City break packing list
Comfortable shoes, a day pack, tickets and chargers: the list for a few days in a city, from the museum to dinner.
City break
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Combine it with a second list
A trip is often more than one list. Add a second one: matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
Packing light for a few days in a city
A city break rarely lasts more than a few days, and you spend most of it on foot. So pack in a way that lets you carry everything up the stairs to your room yourself. Clothes in a few colours are easy to combine: jeans or other trousers, a few T-shirts, a jumper and a jacket that also keeps out the rain.
For the evening, one slightly smarter top and a pair of shoes to match are often enough. Wear the heaviest things, such as your jacket and sturdier shoes, on the journey. That leaves room in your bag for whatever you buy in the city.
What goes in your day pack
In a city you are often out from morning to evening without going back to your accommodation in between. So your day pack needs a water bottle, a snack, a power bank and charging cable, sunglasses, a small umbrella and tissues. A tote bag takes whatever you buy along the way.
Download the city map to your phone for offline use beforehand, so you can find your way without a signal and save mobile data abroad. Keep tickets for museums, concerts and public transport on your phone and as a copy, in case the battery runs out.
What people often forget on a city break
What goes missing most often are the things you use at home without thinking: the adapter for foreign sockets, the power bank for a long day out, blister plasters for all those miles on pavements. Earplugs belong on the list too, because city centres are rarely quiet at night, and a sleep mask helps when the room never gets fully dark.
Bookings are just as easy to forget. Popular museums, viewpoints and restaurants are often fully booked at weekends or only open with a time slot. Book what matters to you a few days ahead and keep the confirmations in one place where you can find them quickly.
Combining, and after the trip
If you are flying with hand luggage only, combine the city break with the hand luggage template, and if children are coming, with holiday with kids. Matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice. The “Before leaving” template takes care of home: windows, heating, plants.
After the trip, cross off what you did not need and add whatever was missing. Saved as your own template, your list is ready for the next city.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for a city break?
For a few days in a city you usually need less than you think: clothes that mix and match, one pair of comfortable shoes, a jacket that copes with rain and a top for the evening. Add your wash bag, chargers, a power bank and your travel documents. More important than the amount is a day pack that holds everything for a long day on foot.
Is hand luggage enough for a city break?
For a long weekend, often yes. If your clothes mix and match, your liquids are travel-sized and you wear your jacket and sturdier shoes on the journey, one piece of hand luggage is usually plenty. How big and heavy it may be, and what goes in the liquids bag, is set by your airline and airport. Check before you fly, as the rules differ.
What shoes are best for a city break?
Shoes you have already broken in and can walk in for hours on cobbles and pavements. New shoes are one of the most common causes of blisters on a city break. Trainers or comfortable shoes with a cushioned sole work well, plus a second pair for the evening or rainy days if you like. Blister plasters in your bag help if something rubs anyway.
How do I protect myself from pickpockets in a city?
Keep money, cards and ID close to your body, in a neck wallet or an inside pocket rather than a back pocket. In your day pack, valuables belong in the compartment that sits against your back. Only carry as much cash as you need for the day and leave copies of your travel documents at your accommodation. Take extra care on crowded trains and at famous sights.
How it works
“Start with this list” opens the template – once you have signed in with your email address.
Add more templates, such as “Before leaving” for the water, the heating and the plants. Nothing appears twice.
Create the list, tick it off, archive it after the trip – and pack it again next time.
Good to know
- Can I change the list?
- Yes. Your list is yours: add, rename, move and delete items. The template stays as it is.
- Does it cost anything?
- No. No subscription, no ads. All you need is an email address, no password.