When you’re travelling with family or friends, space in your bag is precious – but that doesn’t mean fun has to be left at home. Card games are the ultimate travel companion: compact, quick to learn, and brilliant at bringing together kids and adults around the same table (or airport gate, train seat, or hotel balcony).
Whether you’re heading off on a long-haul flight, a road trip, or a lazy beach holiday, here are some of the best card games to take travelling, with something for every age and attention span.
We have provided links to these at Amazon for ease, however they are also be available in a wide range of retailers.
Monopoly Deal
Best for: Ages 8+, families, competitive adults
Why it’s great for travel:
Monopoly Deal is the king of the card games and takes everything you love about classic Monopoly and squeezes it into a deck of cards – no board, no pieces, and no two-hour commitment.
Games last around 15-30 minutes, rules are simple enough for kids, and adults still get the thrill of strategy, stealing properties, and dramatic reversals. It’s perfect for evenings in a hotel or killing time before dinner.
UNO
Best for: Ages 6+, mixed-age groups
Why it’s great for travel:
UNO is a universal crowd-pleaser. Almost everyone knows the rules, it works just as well with two players as with six, and kids can genuinely beat adults.
It’s fast, colourful, and endlessly replayable. It is a particularly good game to play with children given the ease.
Bonus: There are countless themed decks if your kids are into specific films or characters.
Cluedo Card Game
Best for: Ages 8+, mystery lovers
Why it’s great for travel:
This clever card version of Cluedo delivers all the deduction of the classic board game without the bulk. Players race to solve the mystery by collecting clues and making deductions.
It’s engaging enough for adults but still accessible for children, making it ideal for family holidays where you want something a bit more thoughtful without being heavy.
Sushi Go!
Best for: Ages 8+, families and friends
Why it’s great for travel: Sushi Go! is Holiday Nerds firm favourite. It is a fast, adorable card-drafting game where players build the best sushi meal by choosing cards each round.
It’s easy to learn, visually appealing, and plays quickly – perfect for short bursts between activities. Kids love the artwork, adults enjoy the light strategy, and no one gets bored. Don’t worry if you don’t like sushi or know any of the sushi names it is not important for the game.
Maponimoes
Best for: Ages 6+, educational fun
Why it’s great for travel: Maponimoes is a brilliant game and has the benefit of also helping teaching geography at the same time. It’s a dominoes-style game where players match adjoining countries, making it both engaging and educational.
It’s especially good for travel as it gets kids thinking about the world they’re exploring—ideal for long journeys or rainy afternoons.
The only downside is that it can take up a bit of space, so it’s not ideal for trains or airports. That said, it’s perfect for spreading out on an Airbnb kitchen table or coffee table.
A Few More Brilliant Travel Card Games to Consider
A lightning-fast game of observation where players race to spot matching symbols. Works for all ages and is perfect for short attention spans.
Simple rules, small deck, and surprisingly tactical. Great for teens and adults, and ideal for evenings when kids are in bed.
Silly, strategic, and laugh-out-loud funny. Best for slightly older kids (7+) and adults who don’t mind a bit of chaos.
A fantastic choice for younger children, combining memory and simple strategy with charming artwork.
A fast and funny game of bluffing and timing where players try to sneak points while avoiding getting caught. Easy to learn, full of laughs, and great for groups of all ages.
A tense, quick-thinking card game where players plan the perfect heist while watching every move. Simple rules with plenty of suspense make it ideal for short, exciting rounds.
A clever push-your-luck game where players choose when to stop and when to risk it all. Quick to play, easy to understand, and perfect for players who enjoy a bit of strategy without the wait.
Why Card Games Are Perfect for Travel
- Compact and lightweight – no bulky boxes
- Quick to play – ideal for short windows of time
- Easy to learn – no long rulebooks
- Inclusive – kids and adults can play together
- No screens required – a rare holiday win
Final Thoughts
A small pouch of card games can provide hours of entertainment, spark laughter, and create some of the best holiday memories. Taking a couple of options means you’ll have something for every mood – whether you want competitive fun, quick laughs, or something a bit more thoughtful.
Once you start packing them you’ll wonder how you ever travelled without them.
Holiday Nerd 