Backpacking Essentials While Interrailing Around Europe
Backpacking around Europe is a fantastic way to see new places without breaking the bank. Whether you’re planning a gap year before starting University, taking a career break or want to have the adventure of a lifetime, this article will ensure you travel with all the essentials.
Interrailing across Europe is becoming more and more popular. There are so many beautiful places to visit, all within a short journey from each other. Whether you’ve always wanted to take a gondola down a Venetian canal or walk beside the Berlin wall, these travelling tips will make your journey much more efficient and stress-free.
It’s wise to have all the basics covered because you never know when you might be somewhere and face a local language barrier or the shops being closed for a public holiday you weren’t aware of.
People often have different priorities when they’re enjoying an interrailing holiday, but there are some things you probably can’t do without. So let’s get into the list of essentials now.
A high-quality rucksack
An obvious one, but a good rucksack is the ultimate backpacking necessity. A multi-destination journey means you’ll be unpacking and repacking your bag numerous times, carrying your whole wardrobe from A to B. This means comfort and ease are your main priorities.
A rucksack that unzips will allow you to easily locate your belongings, rather than having to go in through the top and take out every item before finding what you need, which will inevitably be at the bottom.
Thick, adjustable straps with a buckle around your waist will make it as comfortable as possible, with an adjustable solid back system providing more support when you’re walking the city streets or hiking in the hills. You may have a strict budget for your European rail holiday, but investing in the best possible rucksack is one decision you won’t regret. Travelling is a lot less fun when you’re in pain or uncomfortable.
Secure padlocks
A padlock is another essential for any backpacker. When you’re on the move, a padlock will provide peace of mind on your sleeper train, knowing that no one is rummaging through your unlocked bag. If you decide to stay a night in a hostel, they’re likely to provide a locker or an area under your bed to keep your belongings, but most will require your own lock. It’s wise to take a few padlocks with you, just in case you misplace one and find yourself in the middle of nowhere in the small hours without anywhere to buy a replacement.
Packing cubes
These material cubes are a lifesaver. Available in different sizes, they will organise your rucksack and allow you to find everything exactly when you need them. Separate your tops from your bottoms, your underwear from your electrics, keeping everything organised and making life easier when it comes to saving space, packing and locating your belongings.
Make space for a microfibre towel
Thin, lightweight, absorbent and fast-drying, these towels will take up minimal space in your bag without sacrificing the towel size.
Carabiners
A less obvious one, but carabiners are a great accessory to have attached to your bag, ready to clip on items and allowing you to free up your hands. Your travel pillow, sleeping bag, walking boots and water bottle are all bulky items that take up a lot of room in your bag, so being able to clip them to the outside of your bag will give you extra space and access them quickly.
A deck of playing cards
Interrailing around Europe ultimately means you’re going to spend a fair amount of time travelling by train to new destinations. Although there’s plenty of stunning scenery on offer across the continent, particularly if you’re taking something like the Glacier Express, it’s always good to have something to keep you occupied.
Whether you’re a solo traveller, with a group of friends or looking to meet others, a deck of cards is a great source of entertainment. A lone game of solitaire or bonding over a couple of hours playing rummy, cards are a cheap but versatile bit of kit that you are bound to use time and time again, and they hardly take up any space.
Dual USB slot plug and power pack
With plug sockets sometimes being scarce in hostels or on trains, a plug with multiple USB sockets will allow you to charge more than one device from just one socket. A power pack is an ideal solution for when there are no sockets available, or if you’re out and about and need to charge your phone.
With paper maps firmly a thing of the past, it’s important to keep your phone charged at all times so you can get directions if you need them and keep up-to-date with any changes to your train departure times, for example.
Travel pillow and suitable sleeping bag
A good travel pillow is a backpacking essential that will make your experience that much more comfortable. Whether it’s a short ride from Oslo to Bergen, or an overnight ride to Kiruna in Sweden, a comfy travel pillow that sits on your neck and supports your head will allow you to get your beauty sleep.
Not all sleeping bags are the same. It’s definitely worth doing a fair bit of research before buying one. For example, if you were going to a festival for the weekend, you might get away with something cheap and cheerful. However, if you’re going to be away from home for weeks or months on your trip, it’s wise to choose a sleeping bag that suits the conditions you’ll find yourself in.
It’s hard to fully enjoy your adventure if you’re not sleeping properly because you’re too cold or can’t get comfortable night after night. As we mentioned earlier with a backpack, a sleeping bag is another essential backpacking item you shouldn’t try to save money on as it has the potential to backfire and spoil your time away.
Depending on where you plan to sleep during your European rail holiday, you might also want to think about taking an inflatable pillow. There are some good hybrid options on the market now that use a combination of memory foam and air for a more comfortable feel.
Effective ear plugs
Sometimes there’s no escaping the snorers when you’re backpacking around Europe. Having a few pairs of ear plugs with you will help block out any unwanted noise in your carriage or hostel dorm, allowing you to rest up when you need to.
If you don’t usually wear ear plugs, it’s worthwhile experimenting with a few different brands before you travel, so you know they’re going to be comfortable and work properly.
Eye mask
The curtains in your accommodation are unlikely to be as good at blocking the light out as the ones you have at home. In addition, if you plan to stay in dorms in hostels around Europe, other guests will likely be coming and going and using their phones at various times.
With these things in mind, adding an eye mask to your backpack essentials is a no-brainer. It will also come in handy for overnight train journeys or when you’ve had a late night and want to shut everything out until you arrive at your next destination.
Headphones
While the scenery is spectacular, to say the least, on many rail journeys such as the Bernina Express, adding your own soundtrack by listening to your favourite tunes will make the experience even more pleasurable.
You might also want to listen to audiobooks on your trip to help pass the time. It’s much more convenient than taking a separate backpack just for your holiday reading! Investing in a headphone case is a good idea as it’s easy for them to break when you’re pulling them in and out of your bag all the time.
An everyday bag or other secure storage
Don’t forget to pack a small bag that can carry your everyday belongings when you’re out and about. Something like a bum bag will keep your valuables close to you but with easy access.
Bum bags aren’t perhaps the coolest accessory to be seen wearing, so you might want an alternative for your valuables. Other solutions include a neck security pouch or even socks with a zipped pocket.
A refillable water bottle
Something like a reusable stainless steel water bottle should be the order of the day when you’re interrailing. Anything more flimsy may not last for the duration of your trip and be easier to lose along the way.
This sounds obvious, but when you’re travelling through Europe by rail in the warmer months, it’s easy to get dehydrated without realising. You need to balance convenience and size with necessity when you’re looking at water bottles ahead of your holiday. And once you’ve chosen one, it’s a good idea to stick a label with your name on it.
If space is at an absolute premium, you could also consider a collapsible water bottle as another environmentally-friendly option.
A few kitchen utensils in one
You just never know when a fork or spoon might come in handy during your travels. For example, eating a picnic on the train as you glide through the glorious Italian countryside or eating leftovers from your lunch in your hostel before bed.
There are lots of compact, practical and affordable options that incorporate a fork and a spoon in one utensil or include a small knife as well in a Swiss Army knife-style configuration.
Stock up on snacks
Long train journeys are no fun on an empty stomach. Although some carriages will have food and drink available to purchase on board, it’s always worth bringing a few of your own snacks to save money and to ensure you don’t go hungry or thirsty. Securing them in a zip lock bag will keep out any critters along the way and also keep your items fresher for longer.
Discovering new crisp flavours, chocolate bars, and other treats is part of what makes going away on a trip so enjoyable. However, if you want to keep your spending down, it’s best to buy your snacks away from train stations, as these are usually one of the most expensive places to buy food.
Tracking devices
If you're travelling across Europe alone, your loved ones may be worried about your whereabouts. A small GPS tracker will easily fit in your backpack and help to allay any fears they might have.
You might not want people at home following your every move, but you can get other trackers you can attach to your keys or your backpack so you can easily locate them if they go missing during your trip.
Thick socks and blister plasters
Blisters may be small, but they can have a huge impact on the enjoyment of your backpacking holiday. Whether you’re planning to see several different cities on foot or venture into the countryside to do a bit of scenic hillwalking from time to time, having the right socks to help keep blisters at bay is essential.
Throwing a few blister plasters in your backpack is also a smart idea in case you encounter any issues with your feet rubbing as a result of the increased amount of walking you’ll be doing.
First aid kit
As well as the blister protection we mentioned above, a basic first aid kit is another essential item we’d recommend. Things like bandages, cleaning wipes, plasters, tweezers and an emergency blanket may all be useful during your time exploring Europe.
As well as making good sense, a first aid kit can make your life easier in that you won’t have to find a pharmacy in a place you’re unfamiliar with. If you just have a minor issue, you can easily take care of it yourself.
There are lots of compact first aid kits designed specifically for travel, so fitting it into your backpack won’t be an issue. It’s best to be prepared for the unexpected, like nasty insect bites, cuts and grazes.
Insect repellent
We’re fairly lucky in the UK when it comes to the nasty little critters that can bite us. This isn’t the case in many parts of Europe, though. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Adding some insect repellent to your itinerary isn’t going to weigh you down and could prevent a fair bit of discomfort.
Also, did you know insect-repellent pyjamas were a thing? These are something to consider if you’re planning to spend a lot of time sleeping in hostels at the height of summer and don’t want to be eaten alive by bugs.
Sunscreen
It feels like we shouldn’t have to mention this as an essential item, but underestimate the summer sunshine in Europe at your peril. We’re not suggesting you take enough bottles for your entire trip, as they’d weigh you down.
However, allowing yourself to run out while you’re away could spell trouble. If you’ve ever suffered from severe sunburn, you’ll know it’s one of the last things you want to experience during a holiday you’ve been looking forward to for ages.
Whistle
We’re not suggesting this so you can blow it in stations as trains depart. You never know when you might be in a scenario where you need to attract attention, especially if you’re travelling alone and don’t have a good grasp of the local language. You might not see this as an essential backpacking item, but given its size, you might as well take a whistle along for the journey, and hopefully, you’ll never have to use it.
Headlamp
Using the torch on your smartphone can drain the battery quickly and only lets you see a small path ahead in dark conditions. Packing a headlamp for your travels might be a good idea if you plan to venture off the beaten track.
For example, darkness might fall quicker than you expected in the mountains when you’re returning from a hike, or you need to negotiate a rocky beach after sunset.
Strong tape for running repairs
In an ideal world, your interrailing holiday across Europe would go without a hitch. However, getting on and off trains, staying in different accommodation and carrying your belongings around for hours every day can take its toll.
For example, if your backpack was to suffer a small rip or tear, it could leave your stuff open to the elements, which is far from ideal. There are plenty of strong tape brands on the market, and carrying a roll or two of these gives you a hassle-free way to make repairs on the move.
Travel insurance details and emergency numbers
We’re assuming you have travel insurance sorted out for your trip. In that case, keeping a note of the policy number and the number to call if you need help makes sense if you need to seek medical care in a different country.
We’d also recommend having the number of at least one emergency contact in your purse or wallet if you’re embarking on a solo journey across Europe. When you’ve decided to travel alone, another good idea is to set an alarm on your phone to remind you to check in regularly with your nearest and dearest back home.
UK Global Health Insurance Card
Gaining access to healthcare in Europe has changed slightly since the UK left the European Union. The previous UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC) has been replaced by the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC). If you have a valid UK EHIC that hasn’t passed its expiry date, you can still use that. Otherwise, you should apply for a new UK GHIC in plenty of time before your departure date.
It’s free to apply for a card, and it will give you access to free emergency medical care in many countries, but not all, so it’s best to check the rules for the countries you plan to visit. This definitely fits into the ‘essential’ category and will give you a bit more peace of mind before you set foot on that first train on your epic trip.
It’s worth noting there are different rules around the UK EHIC depending on age, nationality etc., so make sure you read the eligibility criteria before applying for yours.
Prepaid cash card
Before you go away, it pays to check with your bank about what charges you might incur when withdrawing your money from ATMs abroad. You probably don’t want to be touring Europe with lots of cash on you, so a prepaid cash card might be a good option if your bank’s charges are going to be on the high side.
It’s probably worth having as many payment options with you as possible anyway. For example, if you lose your wallet and phone but have a prepaid card in another place, you’ll still be able to get by rather than having a whole lot of inconvenience.
Don’t forget your toothbrush (and toothpaste)
No list of backpacking essentials would be complete without mentioning the humble toothbrush and that all-important toothpaste. Again, you don’t want to go to extremes and take dozens with you on your trip, but it makes sense to take a decent amount so you can focus on enjoying your journey rather than thinking about having to go and buy more from a local store.
We’re pretty sure you’ll have thought of it already, but sometimes the most obvious things are the ones we forget to pack in all the excitement
That brings our list of backpacking essentials for interrailing to an end. Of course, there may be many other things you couldn’t bear the thought of travelling without, but hopefully, those above have provided a good starting point for your holiday shopping list.
We’ve got several thrilling rail holiday packages in Europe you may want to include in your trip. Get in touch with us if you’d like to learn more and book your place.
