City break packing list for a weekend away

A city break is two or three days of walking, eating and looking at things. You will be on your feet more than anywhere else, you will go from a museum to dinner without going back to your room, and you will carry a bag all day. That is what shapes the packing list.

The aim is one small bag, a few clothes that work in more than one setting, and shoes you can walk in for hours.

Think in days and in hours

For a weekend, two or three days of clothes are enough. For a long weekend, add one. Anything past that and you are packing for laundry day, not for the trip.

Then think in hours. A city day often runs from 8 in the morning to midnight, with no stop at the room. You need clothes that are fine for a coffee, a gallery and a decent restaurant, and a day bag that holds what you need to stay out.

Shoes come first

Shoes make or break a city break. Cobbles, stairs, long walks between neighbourhoods and hours in a gallery all fall on your feet.

• Wear the comfortable pair on the plane or train. It saves space and means they are broken in.
• Pack no more than one other pair, and only if you really need a dressier option.
• Choose by the surface. Flat, cushioned soles for stone streets; waterproof if rain is likely.
• Never bring new shoes. The first day is not the time to find the blisters.

Clothes

Pick one colour range and stick to it. Everything matches, so a few pieces give you a lot of outfits.

• Three or four tops, with a mix of casual and a little smarter
• Two bottoms, one dark and one that goes with everything
• A light layer you can wear indoors or over a dress
• A jacket that suits the weather and that you can wear to dinner
• One outfit for a nicer evening, if you plan one
• Underwear and socks for each day, plus one spare
• Sleepwear

Check the forecast a few days out, and pack for it, not for the average. A compact umbrella or a packable rain shell earns its space in most cities.

Dress codes also matter. Many churches, cathedrals and some other religious sites ask for covered shoulders and knees. A light scarf or shirt in your day bag handles that. If you aren't sure what will be expected, look at the site's own visitor page.

Day bag

Your day bag is the piece you will use most. It should be comfortable, close to your body and hard to open from behind.

• A small cross-body bag, a small backpack worn on the front in crowds, or a sling
• A refillable water bottle
• A charger and a power bank, since maps and photos drain a phone quickly
• Your phone, a card, a little cash and a copy of your ID, kept separate from the rest where you can
• A small packet of tissues and hand sanitiser
• A foldable tote for shopping
• Plasters, in case of blisters

Pickpockets work in crowded places like stations, markets and the metro. Keep valuables in an inside pocket, and don't leave your phone on a table.

Toiletries and the little things

A city break usually means a hotel or apartment with a hairdryer and towels, so pack less.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant, and any medication you take
• Skincare and contact lens items you use daily, in small containers
• A phone charger, a spare cable and a plug adapter for where you are going
• Headphones
• A small bag for dirty clothes

If you only take hand luggage, the limits on liquids are set by airports, so check them before you pack. Packing toiletries for a flight has a simple method.

Documents and money

• Passport or ID, and the booking details for your stay
• Tickets for trains, flights and anything you booked, saved offline on your phone
• Travel insurance details
• A card that works abroad, and a small amount of cash for places that don't take cards
• A copy of your passport stored apart from the original

Cities are easier when you can use your phone offline. Download the map of the area and save your reservations before you leave the stay. Travel offline goes through how.

What to leave at home

• Large cameras and extra lenses, unless photography is the point of the trip
• A second book, a laptop or anything you will not use
• Heavy jewellery
• A big umbrella. A small one folds into your bag.
• A suitcase you cannot carry up four flights of stairs

Many city centres have old buildings with no lift and narrow staircases. A soft bag or a small case is easier than a big wheeled one.

Plan for the time you will actually have

With two or three days, the packing list is only part of the preparation. Choose a handful of things you want to see, and book the ones that need a ticket or a table. Plan a weekend city break shows how to fit a plan to a short trip, so you spend more time looking and less time deciding.

Where to go next

Pack the night before and leave out the clothes you will wear to travel. In the morning, check your phone, keys, passport and charger, and then go. If you want to reuse this list next time, a packing list that knows where you're going explains how to keep the lists that worked.