Tool

Packing List

Tell the list how many nights, which season and what kind of trip. It builds a sensible checklist, and you tick items off as you pack.

Nights
Season
Kind of trip
Also planned

Pack for the trip you will actually take

Short trips reward a small bag. The list counts clothes by nights and adds layers for the season, then mixes in what the kind of trip needs: comfortable shoes for cobbles in a city, a light layer against the evening breeze on the coast, a rain shell for the mountains, flip-flops and a swimsuit for a thermal bath.

Tick items off as they go into the bag. The ticks are saved in your browser, so you can pack over two evenings. Print the list if you prefer paper.

Three habits that save space

Choose clothes in two or three colours that all go together, so every top works with every pair of trousers. Wear the bulkiest shoes and jacket on the journey. And leave room for one thing you will bring home, from a tin of olive oil to a ceramic tile painted in a workshop.

Questions

Does the list include medicines or documents?

The list includes a reminder for ID, tickets, cards and any personal items you always travel with, but it does not suggest medicines. Requirements for documents differ by destination and nationality, so check the current entry rules for your trip in good time before you travel.

Why does the number of clothes not grow with every night?

For a short trip most people rewash nothing and repeat some pieces, so the list grows gently with the nights and caps outer layers and shoes. From five nights on it assumes you can air or rinse a few items, which keeps the bag to a size you can carry up stairs.

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