Travelling light on your adventures doesn’t mean leaving the fun behind! Whether you’re on a train, waiting for dinner at a restaurant, or unwinding at a mountain hut after a day of hiking, travel games can keep everyone entertained without bulking up your bags. Here are 10 brilliant tried and tested travel games for kids (and adults!), from quick card battles to dice-rolling chaos our family has loved, which won’t add much weight to your carefully packed bags!
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1. Yahtzee (Travel Version)
Players: 2-6
Suggested Age: 8+
Convenience: Super lightweight, just dice and a score pad
Strategy vs Luck: Both! Strategy helps, but the dice keep things unpredictable.
Yahtzee is an absolute classic and the favourite of our travel games for our kids. The travel version is super compact, with a small dice cup and score sheets – but we just bring the dice and a couple of scoresheets in a drawstring bag. It’s quick to set up, and you only need a small surface. Try not to roll your dice off the balcony of a mountain hut into a goat field… yes this happened to us. Kids love the thrill of rolling for a Yahtzee (five of a kind), while adults try to complete the score sheet strategically to earn the highest score.
2. A Deck of Cards
Players: 1-10+
Suggested Age: 4+ (depending on the game)
Convenience: Ultra-lightweight, fits in your pocket
Strategy vs Luck: Depends on the game – endless options!
You can’t beat a standard deck of cards for versatility. From quick games of Happy Families or Snap for little ones to more strategic games like Rummy or Hearts, a deck of cards is a must-pack. Plus, Patience (Solitaire) is a great option for a bit of solo time. Cheat is brilliant fun with a larger group.
The book Card Games for all Ages has been a gold mine for adding fun (and challenging!) card games to our repertoire. Either pack it with you (it’s pocket-sized), or take photos of the pages to bring with you on your phone – or get the Kindle edition!
3. Uno Flip
Players: 2–10
Suggested Age: 7+
Convenience: Compact, same size as regular Uno
Strategy vs Luck: Mostly luck, with a bit more tension than the classic
Uno Flip is a fun twist on the classic card game. Each card has a light and dark side, and when someone plays a Flip card, everyone must turn their hands and the draw pile over. The dark side brings tougher penalties and bigger rewards, adding just enough extra tension to keep things interesting. Still light, still fast, and just as packable as regular Uno.
4. Monopoly Deal
Players: 2-5
Suggested Age: 8+
Convenience: Compact card game version
Strategy vs Luck: A good mix of both
Monopoly Deal takes all the fun (and frustration) of classic Monopoly and squishes it into a quick-playing card game. It’s easy to carry, doesn’t require a board, and games can be over in 15 minutes. It’s a favourite for our post-dinner wind-downs.
5. Itchy Feet
Players: 2-6
Suggested Age: 8+
Convenience: Compact deck-based game
Strategy vs Luck: Mostly strategy
Itchy Feet is a brilliant little travel-themed card game where players race to collect the right cards to move through different countries. The travel theme makes it perfect for adventurers, and it’s light and quick to play.
6. Pass the Pigs
Players: 2+
Suggested Age: 7+
Convenience: Tiny, fits in a pocket
Strategy vs Luck: Pure luck
The silly game of Pass the Pigs involves rolling two small pig figurines as dice and scoring points depending on how they land – snout up, on their sides, or even balancing precariously. It’s absurdly fun and perfect for kids.
7. Qwirkle (Travel Edition)
Players: 2-4
Suggested Age: 6+
Convenience: Compact travel-size version
Strategy vs Luck: Heavy on strategy, minimal luck
Qwirkle is like a mix between Scrabble and dominoes, with players matching tiles by colour and shape to score points. The travel version is smaller but just as engaging. It’s perfect for kids who love patterns and adults who enjoy a bit of thinking.
8. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Players: 3-8
Suggested Age: 6+
Convenience: Pocket-sized
Strategy vs Luck: Reflexes and memory, mostly chaos!
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a fast-paced, shouty card game which is pure fun. My Amazon account says I’ve ordered this five times as birthday presents for my kids’ friends, so I’m clearly a fan! Players take turns placing cards and saying “Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza” in rhythm. If the card matches the word, everyone races to slap the pile. Hilarity ensues. Top tip: clear the table before starting!
9. Poetry for Neanderthals
Players: 2+ (teams)
Suggested Age: 7+
Convenience: Small box, inflatable club optional!
Strategy vs Luck: Wordplay and creativity
Poetry for Neanderthals is a word guessing game which requires players to speak in single-syllable words, caveman-style. It’s funny, loud, and great for older kids and adults.
10. Cockroach Poker
Players: 2-6
Suggested Age: 8+
Convenience: Small deck of cards, super portable
Strategy vs Luck: Strategy, bluffing, and a bit of luck
Cockroach Poker is a hilarious bluffing game where players pass cards to each other and claim (truthfully or not) what’s on the card. The aim isn’t to win but to avoid losing – whoever collects four cards of the same type first is out. The rules are simple, but the fun comes from outwitting your opponents and spotting who’s bluffing.
Final Thoughts
With a couple of these games in your bag, you’ll never be stuck for family fun on your travels. While you’re waiting for a connection, relaxing after a day of adventure, or killing time in a tent on a rainy day, these lightweight games will keep everyone entertained. Happy gaming!
