From Scotland’s Castle Country to Segovia’s Alcázar, the majestic fortresses of old speak of a time gone by. Stepping within their walls you can almost imagine fairytales come to life. They immerse you in a world where you can imagine, if only for a moment, that dragons truly exist.
While castles can be found over the world, there is perhaps no better destination to find them than Europe. Whether your castle trip takes you east, west, or anywhere in-between, our castle trip packing list will have you well prepared for the journey. You’ll also find sections on what to wear on a castle trip, what NOT to bring, and FAQs.
Packing for a castles trip involves a fair amount of research ahead of time — after all, you will be going through a veritable travel gauntlet from plane, to train, to car, and then back again. You don’t want to be carrying around more luggage than you absolutely need to.
What you will find inside a castle differs depending on the history of the structure. By its most strict definition, castles refer to the medieval-style fortresses. But some palaces and other elaborate residences and even manor houses are often referred to as a castle.
Depending on how the castle was used, you might discover all sorts of things inside, from lengthy stone hallways to historic chapels, to spiral staircases winding up and up and up. Other castles that served more as palatial residences might take your breath away with their valuable artwork, gilded decor, and elaborate furnishings.
