Pack for your route, not for an entire continent
Start with every flight and overnight stop. Your smallest booked baggage allowance determines the bag; your countries and devices determine the adapters; your laundry and outdoor plans determine the clothes. This guide helps you turn those checks into a departure list.
Check every flight before choosing a bag
These adult cabin-bag summaries were checked September 9, 2026. Use the allowance shown in each booking, including connecting flights. Paid extras and availability vary; there is no reliable single add-on price for all routes.
| Airline | Included small bag | Larger cabin bag |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | One under-seat bag, 40 × 30 × 20 cm. | Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds a 10 kg bag, 55 × 40 × 20 cm. A checked 10 kg bag is a different product. |
| easyJet | One under-seat bag, 45 × 36 × 20 cm, including handles and wheels; up to 15 kg, carried unaided. | Up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm, including handles and wheels; up to 15 kg. Add it to the booking or confirm an eligible fare or membership benefit. |
| Wizz Air | One under-seat bag, 40 × 30 × 20 cm, up to 10 kg. | WIZZ Priority adds a trolley bag, 55 × 40 × 23 cm, up to 10 kg. Check the airline's handle and wheel measurement exceptions. |
For easyJet, an automatically allocated Up Front or Extra Legroom seat does not by itself upgrade the small-bag allowance. Check the large bag in Manage Bookings; easyJet Plus and Inclusive Plus have their own space and booking conditions.
A foldable tote is still another bag when carried separately. Pack it inside your permitted bag unless the airline explicitly allows an extra item. Measure the packed bag and weigh it; a home scale is a planning aid, not a guarantee of an identical airport reading. See how to measure a carry-on.
Seats are not a first-come queue. Ryanair assigns free seats during check-in; paid reservation lets you choose. Check the airline's family-seating rules if travelling with children. Follow the booking's current check-in and boarding-pass instructions, and make sure you can access your pass before reaching the gate.
Security rules are separate from bag size. Check departure and transfer airports using the airport liquid rules guide. Keep medicines, documents and essential valuables accessible, and check airline battery rules before a bag is moved to the hold.
Separate entry permission, border registration and healthcare cover
Europe, the EU and Schengen are different groups. The Schengen area has 29 countries; the UK and Ireland have separate entry rules. Check every traveller's passport, nationality, residence status and trip purpose with the destination authority. Do not infer permission from someone else's passport.
- Visa or visa exemption: for many short visits the Schengen limit is 90 days in any 180-day period across the area, not 90 days per country. Check the official visa policy and your destination's consulate for eligibility, passport validity and supporting documents.
- EES: the Entry/Exit System is border registration, not a travel authorisation to buy. It has been fully operational since April 10, 2026 and applies to many non-EU short-stay travellers, with exemptions. Review the Commission's scope and exemptions and allow time for border processing.
- ETIAS: as checked September 9, 2026, the EU Council lists the start of operations for the last quarter of 2026. It is a separate upcoming authorisation for eligible visa-exempt travellers. Check the official ETIAS service again before departure for the launch and application rules.
- UK stop: use the London document and ETA checklist for a separate UK check.
Pack your passport, required permission, accommodation and onward-travel details, insurance contact information and necessary medicines with their supporting documents. Keep an offline copy of your arrival address and route. Store document copies privately; a copy does not replace the original travel document.
Healthcare cover is not determined by citizenship alone
Ask your health insurer whether you are eligible for an EHIC or other applicable entitlement and where it is valid. Under the EU temporary-stay guidance, an EHIC provides access to medically necessary state healthcare on the local terms; care is not always free. It does not cover private treatment or rescue and repatriation. Carry appropriate travel insurance and check activities, existing conditions and destinations with the insurer. There is no single medical bill or payment rule for every non-EU visitor.
Match each charger to each country
A plug adapter changes the connection shape; it does not convert voltage or frequency. Read each device's input label and manual, including grounding and power limits. A 120 V-only appliance cannot be made suitable for a 230 V supply with a shape adapter alone. Leave an incompatible appliance at home or obtain a solution approved for that device.
| Your stop | What to verify |
|---|---|
| UK or Ireland | Type G connection. Confirm your adapter explicitly supports the country and your device. |
| Italy | Type C, F and L are listed by Electrical Safety First; do not assume any two-pin adapter fits every socket. |
| Switzerland | Type C and J are listed; grounded equipment needs the correct grounding connection. |
| Other stops | Check that country and the accommodation's sockets, plus your charger's input range. A “universal” label is not proof of complete coverage. |
These UK, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland supplies are 230 V, 50 Hz. Country references: UK, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland. Use the charger and power-bank checklist for battery and gate-check decisions.
Plan clothes around laundry and activities
Check the forecast for each overnight stop shortly before leaving. A continent-wide season average cannot tell you what to wear on an alpine walk or a city evening. Add layers, rain protection or sun protection for your actual route, and check specialist equipment needs for outdoor activities.
- Count days until a confirmed laundry opportunity, including drying time. Start with underwear and socks for that interval, then choose tops and bottoms you can combine.
- Try the shoes on a realistic walk before travelling. Add a second pair only for a planned use or your comfort needs.
- Check venue dress and bag policies before adding formal clothes or a large daypack.
- Pack medicines, personal toiletries, cables, any accessibility equipment and a payment backup that work for you. Confirm card acceptance and fees with your issuer; cash needs and currencies depend on the stops.
Planning example: for seven nights with laundry after the third day, start with a three-day clothing rotation plus something to wear while washing and the spares you need. Without a usable laundry stop, increase the interval. These are adjustable suggestions, not a tested minimum.
Check train luggage and reservations before buying
For each train, confirm the operator's luggage limits, what you can lift and carry through stations, and any required reservations. Compare actual point-to-point fares for your dates with the pass price plus required reservations and supplements. The number of countries alone cannot establish savings. The rail-pass reservation guide explains that some trains require a separately paid reservation; check availability before committing to a tight route.
Finish your Europe departure checklist
Check marks are for this visit and are not saved. Use your browser's Print option for a paper copy. Keep passport and booking details in your own private notes.
Updated September 9, 2026. This source-based planning guide replaces outdated baggage and entry guidance, unsupported cost comparisons and unverified personal-testing claims.