What to take to Barcelona: a Packing List for Barcelona in Summer

Although it seems logical, before visiting Barcelona you must take under consideration the weather during your trip. After all, you need to be ready and bring everything you might need to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Barcelona has more than 3,000 hours of sun per year and temperatures and humidity are usually high during the day and also during the night. The terraces, parks, and beaches are always a nice place to have a break during your Summer trip.

What to Pack on a Trip to Barcelona in Summer

If you want to know how to make the ideal suitcase for your holidays in Barcelona, do not miss the following list:

Sun Lotion

In the middle of the Summer (July and August) Barcelona gets very hot. Day and night, the city has high and intense temperatures. Sunscreen is an essential element of your suitcase. You don’t want to end up with a major sunstroke, do you? UV rays are dangerous, not only in Summer but during the whole year. They can cause sunburns and skin damage among other injuries, so you need to be aware of being protected all the time. We recommend you using sunscreen regardless of whether it’s Summer or winter. Even when the day is cloudy, use the sun lotion. Your skin will be thankful.

Sunglasses

We have already talked about how much the sun can hurt. But, since most of the people seem to not have enough respect for the sun, here is another great hazard: the damage in your eyes. UV rays can affect your corneas, affecting your sight, especially if you look at the sun directly. That’s why good sunglasses are so important. The hottest hours of the day are between 12 PM and 6 PM, so make sure you have them on your backpack before setting foot on the streets. Remember: to visit Barcelona and enjoy its monuments you will need a healthy couple of eyes.

Summer Clothes

Barcelona has great weather even when it’s not Summer. That’s why you should be prepared when coming to Barcelona in Summer, especially about your clothes. We are not just talking about shorts, sandals or flip-flops. It’s important for you to pack the appropriate clothing for the season: bikini or swimsuit for the beach or pool, a hat to protect yourself from the sun during your tours or at the beach, and light clothes made with natural fibers, if possible, like shirts or dresses. Barcelona is a city with high humidity, with which the heat intensifies, but there are also some nights during the Summer when the temperature drops a little and the sea breeze can make you feel chilly. So make sure to bring a light sweater for these nights if you do not want to catch a Summer cold. And last but not least, a towel for the beach! Hotels in Barcelona provide you with towels, but normally these are for the room and also for the pool. So you may need one at least for the beach. You can check it with your hotel before coming.

Comfortable Shoes

Remember Nancy Sinatra´s song “These boots are made for walking”? Well, that’s exactly what you need to bring to Barcelona. Visiting a city means walking a lot, so remember to wear your most comfortable shoes. If you buy shoes in Barcelona and you want to wear them during your visit, buy some bandages in case you are going to walk a lot with them. New shoes need a little time to adjust to your feet. Sneakers or soft shoes will do the trick.

A Good City Guide of Barcelona

Getting lost in Barcelona is very easy because, despite its excellent distribution, it can give you the feeling that all buildings are the same, especially if it is the first time you visit it. To avoid this, make sure you bring a good guide. There are especial guides that have not only the location of the monuments and the distribution of the streets but a lot of additional touristic information. A tip: use the mountain and the sea location for orientation. They are always up and down the city!

A Plug Adapter

This is something that people never consider when they come to Barcelona. In Spain (and the rest of Europe, except for the United Kingdom) the plugs are of the F type (two parallel holes). Your hotel might have a spare one for you to borrow, but since most of the tourist forget too, they probably won’t have any. In airports, they sell very cheap adapters of different types. And also there are some stores in Barcelona where you can buy a plug adapter. Anyway, it would be better if you bring one from home. Otherwise, forget about charging your phone, laptop or electric toothbrush. The horror!

Camera to Take Pictures

We can’t trust our memory, that’s why they invented pictures and cameras. Barcelona is one of the most photographed cities in the world because of its beauty. You will need a good camera to immortalize all those monuments and happy memories with your travel partners. Keep it always at your site during the visit, so you can capture all the beautiful Barcelona views without having to worry about losing it.

Selfie Stick

Sometimes it’s difficult to take pictures of yourself with the whole background, especially when it’s a group photo. That’s why our recommendation is to use a flexible tripod with remote control or a selfie stick. They sell them in almost every Barcelona souvenir store, but it be will cheaper if you bring it from home. The other choice is bothering people asking them to take a picture of you. You can do that, but the selfie stick will allow you to spend more time and work on the perfect snap.

Money in cash

Nowadays you can travel with just credit or debit cards. In Barcelona, it is common for people to pay with a card and most establishments have data phones, although sometimes with a minimum purchase amount. Ask before in the markets. There are lots of stores and restaurants in markets that only accept money in cash. However, it never hurts to carry cash (in this case it would be euros, Europe official currency), at least to buy simple things such as bottles of water, snacks or souvenirs. It will be so much easier.

Conversation guide in Spanish and/or Catalan

In Barcelona, there are two official languages, Castilian (also known as Spanish), the official language in most of the country, and Catalan, the language of Catalonia. Having a guide with basic phrases in both idioms will come in handy. In addition, Catalans feel very proud of their language and talking a little bit it’s a good way to meet local people. Having an internet connection in your smartphone that would allow you to connect with google translator at any time would also be a great idea. Just in case.

Enjoy your Summer Trip!