Everything you need to plan and prepare for your weekend adventure. This post contains our city break packing list essentials, tips on low-cast airlines and how exactly you fit it all in to carry on!
A city break is a relief for the full-time employee whose soul prefers to wander.
Though the 9-5 or family responbilities may prevent you from throwing life into a backpack and setting off into the world with no plan in particular (at least for the moment), the city break allows you to escape and step into a new way of being. A refreshing change from the daily humdrum. An insight in to the cultural tapestry of somewhere different.
Even if it's just for two or three days.
Whether it's a romantic couple's weekend in Paris, a hipster-tinged squad trip to Seville, or a spontaneous group get-a-way to the cheapest place you could find on Skycanner's 'Everywhere' option on a dreary Wednesday afternoon, there a few principles we think every city-breaker should follow when it comes to packing effectively, quickly, and lightly.
As always, we’re not sharing these principles because we haven’t made any mistakes; we’re sharing them because we’ve been able to make a bunch of mistakes when packing for our own European city breaks together over the years.
And the whole point is that we at Along Dusty Roads make the mistakes so that you don’t have to!
This is how to pack better for a city break, whatever your travel style, budget, or destination.
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It’s A Hand Luggage Only Affair
For some of you, this might be as obvious as saying the sky is blue, the grass is green.
However, it bears repeating as the hand luggage only philosophy underpins our whole mantra for effective city break packing. Here's why:
It saves you money as you don't have to pay for check-in luggage
It saves you time as you can breeze off the plane, out of the airport, and on the way to your hotel in under 45 minutes (thereby optimising your time to explore!)
It restricts the amount of crap you'll want to pack (your city break packing list should be quite minimal)
It will always be convenient for carrying up the stairs to your Airbnb, rolling across cobblestone backstreets, or navigating public transport
Everything you really need for a stylish, romantic, boozy, or adventurous city break can go in one small suitcase.
Choose The Right City Break Luggage
Choosing the wrong size or type of city break luggage is however where most people go wrong.
After several years of taking any old backpack or suitcase, we now have two city-break specific hand luggage only suitcases stored away under the bed.
We bought them specifically for the purpose - plus for when we go and visit our families - and we know they will fit the carry-on luggage dimensions of nearly every airline (at the time of writing at least!).
This is important because, for many of us, a city break usually means a flight with one of the budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air, or Easy Jet.
But not all airlines subscribe to same dimensions, allowances, and standards for carry-on luggage / cabin bags on short-haul European flights. We have included the standard cabin bag allowance for several popular European airlines below (correct as of March 2020):
EasyJet | Maximum size 56 x 45 x 25cm, including handles and wheels + 1 small handbag/laptop bag to fit under seat. No weight limit (you must be able to lift into overhead locker)
Ryanair | Maximum size 55 x 40 x 20cm, including handles and wheels. Max weight 10 kgs. Only guaranteed to bring on board if Priority fare is purchased. All passengers can bring one small personal bag (40 x 20 x 25cm) to fit under seat.
British Airways | Maximum size 56 x 45 x 25cm, including handles and wheels. Max weight 23 kgs plus 1 small handbag/laptop bag to fit under seat.
Wizz Air | Maximum size 55 x 40 x 23 cm, including handles and wheels. Max weight 10 kgs. Only guaranteed to bring on board if Priority fare is purchased. All passengers can bring one small personal bag (40 x 20 x 25cm) to fit under seat.
Jet2 | Maximum size 56 x 45 x 25cm, including handles and wheels. Max weight 10 kgs. All passengers can bring one small personal bag (40 x 20 x 25cm) to fit under seat.
As you'll know, budget airlines have the strictest restrictions on dimensions and weight for carry-on, and are much more stringent on checking for both of these before you board. If you fall foul of them by having a carry-on bag that's too large, too overstuffed, or too heavy, then you are more likely than ever to now be made to pay a hefty fee to either remove items, pay for the extra weight, or check the bag into the hold before boarding for a hefty additional charge.
That is the very reason why they have gauges and personnel to check bag sizes before you go through security and before you board!
These days, everyone knows that it is not uncommon to be asked to weigh your bag or put it in the 'sizing check' just before boarding - and because we’ve had a decade or so to get to grips with it, none of us really have complaints if we have to pay extra.
Knowing the game, and knowing the rules, is part and parcel of the experience of booking a cheap flight for a city break.
And we also know that it’s a reason the flight ticket was so bloody cheap in the first place!
That’s why, for frequent travellers, it makes sense to invest in a lightweight, wheeled suitcase which you are certain meets the standard carry-on luggage dimensions for all the city break centric airlines. From the cabin bag information we shared above, it’s hopefully clear that it’s pointless buying a lovely suitcase which is fine for the upcoming British Airways flight but won’t be allowed as hand luggage on the future Ryanair one.
It’s good practice to know the specific allowances and weight permissions before each and every flight, but trust us when we say it is so much easier to pack when you know that your bag is the right size for Ryanair, EasyJet, and British Airways!
Tip | The only time where a small backpack or daypack is better for a city break, in our opinion, is when you are only spending a night or two, bringing few toiletries or outfits, don't want to bring anything home, and lean towards being super minimal in your packing. Or you’re that bloke on that stag-do.
Keep Reading | How to Travel Like a Boss on Europe’s Low Cost Airlines
Check The Weather Forecast
Spain isn't always hot. It does rain in the south of France. Poland gets really, really brilliant summers.
Check the weather forecast a couple of days beforehand (we've found that doing it much further in advance is pretty pointless) to work out whether you need to pack for rain, shine, wind, or a combination of them all. Being able to leave a chunky jumper at home frees up SO much space in your carry-on.
Regardless of the wether forecast, it always pays to bring a light jumper / sweater layer or a versatile hoodie, and remember that you need to pack for the weather when you come back HOME too!
We have found The Weather Channel app to be the most useful and reliable option, although there are a bunch out there.
Keep Reading | These Are The Best Travel Apps
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Pack Outfits, Not Clothes
This is biggest guaranteed space-saver in your city break suitcase.
A city break in Europe means you shouldn't dress like you're heading up the Inca Trail or out on an African safari - although this is far too common an approach by some tourists (including Emily's dad).
Instead, you want to be comfortable, you want to be stylish, you want to be dressed to explore a cosmopolitan and cultural city.
You don’t, in short, want to look like a complete tourist.
Our general advice is to choose three or four outfits to cover the following common situations on any city break:
1. For the both airport + plane journeys
2. For the first day exploring.
3. For the second day exploring.
4. For a night out / restaurant etc (depends on your style, look, and plans))
5. Spare t-shirt or vests.
6. Pyjamas.
If you know you’re not going to fancy restaurants or doing anything active, then just substitute in and out accordingly.
Versatility in the clothes you bring is also key to a great city break packing list, and you should think of your packing plan as a way to create a mini-capsule wardrobe. Ideally you want to pack items that you can mix and match, in the same colour palette so that everything in your suitcase ‘goes’ and can be worn interchangeably. You may love that pair of green shoes, but if they only really go with that gorgeous but expensive top you bought in the January sales, they’re probably not the best thing to bring.
For Emily, onesies, jumpsuits / romper suits, and dungarees are bloody brilliant at covering all bases, and being used both for travelling, exploring the city, its museums, or sites, as well as drinking at bars or eating out. A hoodie, light jumper, or a denim jacket is a good catch-all piece for men and women to also cover all those scenarios.
Travel Tip | Packing cubes are a great option for compartmentalising a suitcase and your outfits, plus allow you to keep clean clothes separate from dirty ones on the way home. We have been using these ones by ProPacking Cubes since 2016.
Bring No More Than Two Pairs of Shoes!
Shoes take up far too much space and weight in your suitcase. So, again, versatility and practicality for your city break plans are key. A pair of converse, for example, are comfortable for the airport, the plane, the exploring, but can also look pretty cool on a night out.
So, when it comes to shoes, you only need:
1 x comfy pair of trainers / sandals
1 x additional pair to suit the destination and your travel style. For example, if you're foodie and heading to fancy restaurants then a pair of heels or more formal shoes may be best, but if you're more of dive bar sort of couple (hello!), then take some boots or whatever.
For women, you could get by with adding in a lightweight and very small pair of sandals or slip-ons if you have room at the end.
And remember that Birkenstocks are the king of the utility shoe for any traveller looking for comfort, practicality, a dash of style, and a lightweight packable shoe for exploring somewhere hot.
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Get Your Single Toiletry Bag Sorted In Advance
It's surprising how frequently we're held up in a security line at the airport because people thought they could smuggle through a big bottle of perfume or moisturiser.
And then they get really, really angry at the security personnel for not letting them take it through.
The rules on airport / hand luggage liquids have been around for a decade now, and we should all be used to travelling within their restrictions. As a referesher. they are:
- All toiletries must be in containers of 100 mls or less
- They must be packed in a single, transparent resealable plastic bag (usually 20 cms x 20 cms)
- All toiletries must be able to fit into the sealed plastic bag.
- A passenger is only entitled to bring ONE toiletry bag in their carry-on luggage.
- A passenger is only entitled to bring ONE litre of toiletries in total in their carry-on luggage.
- It must be possible to seal the plastic bag whilst all toiletries are within it.
For women, it's really important to note that any liquid-based make up will also need to go in the plastic bag. this includes lipstick, foundation, lip gloss, mascaras etc), although you can keep all and any powders within your suitcase.
However, if you're a couple of group of friends travelling on a city break, it’s a good idea to try and share the toiletries around before going through security to maximise what each person can bring in their carry-on bag (for example, some of Emily's toiletries always make it into Andrew's plastic bag as she brings just a bit more make-up than him).
Travel Tip | Travel size toiletries are a waste of plastic and a waste of money - find out why you never need to buy travel size toiletries again.
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Pack A Daypack
Aside from your carry-on suitcase, you’ll also need something to carry your water, notebooks, cameras, jumper etc whilst exploring the city streets. However, the carry-on luggage restrictions of airlines now make it difficult to bring on a daypack in addition to your suitcase.
Our solution is to pack a simple canvas tote bag in our carry-on: it folds up super small, weighs practically nothing, and is stylish and functional for a few days roaming somewhere like Rotterdam or Gothenburg.
However, if you prefer to have a backpack for comfort or convenience, then the best next best option is to bring a foldable & packable daypack rucksack like this one. Like the canvas bag, it folds down into a really small pouch and can then simply be kept in your suitcase during the plane journey and taken out at the other side.
In all honesty, although there are benefits to those foldable daypacks (and we own one, but mostly for hiking destinations), we both prefer to go with a canvas bag each or just pack a little less so that we can lay our favourite city break daypack flat - this one by Fjallraven for Emily, and this bright yellow one from Millican for Andrew’s - on top in our carry-on suitcase, and pull it out on the other side. We always have to take a camera and some lenses out with when exploring, so we also prefer it from a security standpoint.
Curate Your Electronics
Speaking of electronics…
For most city breakers, you’ll be able to strip your cables and gadgets down to a minimum. After all, you want the tech to enhance your trip and time in a destination, rather than detract or distract from it. Everyone will need the following:
| Mobile phone
| Phone Charger
| Small Battery Pack (optional)
| Universal Plug Converter
| Headphones
Bringing a universal plug converter, rather than a country or region specific one, means that we know they will work anywhere in the world, stopping us buying multiple overpriced converters at the airport.
You could also squeeze in a tablet into the electronics mix, but we’d recommend against bringing a laptop for your city break (unless you need it for work).
If you’re a photographer, then you will have to make certain compromises on space and weight in order to bring your camera body, lenses, and any chargers / spare batteries. As we always travel everywhere with our blogging + camera kit, which takes up half the space of one of our suitcases, this is why we’ve had to become much better and organised at efficiently packing our outfits and toiletries down to perfectly sensible and sensibly perfect amount over the last few years.
Read More | How To Take Better Travel Photos
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Pack Two Nights Before
When we’ve booked a cheap flight, the likelihood is that it will involve a very early departure time from the airport.
And that 6.45 a.m. take-off time means leaving the flat in the wee small hours of the morning.
Our traditional approach was to just put it off until the night before. However, this always resulted in one of us (hi Emily!) stomping around declaring that none of her clothes fit anymore or discovering that the favourite onesie was in the laundry basket.
It also meant we’d stay up far too late packing, only get a few hours sleep, and then not be in the best of conditions for the first day of exploring a new place.
So, the best change we made (which we aren’t always able to stick to), was to pack for a city break two nights before we leave.
This results in the following benefits:
You can lay everything out and have your strop early
You still have a day to do some laundry
You have time to pick up anything you don’t have
You can get an early, relaxed night before you fly
There’s almost no stress involved.
By laying everything out in one place a couple of nights before - clothes, toiletries, and tech - it also means you can calmly work out whether it all fits or not…
Cut Down The Weight!
You really don’t want to get bummed by excess luggage charges.
As mentioned above, the carry-on luggage weight allowance is typically around 10 kgs on budget airlines. If you follow the above tips on shoes, clothes, and tech, plus our advice on packing your carry-on toiletries bag, then you should be able to pack everything for 8-9 kilos max.
If you’re still struggling, then there are several techniques we use and recommend to bring that extra weight over with you:
Wear the bulkiest and heaviest items on the plane journeys. There have been several instances where Andrew has worn three layers at an airport with extra shoes stuff down his trousers when we’re going hand luggage only for longer trips. If you're short on space or trying to make weight, tie your jumper around your waist, wear the Instagram hat, put on that extra t-shirt, or stuff your underwear into your pockets*.
Carry anything heavy in your pockets or on your person when boarding; if it's a book, headphones, or a tablet, then that pretty easy to get past the check-in desk. Simply transfer them back to your case later.
If you’re like us, and usually able to fit everything in your carry on, but you know that if they were ever to weigh it you’d be screwed, do your absolute best to make it look as if you’re bag is light as a feather - especially around the check-in desk and when waiting to board.
*If you're contemplating this though, it probably means you have actually packed too much in the first place.
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Always Leave Spare Room in the Suitcase
Across multiple long-term backpacking trips, we overpacked. In the last three years though, we've really nailed a happy medium between minimalistic and realistic packing.
Thankfully, this allows us a little bit extra space in our luggage on short-haul trips or city breaks to actually bring HOME a souvenir or two! For us, this usually falls into a coffee table cook or photography book, or a few little unique items to decorate our flat.
After all, it's nice to make your personal space have little mementoes and memories from the places you've travelled. It won't always be possible however if you're with a really restrictive budget airline, and packing for a miserly weight allowance.
But, if you follow the above principles, you should have a kilo or two spare and a bit of space to take something home for yourself, friends, or family.
Just don't try and take pack three cans of sardines from Porto like we did - the airport security staff there must have a load of that to take home each night!
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Remember Your Refillable Water Bottle
Our final piece of advice to complete your packing process helps you to save money, save the planet a little bit, and stay well hydrated.
We haven’t bought a bottle of water at the airport for years, and we also haven’t had to buy a bottle of water on a city break for year either.
The simple trick is packing our own refillable water bottles - and we’e written this short post to let you know why it’s essential to do and how it’s not going to get thrown out at airport security checks! Read it HERE.
Lastly,, if you’re going to be staying in a hostel dorm rather than an Airbnb or hotel, make sure to bring your own padlock for the security locker! We have been using this 10-digit padlock on all our travels for the last few years, and it’s a good ‘un (plus it means you don’t have to worry about losing the key as you’re stumbling back from a great night out).
