An Urban Curious Packing List

It’s that time of year again—the season when many of us are gearing up for winter travel. If you have kids in the school system, the holiday break can feel like a portal opening: two weeks in which you might finally take that trip you’ve been quietly dreaming about. Maybe you’re off to Europe to wander Germany’s legendary Christmas markets, warmed by spiced wine and the glow of a thousand tiny lights (or perhaps a few steins of beer). Maybe you’re staying closer to home, revisiting a beloved main street or discovering a new one. Either way, the Urban Curious among us share one instinct: we pack for the journey with our senses switched on.

Curiosity is obviously the first (and most essential) item on the list. It takes up no space, but fills your entire trip. Beyond that intangible, what physical things should a flâneur or flâneuse tuck into their bag to make the most of wandering—slowly, attentively, joyfully—through a new town, city or burb?

Here’s a packing list for the Urban Curious traveller, whether you’re exploring Berlin, Beijing, or Burnaby Heights.

1. A Notebook That Fits in Your Pocket

Cities reveal themselves in fragments: a grandma tying a scarf around her grandson at a tram stop, the smell of roasted chestnuts, a mural half hidden or a building half built behind some scaffolding. Maybe you’ll remember these details—but maybe you won’t, not exactly, not with the same emotional temperature. A small notebook becomes your memory warehouse. Jot down overheard snippets, quick sketches of storefronts, what you smelled and heard, notes on how a street felt at noon compared to dusk. This becomes your gold later—whether for writing, storytelling, or being the life of the party.

2. A Pen That Writes in the Cold

It sounds silly until it’s not. European and Canadian winters can be damp and chilly, and many inks misbehave in the cold. Bring a pen that won’t freeze up when you’re recording your impressions of Hamburg’s Rathausmarkt while wearing mittens.

3. Comfortable Shoes That Can Withstand at Least 12,000 Steps

The flâneur’s entire job description is walking. I recently clocked almost 28,000 steps in a day in Amsterdam. Not speed-walking, not power-walking—just steady, curious meanderings through neighbourhoods, arcades, alleys, and stately boulevards. Choose worked-in shoes that respect your joints and your desire to follow intriguing side streets without the fear of blisters. You want footwear that says: Yes, let’s keep going. Let’s see what’s around that next corner.

4. A Lightweight, Weatherproof Layer

Cities don’t pause for rain or sleet, and neither should you. A compact jacket—one that stuffs into its own pocket—means you’re always ready to chase the mood of the weather rather than hide from it. Some of the best urban moments unfold under umbrellas: steam rising from street food stalls, the glow of headlights on wet pavement, strangers huddling together under awnings with unexpected camaraderie. If you won’t bring a weatherproof layer, at least grab a lightweight umbrella; if it’s light enough, you won’t regret it.

5. A Reusable Tote Bag with a Bit of Give

A flâneuse never knows when she’ll stumble upon the perfect used book, a local artisan’s print, or a loaf of rye bread that smells like it came straight out of history. Having a sturdy tote or an amazing lightweight backpack prevents the awkward decision of “Do I buy this now or try to find it again later?” (Spoiler: you’ll never find it again.)

6. A Phone Camera—but Used Intentionally

Take photos, yes—but not of everything. Let your eyes be your primary lens, or you’ll miss too dang much. Use your phone to capture the unphotographable: a street’s geometry, a colour palette you want to remember, the way holiday lights drape over a square. Think of the photos as field notes, not proof. Don’t get caught up in Instragramming your trip or you can’t simply enjoy the moment.

7. A Transit Pass or Payment Card Loaded and Ready

Because sometimes the best wanderings begins by boarding a tram, bus, or metro with no particular endpoint in mind. Transit reveals the city’s pulse—its rhythms, its riders, its accidental theatre. If you want to feel of a place, even for a day, grab transit not so-called ride-shares.

8. Something Warm for Your Hands

Nothing kills observational powers faster than frozen fingers. Gloves or mittens enable you to linger in outdoor markets longer, tracing the architectural ornamentation with your eyes while sipping hot chocolate—or glühwein. Avoid needing to retreat indoors too soon. You deserve the full experience of the place you are at.

Wherever you’re going this holiday season—across an ocean or just across town—pack for delight. Cities and human settlements of all kinds reward those who wander with their curiosity and all manner of aids at the ready.