Menos es Mejor: Why And How to Pack Light For a Trip to Madrid

I love to travel with just a carry-on luggage and the lifestyle that comes it. In my family, packing light even becomes a competition. Now when I travel alone, I still pack light enough to use just a carry-on suitcase. A lighter suitcase has multiple advantages, including less risk of dropping it on someone as I hoist it into the overhead compartment (yes, that has happened). A trip to Madrid in the summer in particular both lends itself to packing light and benefits from having just a carry-on.

A stack of beautiful vintage suitcases at the Rastro flea market | Cléo Charpantier

First of all, there are several reasons you should want to pack light for Madrid. Plenty of travelers in Madrid use the metro system to get from the airport or train station to their housing. I cannot count the number of people I have seen with their suitcases on the subway. But because the subway system is dotted with several sets of stairs, a lighter suitcase makes those trips more enjoyable. Susana Varela Fernandez, who works at the luggage store Maletas Varela, added that: “it can be better for your health and your back” to not lug around too much stuff, which on vacation should always be a priority. Another advantage of a carry-on suitcase is that it makes future travel easier. Madrid is located in the center of Spain and is a few hours away from intriguing day trips, be it to Toledo or Salamanca. A lighter suitcase “will make it easier to move around and travel” on different forms of transportation, says Susana. If traveling by plane, it also allows you to save time on both ends of the flight, as you do not need to wait to check in a bag or pick it up. Packing just one suitcase can also be beneficial from a safety point of view: it is important to always be aware of one’s belongings on Madrid’s transportation system, which is known for being a haven for pick pockets and petty thieves. With only one carry-on, there is less of a risk of losing track of your belongings. And Susana adds that “ if you lose your things, you lose less.” Susana had one last reason for recommending a smaller suitcase with less belongings: it takes up less room once you’ve arrived. For travelers staying in one of the city’s many hostels, this is significant as it allows you to have more much needed floor space.

With so many reasons to pack light, consider 5 rules to limit the amount of thing you bring with you:

1. Bring only the essential

First and foremost, when you are packing a small suitcase you want to make sure you are not bringing along unnecessary items. While this seems obvious, what is considered unnecessary may not be. Zuri Sabrino, a madrileño whom I met at Cat’s Hostel, says that “if you are staying in a hotel or hostel or somewhere that would give you toiletries, you don’t need to bring soap and shampoo with you.” Saving space and weight in your toiletry bag can make a big difference in a carry-on size suitcase. You may also not need to bring a towel with you, as they are often provided and “really cheap to buy here” if not. Susana, from Maletas Varela, underlines this point as well, saying you should only bring “the essential, the most basic of clothes.”

2. Weather appropriate clothes and fabrics

A Madrid summer is very hot: it can be upwards of 90 degrees most afternoons. In heat like this, it is important to pay attention to the fabric and cut of the clothes you are bringing. Cottons and linens are the best fabrics in this sweat-inducing weather. Susana recommends your clothes be “accommodating to heat”, and Zuri similarly says that you should mainly pack “light clothes”. But that does not mean exclusively light clothes: Zuri reminded me that it can get cold once the sun has set and that the temperature can change throughout the summer, so it is important to pack a few items to layer as well.

Using packing cubes can help keep things organized | Bianca Dalmau

3. Versatile clothes = less clothes

It is important to bring clothes that can multi-task. If one piece of clothing can be worn more than one way, it allows you to pack less pieces of clothing. For example, one-piece bathing suits can be worn as body suits, button up shirts can double as a light layer for the night as Zuri suggested, skirts can be both city casual and business appropriate if needed. Susana has another tip here as well: “Bring clothes that are easy to wash and quick to dry.” That way you can simply re-wear clothes instead of packing duplicates.

4. Color scheme allows for more flexibility

A similar rule I try to follow when I’m packing is to follow a color scheme. If most of your clothes match in color, it allows you to be more flexible in your outfits and combinations. Think not just about the items of clothing you are bringing but how they interact with each other. This is particularly useful for traveling to Madrid, where there is a strong emphasis placed on color. A good rule of thumb is to make sure each item can be worn it at least 3 different outfits.

5. Save space when packing

One of the most important parts about packing a carry-on is the actual act of packing. It is essential to save space everywhere you can. Rolling your clothes and nestling them next to each other is more space efficient that a pile of folded clothes. Using packing cubes can help keep things organized. And don’t let any space go to waste by stuffing your shoes with socks and other small items!

With these things in mind, you too can narrow down your packing list to what can fit in a carry-on. One day I hope to travel with just the clothes on my back and a passport in my pocket, but for the time being using these guidelines, my carry-on and I are happy together.

Carry-on suitcase size

22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm

or 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches