Electricity in Europe: A Tourist’s Guide

Socket used in Europe

Plug used in Europe

Socket used in UK & Ireland

Plug used in UK & Ireland

So, you’re off to Europe. You’ve booked your flight, found the perfect AirBnB, and maybe even learned how to order wine in French without offending the waiter. But before you jet off, there’s one more crucial thing you need to think about: how to keep your beloved gadgets alive without sending them up in smoke.

Welcome to the electrifying world of European plugs and voltage—a subject so dull it could put a charging phone to sleep… except for the fact that doing it wrong might literally spark fireworks in your hotel room.

The Plug Parade: Who Uses What?

Europe (the mainland majority)

• Plug type: Type C (two round pins) or Type F (two round pins with side earth clips).
• Voltage: 220–240 volts, 50 Hz.
• Translation: Sleek, simple, and annoyingly incompatible with your American flat-prongs.

The UK & Ireland

• Plug type: Type G (three chunky rectangular pins).
• Voltage: 230 volts, 50 Hz.
• Translation: The plug looks big enough to double as a medieval weapon, but it’s very safe.

USA & Canada

• Plug type: Type A and B (two flat pins, sometimes with a grounding pin).
• Voltage: 110–120 volts, 60 Hz.
• Translation: Light, compact, but hopelessly underpowered in Europe without some help.

The Rest of the World

• Well… it’s a mess. South Africa, Australia, India, Japan, Brazil—everyone’s got their own idea of what electricity should look like. Moral of the story: Google before you go, unless you enjoy the smell of burnt plastic.

Do You Need an Adapter, a Converter, or Both?

• Adapter: A little gadget that changes the shape of your plug so it fits the outlet.
  • Think of it as a passport for your electronics—same inner workings, just dressed differently.
• Converter: This changes the voltage.
  • Europe runs on 220–240 volts. If your device only speaks 110 volts, plugging it in raw is like giving it 10 espressos—it won’t last long.

The Big Warning

If you’re from the USA and you’re thinking, “Hey, I’ll just bring my trusty hair dryer,”—don’t.

• Most American devices are 110 volts only, and they’ll either:
  1. Explode into a puff of sadness, or
  2. Trip the hotel’s circuit breaker, leading to awkward conversations in broken English.

Converters do exist, but they’re bulky, noisy, and not 100% reliable. Best advice: buy or borrow a European-friendly version of high-power devices (hair dryers, curling irons, etc.) when you’re there.

How to Check if Your Device Is Dual Voltage

Flip your charger, laptop brick, or power supply over and look at the fine print. Somewhere you’ll see something like:

• “Input: 100–240V, 50/60 Hz” → Congratulations, it’s dual voltage! All you need is a plug adapter.
• “Input: 110V, 60 Hz only” → Sorry, it’s not built for Europe. Don’t risk it.

Good news: Most modern phones, tablets, and laptops are dual voltage. Bad news: Grandma’s travel kettle probably isn’t.

Final Tips to Stay Current

1. Bring a universal adapter (the kind that looks like a chunky Transformer).
2. Pack a power strip if you’ve got lots of gadgets. (But make sure it’s rated for 240V!)
3. Leave the high-powered 110V devices at home. Europe sells hair dryers too, we promise.
4. Always check the fine print on your device before plugging in.

Travel is supposed to be an adventure—but preferably not the kind where you discover what an electrical fire smells like. With the right adapter (and a healthy respect for volts), you and your gadgets can explore Europe shock-free.