Daytrip Essentials: What to Pack in Your Backpack

Daytrip Essentials: What to Pack in Your Backpack

Preparing to head off on a European adventure? Once you’ve got your tour booked or itinerary mapped out, it’s time to plan your daytrips! A backpack is one of the most important things to pack when travelling – right up there with clothes and toiletries. This bag, which can double as your carry-on, will ensure you have somewhere to stash your daily necessities.

Not sure what kind of things to pack when travelling shorter distances? Regardless of your destination, there are several items you should always bring with you on daytrips. We recommend never setting off from your accommodation without the following items:

• A bottle of water
• Snacks
• An item of warm clothing
• A hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• A rain jacket or umbrella
• Your passport
• Spare cash
• A small notepad and pen
• A camera (or use your phone to take photos)
• Paracetamol (you don’t want an unexpected headache to stop you from enjoying the sights)
• Anything else that you prefer to keep close by (as long as it’s not too bulky or heavy!).

Don’t Go Hungry

Whether you’re travelling alone or on a guided tour, it’s important to keep your appetite at bay. You won’t have enough energy for sightseeing unless you stop to eat every few hours. Most tour guides will schedule regular meals breaks throughout the day, but you should always have a backup plan.

For trips where you’ll only be gone a few hours, a piece of fruit should suffice. Fruit bars and biscuits are also a safe option. If you’d rather branch out with your snack choices, why not make the most of local delicacies? One of the best things about exploring Europe is getting to try all the different cuisine!

If you’re exploring the ancient Sassi caves in the Italian town of Matera, wrap up a takeaway focaccia (Italy’s version of a sandwich) to snack on later. Honestly, though, a daytrip to this fascinating place isn’t enough! Luckily, our Italy, the Deep South & Sicily Tour stays in Matera for two nights.

Keep Warm

Europe is undoubtedly beautiful, but its weather can be temperamental at times. Before setting out for the day, place an item of warm clothing at the bottom of your backpack. Even if you’re visiting in summer, you never know when a storm might hit. The temperature can drop extremely quickly in some parts of Europe, so it’s essential to be prepared – a lightweight cardigan, for example, is one of the best things to pack when travelling through Europe.

The UK is especially famous for its rainy climate. One minute the sun will be shining, and then suddenly icy cold rain will start pouring from the sky. If you happen to be exploring the streets of Edinburgh during a downpour, a coat or rain jacket will come in handy. Our Best of British Tour includes a 3-night stopover in Edinburgh.

Stash Some Cash

Using your credit card overseas is pretty easy these days. However, you should still keep some local currency tucked away in your backpack. Depending on your daytrip’s destination, there might not be any eftpos facilities within close proximity. Rather than risk getting stuck in a foreign destination without any way of paying for food or travel, always keep some cash on your person.

Paying with cash is often a more cost-effective option anyway. Rather than incurring transaction fees every time you use your credit card, simply withdraw enough money to last you a few days. Just imagine how sad you’d be if you didn’t have enough cash to buy souvenirs at Germany’s famous Christmas markets! You can spend your leisure time exploring Christmas markets on our German Fairytale Christmas Tour.

Pack the Things You Want to Pack

As long as your backpack is big enough, there’s no real limit to what you can take on a daytrip. As a general rule, just pack whatever you need to be comfortable.

Considering your destination will help you include the right things, too. For example, if your daytrip is to Blarney Castle in Ireland, include some mints or flavoured lip balm – because your mouth might taste funny after kissing that stone!

Have we inspired you to start packing for your European holiday? You’ll need to choose a destination first. Or, for more handy travel tips, read some of our other blog posts.