What to Bring
What to pack
Barcelona is a very large, modern city with plenty of places to pick up essentials. So please don't feel like you need to over-pack for every possibility. You can find basic medicine, food, toiletries and other essentials close to the hotel for very cheap. Many times, pharmacies and other stores are also staffed by english speakers, so you can ask for help.
- Passport
- Driver's License (especially if you may be renting a car)
- Your cell phone with international data set up. You can get a sim card (or eSim) in Barcelona, but it's a hassle and your phone number would be different. Most major US carriers, however, have some international data plans that will work anywhere for a daily fee of $10 or $12. You won't need to do anything once you land, just turn on your data, and it will connect to a local network. Here's a list of a few carriers and their plans:
- Travel adapter. Spain has a different outlet than the US, so you'll need to bring one. Look for plugs that say "Type F" or "Type C". Some plugs may just say "Europe", and that's fine. If you're not sure, here's one we've used and liked.
- Battery powered fan. Barcelona can get hot, and the wedding and reception will be outside. We'll be at a higher elevation and will be watching the weather to make adjustments if needed (we don't want to be hot either!), but even when out and about in the city, it's nice to have.This is our recommendation.
What to leave at home
- Any non-dual voltage electronics like hair dryers, curling irons, etc. If you're unsure how to check, you can follow this guide. Most hotel rooms will have a hair dryer.
- You DO NOT need to worry about withdrawing or converting large amounts of cash. It's a hassle, makes it easier to lose, and you can use your card (or Apple/Google pay) everywhere in Barcelona. I would try to stick to major credit cards and avoid using debit cards, as they may be less accepted. A Visa or Mastercard will work anywhere though. Amex will be accepted in probably 90% of cases, but have a backup just in case. But in our 3 months here, we never needed to use cash. When in doubt, just ask first.
Important: an adapter (like we linked to above) is NOT the same as a converter. If your device can't support dual voltage, leave it at home. This is most commonly an issue on things that produce heat. All phones and laptops can support dual voltage and shouldn't need a converter, only an adapter. Please ask us if you're unsure.
Dress Code
For the welcome dinner, dress code is casual. For brunch after the wedding, dress code is comfortable.
For the wedding and reception, the dress code is festive! A cocktail dress code, but feel free to have a little more fun! Wear your floral patterns, bright colors and fun accessories. No shorts, no jeans, and no t-shirts.
If you're considering wearing shoes with a heel, we recommend wearing a thick, block heel, since there is gravel and uneven pavement in the ceremony and dinner areas of the venue.
Examples
