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I didn’t travel Europe trying to be a minimalist backpacker — and I didn’t want to overpack either.

I wanted to be comfortable, organised, and not constantly annoyed by small problems I didn’t think about before leaving.

These are the travel gadgets that actually helped during my Europe trip. Not everything on this list is essential, and you definitely don’t need all of it — but these are the few things that genuinely made long flights, packing, and travel days easier as a non-frequent traveller.

Before you buy anything:
You don’t need every gadget on this list.
If you’re a first-time or non-frequent traveller, start with the first four items — they made the biggest difference.

You don’t need dozens of travel gadgets for Europe. Most travellers only need a few practical items that solve real problems — like charging devices, staying comfortable on long flights, and keeping tech organised while moving between cities.

What Travel Gadgets Do You Actually Need for Europe?

Charging sounds simple until you have multiple devices and limited outlets. A universal adapter meant I didn’t have to think about compatibility every time I changed accommodation.

My universal travel adapter saved me more times than I can count in Europe— hotel rooms, airports, trains, even tiny Airbnb kitchens. What I loved most was the multiple USB and Type C ports, which meant I could charge my phone, powerbank, AirPods, and camera all at once. No swapping. No fighting for outlets.

Best for: multi-country travel, phones + power banks
Skip if: you’re staying in one place with known outlets

The Travel Gadgets I'd Buy Again Without Question

LENCENT Universal Travel Adapter, International Charger with 2 USB Ports and Type-C PD

🔹Universal Travel Adapter - My Most-Used Gadget

If I had to repurchase only a few things for another Europe trip, these would be it. They solved problems I didn’t expect and made travel days noticeably less stressful.

I didn’t expect to need this, but AirTags were reassuring when travelling between airports, trains, and accommodations throughout my trip.

Being able to check where my bag was — especially during long travel days — removed a lot of unnecessary stress. It’s one of those tiny gadgets you forget about… until the moment you really need it. Then it becomes priceless. Most Airtags come in a four pack, so convince a friend travel with you!

Best for: checked luggage or shared transport
Skip if: you’re travelling carry-on only and don’t worry about bag tracking

🔹Apple Airtags - Peace of Mind While Moving Around

Apple AirTag (4 Pack)

Between Google Maps, boarding passes, tickets, and photos, my phone battery drained faster than I expected.

A power bank meant I didn’t have to constantly search for outlets or ration my phone use on long days out.

Also keep in mind when choosing a power bank, select a reputable brand that you can trust and rely on as well as keep it pocket-sized and nimble. The two below are the ones I packed without a problem.

Best for: sightseeing days and travel days
Skip if: you barely use your phone while travelling

🔹Power Bank - My "Don't Panic" Device

INIU Power Bank, 20000mAh 45W Portable Charger with Built in Cables

Anker Power Bank, Compact Portable Charger 10,000mAh

Airports, planes, trains, and busy streets are constant noise. I underestimated how draining that would be.

Noise-cancelling headphones gave me a break from the chaos and made the long flights to Europe and train journeys far more bearable. But the real magic was using them with my AirFly (more on that next 👇).

Best for: long flights, trains, shared accommodation
Skip if: background noise doesn’t bother you

🔹Apple Airpods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - My Sanity Saver

Apple Airpods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

This tiny device ended up being one of the highlights of my tech kit.

You plug AirFly into any headphone jack on the plane's inflight entertainment and suddenly your wireless AirPods become usable anywhere.

On my flight to Europe, while everyone else was untangling those stiff airline headphones, I was comfortably watching movies with my own AirPods. It was honestly the moment I realised this gadget was worth every cent. It made my journey more comfortable with airpods that did not hurt my ears like the free ones given by the airline as well as always needing to use the bathroom. I could keep the airpods in the my ears and not worry about coming back to a seat tangled in cables that I would need to reorganise.

If you love wireless audio and have spare money left over, AirFly is a must-pack. "I recommend buying an adapter which I will include here or at the airport as some aeroplane's do not support the simple headphone jack port".

Best for: long-haul flights with in-flight entertainment
Skip if: you don’t use airline screens

🔹AirFly - My Favourite Unexpected Gadget

Twelve South 4353 Airfly SE | Wireless Transmitter/Receiver with Audio Sharing

T Tersely Gold Plated Flight Airplane Headphone Audio Adapter

Although I did not pack a bag like this into my carry-on due to me only carrying my phone, airpods with me along with a few cables to charge it as well as my powerbank. I did not think I would get much use out of it and I had an extra pouch to store all my tech, given in my packing cubes set.

For anyone who is going to travel with multiple devices like a camera and laptop with all different cables and chargers, I would recommend this to you as it can make your journey a lot more organised. It sounds small, but when you’re constantly switching chargers between hotels, trains, and airports, having your tech neatly organised saves you so much frustration.

Best for: travelling with multiple devices
Skip if: you travel very light

🔹Cable Organiser - A Little Extra Time Saver

Cable Organiser Bag, Electronic Organiser Bag

If you only buy a few things for Europe, make it these:

• Universal travel adapter
• Power bank
• Noise-cancelling headphones

Everything else depends on how you travel — helpful, but not essential.

If You’re Packing for Europe, Here’s My Advice...

Bring gadgets that:
✔ solve a specific travel problem
✔ don’t take up much space
✔ make your days easier (not more complicated)

These tech essentials did exactly that — and I would pack them again in a heartbeat.

If You’re Overwhelmed, Start With These

Quick Shopping List (If You Want It Simple)

🔌Universal Travel Adapter

📶Apple Airtags

⚡Fast-charge Power Bank

🎧 AirPods (or your chosen earbuds)

🌐AirFly Bluetooth Adapter

⌁ Travel Cable Organiser