Why carry-on only
A single bag means no waiting at baggage reclaim, easier stairs at stations, and room on trams and luggage racks. Many airlines and some trains have size limits, and limits vary between airlines and fare types. Check yours before you pack, and measure the bag including wheels and handles.
Carry-on checklist for three to five days
- Comfortable walking shoes, already worn in
- One lighter pair of shoes or sandals
- Three or four tops that all go with each other
- Two bottoms, one smarter
- A warm layer such as a light jumper or fleece
- A packable rain jacket
- Underwear and socks for half the trip, plus travel wash
- Sleepwear
- Toiletries in travel sizes, in one clear bag
- Any medicines in original packaging
- Phone, charger and a power bank
- Plug adaptor if you come from outside continental Europe
- Passport or ID card
- Bank cards, kept in two separate places
- A small day bag or tote
- Reusable water bottle
Rules on liquids at airport security are changing as new scanners arrive, and they can differ between airports. Check your departure and return airports before packing liquids in your hand luggage.
Paying for things
Cards and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere in the cities on this site, though small cafés, markets and rural places may prefer cash.
- Use a card without foreign transaction fees if you can. Ask your bank or card provider what they charge abroad.
- Always pay in the local currency. Card machines and ATMs may offer to convert to your home currency on the spot. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and the rate is usually worse.
- Know which currency you need. Portugal, Spain and Slovenia use the euro. Poland uses the złoty.
- Carry a backup card on a different network and keep it apart from your main one.
Using ATMs
- Prefer bank-owned machines attached to a branch. Standalone machines in tourist areas often charge higher fees.
- Read every screen. Decline conversion to your home currency and look for any operator fee before you confirm.
- Withdraw sensibly. Fewer, larger withdrawals usually cost less if your bank charges per transaction.
- Shield your PIN and avoid machines that look tampered with.
Phone and data
EU roaming for EU SIM cards
If your SIM comes from an EU country, the EU's "roam like at home" rules mean you can use calls, texts and data in other EU and EEA countries at your domestic rates. As of late 2026 the rules run until 2032. Fair-use limits can apply to data, and Switzerland and the United Kingdom are not covered automatically. Check your own plan.
Visitors from outside the EU
- eSIM: if your phone supports it, an eSIM data plan can be bought online and activated on arrival without swapping cards. Check that your phone is unlocked first.
- Local SIM: available from phone shops. Some countries ask to see a passport to register a SIM.
- Home roaming pass: some home providers sell daily or weekly passes. Compare the cost against an eSIM for longer stays.
Save offline copies. Download maps of each city, keep train tickets as PDFs or screenshots, and note your accommodation address on paper in case your phone runs out of battery.