Two days is a short time in a new city, and most of it should be spent on the city. But with a little preparation you can play three proper games, meet some locals and still have time for the museum, the market and a long lunch. The trick is to decide in advance what the padel is for.

Choose the purpose of each game

On a short trip you do not have time for a bad match. Before you go, decide what you want from each session.

A social game with local players at your level, ideally through a club's open match board or an Americano.
A lesson with a local coach, which guarantees a court, a good hour of padel and a conversation about the city's clubs.
A game with your travel partner, booked at a time that suits the rest of the day.

Three sessions of ninety minutes each is plenty. More than that and the trip becomes a training camp.

Pick clubs by location, not reputation

The best club in the city is no use if it takes an hour each way to reach. Look at where you are staying and find clubs within twenty or thirty minutes by public transport. In big cities such as Madrid, Paris or London, a well-connected club near a metro line saves you the time you would otherwise lose in taxis.

Covered courts are worth paying a little extra for in cities with unsettled weather. A rained-off session on a two-day trip cannot be moved to tomorrow.

A sample plan

Day one, morning. Arrive, drop your bags and book a late morning lesson close to your hotel. It is the easiest way to shake off the journey and gives you a local contact.

Day one, evening. Join an open match or social format. Evening sessions are when local players are on court, and the bar afterwards is often the best introduction to a neighbourhood.

Day two, morning. Play early with your travel partner, then shower, check out and spend the rest of the day sightseeing before your flight.

Book before you fly

On a short trip, walk-in courts are a gamble, especially at weekends. Book at least the first session before you leave home, and register your level on the club's app or with the desk so you can be matched for open games. If a club asks for your level, give an honest one. Visitors who overstate it tend to have a short, quiet evening.

Travel light

You do not need a full camp kit for a city break.

One racket in a slim cover, carried in the cabin.
One pair of court shoes, which double as walking shoes only if the soles are clean. Otherwise pack light trainers too.
Two sets of playing kit and a quick-dry towel.
A small bag of overgrips and plasters.

Most clubs rent rackets and sell balls, so if hand luggage is tight, the racket can stay at home. Check the hire models before you rely on them.

Leave room for the city

The danger of a padel city break is that it becomes padel with a city attached. Keep at least one long block of each day free. Walk between the club and your next stop if the distance allows, eat where the players eat, and ask your coach or opponents for a recommendation. Padel people are generous with them, and some of the best meals on our trips have come from a tip shared over a post-match drink.

Two days is enough to play well, see a lot and come home wanting more. That last part is the point. A city that gave you three good games is a city worth returning to for a week.

Padel on a two-day city break: how to fit in three good games