Are we the only people that get to the airport and realize that we forgot something we really wanted to bring on our trip? It may be an iPhone charger or something simple as your favourite moisturizer. No matter what it is it still sucks. Sounds familiar? It’s happened to us so many times that we’ve decided it’s time to stop this from happening. So now we have created a packing list!

Pin for pinterest of Packing list for Spain!

It may be your first trip abroad or your 100th but time and time again we make the same mistake and forget something important. This time when you land in Spain you won’t have that problem because you’re going to prepare beforehand and not have that feeling of forgetting something while you’re sitting on the airplane. You’ll be able to use our packing list for Spain that came in handy on our last trip to Tenerife.

Having a packing list doesn’t only help you not forget anything, it also speeds up the packing process. So hopefully, this packing list for Spain makes your life a whole lot easier and saves you the hassle of trying to think of what to bring.

We’ll share a list of all the items we brought ourselves on our trip to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. This packing list contains all the standard things that every traveller will need while visiting the island of Tenerife and also accessories that are nice to have for hiking, exploring, and even if you have to work remotely while you’re on your trip.

Download the list here so you can print it out and check off the items as you pack for your trip!

A girl hiking a beautiful mountain in Tenerife, Spain.

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Packing list for Spain: Accessories

#1 LifeStraw Water Bottle

If you haven’t heard about LifeStraw water bottles before, your life is about to change forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but it could definitely make it better. Life Straw water bottles are different from regular water bottles because they come with a built-in filter that will literally make any water drinkable.

On top of that, they are just so handy and eco-friendly. Even though it might seem like it’s just a nice accessory to have we definitely recommend buying one to bring along wherever you go.

They aren’t too expensive and the cost of buying plastic water bottles adds up in no time and that’s really bad for the environment as we all know. It’s nice to know that wherever you go you can fill up your water bottle and know that it’s drinkable. You can even drink the Spanish tap water with it! We’ve had ours for a while now and absolutely love them. They’re great for day trips, hiking, and trips abroad!

#2 Reef Safe Sunscreen

Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion | Vegan and Reef Friendly

I mean the least we can do is to prevent shitty chemicals from going into the ocean (aka all the cheap sunscreens we buy), right? So instead we can get a reef safe sunscreen. It’s totally worth spending a bit of extra money (and honestly it’s not much) on buying a sunscreen that won’t negatively impact the ocean’s ecosystem, reefs, and animals that live in the sea. #doitfortheturtles

It’s such a minor thing that makes such a difference! Especially for all the wildlife in the oceans. We can promise you with the warm weather in Tenerife you’ll be escaping the heat by jumping into the ocean many times! 

So why not do our part and buy some eco-friendly sunscreen? Thankfully nowadays lots of beaches will actually have stands selling these but we noticed in Tenerife and specifically Puerto de la Cruz they didn’t So it’s best if you can order some beforehand. We got SunBun for our trip to Tenerife and the smell of coconut is so good – and knowing this sunscreen is better for the environment makes it a win win!

#3 Snorkeling Gear

Mask Fin Snorkel Set Adults

Ok, one of the best parts of going somewhere warm like Spain and Tenerife in specific is to be able to go and explore the great big ocean. Of course, Tenerife is known for its surfing and extreme water sports but the snorkelling is fantastic as well. So if you plan to go for a while it might be worth investing in your own snorkel gear.

You won’t have to worry about sharing with other people, and if you go enough times it’ll pay for itself (compared to renting gear). Plus you’ll be able to bring it on any future trips you go on. It does tend to take up a bit of room but it is totally worth it if you can make room for it. When we travel between the two of us we usually just pay for 1 big piece of luggage and then bring our own carry-ons!

#4 Water Shoes

Mens Womens Water Shoes Quick Dry

Something so simple as water shoes can make your vacation that much better. An easy accessory to pack in your suitcase that will make your time at the beach a lot nice. You won’t have to get sand all over your day-to-day shoes and you will also have a lot more comfort at the beach and in the water with these!

Especially in Tenerife where you can find tons of black sand beaches, it gets absolutely killer on the bottom of your feet if you go barefoot. And there are a lot of rocks in the ocean as well which can make it quite painful to actually go out there barefoot. So water shoes make a world of a difference here.

#5 Sunglasses

Polarized Sunglasses for Men and Women | 100% UV Blocking

One thing we’d highly recommend is bringing a cheap pair of sunglasses on your trip. You can get replicas of your favourite brands for dirt cheap online before you go. Then you won’t have that stress of damaging your nice pair while you’re at the beach or forgetting them while you’re hiking up to the best sunset spot in Tenerife. So make your life easy and buy a cheap pair before you go! =) 

#6 Cordless Headphones

Wireless Earbuds for Android & iPhone

We’ve both had cordless headphones for the past year and they make a world of a difference. It might seem like a bit of a luxury but they’re so nice to have, especially while you’re travelling!

If you’re lying at the beach listening to an audiobook, a podcast, or music you won’t have to worry about having your phone out in the sun overheating since you can put it in your day bag and not worry about the cords dangling everywhere.

#7 Waterproof Phone Case

Not everyone has an underwater camera, and nowadays phone cameras are so good, so why not just use yours underwater? It’s a nice little accessory to have and to add to your packing list for Spain. If you plan to swim with some fish and want to film them for some memories to look back on this is great to have!

And it’s definitely a much cheaper alternative than buying an underwater camera. There are tons of universal waterproof phone cases so you can just pick and choose which one you like best.

#8 Universal Adapter

Universal Travel Power Adapter

If you travel often then this has probably saved you so many times. Spain has the same outlets as the majority of Europe, so if you’re from Europe you won’t have a problem but if you’re like me (Dom) from Canada then your chargers won’t work in Spain unless you have a universal adapter.

A universal adapter is nice to have because that means that no matter where you go, you can use it. I (Jo) used to have 6 different adapters, and it just takes up a lot of space and things get lost. Now I have a universal one and I love it. This one specifically also has room for you to insert a USB cord so you can charge both your phone and laptop or camera or whatever at the same time! So easy 🙂

Just a small little gadget but it does so much. It’s one little thing we go nowhere without!

#9 Power Bank

INIU Power Bank

If you’re planning on doing some day trips and spending a lot of time outdoors it’s nice to have a power bank in case your phone battery gets low or you need to recharge your camera.

In Tenerife, you actually have to buy bus tickets on your phone and scan the QR codes that are on the bus. You don’t want a dead phone when you’re heading back from a hike with no way to show your ticket.

So it’s always nice to have a nice power bank with you in case something like this happens. 

#10 Quick Dry Towel

JML Microfiber Bath Towel 2 Pack

No matter where you go it’s nice to pack light and not have to bring too much. Especially if you’re not planning on bringing luggage and only have a carry-on, then a quick dry towel can be very handy. It takes up almost no space and is very useful. 

It’s also great if you go visit some of the beaches along the coast and only bring a day bag. It fits comfortably in a little backpack and doesn’t take up to much room so you can fit more than just a towel in your bag.

#11 Dry Bag

Waterproof Dry Bag | 20L

It’s perfect if you’re like us and love going on fun adventures while you’re travelling where you may end up getting wet. We’ve been there before and luckily have had our day bag which ended up saving all our gadgets from getting water damage.

The dry bag was a blessing while we were in Dubrovnik kayaking and also while we were white water rafting in Missoula. It folds up so nicely too that it takes up next to no space.

#12 Hiking Shoes

So almost every hike we did in Tenerife we wore our hiking shoes and the few we didn’t we regretted the decision instantly. The trails on the island are absolutely beautiful but a lot of the hikes we did do have sections with loose rocks and not always flat terrain.

So if you have the room, bring a pair of hiking shoes for the trip to make it easier on your feet while hiking in Spain.

Dom and Jo hiking in Tamaino, Tenerife.

Packing list for Spain: Necessary items

Important travel items

  • Passport
  • Journal 
  • Travel insurance 
  • Drivers license 
  • Visa or debit card 
  • Euros (get the money from your bank before you go since it’s cheaper)
  • Phone, camera, gadgets, and chargers for all your electronics 

Clothing & footwear

  • Underwear (enough for 7-10 days)
  • Sport and dress socks
  • A few pairs of shorts (runners, hiking, casual, sandals)
  • Casual, dress, and sports shirts (few of each)
  • 1-2 pairs of pants 
  • Pair of sandals
  • Pair of sneakers
  • Definitely a few bathing suits
  • 1 sweater

Other things to bring

  • Day bag
  • Toothbrush
  • Hairbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Body lotions
  • Other toiletries

With all of these items listed above, we’ve made a full packing list for you – ready to print and use while you’re packing! Fill out the form here and get it straight to your inbox!

This works as a packing list for Tenerife, Spain, and anywhere else that consists of sunny weather, beaches, and the ocean! The whole process of planning a trip and being organized is making a list beforehand to make sure you’re not forgetting anything along the way. It also makes it easier to check things off as you go. 

Creating a checklist for Spain made it super easy to remember everything for us and it’s probably the first time we didn’t end up forgetting an iPhone charger or even our GoPro. So that way you don’t need to spend money on things you’ve forgotten at home.

We hope this will help make your packing easier and maybe you can start with the things you have to bring and if you have some extra room you can maybe bring a few extra items. If not, you can always purchase some of the items along your travels. 

Jo exploring the coast of Tenerife.

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We hope you enjoy your time in Tenerife or anywhere else in Spain that you’re heading to. We were thrilled to explore Tenerife and share some of the best hikes on the island with you all. We loved this island and hope you will too!

Have fun!

Dom & Jo
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