Spain — GF Gone Global

What to Pack for Spain

October · Shoulder Season

GF Snacks & Essentials

Nuts & crunchy snacks Protein-dense and shelf-stable for travel days and long stretches at sights like Park Güell, the City of Arts and Sciences, or Madrid's museums, where safe options can run out.
Texas pecans Pistachios Edamame Crunchy corn
Bars & crackers Easy to toss in a daypack for museum visits, ferry rides, or long walks between meals.
KIND protein bars Simple Mills cheddar crackers
Condiment packets Many traditional soy sauces contain wheat, so I carry tamari packets rather than relying on every restaurant having a GF option. PB packets turn any bread or fruit into a real snack.
Tamari packets PB packets
Backup GF meals Just-add-hot-water options for hotel or hostel kitchens on nights when GF dining falls through.
Instant GF noodles GF mac & cheese
Hydration & energy Electrolytes for long travel days, plus a caffeine boost for early departures.
Electrolytes Energy sticks
Celiac dining card (Spanish) A printed card explaining celiac disease and cross-contamination — faster and clearer than explaining it yourself at a busy counter. FACE, the national celiac federation, issues a more detailed version worth carrying alongside it, and most restaurant staff already recognize the blue "sin gluten" sticker and understand what it means.
Travel insurance with medical coverage Worth having on any trip, and particularly if a serious glutening ever means seeing a doctor abroad.

Travel Essentials

Documents & money Passport, ID, and any visa or entry paperwork Spain requires, plus cards and some cash. Photograph everything on your phone and leave a copy with someone at home, along with emergency contact details.
RFID card wallet Passport holder & organizer
Clothing basics Underwear, everyday socks, sleepwear, and a couple of casual outfits for evenings out, plus a sweater or sweatshirt as a mid-layer option beyond the technical pieces below. For shoes that aren't hiking boots or a rain shoe, something like this works well for everyday wear. My Pick: everyday shoes
Reusable water bottle Spanish tap water is safe to drink in Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia alike — refill freely instead of buying bottled water. My Pick
Toiletries Travel-size essentials for hotel bathrooms and shared showers — one less thing to shop for once you land. Round it out with any skincare, makeup, or period products you use daily.
Electric travel toothbrush Travel toothpaste (4-pack) Detangler hairbrush Shampoo & conditioner Body wash Lotion Sunscreen Contact solution Razor Toilet spray Hair ties Claw clip Hand sanitizer Deodorant Floss Lip balm Face wash Travel tissues Wet wipes
Travel medicine cabinet Small over-the-counter basics so a headache, allergy flare-up, or rough transit day doesn't derail the trip. Pack any prescriptions in their original bottles with a few extra days' buffer, plus bandages or blister treatment for the walking-heavy days.
Travel Advil Benadryl Dramamine
Bags & packing organization Keeps everything corralled and easy to pull out at airport security — or find in a shared hotel drawer. A plastic bag works fine for separating dirty laundry, no need to buy anything special there.
Makeup brush holder Hanging makeup bag Compression packing cubes Hardside carry-on 60L travel backpack 50L travel backpack Personal item daybag Luggage tags TSA-approved lock
Technology A portable charger for everyday sightseeing days — museums, long walks, and photo stops add up fast. Round out the tech bag with a charging cable, a wall charger for the hotel room, and an AirTag if you want to track your luggage.
Portable charger Multi-device charging cable Wall charger block AirTag
Hair styling tools Universal voltage on both, so they're safe to plug in anywhere — no separate converter needed.
Universal-voltage hair straightener Universal-voltage travel hair dryer

Optional
Travel laundry detergent Sink packets for handwashing essentials if the trip runs long enough to need a rewear. A stain remover pen and a travel-size fabric refresher cover the rest.
Detergent sheets Stain remover pen Febreze fabric refresher

Optional

Spain-Wide Essentials

EU power adapter (Type C/F) Spain uses the standard two-round-pin European plug at 230V. My Pick
Comfortable waterproof walking shoes The historic centers in Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia are best explored on foot, often over cobblestones. My Pick
Compact umbrella October brings occasional rain showers in Barcelona — pack something light for sudden downpours. My Pick
Light layers October mornings run cool (~15°C) with warmer afternoons (~22°C) in Barcelona, mild days and cool evenings in Madrid, and Valencia runs warmest of the three at up to 25°C — a light jacket covers most conditions. My Pick
Sunscreen (stronger SPF) The Mediterranean sun is strong even in October, especially on the beach or at Park Güell in Barcelona and Malvarrosa Beach in Valencia. A different formulation than the everyday sunscreen above. My Pick
Swimsuit The Mediterranean is still warm enough for swimming in early October, both in Barcelona and at Valencia's very swimmable Malvarrosa Beach. My Pick

Flight Essentials

Only relevant if you're flying into Spain — skip this section if you're already local or connecting overland.

Sleep & comfort A proper neck pillow, a sleep mask that doubles as headphones, and real noise cancellation make a long flight actually restful.
Trtl neck pillow Sleep mask with headphones Bose noise-cancelling headphones

Optional
Compression socks Helps with circulation and swelling on longer flights, especially if you're connecting through a second airport to get here. My Pick
Optional
In-flight wellness Cabin air is dry and germy — small things that make arriving feel less rough.
Nasal spray Warm eye compress Antimicrobial face spray Hydrating face mask

Optional

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a car in Spain?

No, not for this itinerary. Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia are each easy to get around without one — extensive metro and bus networks in Barcelona and Madrid, and in Valencia, a flat city where a Valenbisi bike or a walk along the Turia Gardens covers most of the sights. Getting between the three is straightforward too: Madrid's Atocha station is the country's main hub for AVE high-speed trains to both Barcelona and Valencia, so trains are the practical way to connect this itinerary without renting a car.

Is Spain safe for celiacs?

Spain scored an 8/10 for GF friendliness on my trip, helped by FACE, the national celiac association that certifies restaurant kitchens with a blue "sin gluten" sticker and pushes gluten-free menus into everyday dining. Coverage wasn't identical across all three cities: Madrid was the easiest at 8/10, with a fully dedicated GF bakery (CELICIOSO Gluten Free Bakery) and a certified GF menu at Il Piccolino della Farfalla. Barcelona came in at 7/10, including one fully dedicated GF restaurant, Restaurant en Ville. Valencia was more of a hunt at 5/10 — no dedicated GF restaurants, though spots affiliated with ACECOVA, the regional celiac association, still labeled menus clearly. Fried tapas and croquetas are the main cross-contamination risk to watch for anywhere in the country.

What's the best time to visit Spain?

I visited all three cities in October, which lined up with what each page's own data flags as shoulder season: Valencia and Madrid both list October directly in their best-months window, and Barcelona's window (May–June, September) sits right next to it. Barcelona's own travel notes call October "the sweet spot — warm enough for the beach, cool enough for walking, and far fewer crowds than summer," and Madrid's page specifically flags August as worth skipping because of the heat and how empty the city gets. If you're weighing shoulder-season months across all three, aim for May or October.

GF Friendliness

What to Pack for Spain

Frequently Asked Questions