With city-break trips to Prague, Cologne, Berlin and Stockholm already under my belt this winter, I’m feeling pretty organised with this whole packing for winter thing. As I tend to get cold pretty easily, it boils down to one thing for me… all of the layers!
Boots: ideally I’d pack two pairs – one flat and one heeled, so that I can change at night. But if I’m pushed for space, I know my tall boots will see me through a weekend. Of course, they also hide the pair of snuggly warm wool socks that I have underneath! As I discovered in Stockholm this month, though, leather boots are not the best for dealing with snow and slush – I’m going to invest in some snow boots next winter.
Coat: while my puffer jacket is super warm, for a city break I prefer to pack my long black coat. It takes me from day to night easily, and I can still fit my warm layers on below it.
Sweaters: living in England I’ve come to appreciate the power of a great jumper or sweater – I have several patterned ones that I love. Given they are the layer most often seen indoors, I like to have a couple to mix it up.
Oooh so tricksy with my different scarves…
Scarves: another great way of making sure your photos don’t look like you wore the same thing all weekend is to pack a couple of scarves. I love pashminas – they don’t take up too much space, are brightly coloured, and keep my neck toasty warm. They are also a great souvenir to remember a trip by!
Thermals: these are absolutely my secret weapon for surviving a day of sight-seeing in winter (well, these and mulled wine!). I generally swear by a merino layer on top and bottom for keeping me toasty while not being too bulky. Of course, as I discovered recently, it still pays not to have washed your jeans just before trying to squeeze them over the top!
Gloves: cotton or wool if it’s just a light layer I need, or leather if I’m going to be chilly. I also discovered wrist-warmers this winter – my felt ones that I picked up in the Cologne markets are a great way to ensure I still have some feeling in my hands while I’m instagramming up a storm!
Warm Pyjamas: especially crucial when you’re not sure whether your dorm or apartment is going to be an ice-box or a furnace – no one likes to be chilly at night!
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive packing list – don’t forget your toothbrush! For a great guide, check out Courtney’s Packing Essentials for the Savvy Female Traveller.
What are your essentials for a wintry weekend away?
