What to pack for Barcelona in May

UV index hits 9.4 in May, which burns exposed skin in under 15 minutes.

Fourteen and a half hours of daylight reflect off the Mediterranean and off building glass throughout the day.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Crowded urban streets mean minor cuts happen, and tap water safety doesn't prevent all stomach trouble.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Eight rain days and 70°F highs mean clothes take up space, so a 35 to 45 liter bag fits overhead.

Daylight runs 14.5 hours, so the daypack holds what you grab for a full morning and afternoon.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Humidity sits at 76 percent and the temperature climbs to 70°F, so cotton clings to skin within hours.

UV hits 9.4 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

The sun climbs high in a Mediterranean sky with eight rain days scattered through the month.

Tap water is safe but a bottle beats stopping at cafes during 14.5 hours of walking daylight.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel and urban crowds create the conditions for pickpockets to work.

Airport crowds and train stations blur together when you move through a major European city.

Eight rain days mean damp clothes pile up, and cubes keep wet items from soaking the rest.

Humidity at 76 percent and constant walking breed sweat, so laundry happens twice a week.

Airport noise and crowded metro cars mean silence becomes rare in a major city.

Wind at 18 km/h dries lips faster than inland air, and the UV index peaks at 9.4.

Barcelona crowds mean constant contact with handrails, doorknobs, and other people's hands.

One outlet per guesthouse room is standard, so short cables let you charge while using devices.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

International borders require the passport on hand, not buried in luggage at the bottom.

Shared hostel lockers and checked bags need locks in a city that sees millions of visitors.

Humidity and sea air corrode metal, so a hanging bag keeps toiletries away from moisture.

Train and bus rides cross Spain, and the pillow helps when seats don't recline.