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Packing for summer travel is always a breeze, but packing for winter can be trickier with all the bulkier items. If you’re new to our packing guides, then you’ll quickly realize that we’re all about packing light. Our trip to Turkey was only 5 days, so it wasn’t a huge challenge to pack into a carry-on. We especially wanted to pack light on this trip so we could make space for all the Turkish delight we were going to bring back home or whatever you fancy. (Note: We’ve also packed for month long trips in a carry-on too! It’s all about picking the right pieces that are versatile.)
THE WEATHER
Before we get into what we packed, let’s talk weather! Turkey is a big country and weather will vary from area to area. For our trip, we visited Istanbul and Cappadocia. The winter months there are December, January, and February, but November, March, and April are cold too!
Istanbul:
- Temperatures – Average in the mid to high 40s during the day, and low 30s at night.
- Rainfall – You will get on average 12 days of rain each month.
- Sunshine – You’ll only be getting on average 3-4 hours of sunshine a day.
- Humidity – During the winter, the humidity is typically between 70-80%
Cappadocia:
- Temperatures – Average in the 40s during the day, and lows in the 30s at night.
- Rainfall – You will get on average 7 days of rain each month. Snow will be common during winter but typically won’t stick until late December.
- Sunshine – On average, you get 6-7 hours of sunlight a day.
- Humidity – Humidity hovers around 60% all year.
- Wind – Just wanted to note that winds are very calm in the area, hence why it’s so good for hot air ballooning year round!
WHAT TO PACK FOR ISTANBUL TURKEY (+ CAPPADOCIA)
LUGGAGE AND BAGS
- Samsonite Lumo Carry on 18″ x 7.5″ x 13.5″ – Not currently available anywhere. I’ve been looking for a smaller carry on for a couple years, and my friend gifted me one that she found in Switzerland. Typical carry-on sizes are 22″ x 9″ x 14″. I will try to link one once we find something similar.
- Travel Backpack
- Duffel Bag for this trip, but Jacob recently replaced his duffel for this spinner.
- Tumi Toiletry Kit
HER PACKING LIST
- White Isadora Tank
- White V-neck Tee
- Black Reversible Halter Top (wear 2 ways, wrinkle-free)
- Fleece Convertible Cardigan (wear it 4+ ways, perfect blanket on the plane)
- City Slick Jacket (breathable, waterproof, wore it a lot in Istanbul)
- Nano Storm Jacket (doesn’t look like a rainjacket)
- Maroon Henley Dress
- Skinny Skyler Pants (best travel pants ever!)
- Capilene Bottoms x2 (layered under pants)
- Navy Heattech Legging Pants
- Brown Marjorie Legging Pants (so comfortable it’s my go-to airport pants)
- Gray Comfy Shawlette (wear it 7+ ways, I used it as a cardigan, scarf, and headscarf)
- Chalk Omni-Heat Beanie
- Grey Converse Chuck Taylors
- Bras x3 (2 strapless)
- Quick Dry Underwear x5 (these are pricey but especially great for travel)
- Black Ballet Flats
- Makeup and Toiletries
Lesson Learned: If you’re going out for sunrise photos or going on a hot air balloon ride during sunrise, it’s extremely cold. My toes felt like they were about to be frostbitten. I would suggest bringing some shoes that are thicker than my flimsy converses.
HIS PACKING LIST
- Button Down Shirts x3
- Midlayer Hoodie
- Sweat Wicking T-shirts x3
- Nano Storm Jacket (insulated, waterproof)
- Performance Jeans (good for being active too!)
- Pants
- Sweat Wicking Shorts
- Travel Underwear x3
- Heattech Long Underwear
- Smartwool Socks x5
- Kodiak Magog Boots (waterproof)
- Casual Shoes
PHOTO GEAR + ELECTRONICS
- Vlogging Camera (Sony RX100 Mark IV)
- Full Frame DSLR (Canon 5D Mark III)
- Wide Fixed Lens (Canon 35 mm / 1.4L)
- Long Zoom Lens (70-200mm / 2.8L)
- MeFoto Tripod
- Gorilla Pod
- Travel Converter Power Strip
- iPhones + Current case
- MacBook
RELATED: Ultimate Camera Gear Guide for Bloggers
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- Carry on essentials to improve your next flight.
Did you like this post? We’d love for you to pin it for later:
Have you done much winter travel? What are some of your winter essentials?
ESTHER + JACOB
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 50 travel blogs in the world. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They move to a new city every year and currently live in Portland, Oregon.
