We had a 13 day interrail trip round Europe planned with our two children aged 9 and 15. Not only had we never done anything like this before, we knew we would also have to constantly carry everything with us.
So how did we do it?
Here are our 5 top tips when packing for an interrail trip with kids.
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1. Make sure everyone has a decent bag
We knew space for luggage on the trains was limited and so from researching other people’s experiences we knew suitcases weren’t a great idea. We decided on rucksacks. The two adults had decent Osprey Rucksacks already and we had already purchased a Millets Rucksack for our daughter for a trip she had in the Summer, this was a bargain at only £20. We then got a good quality small North Face day sack for our 9 year old with padded straps and a chest strap (the chest strap makes a big difference as it stops it sliding around). Everyone was responsible for carrying their own ‘stuff’ (In the end I had the 9 year olds clothes but he had the ‘entertainment’).
2. Use compression packing cubes
I can’t recommend compression packing cubes enough. Having the contents of your rucksack divided into cubes means not only does it pack down better, it means you know where everything is. It also made the constant unpacking and packing easier. If you roll up clothes within the cubes they don’t crease too much!
- Keep everything organised: Say goodbye to suitcase clutter with 8 set compression packing cubes! Keep your clothes neatly organised in separate compression cubes for quick access, and no more rummaging through piles of clothing. On a 5-day island trip, with the purchase of excess souvenirs that my luggage couldn't fit, the large travel compression bag kept my clothes neat and made my journey easier.
- Pack more for the trip: With the spacious packing cubes compression with extra-large capacity, you can easily fit all your clothes for a 7 to 10-day trip. Each compression cube is adorned with clothing symbols to distinguish between tops, bottoms, and outerwear, so you can easily identify what you need. The cubes are made of waterproof material and easy to clean.
- Waterproof & Durable: Experience the unrivalled durability of our compression packing cubes, crafted from premium-grade, tear-resistant, dense 300D Oxford fabric and meticulously stitched by skilled tailors in our factory. Each zipper is rigorously tested before it leaves the production line. Bid farewell to fabric tears and broken zippers after mere weeks of use - choose long-lasting quality with our packing bags.
- 8 Set Compression Packing Cubes: Experience ultimate privacy and durability with our pack cube set, designed without visible meshes for additional privacy protection. Our cubes provide a secure and reliable storage solution for your belongings, as they eliminate the risk of fabric tearing through mesh dividers. And thanks to the clothing symbols, you can easily identify what's in each cube.
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Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Less is more!
You really don’t need a lot of clothes! For example, for the 9 year old for 13 days I packed:
7 pairs underwear
3 pairs socks (he mainly just wore Crocs!)
6 t-shirts
3 pairs shorts
1 pair joggers
1 thick fleece jacket
1 thin fleece
1 PacMac
1 pair trainers
1 pair crocs
We packed washing ‘sheets’ (we used Dr Beckmann Laundry sheets), and used these to wash t-shirts and underwear to keep us going. You dissolve them in water in your accommodation sink, and half a sheet does a sink full of washing and they work really really well. Keep them in a zip lock bag. It’s amazing how much you can dry overnight on a hotel heated towel rail!
Also can we just take a moment to appreciate how zip lock bags solve most travel issues. They are a must for every sort of travel!
4. Food!
Hungry kids are miserable kids. We took a stash of snacks with us and topped up at every opportunity from local supermarkets. Digestive biscuits travel surprisingly well and we had snacks such as fruit rolls, beef jerky, salami sticks etc. For lunches on trains we pretty much stuck to cheese slices, salami, rolls and croissants with fruit and added the odd cake treat along the way!
For more ideas of travel snacks check out our longer post on 36 ideas for travel snacks.
5. Entertainment
The train journeys were so much more relaxing than going by car or plane. We made sure everyone has earphones and charged devices (all the trains we went on had plugs so make sure you keep adapters and cables handy- not in the bottom of a rucksack!). Train Wi-Fi was patchy so make sure you download what you need before getting on the train, just in case!
We also packed a number of card based games, these were not only great for the train but also for when sitting down and waiting for dinner etc.
Our favourites are:
Uno Flip
Happy Families
Go Fish
Qwixx
We also love the YOTO and now have a travel version too.
- INSPIRES CREATIVE PLAY: Build independence & inspire imagination in kids from 3-12+. All content is safe & has been specially chosen & created with children in mind! No cameras. No mics. No ads.
- EASY TO SET UP & USE: Simply pop an Audiobook Card into the Player to play & remove to stop. Use the large dials to adjust the volume & tracks or control the device via the free App!
- MULTI-PURPOSE: Features a vivid pixel display to bring the audio to life, play sleep sounds, use as a bedtime storyteller with nightlight, an alarm clock with OK-to-wake function, a room thermometer, a portable Audio Player or use with headphones!
- UP TO 16HRS PLAYBACK: Enjoy up to 16hrs of screen-free entertainment per charge with the USB-C fast charge as well as 32GB internal memory for 600+ hours of offline listening!
- CONTENT THAT GROWS WITH KIDS' MINDS: Explore 1000+ cards of bestselling novels, music, activities, free podcasts, radio, soundscapes, timers or even create content with a Make Your Own card!
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
