Ultimate Female Packing List for Spain in Spring

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Like a lot of places, Spain’s weather can be variable in the spring. I always think of Spain as a hot country, which it is in the height of summer, but then I forget that it does cool off around the edges.

I recently spent a bit over a week in the little known town of Úbeda in Andalucia and another week or so in Madrid, Toledo, and Salamanca in late March/early April. The weather ranged from warm and sunny (think short-sleeved shirts and cocktails on the terrace) to cold, windy, rainy, and OMG I think it’s actually snowing.

As you can imagine, this makes packing somewhat tricky and you may be tempted to overpack with all those ‘just in case’ items. Never fear, we have the ultimate female packing list for Spain in spring to help you pack light but be prepared!

The Weather In Spain in Spring

Many people think that Spring (March, April, and May) is the best time to visit Spain before the temperatures get too hot in the summer. 

The weather can, for the most part, be described as pleasant, however, this can fluctuate and it can get as cold as 41°F (5°C) in March. On the opposite end, by May it can get as warm as the low 80s (26-28°C). 

Don’t be taken by surprise by the occasional rain, especially in the North during March and April. These showers are brief but intense, so you’ll want to be prepared. 

Do some research about where you’re going before you hop on the plane. The northern half of the country and any areas that are mountainous are likely to have more fluctuating weather in the spring, especially early spring. Southern Spain along the coast is more likely to be warm.

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Here’s my packing list for Spain in spring:

The Ultimate Female Packing List for Spain in Spring

Luggage

For this trip, I packed in my REI Trail 40 backpack. I love that bag. I also brought a purse and my REI Stuff bag, which really came in handy for days when I needed more than what fits into my purse. 

My two packing cubes helped organize small things and get my clothes to take up a little less space. As always, I was happy to be traveling carry-on only.

• Read about why we think solo female travelers should go carry-on only.

Clothing

I normally pack for one week no matter how long the trip is because I know I can do laundry along the way.

However, on this trip I knew I wouldn’t have time for laundry until about 11 days in, so I packed a little extra. In the end, I couldn’t find an open laundromat, so I washed some socks and underwear in the sink and wore my shirts twice each.

So you most definitely do not need quite as much as I packed, but I wanted to show you just how much can fit into a 40L backpack if you really want to.

Editors Note: If you pack the right types of clothing (especially the right fabrics) and get comfortable with hand-washing things as you go, you will only need a fraction of the items on this list.

• 10 short sleeved shirts – Depending on your trip, you can probably bring half as many shirts.
• 2 long sleeved shirts – On cooler days I was layering a long sleeved shirt over my short sleeved shirt, and on cold days, it was one of several layers.
• 1 hoodie or lightweight jacket – I actually had both of these because I was coming from Berlin (where I live) and it was still quite cold there. Turns out, I wore the jacket over the hoodie about 50% of my time in Spain.
• 2 pairs of jeans – Again, 2 pairs might be a bit overkill for you, but I wore one pair on the plane and packed another because I knew it would be a while until I got to a laundromat. You could pack different travel-friendly pants instead to change things up.
• 12 pairs of underwear – I was hoping to avoid hand-washing clothes on my trip to Spain so I packed a few more than normal. And then I had to wash them in the sink anyway since I was traveling for 19 days.
• 2 bras
• 6 pairs of socks – I washed these in the sink many times.
• Something to sleep in – About half the time I was there, it was cold enough to want to wear pants to bed, so I was glad to have my gym pants. Leggings or yoga pants would work, too.

If you like to wear dresses when you travel pack one or two that can transition from warm to cold weather. I never once felt under-dressed in jeans though.

One of my biggest tips is to pack clothes that you can layer easily. That way, you can easily put on or take off layers depending on the weather.

Shoes

• Comfortable walking shoes – Spain has lots of great sights to see and lots of cobblestone roads, so make sure you wear shoes that won’t hurt your feet.
• Flip flops – Only necessary if you’re staying in a hostel or going to a beach area that’s actually warm enough in the spring.
• Flats – Pack a pair of fold-up flats if you’re bringing any dresses.

• If you’re unsure of what shoes to have on your packing list for Spain in spring, check out this blog post, How to Choose Your Travel Shoes.

Toiletries

I didn’t pack anything out of the ordinary here. If you forget anything, there are plenty of shops in Spain where you can buy toiletries or other items you might need.

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Shower gel or soap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Solid perfume
• Lotion
• Moisturizer
• Lip balm
• Razor
• Brush and hair ties
• Prescription medication
• Solid sunscreen and solid bug repellent
• DivaCup

• Read why solid toiletries are perfect for carry-on only.

Miscellaneous Items

For the first time in a long time, I did not pack a sarong. With no beach time in my schedule, I didn’t see much need for it on my packing list for Spain in spring.

• Sunglasses – Helpful on the days when it was sunny.
• Scarf – For the other days when it was windy and cold. We love the Speakeasy Hidden Pocket Travel Scarf.
• Umbrella – I know lots of people advise against packing an umbrella. However, it rained enough in every city I visited that I was glad to have mine with me. Sometimes the hood on a rain jacket just isn’t enough to keep your head from getting wet.
• Non-liquid laundry detergent sheets – I travel with Travelon non-liquid laundry detergent sheets for almost every trip as a back-up. I hate washing clothes in the sink, but sometimes it’s necessary. They aren’t great for bigger items like shirts or jeans, but these work really well for socks and underwear.
• Granola bars – This might not be necessary for you, but I have several dietary restrictions, and having some of my own snacks with me really helps. I had two boxes of granola bars jammed into my backpack along with everything else I’ve listed here.

Electronics

• Laptop – I worked a little while I was in Spain, and I Skyped with my husband during the first 10 days while I was traveling solo. Consider whether you really need to travel with a laptop.
• Kindle – I read a lot while in transit and during a few really nice days while sitting on a terrace or in a plaza.
• Camera – I took lots of pictures throughout my trip to Spain.
• Plug adapter – Spain uses European style plugs. If you’re coming from a different part of the world, pack a plug adapter.
• Batteries, chargers, cords

• Read our tips for packing and protecting electronics.

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Visiting Spain in Spring

Toledo makes a good day trip from Madrid, but we enjoyed being there for a few days. Late morning and early afternoon was crowded, even in late March, so it was nice to explore outside of the day-tripping hours.

Not many tourists visit Salamanca, but it’s a big university town and worth going for a couple of days. The main plaza is gorgeous, the cathedral is unique in that it combines the old one with the new one, and it’s just a lively city with a great atmosphere.

Spain is a wonderful country for a food tour. I’ve taken a tapas tour in two different cities now, and I enjoyed them both. I definitely recommend searching for a food tour no matter where your trip takes you so you can learn about the cuisine.

There are a few things in Spain that are unique to Spring and if you are visiting then, you should definitely make a plan to see one or two of them.

Take a trip to see the cherry blossom trees

When you think of cherry blossoms, Spain is not the first place that comes to mind. However, if you are visiting Spain when the cherry blossoms are blooming you would be missing out if you decided not to see them.

One of the best places to view them is the Jerte Valley in Cáceres, less than three hours from Madrid, where two million cherry blossom trees bloom at the end of March and beginning of April and transform the landscape.

During the Cherry Blossom Festival, you’ll find exhibitions, medieval markets, open-air celebrations, and tasting sessions in the towns in the valley.

Visit one of the 16 Spanish National Parks

Spring is the perfect time to visit one of the 16 Spanish National Parks, when they are lush and exploding with life. Take a trip to The Lakes of Covadonga in the Picos de Europa National Park or watch the birds, deer, and lynxes in the Doñana National Park.

April Fair in Seville

The April Fair generally takes place two weeks after the Easter weekend. What started as a cattle show in 1847 has now transformed into a week-long fiesta filled with music, food, and dancing. After a week of celebrations, a spectacular fireworks display at midnight ends the fair.

Corpus Christi Fiesta in Granada

At the end of May and beginning of June, the Corpus Christi, the biggest party in Granada takes place. You can expect Spanish light opera, concerts, exhibitions, food stalls, and bullfighting. The fiesta begins with the lighting of thousands of bulbs and ends with a fireworks show a week later.

Courtyards Festival in Cordoba

During the first fortnight in May, the gates to the courtyards in the old quarter of Cordoba are opened. The courtyards are filled with pots of geraniums, jasmine, orange blossom, and carnations. Join in the street celebrations, watch flamenco shows, and taste tapas from Cordoba and Montilla-Moriles wine.

Girona Flower Show

Every year in May, the temps de flors (flower season) show is held in the Barri Vell neighborhood of Girona. The city is filled with floral exhibitions that cover monuments, courtyards, and urban locations turning them into temporary ornamental gardens.

The Fallas of Valencia

From the 1st to the 19th of March, Fallas celebrations take place in Valencia. You can expect parties, food, parades, and fireworks displays. At the end of the celebration, huge paper mache statues, often satirical characters based on the previous year’s events, are set alight. 

Luxury Tourist Trains

Between the months of April and May, Spain’s most famous tourist trains run. There are a couple of different ones to choose from and most of them are vintage railways. Some run through the mountains, valleys, cliffs, and beaches. A unique way to see Spain for sure!

More Resources from HPL

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, you may want to check out these other resources from HPL:

• Ultimate Female Packing List for Southern Spain in Winter
• Ultimate Female Packing List for Barcelona in Fall
• Ultimate Female Packing List for the Camino de Santiago
• Ultimate European Train Travel Packing List

If you’re planning a trip in spring, you may want to check out these other posts on HPL:

• Ultimate Female Packing List for Japan in Spring
• Ultimate Female Packing List for Austin in Spring
• Ultimate Female Packing List for Berlin in Spring
• Ultimate Female Packing List for Transylvania in Early Spring

Have you been to Spain in Spring before? Is there anything we’re missing from this packing list for Spain in spring? Let us know in the comments below.