The ultimate interrail packing list for teenagers – that works for family trips too

In households all over the country teens are planning a post-exam summer of travel around Europe by train. They’ll visit world famous landmarks, cultural sights, breathtaking views and probably a few clubs too.  But are they properly prepared? Read on for our essentials for interrailing from the best backpacks for interrailing to travel accessories and pharmacy must-haves. Don’t let them leave home without our ultimate interrail packing list! UPDATED 2023

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It’s that packing list time of year.  I’ll confess here that secretly I love a packing list. I’ve kept them for all our family trips and made a note of what we did and didn’t need. (I know). But I loathe unpacking things that weren’t used and remembering how heavy they made the suitcase. At the same time I like to be ready for anything. It’s painful to have to buy something at an over-priced tourist shop when there’s a better alternative sitting at home.

Essential interrail packing list

So when each of my sons went off on his interrail travels I made a list of what he took – and then checked again after the trip to see what was and wasn’t essential. The boys were already used to packing rucksacks for camping expeditions and backpacks for holidays. They asked around amongst friends who’d already been interrailing for extra tips.

The European interrail trip is a post-exam tradition for British teens. For many it is their first proper holiday without their parents in tow. In brief, they buy an Interrail pass, valid for 15 days, 22 days or a month, and plot their journey by train around European cities. They’ll sleep in hostels, Airbnbs or sometimes on the trains themselves. Currently eastern Europe is particularly popular with student interrailers as the cost of living is lower than in western European cities like Paris or Berlin. You can read more of our interrail tips for teens, here.

I’m a mum of boys so our ultimate interrail packing list is necessarily a male-orientated one. But you’ll find travel essentials here that work for everyone, even parents.

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Backpacks for interrailing

Interrailing is by nature an urban adventure. It isn’t an expedition-style holiday unless you deliberately make it so. Most interrailers travel from city to city by train and then stay in hostels or Airbnbs. Lots catch planes to their first destination as it works out cheaper than using the Eurotunnel. Occasionally they’ll overnight on a train.

But generally speaking, unless they’re actually camping, they don’t need sleeping bags. And unless they get lost they don’t spend a great deal of time walking with all their belongings on their backs. So interrailing in Europe is different to more exotic gap year adventures and the luggage required is a bit different too.

Choosing an Interrailing backpack vs suitcase

My boys both used convertible holdalls, also called duffel bags, for their interrailing trips.

If you’re planning more independent travel with a likelihood of walking greater distances with pack on back then a conventional rucksack or a lightweight backpack with frame might be more suitable. But Nick and Ed were both happy with their choices because their bags were easy to manoeuvre and pretty compact.

Pros of a convertible holdall

• They have full length zipped flaps for access so they can be packed like a suitcase. This also means that, unlike a rucksack, you can see the full contents of the bag without having to unpack it all first.
• They’re lighter in weight than a toploader rucksack with a rigid frame. And a holdall is more manoeuvrable too.
• It is flexible enough to be shoved into overhead luggage racks on the train. Plus you can sling it on and off your shoulders quickly making it easy to carry through crowds and train carriages.
• On top of this, with a holdall there’s a sporting chance that your clothes come out in reasonable shape as long as you folded them and packed the bag snugly.
• A holdall can usefully double up as holiday luggage and sports bag too.

Cons of a convertible holdall

• Unlike a proper rucksack a holdall or duffel don’t hug the body or distribute the weight. They hang from the shoulders rather than letting your hips take some of the strain.
• Nor do they have the technology that helps to stop your back overheating. However neither of my boys had to walk far with their bags when they were interrailing so they didn’t find this a problem.
• Some of the boys’ friends have pointed out that a fully loaded duffel is a lot of weight on the shoulders. This can make a flight of stairs or a long station platform a bit of a challenge. In this case the best alternatives for interrailing are a wheeled suitcase or lightweight rucksack.

Interrailing with a wheeled suitcase

A wheeled suitcase or backpack for interrailing would make light work of a heavy bag. However wheelie bags still have to be carried on cobbled streets or flights of stairs and the wheel system adds weight. And my sons point out that it’s more convenient to move around ‘hands free’ with your pack on your back when you are navigating with a map or phone.

Interrailing with a rucksack

One or two of my sons’ friends took a rucksack interrailing. I’m using the term ‘rucksack’ here to mean the big, rugged top-loading backpacks that are used on camping expeditions such as in the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) scheme.

The key is to make sure that the bag fits you well at the outset. By distributing the weight of the bag between the shoulder and hip straps, a good rucksack makes your load feel much more manageable. An outdoor activity shop will be able to help you to choose and fit a rucksack correctly.

The disadvantage of a big expedition rucksack is that the frame adds weight and it can be bulky to manoeuvre on a train. On top of this the top-loading style can mean you have to unpack the whole thing to get to items at the bottom. But packing cubes can really help here, see below.

Interrailing with a backpack

I’m using ‘backpack’ here to define lighter weight backpacks that help to bridge the gap between a big expedition rucksack and a suitcase.  Some have a zipped panel openings for suitcase-style access and others even come with wheels. They’re lighter than a traditional rucksack but distribute the weight better than a duffel with straps.

Choosing the best backpack for interrailing

The two duffel bags we’ve used have been strong and comparatively inexpensive. Nick uses a Patagonia unisex duffel bag.

It’s made of ripstop polyester with a laminate water-repellent finish and has shoulder straps to convert it to a backpack. These Patagonias come in a range of sizes and colour combos.  Ours is bright blue and grey and very easy to spot on an airport carousel (or to keep an eye on in a luggage rack). It’s 55 litre and weighs 1.1kg.  Nick preferred a 55 litre size for inter-railing.  The larger 70 litre bag may hold more but it can become very heavy to carry around.

Nick’s Patagonia bag is now several years old. It’s survived university as well as inter-railing, and there’s no real sign of wear or tear. It’s been a very good buy.

Click here to view and buy a 55 litre Patagonia duffel for your inter-railing trip. 

Ed has the slightly bigger Craghoppers outdoor holdall bag  a simple straightforward holdall with shoulder straps that convert it to backpack mode.  Water resistant and with 70 litres worth of roominess, it has an internal divider though Ed says he hasn’t used that. There’s a little pocket on the outside that’s handy for a water bottle. Ours is grey/black and there’s also a red version. Sadly it’s not available currently. In it’s place I’d choose a Patagonia like this one. Click for more info.

Or a cheaper option is this 70 litre Helly Hansen waterproof duffel.

 A recommended backpack for interrailing

If you decide to choose a backpack for interrailing then we’ve heard lots of good reports about the Osprey Farpoint. which is actually two packs in one. Ospreys are famously good quality and we have an Osprey wheelie that we’re very happy with.

• The Osprey Farpoint is a lightweight backpack with hipbelt and frame but – and this is a real bonus – it has a large zipped panel to access the main 55 litre compartment. This means it packs like a suitcase and is lockable too.
• The ventilated back panel and Light Wire frame suspension is well-designed to achieve a comfortable fit with adjustable straps on torso and hips.
• Cushioned grab handles on the top and sides make it easy to carry and lift onto luggage racks.
• It comes with a handy detachable 15 litre day pack that has top and side pockets and a laptop sleeve. This can also be clipped, kangaroo pouch style, to the front of the harness so that you can keep an eye on your valuables.

The Osprey Farpoint comes in a choice of 40, 55 or 70 litre capacity. The 70 litre weighs 2.5kg.

The 40 qualifies as a carryon on some airlines (check precise dimensions with specific airline requirements). The 55 may also work as a cabin bag if the daypack is detached and stowed under the seat (but as before, double check specifics in advance). Click here to read the reviews, see more photos and to buy the Osprey Farpoint.

The Osprey Fairview has the same features as the Farpoint but with a women-specific fit. Click this link to see all its features and to read its excellent reviews. The 40 litre model is carry on size and it’s also available in 55 or 70 litres with detachable day packs.

I also like the look of this  sturdy wheeled backpack the unisex Osprey Rolling Transporter 60 at 2.88kg.

What to take interrailing

Here’s our packing list based on several interrail trips.

Documents for interrailing

Passport, tickets, flight and train info, travel insurance details, rail tickets In the past we’ve packed all of these docs together in a ziplock bag.  It’s roomy enough for extra bits and pieces and keeps important things dry and safe from rain, damp towels or leaky suncream.

But these wallets are next level! With storage for passport, cards, docs and tickets, they have RFID protection too. Available in black or choose from lots of bright colours that’ll be easy to spot when rummaging around in an over-stuffed backpack.

Or a travel money belt has the dual purpose of keeping passport and docs in one place and being wearable too.

Some currency and bank card. The boys hate carrying change but a few euro notes are useful at the start of a journey. For the rest of the time Ed tucks his bank card into his phone case – double jeopardy if it’s lost or stolen of course. It’s worth researching the best card to take too. This site has tips on good debit or credit cards for travel to help avoid transaction fees, cash withdrawal fees or interest charges overseas.

Tech for interrailing

Adaptor plug for chargers. Do you need a 3 pin travel plug adaptor?  This one is an earthed adaptor for UK travellers to Europe and has a single USB port too.

But the boys prefer this style with multiple USB ports, since they don’t carry any appliances with plugs.

Phone and charger cable.  Goes without saying!

Waterproof bag for phone. Nick always packs one of these and I do as well. He says they’re very handy on the beach or in a kayak to protect a phone from sand and splashing. I use an additional one for keys, currency and lipbalm on the beach. Conveniently they come in a pack of two.

This Waterproof Pouch bag and phone case looks great for beach trips.

Power bank for extra phone charging. An essential piece of kit for all travellers. Keep it charged up and it’ll really come into its own on the train or at a festival. Nick has an Anker Power Bank which I borrow a lot as well.

Portable Bluetooth speaker  Ed and friends always take a bluetooth speaker. It’s handy for music wherever they’re staying and Ed’s has survived unscathed to go on multiple trips. This Sony compact portable speaker has great reviews and is waterproof and dustproof which sounds an excellent idea. Lots of colours to choose from too – including black – and comes with a detachable carrying strap.

Travel Accessories for interrailing

Belt pouch. I picked up some incredibly light, stretchy beltbags a few years ago in a travel shop. They’ve been really useful extra ‘pockets’ on trips when we’ve wanted to conceal money, bank cards or phones under whatever we’re wearing. This is very similar:

Flexible refillable water bottle. Our platypus water bottle, click here has gone interrailing twice. It’s the 500ml size so not at all bulky when full. Platypus give exhaustive instructions for cleaning involving bicarb of soda or lemon juice, if hot soapy water isn’t enough.

Sunglasses I’m including them here rather than the clothes section because they’re an essential. European sun can be dazzling and you don’t want to rely on a dodgy pair from a  souvenir shop. Can’t go wrong with Raybans.

Travel pillow.  A comfy little 100% cotton flannel travel pillow and slip won’t take up much space. It has its own drawstring bag to squish it down neatly to pack. Very welcome when you’re desperate for some shuteye on the train. Ours has been on several trips and also in and out of the washing machine. Several colours and patterns to choose from.

Sleeping bag liner. Useful in the case of doubtful hotel or hostel cleanliness. A sleeping bag liner is also handy in places that only provide a duvet even in the height of summer.

Travel towel. A ‘proper towel’ takes up ridiculous amounts of room in a backpack and never dries out once wet. And then it becomes smelly. These fast-drying microfibre travel towels come in a range of colours and sizes. They have a handy press stud fastening so can be easily hung up on a branch or parasol. Luckily Airbnbs often provide towels too so this might be all you’ll need.

If the trip is going to include beaches then these sand-free microfibre towels would be a great option.

Packing cubes. Not something my boys have used! But a friend of Ed’s says they make a big difference to packing in a rucksack. Pack all the t-shirts together in cubes like these and they’ll be easy to spot in the main compartment of your bag. They’ll be a lot less crumpled too. Get really organised and have a cube for each category of clothing. These are an affordable option that the whole family can use.

Carbon monoxide alarm.  We’ve read about shocking holiday tragedies: a faulty gas appliance in rented accommodation can leak deadly carbon monoxide. It is odourless and tasteless. We use detectors in our own homes so why do we assume that holiday stays are automatically safe? And I can’t say I’ve found detectors in many Airbnbs in Europe. Project Shout promotes awareness. We carry a Kidde on trips.

Travel Washbags for interrailing

Washbag This Mountain Warehouse washbag is specifically designed for travel, camping and festivals. Tough and lightweight it even optimistically includes a built in mirror.

The Osprey Europe Ultralight Washbag roll is a more sophisticated version that gets great reviews. It would make a really useful gift too.

Pharmacy Essentials for Interrailing

Toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, shaving gel, razor, hair gel, comb etc. Your teens will know what they want to take.

We do a trolley dash round Boots or Superdrug for travel sizes. They aren’t cheap and I’d prefer a more sustainable solution but I find those empty refillable travel size bottles are fiddly to use and tricky to clean once you get home.

Don’t forget packs of wet wipes and anti-bacterial hand wipes which interrailers will thank you for on an overnight train. A tube of travel wash for hand laundry wouldn’t go amiss either.  And a ziplock bag containing a wodge of loo paper will pack easily and might be very welcome one day.

Medical kit: any prescription requirements plus paracetamol and antihistamines if necessary.

Insect repellent spray and insect bite cream are a very good idea too. The strength of the repellent depends on the itinerary.

Pyramid Trek sensitive insect repellent is a no-DEET formula that is well thought of.

Sometimes only Jungle Formula will do. The Jungle Formula Medium Non Tropics range is designed for short haul destinations with just 20% DEET.

An insect bite cream will be welcome when the inevitable happens. We’ve found After Bite is quite effective.

A few plasters will probably come in handy. Plus blister plasters.  Compeed are great.

Suncream Since the backpack will be too big to carry on to a flight and will have to go in the hold I encourage the boys to take a big bottle of suncream plus a travel size. We like the Nivea ones.

Or Ambre Solaire UV Sport SPF 30 comes in a 50 ml travel size.

The bigger bottle can be applied in the mornings then left in the backpack. The pocket size can go out for the day with them. Well, I can but dream!

If you buy any new products especially for the trip I’d recommend trying everything at home first. From suncreams to insect repellents and bite creams, it’s worth checking in advance for any sensitivities or allergies.

Clothes for Interrailing

This’ll be personal choice and again the following is a boy’s list. This is what Ed took on a three week interrail trip in very mixed European weather. It allows for ‘going out’ clothes for evenings too.

• 7 x t-shirts. Ed wore and washed them all. It’s helpful when Airbnbs have washing machines.
• 5 x shorts inc 2 pairs of cargo shorts and 2 pairs of sport shorts. Ed’s top tip is to take shorts with zip pockets – handy for a card or a phone.
• 1 thin jumper
• 1 shirt
• A pair of jeans
• 2 x swim trunks
• 6 pairs socks and pants
• Flip flops or slides
• Trainers
• A pair of smarter shoes for going out
• Cap
• Waterproof jacket. Ed had torrential downpours as well as 40 degree sun on his interrail trip. A lightweight packaway style mac avoids the problem of how to dry clothes that are dripping wet.

Entertainment

We’ve already covered music in the tech section.  But for those loooonng train journeys Ed recommends:

A book.  Controversial but when there’s no wifi sometimes old fashioned is best.

 A pack of playing cards.

How to pack for interrailing

I’d strongly recommend starting to pack at least a week, ideally two, before departure day. It’s useful to get all the clothes and bits and pieces together and work out how they’re all going to fit in the bag. This is a good time to think of using packing cubes too.

Once the bag is packed it’s a good idea to actually put it on and go for a walk round the block. This will help to make sure that it’s adjusted correctly and it isn’t going to rub, pinch or be far too heavy. Check too that it’s light enough to be lifted onto an overhead luggage rack.

It’s also a good plan to work out where tickets, money, phone, sunglasses and water are going to be stowed, both in transit and on a day out.

What’s missing?

Are there any interrail essentials you’d add to this list?  Please share in the comments!

Please note that all information here is for guidance only. Please check the relevant websites for the most up to date information eg. prices, product features etc.

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Interrailing Essentials

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