What To Pack For Greece: The Essential Guide

Are you wondering what to pack for Greece? You’ve landed in the right place to assist you in getting your bags filled with everything you need for a trip to Greece.

Greece is an epic vacation destination filled with ancient history, breathtaking landscapes, culture, food, and islands of endless beaches. In one trip, you can tour iconic archaeological sites like the Acropolis in Athens and relax on the stunning beaches of islands like Santorini and Milos. A trip to Greece combines relaxation, adventure, and cultural experiences.

Let’s dive into what you should pack for a trip around Greece in this packing guide.

What’s The Weather Like in Greece?

The first step of packing for Greece is determining the time of year you will visit. This packing list primarily accounts for the peak tourism season from May through September. If you’re traveling in the winter, be prepared to experience winter temperatures, rainfall, and even snow if you’re in the mountains.

Greece is in a Mediterranean climate. They have hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. While summer is most popular for tourism, the shoulder season (April to May and September to October) offers slightly milder weather and fewer crowded spaces.

Spring (March to May):

• Temperatures: 59–77°F
• The weather is mild and pleasant, with blooming flowers and lush greenery.

Summer (June to August):

• Temperatures: 77–95°F, sometimes upwards of 104°F during heatwaves.
• Summers are hot and sunny, especially on the islands and in southern regions. 

Autumn (September to November):

• Temperatures: 59–82°F
• The weather is warm and comfortable, with fewer tourists. September feels like summer, while November is marked by cooler, wetter days.

Winter (December to February):

• Temperatures: 41–59°F
• Winters are mild in coastal areas but cooler inland and in mountainous regions, where snow is common. 

What if You Forget Something?

Alas, if you forget something, no worries. There are plenty of stores across the country to purchase any essentials that you need. Greek pharmacies are filled with toiletries, makeup, skincare, medications, first aid, and personal items. 

φαρμακεία is the Greek word for Pharmacy. You can find the pharmacies by the Greek or English name and you’ll see a green cross on the outside of the store. Even if you didn’t forget something, I recommend checking out the Greek items at the pharmacy. Korres and Apivita are two of my favorite Greek beauty brands to buy.

Boutiques from Athens to the islands are filled with Mediterranean-inspired clothes, bags, shoes, and swimwear. Athens is home to a plethora of shopping with familiar brands like Zara and H&M.

What to Pack For Athens, Greece

Athens is a cultural hub filled with history, food, and shopping experiences. The style in Athens is chic yet simple, with natural color palettes like white and beige. 

In Athens, be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, including hills, marble, steps, and cobblestone. Bring a walking shoe with traction that you feel comfortable going distances in. 

If you’re visiting in the summer, be prepared to shield yourself from the sun with hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. However, don’t forget to pack a sweater for nights when the sun sets and the temperature drops.

Do Bring for Athens:

• Comfortable clothes with light, moisture-wicking fabrics like nylon, merino wool, and polyester. 

• Sturdy shoes to walk around the city
• Loose-fitting, natural fabric clothes, especially in the summer when temperatures soar
• Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses 
• Evening wear if you go out
• Layers to go from day to night

Don’t Pack For Athens:

• Heavy fabrics 
• Black and dark colors that attract the sun to wear during the day
• Uncomfortable footwear 

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Pack for Greek Beaches and Islands

A vacation to Greece isn’t complete without exploring the beautiful islands. Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Milos are home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Here, you may sail, hike through volcano calderas, swim in the clear Aegean Sea, or explore quaint villages.

The nature of the islands inspires more colorful, flowy clothes.

Bring your swimming gear and waterproof dry bags since you’ll spend a lot of time in and near the water. The beaches are rocky, so I recommend water shoes as a must-bring.

Do Pack For Greek Islands and Beaches

• Swimsuits/swim trunks
• Water shoes
• Sunscreen
• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Waterproof phone case to get photos in the water
• Dry bag to keep your stuff dry on the beach and boats
• Swim Cover up
• Comfortable shoes for walking around the islands
• Backpack for adventures

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What to Leave Behind for Greek Islands:

• Overpacking. You’ll have to transport your bag(s) on and off ferries and through marble and cobblestone streets. Don’t bring more than you want to carry.
• Heels and uncomfortable shoes. Unless you’re exceptionally skilled at walking in heels, I would leave them at home. You’ll be walking through cobblestone streets, on slippery marble, up and down stairs, and on uneven ground to navigate the islands. 

Basics You Don’t Want to Forget on Your Greece Trip

It doesn’t matter where you are going in Greece or what time of year; here are some essentials you don’t want to leave behind.

• Basic first aid kit
• Toiletries
• Water bottle
• Electronics/phone/camera
• Chargers
• Plug adapter 
• Pajamas
• Comfortable outfits to travel in on the ferries
• Comfortables clothes 

Recap: What to Pack for Greece 

Traveling to Greece is a bucket list trip filled with adventures, relaxation, and cultural experiences. You’ll walk through historic places with uneven ground, so bring comfortable clothes and shoes. If you’re traveling in the summer months, come prepared with sun protection like sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen. Finally, don’t pack more than you can carry since you’ll likely carry your bags on and off ferries and over uneven ground and stairs to get to your accommodations.