What to Pack on a City Break

Photo: Brandless

2020 is the year of the city break! Are you already kicking off your New Year’s resolution to travel more, and heading to a new city this weekend? A city break can be tough to pack for. You’ll find yourself in a new city, perhaps with different language or culture. But, it won’t be for long, and a weekend in the city is usually similar in most places — dinners out, drinks in cool bars, visiting the sights, trying to walk as much as you can, and perhaps braving the public transport system. Sounds easy right?

If you’re packing light for a weekend city break, here’s what you need to consider to minimise your items and maximise your weekend.

1. It’s all about the jacket

Pack the perfect jacket for the weather you’re expecting this weekend. If you’re visiting Spain in the summer, lucky you, otherwise there’s nothing worse than being cold when you’re spending most of your time on the go. You’ll spend a decent amount of time outside, whether you’re bar hopping or walking the entire city to take in some culture, so you’ll be in this jacket a lot!

Additionally, try to pack another cover-up that can change an outfit. This might be a cute cardigan, a jean jacket, or even a blazer. You can throw it on in the evening over your all-day outfit to look and feel instantly refreshed. Two outfits in one!

Photo: Brandless

2. Jeans and Trousers: Consider what you’re wearing on the bottom

Jeans are a staple in my wardrobe. When I’m away for a quick city break, I’ll usually have one pair that I’m wearing to travel, and another one for day two. By wearing one of your pairs, you’ll free up space in your luggage. Try to bring two very different bottoms so it’s obvious that you’ve changed; bringing two pairs of similar blue jeans on a short trip is pointless. If you’re taking photos throughout your trip, you’ll want it to be clear that you’ve changed!

3. How are you doing for shoes?

You’ll want to aim for two pairs of shoes for a city break. One that you can wear all day long and walk 20 km in (without blisters!), and another that are a little bit dressier which can take your outfit from day to night. Most restaurants will overlook a semi-casual outfit if you’ve got nice shoes on, so you can wear the same clothes you had on during the day, layer on your bonus jacket or blazer, and change your shoes. Voila!

Photo: freestocks.org

4. Don’t forget the accessories

You can get away with very few clothing options on a city break if you bring a handful of accessories to change up the look of your outfits. Things like headbands, scarves, chunky necklaces, and bold earrings will help mix things up.

5. Bonus Items

If you can get through this weekend without having to shower twice a day, you’re winning! I like to bring dry shampoo with me to freshen up my hair in the evening. This is an easy way to look like you’ve just washed your hair. I also recommend throwing in one extra shirt after you’ve finished packing, you never know when you’ll get spaghetti sauce on your shirt or beer poured down your back in a bar.

If you can find the right balance between packing functional, comfortable, and presentable items, you won’t have to worry about anything except understanding the wine list. Enjoy exploring on your next city break!