Packing list: the checklist tailored to your destination
A generic list has you packing a jumper for Bangkok and forgetting your raincoat for Tokyo in June. Ours starts from the figures for your departure month: temperatures, rainy days and sea temperature measured over ten years, then the country's plug type, currency, entry requirements and health guide. Every item added tells you why.
What the tailored version changes
Three departures, three suitcases. Here's what the list adds to the common base, and why. These are the rules that will work out yours.
Japan in April, 10 days
10 to 19 °C · 12 days of rain
- A jumper or fleece for the evening10 °C in the morning against 19 °C in the afternoon.
- A waterproof jacket12 days of rain on average in April in Japan.
- Hiking bootsMountain trails on the programme.
- Plug adaptorType A/B sockets: European (type C, E and F) plugs won't fit.
- eSIM for mobile data on the spotOutside the European Union, your plan charges roaming at full price.
- Valid passportCheck its expiry date: many countries require several months' validity after your return.
Marrakech in July, 7 days
21 to 39 °C · 1 day of rain
- 6 light, loose tops (linen, cotton)39 °C in the afternoon in July in Marrakech.
- Hat or capThe sun beats down at this temperature.
- An outfit that covers shoulders and knees, or a large scarfAppreciated outside tourist areas, and required to enter a mosque.
- SPF 50 sun creamStrong sun: 39 °C in the afternoon.
- A water bottleDrink often in this heat.
- An anti-diarrhoealTap water: avoid (bottled water).
Iceland in February, 7 days
-5 to 0 °C · 17 days of rain · sea at 5 °C
- Winter coat, hat, gloves and scarf-5 °C on average in the early morning in February in Iceland.
- Two jumpers or fleecesFor layering.
- Thermal underwearIt freezes hard at night.
- A waterproof jacket17 days of rain on average in February in Iceland.
- SwimsuitLagoons and hot pools, open all year round.
- SunglassesSnow reflects the sun.
The basic list, to print
What goes into every suitcase, whatever the destination. Under each section, what the tailored version adds case by case. Depending on the destination and month, a list has 19 to 37 items.
Documents
Depending on the destination: Passport, visa or electronic authorisation, European Health Insurance Card or travel insurance, driving licence for a road trip.
Money
Depending on the destination: Fee-free card and local cash, outside the eurozone.
Clothes
Depending on the destination: Light clothes, an evening jumper, a warm jacket or winter coat depending on the month's temperatures; a waterproof from 10 days of rain; covering clothes for places of worship.
Footwear
Depending on the destination: Mountain hiking, grippy soles below 0 °C, sandals above 24 °C.
Health
Depending on the destination: Anti-diarrhoeal and filter bottle where tap water isn't drinkable, repellent where the health guide flags dengue or malaria.
Electronics
Depending on the destination: Plug adaptor outside types C, E and F, eSIM outside the European Union.
Toiletries
For the journey
Depending on the destination: Pillow, eye mask and warm clothes for flights over 7 hours.
Beach and sun
Depending on the destination: Swimsuit when the sea is above 21 °C (18 °C in hot weather), SPF 50 sun cream at altitude or in intense heat.
How the list is worked out
- The month's weather: afternoon and early-morning temperatures, total rainfall and number of rainy days, 2015-2024 averages (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, Météo-France station records for some French destinations).
- Sea: water temperature at the coastal reference point, for the 179 destinations with a coastline.
- Altitude: when at least a third of the places on the itinerary are above 2,000 m, the list adds a fleece and SPF 50 sun cream.
- Country: plug type, currency, tap water, entry requirements and health advice, taken from our country guides. 102 destinations call for repellent, 118 for a water solution.
- Length of stay: quantities stop at one week; beyond that, the list plans a wash.
Entry requirements change: always check them on the country's official website before you go.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for a week?
Seven pairs of underwear and seven pairs of socks, six tops, two bottoms, a warm layer for the evening if nights drop below 14 °C, and walking shoes you've already worn in. Beyond a week, don't add more clothes: plan a wash halfway through.
Do I need a plug adaptor?
Only if the country's sockets aren't type C, E or F, the ones standard European plugs fit. That's the case for 96 of our 385 destinations: the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan or Australia, for example.
ID card or passport?
An EU, EEA or Swiss national ID card is enough in the European Union, the Schengen area and Switzerland. For 185 of our 385 destinations you need a passport, and for 87 of them a visa or electronic authorisation to apply for before you leave (ESTA, UK ETA, e-visa).
Why does the list depend on the departure month?
Because the same destination calls for two different suitcases depending on the season. In Tokyo, it rains on 12 days on average in April and 15 in June; in Golden Circle (Thingvellir), August mornings hover around 8 °C and February ones around -5 °C. The tailored list reads those figures for your month.