Packing Light for European Rail Travel

Packing light is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade you can make for a rail trip. When you're jumping off a train, navigating a busy station, and hauling yourself up four flights of stairs to an apartment, the difference between a 40-litre backpack and a 70-litre wheeled suitcase is the difference between feeling free and feeling burdened.

The rule most experienced rail travellers live by: if you can't carry it comfortably for 15 minutes at a fast walk, it's too heavy. For most trips up to 3 weeks in warm weather, a 30–40 litre pack is genuinely sufficient.

Key items that earn their weight: a lightweight microfibre towel (many accommodation options charge extra for towels), a small padlock for hostel lockers, a universal power adapter (essential in the UK and Ireland), noise-cancelling earbuds for overnight trains, and a day bag — a small packable tote that folds into your main bag.

What to leave behind: hair dryers (use the one in the accommodation), more than two pairs of shoes, full-size toiletries (buy on arrival), guidebooks (your phone does this), and anything you're bringing 'just in case'. If you haven't used it in the last two trips, leave it.