What to pack for France in April

Lows around 43°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Lows of 43°F mean a beanie blocks wind chill on urban walks.

UV index of 6.4 burns skin even on cloudy April days.

Glare off wet pavement after 10 rain days needs polarized lenses.

Insects emerge in April; 70% humidity brings them out.

Urban exploration means twisted ankles and minor cuts happen.

This country runs on Type C or E. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Daylight runs 13.7 hours; a power bank stretches that to evening.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Fits overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line.

Urban exploration over 13.7 daylight hours needs a daypack for water and layers.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Wind at 18 km/h cuts through layers around the neck.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel to France means bags move through many hands.

Ten rain days wrinkle clothes fast. Cubes compress them and separate clean from damp.

Washing by hand in hotel sinks leaves detergent residue. Travel packets rinse clean.

Lows around 43°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Airports and trains run constant announcements. Blocking them lets you rest between days.

April highs stay at 61°F, so a packable vest fills the gap between seasons.

The sun at 6.4 UV index damages lips as fast as it does skin.

Tap water is safe here, but hand sanitizer covers the gaps.

Insect bites itch worse than sunburn, and scratching spreads infection.

Multiple devices need charging in one outlet guesthouses.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Crossing into France requires your passport at checkpoints.

International flights mean luggage passes through baggage systems.

A hanging toiletry bag uses vertical space in small urban hotel bathrooms.

Train noise through urban France runs all night. Quiet sleep comes from blocking it.