering what size and type of bag you need, you'll want to consider things like whether you'll have to walk on uneven ground to get to your accommodation, how long you're travelling for etc. I found the trolley bag particularly useful as it allowed me to use it as a suitcase or backpack depending on how tired I was and the surface I was walking on. This was particularly helpful in Rome, where the pavements were uneven and full of holes. Definitely consider whether you want a backpack or suitcase. In general, backpacks are better but trolley bags definitely offer more versatility.
You may also want to purchase packing cubes to make packing easier but I didn't use these.
General Rules for Packing
Pack as little as possible! Are you really going to wear that extra pair of shorts that you forgot you even had? Probably not. One of the biggest challenges is narrowing down what you want to bring down to what you need. I would recommend collecting all the things you'd like to bring and then halving it and halving it again as many times as you need until it all fits in your bag.
One of the general rules for knowing the number of days worth of clothes to pack = number of days on trip ÷ (1 + number of laundry days you're planning to do) + 2 extra days, so for 3 weeks Interrailing where I planned to do my laundry once a week, I'd need to pack = 21 ÷ (1+3) + 2 = 7 days worth of clothes (approximately). In practice, this will vary from person-to-person and I only packed 4 days worth of clothes (except underwear, which I packed more of) and rewore clothes between washes.
If you plan to do washing once a week, then I'd recommend bringing just over a week's worth of underwear, just in case! If you run out of clothes, you can always handwash them using soap, the good old-fashioned way!
The most useful tip I can give you is to roll your clothes rather than fold them! This honestly saves so much space and allows you to fit more in your bag!
Make sure to check the weather in the countries you're planning to visit prior to packing! If you're Interrailing in multiple countries and across seasons, then you may end up visiting countries with quite different climates and may need to pack a mixture of warm and light clothing.
If you're travelling with friends, then you could try sharing some of your items to save all of you from packing the same things and save space.
So, What do I Need to Pack?
Below are some basic lists of things to pack. It doesn't include everything as some things will vary between people but here are some brief guides of the things to pack and anything I found particularly useful to pack. I haven't included the amounts of each thing I brought as this will depend on how long your trip is.
Essentials
Passport/ID
Interrail pass
EHIC card (if you have one or apply for one if you're eligible!)
Travel insurance (not the same as EHIC card and is essential for any travel trip!)
Flight passes (if you're flying to/from your start/end countries)
Seat reservations for trains (yes, these do get checked, unlike in the UK)
Itinerary (so you don't miss any trains or reservations)
Non-erasable pens (needed to fill in your Interrail pass)
Phone and charger
External battery (a lifesaver when my phone ran out of battery and I had to find my way back to the hostel at night)
Adaptor (if necessary - most EU countries have the same prongs but not all - I bought a universal adaptor)
Reusable water bottles (saves you so much money and better for the planet!)
Snacks (no trip is complete without snacks)
Money belt (if you want your money and valuables to be more secure - I used this one)
List of emergency contacts (including local emergency services - ring 112 for EU countries)
Pre-paid travel card (very useful if pre-paid with Euros or specific country's currency to avoid transaction fees)
Money (in cash and on a debit card - you'll need enough to cover your whole trip plus a little extra)
Padlocks (ideally in multiple sizes to secure lockers in hostels- I used these and they fit most of the lockers I used - they're also good for securing the zips on your bag when on trains)
Eye mask and ear plugs (any good backpacker knows these are essential if staying in a dorm)
Some essentials if you're travelling during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Face mask (these are essential on public transport in most countries)
Hand sanitiser
Basics
Underwear
Pyjamas (I almost forget these every time!)
Flip flops (hostel showers can be gross!)
Comfortable shoes (e.g. trainers) - I'd bring at least two pairs if you plan to do a lot of walking or if it's meant to rain, so you have a spare pair if your shoes get wet
Toiletries (e.g. deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush)
Trousers
Shorts
Swimming stuff (if you plan to go swimming)
Travel towel (saves so much space compared to a regular towel and these aren't provided in most hostels)
Raincoat (chances are it'll rain at least once on your trip)
Miscellaneous
Extension lead (most hostels don't have enough charging points for everyone in the dorm)
Camera
Journal (a great way to record everything from your trip and remember those little moments that you may forget)
Sleeping bag/liners (some hostels require you to bring these - make sure to check beforehand!)
Some form of entertainment (e.g. book, playing cards, laptop)
Headphones (music somehow makes train journeys more fun)
ISIC card (if you're a student this could save you a lot of money! It got me 75% off at Dubrovnik's City Walls!)
Doorstop (place under the door on the inside of your room to stop random strangers walking in or the toilet if the locks are broken)
Sun cream (you can still burn if it's cloudy...)
First aid kit (better to be safe than sorry)
Painkillers
Multivitamins (eating healthily can be difficult when backpacking)
Spare phone (you may want to bring an old phone as a spare in case your main one gets stolen - but it probably won't!)
Small safety alarm (some women recommend bringing these, especially if you're walking late at night or in a dodgey area... I bought these but luckily never had to use them and chances are you'll never have to but as I said above, it's better to be safe than sorry...)
So, that's my basic list of things to pack for an Interrailing trip. Obviously, the amounts and specific things you bring will vary from person-to-person but I hope it helps as a basic guide of what to bring. As I said above, if you want to learn more about Interrailing then check out my 'Interrailing for Beginners' and 'How to Plan the BEST Interrail Trip Ever!' posts. Thanks for reading!
Next time... Why YOU Should Try Solo Travelling
[All photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. All links are non-affiliated.]
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