What to Pack for A Weekend Trip Checklist

Managing what to pack for a weekend trip away can either be super easy or super stressful. Over the last year, I have done every single one of my trips in a tiny little carry on. On my last trip to Prague, Mustafa and I were so operating like a well oiled machine…we fit all our weekend clothing in ONE backpack. You read that right. One freaking small bag. How crazy is that coming from the classic and crazy over packer. I have definitely come a long long way when it comes to traveling Europe in winter this efficiently!

I thought it would be helpful to write a little post on how I have managed to travel with all my bulky warm outfits. Not just for people out there, but also as a reminder to myself if and when I start to get a little carried away in the future.

Okay, so let’s be realistic…how many outfits do you ACTUALLY change over a single weekend? Winter in Europe is cold af, but you can still be strategic in your packing. Even if you are a blogger girl who likes to take those OOTD shots, chances are that in the winter (if you are anything like me), you will be wearing a coat/jacket the entire time you are outdoors. Also, with all of the short haul flight baggage restrictions, it’s getting more and more challenging to travel with more baggage and lugging it around the city. So, with all this in mind, I decided to create a little packing list with my top picks.

Pack for a Weekend in Winter Checklist

1.Winter Coat: This piece is the bulkiest clothing item to take so I usually just wear it to the airport (cuz it’s cold out anyway). The good thing about this item is that you can most definitely survive on just the one for a full weekend.

2. Scarves: You can wear one and pack one. It would be easiest to just wear one and be done with it, but it is for sure one item that is visible and so packing a different colour/style can do very well in changing your look and style. This season Zara knocked thick scarves out of the park with their scarf collection. I have been living in my black and beige numbers all winter.

3. Knit Sweaters: This is where I pack extra. I would wear one, which would be my ‘travel outfit’. Then, in general, you will need only one or two more so go nuts with this but IDEALLY (and realistically) you can survive on just the ONE. Black would be an excellent minimal choice and works well in layering. The best thing to do would be to have one dark (black) and one light (beige) for two completely different looks.

4. Pants/Jeans/Leggings: I would use my ‘wear one and take one’ rule here. Because let’s face it, over a weekend, you are probs gonna end up wearing just the one. My personal preference is leggings as I do tend to wear long coats more often. If you’re a jacket girl, wear the jeans or your fave warmest trousers and pack an extra pair of leggings as a back up (just in case).

5. Hats/Gloves: I cannot live without my hats in the winter. My ears get super cold and I get these headaches so this is a must for me during the winter time. But…easy AF to manage…wear them to the airport and then keep them in your carry on tote/handbag. Ever so simple!

6. Shoes: I tend to just wear a pair to the airport and wear it all weekend long. In the winter, it’s highly unlike you’re gonna be strutting around in different cute shoes so a good pair of Chelsea boots will keep it cute/casual etc etc. Shoes are also a bulky item to pack, so if you stick to one pair for the weekend that can do well come rain or shine, you are going to be doing yourself a massive favour in the low bulk packing department.

7. Socks: This is easy. Pack two/three cuz they are tiny so go nuts!

And that about sums it up! It’s a simple solution that will save you a ton of effort and time. Honestly, in all the trips I have taken, I always ending up recycling my outfits anyway so for such short trips, it just makes sense to travel super light and keep your life super simple. Earlier in the year, I was going as far as to pack an entire cabin back for an overnight trip! I mean can you believe it? It was just insane because deep down, I knew I wouldn’t be wearing half of the stuff even while I was in decision making process of what to pack for a weekend. Yet, I was busy packing away for what seemed like a million weather conditions.

So the moral of my long story is that packing for a city break is actually very easy. Just pack freaking LIGHT. You just gotta try it, and once you do, you will marvel on how manageable and easy it makes your travels.