City breaks are about walking, and walking is easier with less stuff. This list fits in a cabin bag for 3–5 days. Want to tick things off? Use our free interactive packing list. It saves your progress in your browser and prints nicely.
Heads-up: this page contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Documents & money
- Passport or ID (check if you need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation for your destination, e.g. ESTA for the US)
- Travel insurance details, saved offline
- Bank card that works abroad without high fees + a backup card in a different place
- Booking confirmations offline (hotel, tickets with timed entry)
Tech
- Phone + charger + power bank
- Plug adapter (the US uses type A/B; most of continental Europe uses type C/F)
- An eSIM for data, so you avoid roaming fees and don’t have to hunt for a SIM shop on arrival
Clothes (for 4 days)
- Comfortable walking shoes that you’ve already worn in. This is the single most important item. You’ll easily walk 15,000+ steps a day.
- 3–4 tops, 2 bottoms, 1 warmer layer
- A light rain jacket (Amsterdam!) or a sun hat (Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome in summer)
- A scarf or shawl: useful for covering shoulders in churches in Rome and Barcelona
Small things that save your trip
- Refillable water bottle. Many European cities have free drinking fountains.
- A small day bag that closes (pickpockets in busy tourist areas)
- Blister plasters
- A pen, for immigration forms and for City Quests
Before you go
Check the weather for your dates, download offline maps, and book anything with timed entry in advance. Plan your days with our city guides.