Pack light
A step-by-step guide to a three-day backpack: a basic set of clothes, small items for the journey, tech and what you can safely leave at home.
a magazine about travelling light
Lighttur — a magazine about travelling light
Sometimes the best trip is the one you decide on late on a Thursday. One backpack, comfortable shoes, a ticket for the morning train, and by lunchtime you are walking streets you have never seen before. Lighttur is about exactly these trips: short ones, one to three days, with no suitcase and no lengthy packing. Here you will find how to fit everything into cabin baggage, how to get there, how to plan a walking route from the station, where to leave your backpack and how to travel solo calmly and enjoyably.
Every item you leave behind is a little more freedom on the road. Pack as if you will be carrying your backpack all day.
Where to start
A weekend trip
Which nearby trips work well for one to three days, and how to choose yours by travel time, season and where you will sleep.
Train and bus
How to travel with just a backpack, the strengths of each type of transport and what to confirm with your carrier in advance.
On foot from the station
Hypothetical routes that start right at the platform: a day in an unfamiliar city, a weekend in nature and two nights in a small town.
Magazine sections
- Destinations
Types of nearby one-to-three-day trips and four criteria that make it easy to pick yours.
- Routes
Three hypothetical routes: a day on foot in a new city, a weekend out of town and two nights in a small town.
- Places
Museums, viewpoints, markets, parks and churches: how to see them with a backpack on.
- Transport
Train, bus, plane and shared rides: pros, pitfalls and what to check with your carrier.
- Packing
How to pack a backpack for three days step by step: a list, mistakes, fallback options and a checklist.
- On the spot
How to get your bearings in an unfamiliar place, and where to eat and sleep when travelling light.
- Questions
Short answers to common questions about packing, the journey and your first hours somewhere new.
Packing in an evening: five steps
Route and weather
Check the forecast for every day of the trip and estimate how much you will walk. That decides your shoes, your outer layer and whether you need an umbrella.
Packing list
Write out your clothes day by day and cross off anything that repeats. One set on you, one in the backpack, a warm layer and a rain jacket — usually that is enough.
Documents and money
Keep documents and tickets in one place, save digital copies on your phone and keep a backup copy separately. Split your card and a little cash between different pockets.
Tech and charging
Phone, one cable, a compact charger and a power bank. If you are flying, the power bank goes in your cabin baggage only.
Check the weight and your carrier's rules
Lift the backpack and walk around your flat with it. Then open your carrier's rules and check the size and weight limits for cabin baggage.
Common questions in brief
Do you sell tours or tickets?
No. Lighttur is a magazine, not an agency. We explain how to pack and travel on your own, and we receive no money from carriers for mentions.
Do you recommend specific destinations?
No. We describe types of trips — a city for the weekend, nature near a city, a small town, the coast off-season — and leave the choice of place to you.
Do you list baggage allowances?
No. Each carrier sets its own cabin baggage size and weight, and the rules change. Check them on the website of the company you are travelling or flying with.
Can you travel with cabin baggage only?
Yes, if you prepare: plan your clothes in layers, take toiletries in small containers and check your carrier's rules in advance.
About the project
Lighttur is an independent magazine about travelling light. This domain was previously used for unrelated advertising; the current magazine has no connection to it, the old pages are not being restored and their addresses are closed.
We write about short trips with a single backpack: how to pack without extras, how to get there, how to explore on foot from the station, where to leave your things and how to travel solo. We do not publish prices, timetables or baggage allowances of specific companies — check them with your carrier before every trip.
Related sections
- Packing
How to pack a backpack for three days step by step: a list, mistakes, fallback options and a checklist.
- Transport
Train, bus, plane and shared rides: pros, pitfalls and what to check with your carrier.
- Questions
Short answers to common questions about packing, the journey and your first hours somewhere new.
Sources
- European Commission — aviation security rules for passengers (liquids in cabin baggage)
- ICAO — guidance on carrying lithium batteries
- Carriers' baggage rules
Information is current as of the date of preparation. Baggage rules, timetables, prices and conditions of carriage change, so check them with your carrier before every trip.