Europe Travel Essentials in 2023 (ULTIMATE Europe Packing List)

RFID Passport Holder

An RFID passport wallet is an essential travel accessory due to its ability to protect your sensitive information and prevent identity theft. With the advancement of technology, passports and credit cards now come with embedded RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips that can be scanned wirelessly. This leaves travelers vulnerable to potential hackers or thieves who can easily access personal data.

An RFID passport wallet acts as a shield, using special materials that block the radio signals and prevent unauthorized scanning. By investing in a RFID passport wallet, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing that your passport, credit cards, and other important documents are secure and protected from digital theft.

This one is made of genuine leather and comes in over 20 different colors. Click here to find the perfect shade to match your luggage!

Travel Wallet / Travel Organizer

A travel wallet or travel organizer pouch is an essential companion for travel as it provides a secure and organized way to store your cards, cash, and important documents. With multiple compartments and slots, it allows you to keep everything in one place, making it easier to access and locate your essentials while on the go. And keeps them protected from loss, damage, or theft with its RFID-blocking technology.

This one comes in black or pink and has an additional neckstrap for hands-free/easy access on the go.

Silk Eye Mask / Sleep Mask

In the interest of being comfortable – especially on the long haul, late night or early morning flights where you may want to grab a bit of shut-eye, a silk sleep mask is a luxurious addition to any traveler’s kit. This one comes with double straps to help keep it secure for even the most fidgety sleeper.

Portable Luggage Scale

Airlines can be strict when it comes to baggage allowance (especially budget airlines in Europe – IFYKY!) Using a portable luggage scale make sure that your bag is not even slightly overweight can really put your mind at ease – and avoid that post-souvenir shopping spree check-in queue panic of ‘will they charge me extra?!’

A Pen

Never be caught short without a pen when traveling – filling in arrival and departure forms, customs declarations, you don’t have to be the person scrabbling around the desk or waiting your turn for the one pen that is tethered to the desk! Any pen with a lid or that is retractable (because you don’t want pen all over your stuff) will do.

Snacks

It might just be me, but I always travel with snacks. A protein bar, trail mix, or even a bar of chocolate could be just the pick-me-up you need in the middle of a journey, or as an emergency snack to keep the hangry at bay.

Collapsible Water Bottle

A foldable reusable water bottle is such an awesome accessory to have. Water is always expensive in airports – and sometimes not free on the plane(!) – this little beauty lets you through security with an empty bottle that can then be filled up at the water fountains which are airside. It’s also great to carry around when you’re out and about on your adventures and folds up small when not in use.

Check out the best water bottles for travel and find your perfect drinking buddy!

Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer was always a good idea, even before the pandemo. Now, it’s even more essential. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be stylish. These refillable containers each have their own colorful clip and tassel which you can match to your bag.

Personal Alarm

A personal alarm is a small, portable device that makes a loud noise when activated. It can be used to attract attention and deter attackers or other dangers. Many personal alarms also have a built-in flashlight, which can be helpful in low-light situations, and mean that you are not using your phone and potentially making yourself an easy target for would-be theives.

In case of an emergency, a personal alarm can be a quick and easy way to call for help. The loud noise can alert nearby people to your situation and potentially scare off an attacker and can give women travelers an added layer of protection and peace of mind when traveling or walking alone.

*Note* While we understand pepper spray can also be handy to carry, depending on where you are traveling to, you may not be able to take it into the country – especially if you are only traveling with a carry-on, so a physical alarm, on a keychain for example, is a great go-anywhere investment.

Portable Door Lock and/or Alarm

From 5* hotels to renting a bedroom in a private house, a little extra locking mechanism on your door can give you peace of mind you didn’t know you needed. Perfect for solo female travelers.

Two of the most common extra locks are doorstop alarms, which when placed behind and under a door acts as a wedge to provide extra resistance when opening the door, with a corresponding alarm to alert those inside the room. The second is simply known as a portable door lock and fits into the existing locking mechanism of a door – without causing any damage, of course.

Both are great forms of travel safety gear and we recommend traveling with both. This way if your hotel room door opens outwards, the portable lock will still work where the doorstop won’t, and in reverse, if you can’t use the portable lock for whatever reason, you have the doorstop alarm ready to go.

They are both small and lightweight (the linked set is cheap too) – and can easily be packed inside a shoe or trainer. It’s a no-brainer for me.

Antitheft Travel Purse

When it comes to a good day bag, an easy to carry, crossbody, anti-theft travel purse with multiple pockets and lockable zips is a great investment. This one from Travelon also has a slash-proof base panel, and sturdy strap clips which you can also clip your hand sanitizer to!

Europe Travel Essentials with Carry On Only

If you’re traveling with Carry On only, your needs may be slightly different in that you need a lot more solid travel toiletries such as solid shampoo and conditioner bars or travel-sized deodorant –  we’ll include a bullet point checklist below – but in this section we’d also like to highlight the benefit of a travel or airplane pack that includes toiletries for freshening up both during the journey and on arrival. (Noting that a lot of the women’s travel essentials above are also relevant to carry-on travel)

Airplane Travel Pack

Grab yourself a clear TSA-approved case and build the perfect plane survival kit:

• Antibacterial wipes
• Face Wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothbrush & mini toothpaste
• Floss Sticks / Dental Floss
• Face mask and/or under-eye patches (yes you can, and absolutely should, be wearing them on the plane – especially on long haul flights!)
• Lip Balm
• Travel sized moisturizer and/or hand cream
• Mini travel bottles of shampoo and conditioner (if you know your hotel won’t provide them, or you have particular hair care requirements)
• Small pack of tissues
• Mints / Chewing Gum
• Spare hair ties
• Any medications you’ll need on the plane (prescription, jet-lag preventative, sleep promoting, motion sickness abating etc)

Solid Toiletries for Carry-On Only Travel

In addition to the above, you’ll also need:

• Ear buds / Q Tips
• Cleansing Stick / Face Wash Wipes
• Solid Shampoo Bar and Solid Conditioner
• Sunscreen
• Travel-sized Dry Shampoo

Europe Packing List: Clothes & Accessories

And that’s a wrap folks, we hope this list of top travel essentials for Europe has given you everything you need for a safe and smooth trip. And if you know of anyone heading off on their first European adventure soon (or the first one in a while!), be sure to send them this Europe travel essentials list or share on social media. And remember, sharing is caring!