A passport? Essential. A decent suitcase? Obviously. But when you’re travelling around Europe in 2026, your digital setup matters just as much as what’s in your carry-on. 

From navigating unfamiliar train stations to sharing holiday snaps, your phone does a lot of the heavy lifting while you travel. And if you’ve got EU roaming included in your plan, you can stay connected across Europe without hunting for café WiFi every five minutes. Here at O2, our customers can roam in 49 European destinations with up to 25GB of data at no extra cost on eligible plans.  

We’ve created the ultimate digital packing list to help you travel smarter, stay connected and avoid those “why didn’t I pack that?” moments. 

A little prep before you hop on your flight can save a lot of stress later on. 

Downloading key apps and documents ahead of time means you can save your data for the important things (like translating menus to make sure you order the right pizza). 

Before you leave, make sure you’ve got: 

• Boarding passes saved to your wallet app  

• Offline maps downloaded in Google Maps  

• Hotel bookings and train tickets saved to your device  

• Translation packs in Google Translate  

• Entertainment downloaded from apps like Netflix or Spotify  

It’s one of those small jobs that makes travelling feel a lot smoother once you arrive. 

Your phone battery always seems to drain faster when you’re travelling – probably because it’s doing everything at once. Maps, photos, music, messaging, restaurant bookings, payments… the list goes on. 

A lightweight power bank is one of the easiest ways to avoid running out of charge halfway through a city break. 

And while you’re at it, it’s worth making a few quick tweaks to help your battery last longer too: 

• Switch on Low Power Mode or Battery Saver  

• Reduce background app activity  

• Turn down screen brightness  

• Download content instead of streaming constantly  

• Avoid overheating your phone in direct sunlight  

Small changes can make a surprisingly big difference when you’re out all day exploring.  

Europe’s plug situation can still catch people out. Most countries use the standard two-pin European plug, but destinations like Switzerland and parts of Italy may vary slightly. 

A universal travel adapter keeps things simple, especially if you’re hopping between countries. 

It’s also worth throwing an extra charging cable into your bag. Cables have an uncanny ability to disappear the second you actually need them. 

One of the biggest travel upgrades? Being able to use your phone abroad like you do at home. 

With EU roaming included on our eligible plans, you can use your data, minutes and texts across Europe without worrying about surprise charges. That means: 

• Using maps while walking through new cities  

• Booking trains on the go  

• Messaging friends and family back home  

• Streaming playlists on long journeys  

• Uploading photos without waiting for hotel WiFi  

Just remember to check your roaming settings before you travel and keep an eye on your data usage if you’re heavily streaming or hotspotting. 

Sometimes when you’re travelling the inevitable happens. Flights get delayed, trains get crowded and you’re left stuck for entertainment.   

Downloading a few essentials before you travel can make long journeys feel much shorter: 

• Podcasts for flights and transfers  

• Playlists for road trips and train rides  

• TV episodes for downtime at the hotel  

• Ebooks for beach days or airport waits  

If you’re travelling with kids, this one becomes even more important. 

Travelling often means connecting to public WiFi networks in hotels, airports and cafés. Convenient? Yes. Secure? Not always. 

A few quick precautions can help protect your data while you travel: 

• Use strong passwords and biometric locks  

• Turn on Find My iPhone or Find My Device  

• Avoid accessing sensitive accounts on public WiFi  

• Back up your photos before you leave  

• Enable two-factor authentication where possible  

Hopefully, you’ll never need those security features, but you’ll be glad they’re there if you do. 

The best travel setups aren’t about packing loads of tech; they’re about living in the moment and creating memories to last a lifetime. 

A fully charged phone, reliable roaming and a few smart digital habits can make everything from navigating a new city to finding your train platform feel easier. 

Because when your phone’s sorted, travelling around Europe becomes a lot more seamless and a lot more fun.