Essential Packing List for an Independent Europe Trip

1- European adapter plug: European plug wattage and socket holes differ from those in China. It’s best to get a multi-device hub adapter; otherwise, you’ll need to bring several of these adapters. Don’t buy one at the airport—it’s too expensive.

2- Power bank: A compact one that supports multiple charging ports. Your phone usually drains the most battery, followed by earphones and your portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

3- Earphones: For listening to music on trains or buses without disturbing others. Our kids even used earphones to listen to English stories on the train.

4- Wi-Fi device: You can rent one on Ctrip. We rented one for 17 days across 12 European countries for RMB 496.8. Multiple people and devices can connect at the same time. Pickup and return can both be done at your designated airport, very convenient. If only your phone needs Wi-Fi, you might not need to rent one, because the operator's international roaming internet typically caps at 30 yuan per day. But we also had an iPad to connect, so having this Wi-Fi device was much handier.

5- Travel pillow and eye mask: The direct flight from Beijing to Paris takes about 8.5 to 9.5 hours, so this kit is really helpful—it prevents a stiff neck. It's also a must-have on the train. Just choose a soft, skin-friendly material.

6- Crossbody bag worn in front: Important items like your passport and credit cards should be carried on you at all times to prevent theft or accidental loss. Wearing a small bag across your front means you won’t easily forget it or be pickpocketed.

7- Backpack: When you’re out exploring, you’ll need to carry water, sunscreen, a sun hat, a raincoat or umbrella, maybe a windbreaker, and other weighty but not too valuable items. A backpack is a great choice. Sometimes you’ll also buy souvenirs; plastic bags in Europe can cost a few yuan. Bringing your own backpack saves you that money.

8- Insulated water bottle: Many places in Europe have taps with drinkable water, so you don’t have to buy bottled water—just bring your own bottle.

9- Portable kettle: Most hotel rooms have an electric kettle, but you can’t be sure how clean it is. Many hotel lobbies provide iced water but no hot water. We didn’t book hotel breakfasts; we brought instant noodles from home and basically used our own kettle to boil water for them every morning.

10- Insect repellent: We saw few mosquitoes in Europe, but there were a lot of bees and wasps. One of our kids was stung by a wasp on the hand, and it swelled up badly. We bought true lavender essential oil locally, applied it, and the swelling went down quickly. Also, wearing brightly colored clothes attracts bees.

11- Cold medicine: In late July, temperatures in Paris, Switzerland, and Germany are around 24–30°C, not too hot—you could even do without air conditioning. But in southern France, it reached 34°C. Temperature changes make it easy to catch a cold, and the medicine I brought from home actually came in handy.

12- Sun hat and sunglasses: Europe has great sunlight, especially in southern France and Switzerland. A sun hat and sunglasses not only protect you from the sun but also make you look more photogenic.

13- A white top or dress: Must be white. When taking photos in lavender fields and sunflower fields in southern France, the local guide reminded us to wear white—it looks amazing on camera!

14- Euros or a multi-currency credit card: Alipay or WeChat are rarely used in Europe. Basically, a chip Visa credit card is accepted everywhere. A euro-denominated card allows you to pay in euros and then repay in RMB directly at home. If you use a US dollar card, you can choose to pay in USD on the POS machine; otherwise, the amount gets converted from euros to US dollars and then to RMB, which might cause a tiny exchange rate loss. In Switzerland, they use Swiss francs, so a multi-currency card that supports direct conversion from local currency to RMB avoids multiple conversion losses. Make sure the credit card is in your own name. Also, in case some places don’t accept your card on their POS terminal, bring a backup credit card from a different bank.

15- A little euro cash: 100 to 200 euros is enough, preferably in small denominations. You might need a tip or want to give some change to street performers. For everything else, a credit card is plenty. In Switzerland, they use Swiss francs, but credit cards work everywhere—even the ticket machines at train stations accept Chinese credit cards.

16- Disposable underwear: Your Europe trip involves constant moving from one site to another, so you won't have time to wash and dry clothes.

17- Disposable card-style raincoat: Paris gets a little rain almost every morning, and in Interlaken and Lucerne, Switzerland, we were caught in heavy rain. A thin, card-style raincoat is super easy to carry. You can buy an umbrella at local train stations, but it costs 9.9 Swiss francs.

18- A pen for jotting notes and a lightweight notebook: During your trip you can write down your own tips and feelings, plan your route, or keep a travel log.

19- Smartphone: There’s no need to make phone calls in Europe, but you’ll need your phone for navigation, booking tickets on platforms, and of course taking photos. Upload your daily photos to cloud storage just in case your phone gets lost and the photos are gone.

20- Copies of passport and visa pages: One or two copies, in case you lose them and need to provide documentation for replacement.

21- Original domestic driver’s license and notarized international driving permit: There are places online that offer free notarization, just pay the shipping fee for home delivery. A special reminder: you must have your own original domestic driver’s license, otherwise you won’t be able to pick up a rental car.

22- Camera: If you have professional needs, a professional DSLR camera really gets its moment to shine in Europe.

23- Drone: A friend suggested bringing a drone to take photos—excellent for panoramic and dynamic shots.