Perfect Spanish Packing List: Tried & Tested!

It’s always been a winner of a destination and let’s be honest, it’s a winner for a reason!

Yes, with plenty of stunning coastline, a pleasant climate, some incredible cities to explore, tons of history, great hiking and let’s not forget, a good dose of juicy jamon (for the meat-eaters among you!) thrown in for good measure, Spain certainly boasts it all!

Because yes one of the great things about travelling Spain is that it’s easy and safe to travel here and that the diversity the country offers is second to none.

So no matter whether you want to ski in the Pyrenees, sightsee in Madrid, beach it up in the south or get your Gaudi on in Barcelona, I’ve got you covered with this perfect Spanish packing list.

Tried and tested from my own adventures in this country, from active days and sightseeing shenanigans through to lazy beach days and even a bit of nightlife thrown in for good measure, this complete checklist has you covered for all eventualities…

So let’s dig in…

 

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#1 Pack Thin Layers

Layers are always a good option when it comes to travel and Spain is no exception.

The best way to cover all bases without packing huge amounts for your trip to this country, taking thin layers that you can take on and off as the weather changes is crucial.

This is especially true if you’re travelling in Spain during either Spring or Autumn, when changeable weather – especially in the mountains areas – can mean you need to bring sunglasses and t-shirts, as well as sweaters and rainjackets!

It’s also a good idea to pack clothes you can layer if you’re travelling across Spain, i.e. seeing multiple regions rather than staying in one spot.

The weather really can differ quite a lot between the sunny southern spot of Andalusia and the northern mountainous regions around Bilboa for example, so packing layers means you can be assured of covering all eventualities without over-packing and having to lug around huge suitcases!

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#2 Keep It Lightweight!

And talking about keeping things light, it’s definitely worth taking some time to quickly cover ways you can pack everything you need for Spain without being too weighed down!

And if you manage to condense your stuff down well, then the whole Spanish packing list I give below should fit into a 40-50l backpack or medium-sized wheelie suitcase.

I never take anything bigger, even when I’m travelling for 3-6 months at a time, so you’ve got no excuse!

This lightweight and durable spinner suitcase, or this 50l Aura backpack from Osprey make great options and both would be brilliantly accompanied by some packing cubes!

Yes these guys are the answer to all your packing problems my friends, and if you want to compress your gear to take up less space, as well as have it nicely organised, I highly suggest you get some!

I absolutely love these Osprey packing cubes and personally would never consider heading off to Spain, or indeed anywhere, without!

 

#3 Packing for Hiking

And even though this packing list is designed to be light, it doesn’t exclude the things you need to pack to enjoy some of Spain’s best travel adventures.

And first up here is hiking, which is especially great in the north of the country, as well as some of the Spanish islands such as Mallorca and Tenerife.

A thin, light waterproof and windproof jacket will be very handy for hiking in Spain, because up in elevated parts the wind can often be quite aggressive!

As always for hiking, I recommend garments with lots of pockets so you have easy access to things like tissues, camera, sanitiser, snacks etc and bringing good walking shoes to ensure good grip and support.

Unless you’re hiking for some seriously long distances, good hiking shoes like this, rather than hiking boots, would be my preference for Spain.

And, if you’re out and about a lot, then I highly recommend investing in a power pack, so that you can charge your phone when you’re hiking in Spain too.

My go-to brand here is Anker and I actually have 2 of their power packs – one that comes out with me during the day and the other that is charging at my accommodation, so it’s ready to swap over.

For my big camera, I also have a spare battery, so that I can swap this around and keep snapping when I’m out and about.

And don’t forget a good day pack to carry all your gear in!

 

#4 Packing for the Coast

No question, bringing some swimwear and a beach towel are a great idea for Spain, especially if you’re heading to Malaga, Marbella, Valencia, Barcelona, the Balearic or Canary Islands.

UV-protected sunglasses and a 30+ SPF are also great items for your Spanish packing list, especially in the summer when things can get really hot here to say the least!

I’d also advise bringing a good moisturiser you can use on your hands, body and face after a day in the sun and finally don’t forget a handy sarong and a dry bag to keep your stuff safe, dry and sand-free on the beach (especially any electricals).

 

#5 Packing for City Sightseeing

Spain is a liberal western European country so, in cities, anything goes!

In the summer, you can absolutely wander around in shorts and t-shirts and in colder months trousers and a thin sweater would be ideal. Unless you’re heading to Madrid that is, as winter can be freezing here and you’ll need some serious layers and a good coat to deal with the low temps.

I also recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes if you’re visiting any Spanish cities, as there’s bound to be a lot of sightseeing involved!

Comfortable walking shoes, or supportive sandals like Arizona Birkenstocks are all good options depending on what time of year you are visiting.

A camera, a good day pack, a hat and suncream are also must-have packing items when visiting cities in Spain, especially in the summer.

As tap water is drinkable in this country, it’s a good idea to carry a water bottle with you when sightseeing to stay hydrated.

 

 

 

Complete Packing List for Spain

So now we come to my perfect packing list for Spain – a full item-by-item breakdown of everything you should bring!

The length of your stay in Spain will dictate the amount of each item that you need, but here’s a checklist of all the gear you should consider as a baseline.

I’ve outlined the amount of each item you should bring, but do remember this is just a guide, so I advise using this checklist to get everything you need and then tailoring the quantities for your trip.

Then all you’ve got to worry about is fitting it into your luggage allowance!

 

Clothes

• 1x Thin Jacket
• 7x Singlets / T-Shirts
• 3x Thin Sweater / Jumper/ Active Fleece
• 2x Leggings
• 2x Jeans or Evening Trousers
• 1x Hiking / Casual Day Trousers
• 3x Shorts
• 1-2x Evening Dresses
• 1x Casual Jumpsuits
• 7x Underwear & Socks
• 2x Swimwear
• 3x Scarves / Buffs / Wraps
• 1x Nightwear

 

Footwear

• 1x Day Sandals
• 1x Trainers / Walking Shoes
• 1x Pumps or Evening Footwear

 

Toiletries

• Thin Toiletries Bag with Hook
• Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
• Anti-Bacterial Soap
• Deodorant
• Face Cleanser, Toner, Serum & Moisturiser
• Sunscreen & AfterSun
• Lip Salve
• Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
• Razor & Spare Blades
• Nail Scissors & Nail File
• Tweezers & Safety Pins
• Cotton Buds / Pads
• Hair Bands & Hair Brudh

 

Electricals

• Smartphone & Bluetooth Headphones
• Portable Power Pack
• Good Camera & GoPro
• Lens, Spare Battery, Memory Card & Charger
• Euro Adapter
• Headlamp & Spare Batteries

 

Other Things!

• Glasses / Contact Lenses if you wear them
• Sunglasses with UV Protection
• Eye Mask & Earplugs
• Day Pack
• Dry Bag
• Water Bottle
• Sarong & Beach Towel
• Travel Insurance
• Passport & International Driving License
• Credit Card and Debit Card
• Euros Cash

 

PIN IT TO PINTEREST!

 

So there it is, my complete list of what to pack for your travels in Spain.

Any suggestions to add? I’d love to hear those too!

Please drop them into the comments below and I’ll get back to you.