Carry-On Only Travel and How to Pack for a Week

A cheap 40 euro flight turns into a 110 euro flight the moment you add a checked bag each way. Carry-on only travel is the simplest way to stop that, and it also gets you out of the airport 30 to 45 minutes faster at the other end. The hard part is fitting a full week into a bag that meets airline size rules, without wearing the same shirt every day. Here is how I pack for seven days with one small bag, what the main airlines actually allow, and the one piece of popular advice I ignore.

Know your bag limits before you pack

The biggest mistake is buying a bag first and checking the rules second. Budget airlines in Europe split cabin luggage into two tiers: a free under-seat bag and a paid larger cabin bag. Sizes change, so check your booking before every trip, but these were the common limits at the time of writing:

Airline	Free under-seat bag	Larger cabin bag
Ryanair	40 x 30 x 20 cm	55 x 40 x 20 cm, up to 10 kg, with Priority
easyJet	45 x 36 x 20 cm	56 x 45 x 25 cm, up to 15 kg, paid
Wizz Air	40 x 30 x 20 cm	55 x 40 x 23 cm, up to 10 kg, paid
Most full service airlines	One personal item	About 55 x 40 x 20 cm, often 7 to 8 kg

A 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag holds about 24 litres. That is enough for a week in warm weather if you are disciplined. For a cold weather trip, the paid larger bag is usually still far cheaper than a checked one, often 15 to 30 euros each way when booked with the flight rather than at the gate.

A carry-on only travel packing list for seven days

This list fits in a 24 litre bag for a city trip in spring or autumn. The rule behind it: pack for four days, not seven, and plan to wash once.

Tops: 3 T-shirts or blouses in colours that all match the same bottoms.
Bottoms: 1 pair of trousers or a skirt packed, 1 pair worn.
Underwear and socks: 4 pairs each. Merino socks can go two days.
Layers: 1 light jumper packed, 1 jacket worn on the plane.
Shoes: wear your bulkiest pair. Pack nothing else unless they are thin sandals.
Sleepwear: 1 set, or use tomorrow's T-shirt.
Toiletries: in a single clear bag, containers of 100 ml or less.
Tech: phone, one charger with two ports, one adapter.
Laundry: a small bar of travel soap or a few laundry sheets.

Everything above weighs about 4.5 kg packed. That leaves room for a book or a small souvenir on the way home.

How to fit it all in

Roll soft items like T-shirts and underwear tightly. Fold stiffer things like trousers flat along the back panel.
Stuff socks inside any shoes you pack.
Use one or two packing cubes. They do not create space, but they stop the bag bulging into a shape that fails the sizer.
Put the toiletry bag on top so you can lift it out at security in one move.
Wear the heaviest items on travel day: jacket, jumper, boots. Pockets count too.

Choosing the bag itself

A soft backpack beats a rigid wheeled case for budget airlines. It squashes into the sizer, has no wheels or handle eating into the allowance, and weighs around 600 g instead of 2 kg. Look for one that opens like a suitcase rather than from the top, so you are not digging for socks. Good ones built to the 40 x 30 x 20 cm size cost 25 to 50 euros.

Toiletries without the 100 ml headache

Liquids are where most cabin-only packing falls apart. Swap to solids where you can: shampoo bar, conditioner bar, solid deodorant and a stick sunscreen. None of them count as liquids. Decant everything else into 30 to 50 ml bottles; a week rarely needs more. Some UK and EU airports now use new scanners and let you leave liquids in your bag or carry larger amounts, but rules differ by airport and can reverse at short notice, so pack for the strict version unless every airport on your route has confirmed the change.

Anything you forget, a supermarket or pharmacy at your destination will sell in travel sizes. That is often cheaper than the airport shop.

The advice I ignore: "pack a capsule wardrobe in neutrals"

Almost every packing guide tells you to bring only black, grey, navy and beige so everything matches. It works, but I think it is overrated for short trips. After four days of greige you look the same in every photo, and the real space saving is tiny. Colour is not what makes clothes take up room. Thickness is.

My rule instead: pick one bottom colour, then let the tops be anything that works with it. Three bright T-shirts and one pair of dark trousers pack exactly the same as three grey ones. Where you really save space is swapping a chunky cotton jumper for a thin merino or fleece layer, and denim jeans for lighter travel trousers that dry overnight.

Washing on the road so seven days fits in four

Plan one wash around day three or four. In a hotel sink it takes ten minutes:

Fill the basin with warm water and a little soap. Wash underwear, socks and one top.
Rinse, then roll each item tightly in a dry bath towel and stand on it to squeeze out water.
Hang overnight near a window or over a radiator. Synthetics and merino are usually dry by morning; cotton may need a day.

Many hostels and apartments also have machines for 3 to 6 euros a load, which is still cheaper than a single checked bag fee. For more ways to keep the trip itself cheap, see how to travel well on a budget and our guide to finding cheaper flights without the stress.

Frequently asked questions

Can you travel for a week with only a carry-on?

Yes. Pack for four days, plan one wash, wear your bulkiest clothes on the plane and use solid toiletries. Most people find a 24 to 35 litre bag is enough for a week in mild weather.

What size bag is free on budget airlines?

On Ryanair and Wizz Air the free bag is 40 x 30 x 20 cm and must fit under the seat in front. easyJet allows 45 x 36 x 20 cm. Anything larger usually needs a paid add-on, which is cheapest when bought with the ticket.

Do airlines actually measure cabin bags?

Budget airlines do check, especially at busy gates and on full flights. Gate fees for an oversized bag are often 50 to 70 euros, so it is worth testing your packed bag against the measurements at home with a tape measure before you leave.