Don't wait until the night before your trip to get packing help! Join an HPL Program today >>

Hitchhiker’s Guide to Packing for Europe

hitchhiking europe packing list

This hitchhiking Europe packing list is brought to you by George on the Go. See all packing list posts here.

I love to hitchhike. It’s fast, cheap and takes you down roads you never thought you would travel, with people you never thought you would travel with. This time last year, I was hitchhiking from Crawley (south of London) to Zagreb in Croatia. The Key? Pack light and dance regularly. Here’s my hitchhiker’s guide to packing for Europe.

Clothes

group of hitchhikers

Ideally the fewer clothes you have on you the better. Everything should be easy to match and low maintenance. Bright colours are best so that you can be seen on the road. I wore a bright green T-shirt and denim shorts every time I was going for a lift.

2 x shorts
2 x leggings or tights
3 x vest tops/ T- shirts – long sleeves in winter
7 x knickers
2 x bras
2 x socks
1 x warm hoodie or sweatshirt
1 x sunglasses – don’t wear these when you are trying to get a lift. Potential drivers want to see your eyes
1 x bikini
1 x pac-a-mac – preferably light, warm and waterproof

Shoes

George hitchhiking

An excellent pair of hike boots is a must, you can spend long days roaming cities, and trekking down roads for lifts so you must be stable at all times. Then again if you are going near the sea you’ll want your flip flops too.

1 x good fitting hike boots
1 x flip flops

Toiletries

Let’s put this out there. You may not be able to wash everyday, as you don’t know where you’ll end up. Personally we managed to make it to a city and a hostel or our gracious driver’s house every time, so we could wash frequently, but it depends on your hitchhiking style. I brought dry shampoo and never used it but again, if you are planning on camping along the way it might be a good idea.

1 x shampoo bar
1 x diva cup – optional: you’ll know whether you need it or not but just in case
1 x deodorant
1 x toothbrush – and small toothpaste
1 x razor
Hair bobbles
Make up (optional)

Gadgets

This may be one of the few trips you won’t want to bring your laptop on as most days are spent travelling there is no time to mess about.

1 x Kindle 3G – NOT for reading in the car. Always talk to your driver. For google maps in cities you don’t know
1 x mp3 – for when you are at the side of the road
1 x travel adaptor
1 x phone – keep people updated on where you are and where you are going

Hitchhiking Specific

group of hitchhikers with signs

Certain things will help you get picked up or be useful for unpredictable stops.

1 x Large roll of laminated paper and whiteboard pen – The bigger the better so you can write down potential destinations for drivers to see.
1 x small sleeping bag – for emergencies and hostels where they charge for bedding
1 x German Phrasebook – German is more popular in Europe than you think. It’s the second language in a lot of countries, it’s useful in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Northern Italy, Hungary, Poland, The Czech Republic… I could go on. It would be my language tip
Snacks – The road is long and sometimes empty, so it’s a good idea to keep a couple cereal bars on board, but not too many.
1 x Water bottle – long car journeys make you thirsty don’t risk dehydration.
Passport – and all visas you need
1 x European Road Map – Yes it’s a big book, but it can help you see where you are going when you are travelling and give you an idea of what road you need to be on in order to acquire a life somewhere.

Do I bring a tent?

This is completely up to you. Are you planning on camping? Or is it a last resort type of thing? If you are planning on saving money by camping in parks then by all means take one, however, if you are just bringing it in case you get stranded, you can probably leave it at home. You will almost always end up with somewhere to stay.

>> Check out George’s review of her backpack.

Download This Packing Checklist Now

Plus get access to 100+ more FREE downloadable packing lists.

Written by Georgina

George is a 20-something hitchhiker, solo female traveller and cunning linguist, currently teaching in Kyushu, Japan. She circumnavigates the globe and teaches languages to all those in her wake. She has travelled Europe and Oz extensively, and has taught languages in 6 different countries and counting. Her blog is a mix of language learning, TEFL tips and general travel tales. Follow her journey at George on the Go or on Facebook or Twitter.

Add your voice & leave a comment!

Gear We Use

speakeasy hidden pocket travel scarf ad
Speakeasy Hidden Pocket Scarves

SHOP NOW

Splice Jaisalmer Reversible Tunic
Splice Reversible Jaisalmer Tunic

SHOP NOW

Eagle Creek Compression Packing Cubes
Eagle Creek Compression Packing Cubes

SHOP NOW

tom bihn 3d organizer toiletry bag
Tom Bihn 3D Organizer Cube

SHOP NOW

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack - Fits in the palm of your hand!
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack

SHOP NOW

Turkish Travel Towels

SHOP NOW


Travel Resources

HPL Learnables

Handbag Packing Masterclass – Learn to pack your lightest bag ever in this revolutionary packing class run by HPL founder, Brooke.

Creative Ways to Minimize Your Toiletry & Beauty Kit – Practical tips alongside DIY recipes designed to help you pack lighter, smaller & with fewer liquids. (Also included as a bonus to Handbag Packing Masterclass.)


Book Your Trip

Viator – Enhance your trip experience by booking from thousands of tours across the globe.

Booking.com – Search for hotels, hostels, and apartments using this one resource. Use it for flights, car rentals, and airport taxis as well.

Trusted Housesitters – Save money on travel accommodation by becoming a housesitter. Housesitters often have extra duties, like caring for pets and gardens.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kim says

    Great artikel! I think if you bring a tent, you also have to bring stuff to cook (plates, utinsels, pans, etc) and an airmatress, which will make everything much more havy. I would love to know more about packing tips for people who are camping!

    oh, and btw.. in Holland we speak Dutch, not German! And we speak English better than German 😉

    • Saskia says

      Of course we speak Dutch in Holland, but her tip about German is great for some older Dutch people who might not speak English so well… or in Poland, or Czech (though only as a last resort. In either of those countries I would recommend English+ charades over German, due to some historical and cultural issues with being forced to speak German….).

Trackbacks

Leave A Reply