Checked baggage fees have quietly become one of the highest hidden costs in travel. Budget airlines now charge anywhere from €25 to €70 each way for a checked bag. On a return trip, that is up to €140 added to a ticket you may have originally bought for less than that. And that is before you factor in the 20 minutes waiting at baggage reclaim on arrival and the very real chance your bag ends up in a different city from you.
The carry-on-only approach solves all of this. One bag, overhead locker, off the plane and through the exit in minutes. Done.
But travelling carry-on only works if you pack the right things. Forget something genuinely essential, and you spend your first day hunting down a pharmacy or a hardware shop in a city you do not know yet. Overpack and you spend the week lugging a bag that kills your back and costs you time at every security queue.
This list covers everything worth bringing for trips of up to two weeks, organised by category, with notes on what to prioritise and what to leave at home. The carry-on size limit used here is 55 x 40 x 20 cm, which covers most major airline restrictions, including the stricter budget carrier limits.
The Right Bag: Start Here Before Anything Else
The bag you choose determines everything else. A poorly designed bag wastes space, bruises your back, and adds friction to every airport transit. A well-chosen one disappears into the background and lets you focus on the trip.
For carry-on only travel, you are looking for one of three formats:
A backpack between 30 and 40 litres is the most flexible option for travellers who move between multiple cities, use public transport regularly, or plan to do anything involving stairs, cobblestones, or uneven ground. A well-designed travel backpack with a clamshell opening (where the bag opens flat like a suitcase rather than from the top) makes packing and unpacking significantly faster and easier than a traditional top-loader.
A cabin-sized roller bag suits travellers staying in one place for most of the trip, staying in hotels rather than hostels, and not dealing with much ground transport. The wheels and handle make airports easy. The same wheels make cobblestone streets and stairs frustrating.
A hybrid bag that converts between backpack and roller gives you both in one, useful if your trip combines city hotels and more active travel.
Whatever format you choose, look for a bag with at least one quick-access external pocket for documents, a water bottle sleeve or side pocket, and compression straps to keep contents stable.
Browse TravelBuddy’s travel bag selection here to compare options across different sizes, styles, and carry-on formats before committing.
Clothing: The 5-4-3-2-1 Rule
The most reliable framework for carry-on clothing is the 5-4-3-2-1 rule. For a trip of up to 10 days:
- 5 pairs of underwear
- 4 tops (t-shirts, shirts, or a mix)
- 3 bottoms (trousers, shorts, or skirts)
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 mid-layer (a light jacket, hoodie, or fleece)
This works because underwear and tops are the highest turnover items that need washing most frequently, while bottoms and outerwear can be worn multiple times before they need cleaning. The framework naturally pushes you toward versatile, mix-and-match pieces rather than single-occasion outfits.
Fabric choice matters more than most people realise
Merino wool is worth the price for carry-on travel. It is naturally odour-resistant, meaning a merino t-shirt can be worn two to three days in a row without any unpleasant results, which cuts your clothing volume significantly. It also dries quickly when washed in a sink overnight, making it practical for longer trips where you need to launder on the road. Merino wool packs small and does not crease.
Avoid heavy cotton, denim, and anything that takes more than 24 hours to air-dry. These fabrics occupy disproportionate space in your bag and defeat the logic of packing light.
Shoes: the two-pair rule
One comfortable walking shoe that can handle a full day on hard pavement and one lighter option, a pair of sandals for warmer destinations or a smart casual shoe for evenings, covers almost every travel scenario. Shoes are the heaviest and bulkiest items in any bag. A third pair for carry-on travel is rarely justified.
Wear your bulkiest pair through the airport.
Documents and Money: The Non-Negotiables
These are the items where losing them or forgetting them causes the most severe disruption to a trip.
Passport and visa documentation
Check your passport expiry date before every trip. Many countries require at least six months of validity beyond your planned departure date, meaning a passport expiring in eight months may be rejected for entry at certain destinations. Photograph every page of your passport and email it to yourself so you have access from any device if the original is lost.
Print any visa confirmation letters, hotel booking confirmations, and return flight details if your destination requires proof of onward travel at immigration. Some countries and airlines check these documents.
Payment cards and cash
Carry at least two payment cards from different networks if possible, ideally Visa and Mastercard, in case one is blocked or fails at a specific terminal. Notify your bank of your travel dates before you leave to avoid fraud flags on legitimate transactions.
Carry a small amount of local currency for your first 24 hours at any destination. Airport and hotel currency exchange rates are consistently worse than ATM rates in the city, but you may need cash before you reach a bank ATM.
Travel insurance
Not technically something you pack, but something you need before you travel. A good travel insurance policy covers medical treatment, trip cancellation, baggage loss, and flight delays. Keep your policy number and emergency contact number saved offline on your phone.
Tech and Electronics: Keep It Minimal
The single biggest source of carry-on bloat for most travellers is electronics and the cables, adapters, and chargers that come with them.
The essentials
Your phone covers more ground than any other single device: navigation, translation, boarding passes, photos, communication, and entertainment. A fully charged power bank of at least 10,000 mAh means you never run out of battery during a long travel day. A universal travel adapter is essential for international travel, since plug socket formats vary significantly between regions.
A pair of noise-cancelling earphones or headphones is one of the highest-comfort purchases for frequent travellers, covering long-haul flights, noisy hostels, and transit time with equal effectiveness.
What most people overpack in this category
Laptop computers are worth bringing only if you genuinely need to work during the trip. A tablet with a keyboard cover covers almost every travel computing need at considerably less weight and bulk. If you are travelling for one to two weeks of leisure, consider whether you actually need any computing device beyond your phone.
Multiple camera bodies, lens kits, and tripods add weight fast. A modern smartphone camera covers most travel photography needs. If photography is a genuine priority, one mirrorless camera with a single versatile lens is a more carry-on-compatible choice than a full DSLR kit.
Cable management
Pack only the cables you have tested and confirmed you need. Most travellers accumulate cables for devices they no longer own or rarely use. A small fabric cable organiser keeps everything accessible without tangles and prevents cables from spreading through the bottom of your bag.
Keep all electronics, cables, and power banks in a single organised pouch so airport security is fast. Power banks must go in carry-on luggage, not checked bags.
Toiletries: The 100ml Rule and What to Buy on Arrival
EU, UK, and most international airport security rules limit liquids in carry-on bags to containers of 100ml or less, all fitting in a single transparent 1-litre resealable bag. This forces a useful discipline: you cannot overpack toiletries when every liquid has to fit into that single bag.
What to pack
Miniature versions of your most essential products: toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, sunscreen, and any prescription medication. Most pharmacies in major cities sell travel-sized versions of common brands, and many hotels and hostels provide shampoo and soap, so check what is included before filling every slot.
A solid shampoo bar and solid conditioner bar eliminate the liquids restriction entirely for haircare and take up almost no space. Solid sunscreen sticks are becoming more widely available and serve the same function.
A small roll-on or solid deodorant fits the liquids rule without any issues. Razor blades and disposable razors are permitted in carry-on luggage but with a safety cover on the blade.
What to buy at your destination
Full-sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and any non-essential toiletry items are almost always available at your destination for local prices that are often lower than airport or travel-store equivalents. If you are travelling to Bangkok, Bali, or Tokyo, pharmacies and convenience stores carry virtually every toiletry product you might need within the first hour of arrival.
Browse TravelBuddy’s travel organizer bags here for compact toiletry and cable organizer options designed specifically for carry-on travel.
Comfort and Sleep: The Items That Change Long-Haul Travel
Long-haul flights and overnight buses are where a small number of comfort items make an outsized difference to how you arrive.
Travel pillow
A quality travel pillow is probably the single most impactful comfort purchase for long-haul travellers. The difference between arriving at a destination after a 10-hour flight having slept reasonably well and arriving having not slept at all affects the entire first day of a trip.
The pillow format matters. Traditional U-shaped neck pillows support the head when it falls sideways but do not prevent the head falling forward, which is when most people wake up uncomfortable. Newer memory foam or inflatable designs that provide front and back support address this problem more effectively.
Browse TravelBuddy’s travel pillow range here for compact, carry-on-friendly options that pack down small enough to clip to the outside of your bag or compress into their own pouch.
Sleep mask and earplugs
A contoured sleep mask that blocks light without pressing on your eyelids makes a meaningful difference on overnight flights and in brightly lit hostel dorms. Foam earplugs weigh almost nothing and cost almost nothing but eliminate a significant amount of noise in flight and accommodation environments.
Compression socks
For flights over four hours, compression socks reduce swelling and improve circulation in a way that feels immediately noticeable when you stand up at the other end. They are worth packing for any long-haul itinerary.
Health and Safety: The Items You Hope You Never Need
Medications
Pack any prescription medications in their original labelled packaging with enough supply for the full trip plus several days extra in case of delays. Keep them in your carry-on, never in checked baggage. For non-prescription items: paracetamol or ibuprofen, antihistamines, rehydration salts, motion sickness tablets if relevant, and a small selection of plasters and blister treatment cover the vast majority of minor health situations that arise during travel.
If you are travelling to Southeast Asia, stomach medication is worth adding. It is available locally but having it in your bag from day one saves a difficult pharmacy visit when you actually need it.
Safety items
A small padlock for hostel lockers is worth 50 grams of your weight allowance. A doorstop alarm for rooms where the door lock feels unreliable costs very little and weighs almost nothing. A money belt worn under clothing for carrying passport and backup cards in high-pickpocket environments is a matter of personal preference but genuinely useful in areas like Monastiraki in Athens or Khao San Road in Bangkok.
The Packing System: Cubes Make Everything Faster
Packing cubes are the single organisational upgrade that most converts carry-on travellers from sceptics to advocates. The concept is simple: compression fabric cubes of different sizes that compress and organise clothing by category, so your bag has a defined structure rather than a jumbled pile.
A typical setup for a 35-litre carry-on:
- One large cube for clothing (tops and bottoms)
- One medium cube for underwear and socks
- One small cube for electronics and cables
- One toiletry bag for liquids and personal care
The benefit is not just organisation. Packing cubes mean you can unpack your bag into a hotel drawer in two minutes, repack in three minutes, and find any item without digging. For multi-city trips where you are repacking every two or three days, this time saving compounds into something significant over a week.
The Full Carry-On Packing List: Quick Reference
Documents and money
- Passport and copies
- Visa documentation if required
- Travel insurance details
- Two payment cards
- Local currency for first 24 hours
Clothing (using the 5-4-3-2-1 rule)
- 5 pairs of underwear
- 4 tops including at least two merino wool
- 3 bottoms (mix of casual and smart casual)
- 2 pairs of shoes (wear the heavier pair to the airport)
- 1 mid-layer jacket or hoodie
Electronics
- Phone and charging cable
- 10,000 mAh power bank minimum
- Universal travel adapter
- Noise-cancelling earphones
- Camera if applicable
Toiletries (all 100ml or under)
- Toothbrush and mini toothpaste
- Solid shampoo and conditioner bar
- Face wash
- Sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Razor with cover
- Prescription medications in original packaging
Health and comfort
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen
- Antihistamines
- Rehydration salts
- Plasters and blister treatment
- Compression socks
- Sleep mask
- Earplugs
- Travel pillow
Organisation
- Packing cubes (one large, one medium, one small)
- Toiletry bag
- Small padlock for hostel lockers
- Resealable 1-litre bag for liquids at security
Destination-Specific Additions
The list above works for most trips. A few destinations require specific additions:
Bangkok and Southeast Asia
Mosquito repellent in a travel-sized roll-on or solid format. A light long-sleeved shirt for temple visits where shoulders must be covered. An anti-theft slash-resistant daypack for dense market areas if you plan to carry electronics while sightseeing. Read our full Bangkok travel cost guide for more on what to prepare before arriving.
Bali
A small dry bag if you are planning any water activities, boat crossings, or waterfall visits. A reusable water bottle since Bali’s tap water is not drinkable and plastic bottle waste is a significant environmental issue on the island. Our Bali cost guide covers what else to budget and plan for before you travel.
Tokyo
A small portable pocket Wi-Fi router or a Japanese SIM card is worth considering since public Wi-Fi in Japan is less reliable outside major train stations than in most Western cities. A lightweight umbrella since Tokyo gets heavy rain with little warning, particularly in spring and summer. See our Tokyo cost guide for the full breakdown of what a week costs.
Europe (Amsterdam, Prague, Athens)
A reusable tote bag for market shopping and grocery runs, since many European countries charge for plastic bags. A rain layer for northern Europe, particularly the Netherlands. Comfortable flat-soled walking shoes for cobblestone streets, since wheeled shoes and thin soles become painful quickly in old European town centres. Our itinerary guides for Amsterdam, Prague, and Athens cover the day-by-day logistics for each city.
What to Leave at Home
This section is as important as the list of what to bring.
Hairdryers and hair straighteners are provided at almost every hotel at mid-range and above. Even most hostels have them available on request. Packing your own adds significant weight to something already available at your destination.
More than two books weigh disproportionately for the reading time they provide. Download books to your phone or e-reader instead. One physical book is fine if reading paper is important to you.
Full-size toiletries of anything that is purchasable at your destination. This includes shampoo, conditioner, body wash, full-size sunscreen, and any non-prescription medication. Buy locally and save space for things that are genuinely hard to find abroad.
Clothes for hypothetical occasions that your actual itinerary does not include. A formal outfit for a dinner you might have, a gym kit when you have not booked a single gym session, and a swimsuit for a beach you are definitely not visiting. Pack for the trip you have planned, not the trip you might have in your most optimistic scenario.
One Final Check Before You Zip Up
Lay everything out on your bed before it goes in the bag. Look at every single item and ask one question: if this were not available at my destination and I needed it, how badly would that affect my trip? If the honest answer is not much, leave it at home.
The best carry-on packing list is the one that fits comfortably into your bag with a small amount of space remaining for anything you pick up along the way.
Browse the full TravelBuddy Travel Shop here for all the carry-on essentials covered in this guide, including travel bags, travel organizers, and travel pillows.
And once your bag is packed, search flights here and compare hotel options here to complete your travel plans. If anything goes wrong on the way, remember that delayed or cancelled flights may entitle you to up to €600 in compensation through our Compensair page.