Everything you need for a perfect city trip — and nothing you don't. Comfortable shoes, smart evening clothes, and the tech to navigate like a local.
City breaks are the trip type most people overpack for. You don't need as many outfit changes as you think, you don't need a large suitcase, and you probably don't need that extra pair of shoes. What you do need: comfortable walking shoes that you've already broken in, a compact bag for days out, offline maps, and one smart outfit for a nice dinner. This checklist is deliberately minimal — because city breaks reward travelling light.
The things experienced city break travellers wish someone had told them before their first trip.
This is the single most important thing on this list. New shoes plus 15,000 steps on day one equals blisters that ruin the rest of your trip. Wear your city shoes on long walks at home for at least two weeks before you travel.
City weather is unpredictable. A compact folding umbrella weighs almost nothing and takes up minimal space. The alternative — getting soaked between metro stops — is miserable.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both support offline map downloads. Download the city before you fly. This means you can navigate without data roaming, which matters more than people think in underground areas, historic districts, and foreign networks.
Unless you have a specific formal event, one smart casual outfit covers dinner at any restaurant a city break tourist is likely to visit. You don't need three.
The full city break packing list, broken into categories. Use our free interactive tool to check items off, add your own, and export to any format.
The most frequently asked questions about packing for a city break.
We are working on a beautifully designed printable version of the City Break packing list. City Break PDF
Roamers List has personalised packing lists for all 9 trip types.