Hygge Travel | Things to Help You Feel Cozy On the Road (and at Home)

Hygge: the Danish word for a mood of coziness with feelings of wellness and contentment.

Long before I learned what hygge is, cozy was my baseline. I prefer that my surroundings are always comfortable and cozy at all times. Soft clothes and blankets, warm layers, soft lighting, and delicious food and drinks – I like the works!

That need extends to my travels, too. Once I came to the realization that I need hygge travel as much as hygge life, there was no turning back.

Beyond bringing the mindset of slowing down and mindfulness with me while I travel, I also have a number of things I pack for nearly every trip to help create that cozy, hygge feeling on the road.

1. Sweatshirt or Hoodie

Never underestimate a great sweatshirt or hoodie. I always travel with a hoodie as part of my healthy travel kit and it’s usually a part of my designated travel day outfit. It’s definitely a necessity for hygge travel.

Here are some cute travel-themed hoodies and sweatshirts:

• Let’s Travel, Super Soft and Cozy Hoodie
• Airplane Mode Sweatshirt
• World Map Sweatshirt
• Retro Sunset Travel Sweatshirt

2. Blanket Scarf

I cannot sing the praises of a good blanket scarf enough. They help keep the cold off the back of your neck, and they can also be a blanket on overnight bus rides, a pillowcase on questionable hostel pillows, or something to sit on for a picnic in the park.

It can also add a splash of color to an otherwise monochrome capsule travel wardrobe. They are the Swiss Army knife of scarves.

I can’t remember where I got my blanket scarf pictured above, but here are a few options:

• Buffalo Plaid Blanket Scarf
• Oversized Tartan Scarf
• Pashmina Travel Shawl

3. Thick Socks (as Slippers)

A pair of thick wool socks won’t take up a lot of room in your luggage, and they are guaranteed to keep your toes warm on chilly nights. It’s worth having a pair or two of these while traveling.

I wear mine just around the house (or hostel or hotel), just as I would wear a pair of slippers. I prefer wool because they can be worn several times before needing a wash, but a pair of fleece or fuzzy socks will be just as comfy and warm.

See if you like any of these cozy socks:

• Smartwool Hiking Crew Socks >> these are the ones I use!
• Acorn Versafit Socks
• UGG Fleece Lined Socks

4. Books

Crack open a book (or pull one up on your Kindle) all about coziness while you get cozy! These hygge and Nordic lifestyle books will help you learn how to incorporate hygge into your travels and everyday life. Buy a hard copy, download it to your Kindle, or check to see if they are available on Kindle Unlimited.

• The Little Book of Hygge
• The Secret Joy of Hygge
• The Nordic Theory of Everything

5. Audiobooks

There is nothing like settling in for a long bus ride (aka wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket scarf) with a great story to listen to.

The seven books in the Harry Potter series provide over 116 hours of entertainment, and it’s one of the most epic stories of all time. You can borrow audiobooks from your local library and listen to them using the Libby app. If you’d rather own them, try Audible.

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

6. Hygge Travel Playlist

I’ve curated a list of some of my favorite relaxing, sometimes heady, songs. Each one helps me imagine that I’m wrapped in a blanket, watching a wood-burning stove in a log cabin somewhere deep in the woods.

A sampling of songs:

• Lightning by Mark Diamond
• Skinny Love by Bon Iver
• Anchor by Novo Amor
• Open Road by Roo Panes
• Call It Dreaming by Iron & Wine
• The Book of Love by The Magnetic Fields

I’m always adding to this playlist, so make sure to follow it on Spotify to automatically get updates! If you like that one, check out my cozy playlists (one for each season) and my cozy Christmas playlist, too!

7. Earbuds

A great pair of earbuds are a necessity for my kind of hygge travel! I pop them in when I get to my seat on the plane to listen to my Hygge Playlist and forget where I am for a little while. I’m a big fan of the Anker and Skull Candy brands.

• Anker Soundcore Wireless Earbuds
• Skullcandy Wireless Earbuds >> these are the ones I use!
• Skullcandy Flat Cord Earbuds (no longer available)

Read More: 70+ Super Helpful Stocking Stuffers For Travelers

8. Notebooks

The practice of writing or journaling while enjoying a warm cup of tea is very hygge.

I bring an empty notebook with me to each new place I travel to. I write down everything about where I went, who I met, and the foods I tried. I share every thought and emotion about my adventure – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Practical things such as expenses or addresses are also handily noted inside the notebooks that are always within reach when I travel.

• Moleskine Cahiers Journals >> my personal fave!
• Vintage Map Notebooks

9. Games

Hygge is all about gathering with friends and loved ones for a cozy night in. Conjure up some hygge while you’re traveling by gathering a group of hostel goers in the common area for a game night. A deck of cards is all you really need. Or portable versions of your game night favorites might be available.

• Deck of Cards
• Cantankerous Cats
• The Hygge Game

>> I met the creator of Cantankerous Cats’ at a Philadelphia hostel. After talking for a while, they gifted me a set of his game. Thanks!

10. A Travel Coffee Mug

Coffee-lovers will agree with me on this. A great travel mug is a must for busy travel schedules. I try, but I don’t always have time to sit down at a coffee shop to drink my coffee at my leisure. This one keeps your coffee warm for hours, has a locking mouthpiece, and fits

I often travel during the shoulder and off-seasons, so the weather ranges from chilly to very cold. I always pack a travel coffee mug so I can take my coffee or tea with me on the go. Plus, it cuts back on my single-use plastic waste. This Contigo Stainless Steel Travel Mug is one thing I can never travel without.

11. Hot Drinks

Speaking of hot drinks, I always bring a stash of my favorite teabags when I travel. Sometimes I even bring a packet or two of hot cocoa, my favorite before-bed treat.

There is almost always a way to get hot water no matter what kind of accommodation you stay at. For instance, most hotels come with an in-room coffee maker these days. Just run the machine without coffee to heat up the water.

Or get hot water from a coffee machine in the lobby, restaurant, or bar of a hotel. Hostel kitchens usually come equipped with a kettle or at least a pot to boil water.

These are my favorite portable hot drinks:

• Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea + Fruit Tea Samplers
• Land O’Lakes Hot Cocoa

12. Cooking Supplies

Set a cozy scene in the kitchen of the Airbnb or hostel you’re staying at with the aroma of a lovingly made meal. Taking the time out of a busy travel schedule to cook a meal while you travel is so hygge. Pack one of these travel spice kits to be sure you can add flavor to all your meals.

Whether you choose to fill travel-size spice containers yourself or get a pre-made kit, you’re all set! Spices don’t add a lot of weight to your luggage, so it’s a win-win.

• Travel Size Mexican or Italian Flavor Spice Kit
• Waterproof Spice Rack (fill yourself)
• Fill Yourself Go Anywhere Spice Kit

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