Interrail Packing Guide

If you're like me, one of the most daunting prospects of an extended trip is what to pack. The whole idea of interrailing is spontaneity - so how on earth can you plan your clothes when you don't know what you'll be doing at any given moment?  My best advice is to be realistic - yes it's tempting to bring a fancy cocktail dress "just in case" you meet a Danish prince, fancy splurging on a Michelin-starred meal or come upon free theatre tickets... but what are the chances of that happening? You're going to want to be comfortable when you're doing so much travelling, so keep it casual.

Hand luggage only. This is crucial. It's not fun or cute to lug about a suitcase the size of your own person, it'll also cost you extra on flights, and will make finding a seat on the train more difficult as you can't stick it in the overhead racks.
There's a few key points to making living out of hand luggage a bit easier:

• Pick the right bag. Don't dig out your old toploading Duke of Edinburgh hiking bag, as you'll have to unpack and repack it anytime you try to find something. I'd recommend a bag that zips open like a suitcase but is a bit more flexible. I chose this bad boy that was sturdy af and comes in a variety of snazzy colourways. It's also cabin baggage friendly, and is apparently a brand that's recognised by airline staff so they know it doesn't need to be measured. 

  

  Cabin Max Metz backpack - love of my whole life

• Don't be married to your luggage. It's not "part of the challenge" to see how long you can carry all your worldly possessions about until your knees buckle. Make use of luggage storage facilities at your hostel, although do be wary of the cost. When I was in Hamburg it was just as cheap to deposit my bag in a locker at the train station, and far more convenient. In fact my bag probably spent more time in train station lockers than it did anywhere else - worth it.
• You don't need to look like you do at home. You're on holiday - embrace that! Wear a bit less makeup, don't bother straightening your hair... nobody cares, seriously. It's not worth the extra effort just to look a bit nicer in your selfies. Leave all the extra stuff behind.
• Invest in a microfibre travel towel (I used this one). Do not bring a big fluffy bath sheet from home, it will take FOREVER to dry. You'll not make any friends in your dorm if you're the gal with the damp towel hanging down over someone else's bunk. It also takes up way less space.
• Don't pack clothes for every day you'll be away. For example if you're traveling for 3 weeks, do not bring 21 pairs of underwear. Carrying about a full wardrobe like a pack mule will be hellish on your back. Most hostels offer laundry services, but be sure to double check and book your accommodation strategically. I planned to do laundry once a week so I made sure that the place I was staying that night had the facilities. You'll also want to plan laundry day for somewhere you've got a bit of extra time (eg. not when you're in a city for 36 hours only). It can take half of your day up, especially if there's a fight for limited dryer space.
• On a related note - don't bother bringing laundry detergent. It will eat into your limited liquids allowance and most places that offer laundry services will also provide detergent (for a fee of course).

My Packing List

Clothes:

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 leather jacket
• 1 raincoat
• 2 strappy printed mini dresses that can be styled either casual or dressy
• Black leather-look skirt
• Plain black tshirt
• Plain black hoody
• Strappy vest top
• Assorted tshirts (I packed 3)
• 1 bikini or swimsuit
• Sunglasses
• Belts (1 waist belt for dresses, 1 jeans belt)
• Socks/tights/knickers (I packed 10 pairs of pants)
• 1 bra and 1 sports bra

Note: There are clothes shops everywhere. You cannot avoid H&M wherever you go. Anything else you might realise you need, you can easily pick up. Or if your jeans get a bad case of crotchal overwear, they can be replaced. Basically, there's no need to overpack for imagined "emergencies".

Shoes:

• Pair of comfy trainers suitable for walking/hiking, but also cute enough to wear in the city
• Pair of leather ankle boots (waterproof, warm)
• Pair of sandals/flipflops for beach or shower

Makeup, Skin and Haircare:

• Moisturiser/SPF
• Cleanser
• Makeup wipes
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Mascara
• Setting powder
• 1 (only 1!!) lipstick
• Bronzer
• Highlighter
• Beauty sponge and assorted brushes
• Hairbrush
• Travel size shampoo and conditioner
• Solid showergel bar (I picked this one up from Lush in Berlin)
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Dental floss

Miscellaneous:

• Notebook and pen
• Microfibre travel towel
• Random plastic bags for smelly socks or damp bikini
• Eyemask for sleeping
• Noise-cancelling earphones
• Small day backpack
• Phone and charger (duh)
• Portable battery pack. VV IMPORTANT. Saves lives. I used Google Maps constantly and I'm pretty sure I'd have died without a battery pack. This guy is a bit heavier than the cute novelty ones you usually see but it's absolutely worth it.
• A thicc book. Makes you look more intellectual when lounging by the riverbank. Also makes you look less weird having a meal alone if that bothers you.

I know this was a long one guys, thank you so much for reading! Is there anything you'd like to see me write more about? Comment below if you have any interrail or travelling questions.

Tierney 😘