What to pack: the complete packing list and checklist

To pack without forgetting anything, start from a common base (documents, money, health, electronics, clothes for a week), then add the module that matches your trip: beach, cold, city, hiking, business or children. Beyond a week, you don’t double the clothes: you do laundry.

This page gives the complete packing list, organized by category and trip type, a simple rule to work out how many clothes to take, and a printable checklist to tick off. For the cabin size and weight allowed, see our guide to carry-on bags.

The common base for every trip

Documents and money

• Passport, or ID where accepted, with the validity the country requires (check entry requirements on travel.state.gov for US citizens or GOV.UK for UK citizens), and any visa or electronic authorization.
• Tickets, bookings and insurance certificate (paper or offline copies).
• Driver’s license (and an international driving permit if needed).
• Two separate payment methods and a little cash in the local currency (see our currency converter).
• Photocopies or digital copies of your documents, kept separately.

Health and hygiene

• Regular medication in sufficient quantity, with the prescription (preferably with the generic names of the medicines).
• A small first-aid kit: plasters, antiseptic, a pain reliever, a medicine for stomach upsets, as advised by your pharmacist or doctor.
• Sun protection and mosquito repellent suited to the destination.
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo in travel size or solid form.
• Sanitary products, razor, spare glasses or contact lenses.

Electronics

• Phone and charger, power bank (in the cabin).
• A plug adapter if the country uses another standard (see our guide to plug adapters by country).
• Earphones, e-reader, camera and memory cards.
• Useful apps downloaded: offline maps, translation, banking, airline.

Item	Indicative quantity for 7 days	Tip
Underwear	7	Quick-dry fabrics to wash on the way
Socks	5 to 7	One warm pair if evenings are cool
Tops (T-shirts, blouses)	4 to 5	Colors that all go together
Bottoms (pants, skirts, shorts)	2 to 3	One dressy, one comfortable
Warm layer (sweater, fleece)	1	Wear it on the plane to save space
Jacket or rain shell	1	A light windbreaker even for a hot destination
Shoes	2 pairs	One on your feet during the trip
Pajamas, swimsuit	1 of each	—

The so-called « 5-4-3-2-1 rule », often quoted, sums up the same idea for a stay of about a week: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 swimsuits, 1 hat. It is a guide, not an obligation: for a city break, two pairs of shoes are enough.

Trip type	Add to the base	Example destinations
Beach and sun	Swimsuits, sarong or microfiber towel, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water shoes, UV shirt	Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, Mauritius
City break	Comfortable walking shoes, a slightly dressy outfit, a small anti-theft bag, a folding umbrella	weekend ideas
Cold and winter	Technical base layers, down jacket, hat, gloves, scarf, waterproof shoes with a grippy sole	Iceland, Norway
Hiking and nature	Broken-in hiking shoes, day pack, water bottle, headlamp, rain jacket, emergency blanket	Réunion, Madeira
Road trip	Soft cooler, car charger, offline maps, headlamp	See our road trip guide
Humid tropics	Light long-sleeved clothes, suitable repellent, thin rain jacket, waterproof bags	Costa Rica, Thailand
Cruise	Outfits for the evenings, windbreaker for the deck, seasickness medicine on medical advice	our cruises
Trip with a baby	See our dedicated list	traveling with a baby

Beach and hot destinations

Favor linen and light cotton, which cover you from the sun and are suitable for visiting places of worship. Long sleeves also protect from mosquitoes at dusk. Sunscreens are often over 100 ml: in a carry-on, take a small bottle and put the large one in checked baggage, or buy it on the spot.

Cold, mountain and winter

The three-layer principle works better than one big coat: a breathable base layer, an insulating layer (fleece or wool), and a windproof, waterproof outer layer. Wear the bulkiest item during the journey.

Long trips (more than two weeks)

Keep the same base as for a week and add what you need to wash: laundry sheets or soap, an elastic clothesline, a few clothespins. Laundromats and laundry services exist in most countries. For a very long trip, see also our round-the-world guide.

Business trips and trips with children

For a business trip, add an outfit suited to meetings, a garment bag or a bag that limits creases, the laptop and its charger, a multi-plug adapter and your work documents offline. If you travel with carry-on only, choose clothes that wrinkle little and wear the jacket on the flight.

With children, each child has their own list: documents in their name (passport or ID), medication, a comfort toy, games for the trip, snacks, an accessible spare outfit. For a baby, see the dedicated list in our guide to traveling with a baby.

When	What to do
One month before	Check the validity of your documents and the country’s entry requirements; arrange any health insurance or travel insurance
One week before	Check the weather and monthly norms; buy what is missing (adapter, sunscreen, medicine)
Three days before	Wash the clothes you chose; recharge devices; download maps and tickets offline
The day before	Fill the suitcase using the checklist; weigh it; prepare the carry-on separately
Departure day	Check documents, phone, charger, keys, medication

The most common things people forget

• The phone charger or the plug adapter.
• Everyday medication and its prescription.
• The driver’s license when a rental is planned.
• A warm garment for the plane or the evenings.
• Prescription glasses or spare contact lenses.
• A foldable bag for return purchases.

In the cabin (personal item or carry-on)	In checked baggage
Documents, money, cards, keys	Clothes beyond one spare outfit
Medication and prescriptions	Liquids over 3.4 oz (100 ml) (sunscreen, shampoo)
Phone, charger, power bank (not allowed in checked baggage)	Extra shoes
Fragile and valuable items	Knives and sharp objects (knives are not allowed in a TSA carry-on)
One spare outfit	Bulky sports equipment

According to the TSA, medications and infant and child nourishments are exempt from the 3.4 oz limit, and GOV.UK allows up to 2 litres at UK airports for essential medical purposes, special dietary needs and baby food or milk. Airlines can apply stricter rules: check their conditions.

Before closing the suitcase, go through the list by category rather than item by item: documents, health, electronics, clothes, miscellaneous. Remove what you didn’t use on your last trip: it is often the best way to lighten the suitcase without risking an omission. Also leave a little free space for the return.

Tips to save space

• Roll soft clothes, fold shirts; use packing cubes to separate categories.
• Slip socks and small items into shoes.
• Choose clothes in two or three colors that all combine.
• Prefer solid products (shampoo bar, soap, toothpaste tablets): they don’t count as liquids.
• Weigh the suitcase before leaving with a luggage scale or a bathroom scale.

Printable packing checklist

Tick items as you go, or print the list with the button.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• TSA, Liquids, Aerosols and Gels Rule and TSA, power banks (updated May 14, 2025), checked 12 November 2026.
• GOV.UK, « Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports » and liquids page, checked 12 November 2026.
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026.