Packing for a beach day is so much fun. I always love it and can’t wait to be at the ocean. And why? Simply because of two things: I can go to the beach which makes me always happy. Secondly, it means I’m finally on vacation. Whether I go to Föhr, one of the North Frisian Islands of Germany, far away like the beautiful beaches of Krabi, or just to the Isar river here in Munich – I just need to be at the beach to feel at ease. But what would a perfect beach day look like without the right beach essentials?

You probably have the basics covered such as sun blocker, sunglasses, bikini or shorts. But here I rounded up my favorite beach essentials that you need to add to your bag and that you probably haven’t thought of. From beautiful beach towels to games, summer reads and a practical portable charger, the following must-haves make your beach day unforgettable. So if you’re packing up for a day at the beach, don’t forget to toss these beach essentials in your bag – the waves are already waiting for you!

 

1. Round Beach Towels

First things first: the perfect beach towel. Because what would a beach day look like without a beautiful round beach towel? With my favorite picks you stand out in the mass and know right away where your place is after a refreshing dip in the sea. Whether you’re looking for vibrant prints or minimalism, you’re going to make a find here!

 

2. Waterproof Speaker

Enjoy your beach day with some good music. And with the right speaker you can bring it to the next level. These cute and water-resistant speakers have a long-lasting battery and give you a high quality sound which is perfect for a long beach day. So what more could you ask for?

 

3. Reading Material

There’s nothing better than relaxing at the beach with a good book. Sadly, I only find time to read during my vacation. So before I go on a trip, I get really excited to take a look at the book stores. But the variety is so huge out there that it can be hard to pick one or even two. So here I’ve listed my top beach reads for an entertaining summer vacation!

 

4. Sun Hats

Protection is so important to avoid skin ageing and dermabrasion. So even if you apply sun blocker to your face – especially when it’s not tanned yet – it still needs some extra protection from the sun. The best options are sun hats. From cool baseball hats to beautiful straw hats, with these picks you keep your head covered!

 

5. Lip Balm with SPF

As important as your face are your lips. I can’t count how many times I forgot my lip balm with SPF and risked sunburnt lips. Don’t do the same mistake and invest in a good lip balm with SPF to protect your lips. Otherwise it can be really painful. 

 

6. Bug Spray

When my boyfriend and I traveled to the Philippines, we hung out at the beach most of the day. But in the evening we noticed the many stings on our skin. There were so many bugs out there that we wished we had brought a bug spray. If you travel to a tropical place or just to a lake be prepared and bring bug spray with you. 

 

7. Games & Beach Gears

If you easily get bored, pack some games in case you need some action at the beach. I love playing cards or beach ball. If it’s too hot, I prefer diving or floating in a swim ring on the sea. But to get more inspiration for your beach essentials, here are some games and water gears for an extra portion of fun!

 

8. Snacks & Water

Jumping in the waves or playing in the sun can be tiring. To boost your energy again, just wrap up some snacks in a cool bag before you head to the beach or even have a little picnic. This way you avoid getting hungry and spend less money at the beach shops. And don’t forget some extra water bottles to stay hydrated!

 

9. Inflatable Pillow

Do you know the feeling when you lay down and your head hurts after a while? Although it’s sand, I have this so often that I decided to take my inflatable flight pillow with me to the beach. It’s more comfortable and doesn’t occupy that much space. Find here one in your favorite color!

 

10. Portable Charger

I love listening to the music – either with my phone or with my speaker. But during a long day at the beach, the battery can reach its limit. In this case, bring a portable charger and you won’t have any problems anymore. I can tell you, these beach essentials are a real lifesaver! 

 

11. Waterproof Phone Case

When I go to the beach, I always carry one thing that’s super important to me: a waterproof phone case. I already damaged a phone, because it got wet. With these cases it won’t happen again. They are also a good sand protector and it’s even possible to store money in them. 

 

12. Action Cam

What is more fun than capturing your beach day with a fancy action cam? With these compact cams every moment will be unforgettable. Bonus: they are waterproof, so you can take them into the water for perfect underwater shots (up to 30 m deep). I use the GoPro Hero 6 Black and had a blast when I was shooting underwater in the Philippines.

 

13. Beach Totes

Last but not least, you need a good beach tote to carry all of your beach essentials. These colorful bags are perfect, because they are big enough, look cute and are easy to clean. So if you want to make all your beach gears fit in one bag, have a look at my picks here.

What are your beach essentials? Share them with me in the comments below. I would love to get some more inspiration. Speaking of inspiration, find here my packing list guide for your next trip!

 

 

I just wanted to let you know that this page contains affiliate links. If you decide to buy something using one of these links, I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry that’s at no extra cost to you, but it does help to fund my travels and keep the website running. Thank you!