Months and weeks before I left I was frantically reading other blogs and websites on what I needed to take with me on this trip. However I found they were few and far between. A lot of the websites were full of things that I knew I didn't want to take (3 pairs of heavy jeans, 50 hoodies etc - this may be an exaggeration!)
Batiste shampoo - A MUST when travelling
So I've decided to put up this guide to help you work out what you want to take with you, but obviously I went in the Summer so if you're planning to go in Winter your list would probably be a bit different from mine.It was actually really hard to pack for so many different countries as I had a feeling it would be colder in Paris, Vienna, Berlin and Amsterdam but obviously a lot warmer in Madrid and Florence etc. I only went for two weeks, but I managed to fill the bag 3/4 of the way!
Some of the bits I had in my backpack whilst traveling Europe
I took:
-A handbag
-A compact camera - Sony CyberShot DSC-HX50
-A pair of lightweight jeans
-A thick cardigan
-A lightweight shower proof jacket
-A pair of vans
-A pair of dolly shoes
-A pair of sandals
-A pair of flip flops (for the showers!)
-A bikini (for the showers!)
-A small towel
-A black maxi skirt
-Three dresses
-Seven tops
-An umbrella
-Two pairs of Sunglasses
-Miniture makeup bag - slimmed down make up (eyeliner and mascara)
-A mini pack of shower gel, shampoo etc.
-Underwear and socks obviously!
We didn't take as much as we could have done, as we thought we could wash some things during our trip. Often my friend and I would wash things in the sinks of hostel toilets with a bit of shower gel and it seemed to do the trick - well made them a bit fresher anyway!
Ok not the most glamorous of things to do but to be fair you're traveling around - IT ISN'T GLAMOROUS ANYWAY!
Wouldn't have gone anywhere if I didn't have my Passport.
Remember you can always buy things when you are travelling, there is an H&M on every corner in most places in Europe (They have shops too - Dur!)My bag was quite heavy when traveling around the hotter places as I had a pair of jeans and a cardigan in my backpack but it was a godsend when I was in the colder places! You could of course take more with you but by the end of the trip your back will hurt so badly, you've just got to ask your self if it's worth it.
If you want any other tips on travelling, check out the rest of My European Adventure series, one on the way to get around Europe - Interrailing and another post about the backpack I took with me.
x
