Pack smart,
not heavy
Everything you actually need for vanlife in Europe — and a few things everyone packs but never uses.
EV & electrical
The essentials that keep an electric van moving across Europe.
Type 2 charging cable (Mode 3)
Most public AC chargers in Europe use a tethered cable, but many require you to bring your own. A 5–7 m Type 2 cable covers almost every AC socket on the continent. Go for at least 16 A.
CHAdeMO or CCS adapter
Depending on your van's native port, carry an adapter for the connector standard you don't have built-in. In Southern and Eastern Europe especially, network coverage varies — an adapter expands your options significantly.
Schuko (Type F) camping cable
A Mode 2 cable with a domestic Schuko plug lets you charge from campsite hook-ups, farm sockets and marinas. Slow (2–3 kW) but can add 20–30 km overnight without needing a charger network.
Charging network RFID cards
Sign up for at least two charging networks before you leave: one pan-European (e.g. Chargemap Pass or IONITY) and one local to your destination. RFID cards are faster and more reliable than app payments at the charger.
Atleast 200Wp of solar panels on your roof
Want to have enough power for all your appliances? Make sure to carry atleast 200Wp panels with good batteries to even survive long cloudy periods.
Portable solar panel (100–200 W)
A foldable panel propped on the dashboard or roof can offset 5–15 kWh per day in southern Europe in summer. Not a primary range extender, but keeps your 12 V leisure battery topped up for lighting and USB devices.
12 V power inverter
A 300–600 W inverter plugged into the 12 V socket lets you run a laptop, mini-kettle or small appliances without draining your main traction battery. Useful for overnight stops away from mains power. But make sure your solar-panels and batteries can handle the extra load.
Sleeping & comfort
Good sleep is the foundation of good vanlife. Don't cut corners here.
All-season sleeping bag or duvet
A 3-season sleeping bag (rated to -5 °C) is the sweet spot for European vanlife. Alternatively, use a proper duvet with a fitted sheet — it's more comfortable for long trips and easier to wash.
Memory foam or self-inflating mattress
Even a 5 cm memory foam topper over a van platform transforms sleep quality. If space is limited, a self-inflating foam mat (not an air mattress — punctures ruin trips) is the next best option.
12 V electric blanket
In autumn and spring, a 12 V electric blanket uses far less energy than a diesel heater or running the van. Draws about 4–5 A and keeps you warm down to around 5 °C without heating the whole van.
Window insulation / blackout curtains
Reflectix cut-to-size panels or magnetic blackout curtains serve double duty: privacy at night and insulation in both summer heat and winter cold. Magnetic mounting makes them easy to swap in seconds.
12 V roof fan (Maxxair or Dometic)
The single biggest comfort upgrade for summer vanlife. A reversible roof fan pulls hot air out at night and keeps the van cool without air conditioning. Worth every cent in the Mediterranean.
Ear plugs & eye mask
Campsites can be noisy and summer nights short. A cheap pack of foam ear plugs and a decent eye mask weighs nothing and saves you on nights when the neighbours have different ideas about a reasonable bedtime.
Kitchen & food
You don't need a five-star galley. You need a setup that actually works on the road.
2-burner portable gas stove
A compact butane/propane stove is the backbone of van cooking. Look for folding models that store flat. Carry a universal gas adapter — canister threads differ between countries (EN417 is the standard in Europe).
12 V compressor fridge
A compressor fridge (not a thermoelectric cooler) is worth the investment. It runs on 3–5 A, keeps food at 4 °C even in 40 °C heat, and pays for itself in avoided food waste within weeks. 35–45 L is plenty for two people.
Lightweight cookware set
One small pot, one frying pan and a lid that fits both. Stainless steel is durable; titanium is lighter but pricey. Avoid non-stick — it scratches and you'll replace it every season. A cast-iron skillet is heavy but transforms camp cooking.
Dry goods storage containers
Airtight, stackable containers for pasta, rice, coffee and spices. Supermarket bags spill in corners. Uniform-sized square containers use space far more efficiently than round ones and double as prep bowls.
Water container (10–20 L)
A collapsible water container with a tap keeps cooking water accessible without lugging a jerrycan. Fill up at campsites, service stations and fountain taps — water is free across virtually all of western Europe.
Washing-up basin & biodegradable soap
A small folding basin lets you wash up anywhere without a sink. Use biodegradable dish soap so you can dispose of grey water responsibly — required in most wild camping and aires situations.
Tools & maintenance
Breakdowns happen. Being stranded is optional.
Basic tool kit
Adjustable wrench, screwdrivers (flat and cross), Allen keys, pliers and a hammer. These seven items fix 80% of roadside problems. Store in a small canvas roll or toolbox secured under the bed.
Jump-start cables or power pack
A lithium jump-start pack (400+ A peak) fits in a glove box and can start a diesel flat-battery van without another vehicle. Note: most EV vans have a small 12 V auxiliary battery for accessories — this is what dies, not the traction pack.
Tyre repair kit & compressor
A plug-and-sealant kit and a 12 V compressor handle most slow punctures. Know your van's tyre pressure — it's printed on the door jamb. Carry the compressor anyway: gravel tracks and campsites deflate tyres more often than roads do.
Head torch
Hands-free light for fixing something under the bonnet at midnight, or just finding your keys in the back of the van. A USB-rechargeable model means one less battery type to manage.
Fire extinguisher & smoke alarm
Required by law in some European countries and simply sensible everywhere. A 1 kg dry powder extinguisher mounted near the kitchen is sufficient. A battery smoke alarm costs under €5 and could save your life.
Levelling wedges
Almost no wild spot is perfectly flat. A pair of plastic levelling ramps lets you drive up until the bubble is centred and sleep without sliding off the mattress. Also reduces strain on the fridge compressor.
Health & first aid
Basic medical cover for common road trip situations.
First aid kit
Plasters in multiple sizes, sterile gauze, adhesive wound closure strips, antiseptic wipes, tweezers and a triangular bandage. Buy a pre-assembled kit and supplement with whatever you personally use. Replace anything used at each country.
Personal medication (3-month supply)
Carry any prescription medication in original packaging with a doctor's note translated into English. Add ibuprofen, antihistamine, oral rehydration salts and an antibiotic cream. Pharmacies are easy to find in Europe but prescriptions can be complex across borders.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Free for EU/EEA citizens and gives access to state healthcare at local rates across Europe. Not a substitute for travel insurance, but essential backup. UK citizens: get a GHIC instead — same coverage post-Brexit.
High-factor suncream & lip balm
Southern European summers are brutal. Vanlifers spend more time outdoors than most tourists and catch more incidental UV — cooking outside, hiking to wild spots, sitting on the roof. SPF 50 is not excessive.
Documents & admin
The paperwork that keeps you legal and covered in every country.
Passport & driving licence
Both in original (not copy) form. In many EU countries ID checks are rare, but when crossing into non-Schengen countries (UK, Serbia, Bosnia, etc.) you'll need your passport. Keep them in a secure, accessible spot — not buried in a bag.
Vehicle registration & insurance documents
Carry the original V5C (UK) or kentekenbewijs (NL) registration document, not a scan. Insurance must include European cover — check the green card dates. Some countries require the physical green card; a PDF on your phone is not always accepted.
Warning triangle & high-vis vest
Legally required in most European countries if you break down. Carry two triangles if travelling to Spain (one for behind the vehicle, one for in front). The high-vis vest must be inside the cab — not in the boot — so you can put it on before exiting.
Country-specific vignettes & toll tags
Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and Czechia (among others) require a motorway vignette sticker. Buy before crossing the border — fines for missing vignettes can be several hundred euros. France and Spain use toll booths; a Télépéage tag saves time.
Tech & navigation
Stay connected, stay oriented — even without signal.
European SIM card or roaming plan
EU roaming rules mean any EU SIM works across the bloc at no extra cost. Buy a high-data SIM in Germany or the Netherlands for the best value. Carry a backup SIM from a second network — signal varies wildly in mountain and rural areas.
Offline maps downloaded (OsmAnd)
Download every country you plan to visit before you leave home. OsmAnd is free for up to 7 maps and shows campsites, water sources and dump stations. Losing signal in the Pyrenees with no offline maps is entirely avoidable.
USB-C multi-port car charger
Keep phones, laptops and tablets charged on the move. A dual USB-C / USB-A charger with 30 W or more covers most devices simultaneously. Avoid cheap chargers — they create electrical interference in some van builds.
Laptop with offline content
Download series, films, Spotify playlists and e-books before leaving on long drives. Campsite Wi-Fi is notoriously slow. A laptop also doubles as a work device if you're working remotely — an increasingly common vanlife model.
Action cam or dash cam
A dash cam provides evidence in case of collision — surprisingly valuable in countries where insurance claims can be disputed. An action cam doubles as a wildlife and adventure recorder. Some insurers offer discounts for dash cam footage.
The golden rule: less is more
Every kilogram you add reduces your EV range and increases fuel costs. Pack for your actual trip, not a hypothetical worst case. After two weeks on the road you'll know exactly what you use — and what's been sitting untouched. The best vanlifers pack out at least one bag of stuff after the first trip and never miss it.