This packing list for Greece includes what to bring on vacation and what to wear in Greece for Athens and the islands.

What to pack for Greece includes this dark blue polka dot dress worn by a woman in a sun hat standing underneath a white building entryway surrounded by greenery and hot pink flowers.

Trying to figure out how to dress for exploring ruins, sailing around islands, hiking up mountains, and wandering the stone streets of cute villages in Greece? This Greece packing list will help you prep for each scenario.

Determining exactly what to pack for Greece depends a little on what time of year you plan to visit and the route of your Greece itinerary. Will you be road-tripping on the mainland between Athens and Thessaloniki, sailing to Santorini and Mykonos, or island hopping on your own to some less-touristy spots?

Since most vacations here take place around the dry summer season, we’re going to focus on packing for Greece during that time, with tips on what to wear in Greece in May, June, July, August, September and October.

Before you fill up the suitcase, scroll through this guide for photos and inspiration for how to dress in Greece and save the free Greece packing checklist at the bottom so you don’t leave anything behind.

Be sure to read to the end for packing tips like how much luggage to bring, what the weather might be like, and what types of activities to plan for.

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Greece Packing List

I made this Greece packing list to help you prepare for your trip after spending two weeks at the tail end of summer exploring Athens, Santorini, Naxos and Milos. The guide for what to pack for Greece includes everything from outfit inspiration to the best type of luggage and which adaptors you’ll need for electronics. Keep reading for things to bring to Greece.

Swimwear

For island-hopping, beach days and sailing trips, you’ll want a couple of swimwear options on your Greece packing list. Also, pack some light coverups to layer on top for when you go to grab a quick bite or walk through town souvenir shopping.

Swimwear | If beach time is on the agenga, pack at least a pair of bathing suits so one can dry while you wear the second.

Swim cover-ups | Sarongs and wraps are perfect for slipping on quickly to pop into your hotel room from the pool deck or grab a soda from the beach bar, while cover-up dresses make it easy to transition from lounging to lunch without having to change.

Beachy shorts | Throw these on over your swimsuit for a quick outfit. Light and quick-dry ones like board shorts come in handy for sailing trips or water sports when you’re bound to get splashed.

Shop these red lace shorts

Sightseeing Outfits

Pack a few casual and comfy outfits for brunching, sightseeing in picturesque villages, and touring historic sights. You might want to stick to shorts for exploring ruins and riding around on four-wheelers, but breezy sundresses and rompers are perfect for souvenir shopping in town. Dress in shades of blue to blend with the island vibes, or bright reds and yellows to pop against whitewashed backdrops.

Casual skirts and shorts | Mix and match neutral linen shorts with bright tops or go colorful on the bottom and pack a few white t-shirts.

T-shirts and tops | Pack a few lightweight t-shirts to pair with shorts and skirts or layer over dresses to mix up looks. Lightweight white blouses are common here.

Sundresses | Throw sundresses on over swimwear to head down to the beach or pair them with some cute sandals and a sun hat for sightseeing around town.

Rompers | Easy to style and pack, rompers can help mix up the simple shorts and T look and also can layer over a swimsuit for pool and beach days.

What do people wear in Greece includes hiking clothes like the outfit pictured: a woman in mint blue leggings and a white t-shirt sits on a rock looking down at rocky hills that lead out to the ocean.

Activewear

You should include at least one activewear outfit on your Greece packing list if you plan to do any hiking or exercising on vacation. You can tackle many trails in shorts and a tank, but a pair of leggings will help shield your skin from the sun and scratchy rocks if you’re climbing uphill.

Sports bras and tank tops | A sports bra and a couple of tank tops are useful for time outdoors, whether that's exercising, hiking or sailing around the islands.

Leggings or shorts | Bring a pair of exercise leggings or shorts for hiking down to secluded beaches on Milos, up in the mountains of Naxos, or along coastal trails in Santorini.

Rain jacket or windbreaker | You likely won't have to deal with any rain if you're visiting in summer, but a lightweight windbreaker is handy for early morning walks and any pop up showers. This can also serve as a layer on cold plane rides.

Shop this blue sundress

Evening Outfits

Fancy clothes aren’t a requirement unless you like to dress up for dinner, but bring a couple of outfits to change into in the evening after long, hot days outdoors. If you’re on a cruise, you’ll want to pack formal wear, but otherwise sundresses, skirts or dress pants, and blouses should do just fine for strolling around after sunset. Evenings might be a little cooler and a lot of the islands have breezy, waterfront dining districts, so longer hemlines and a wrap or cardigan come in handy. On popular islands like Santorini, you’ll spot lots of tourists in flowy dresses to capture the perfect Instagram shot.

Dresses | Make it a maxi, midi or sundress — they all work here. Longer dresses and skirts are ideal for cooler evenings with sea breezes during the shoulder season, but shorter ones paired with a cardi should keep you plenty warm enough in summer after sunset.

Blouses | White blouses are a common sight on the islands and pair well with more colorful pants and skirts for dinner. Bring a couple that cover your shoulders if you tend to get chilly.

Slacks and jumpsuits | Even in summer, evenings in Greece typically are cool enough for a lightweight pair of pants or a jumpsuit, especially if you're visiting the northern mainland. You can read more about the weather below.

Wrap or cardigan | A pashmina, wrap or cardigan comes in handy when the sun goes down, especially with sea breezes to contend with. You can also use it to stay warm on cool plane rides.

What to wear in Greece in July includes summer outfits like the one pictured here: a woman in red shorts and a white off-the-shoulder bathing suit crop top stands on a cliff looking out to blue ocean with a coastline of cliffs and hills behind it.

Footwear

At a minimum, you’ll want a pair of sandals for beaches and a comfy pair of walking shoes for sightseeing. Include supportive sneakers on your Greece packing list if you plan on doing any hiking and a dressier pair of flats or wedges for evenings if you have the space.

Flip-flops | If you're traveling to the islands or visiting any beaches, bring a pair of sandals that you don't mind getting a bit sandy.

Sandals | A second pair or sandals that are comfy for walking around town or dressy enough to wear to dinner will come in handy. There are also plenty of leather sandal shops in a lot of the tourist towns if you want to buy some in Greece as a souvenir.

Sneakers | Pack a pair of sneakers for hiking, climbing up hills with ruins, and sightseeing in cities that require lots of walking.

Dressy flats | If you want a pair of evening shoes, opt for flats or wedges. Many streets in Greece are made of stone, which means uneven surfaces that might trip you up in a pair of heels.

Water shoes | Water shoes may come in handy for some island destinations that have rocky beaches. Bring them if you have the space and they fit your itinerary.

What to wear in Greece in September includes sun dresses like the one pictured here with a woman in a dark blue dress, white sneakers, sunglasses and a sun hat stands on a stoop of steps in front of a wooden door with a cream building and white-pain…

Shop these reflective sunglasses

Accessories for Greece

If you’re visiting in summer, don’t forget to include a shady hat and sunglasses on your Greece packing checklist. Accessories help mix up outfits for light packers, and a Greece vacation is the perfect chance to break out the fun gold earrings, bangles, arm cuffs and statement necklaces. Keep your itinerary in mind — if you’re spending lots of time outdoors and at beaches in summer, you’ll probably want to keep the jewelry light or save it for dinner outings.

Sunglasses | Sunglasses are an absolute must for all that outdoor sightseeing, hiking and beach hopping.

Sun hat | A wide-brimmed straw hat fits in perfectly on the islands and provides lots of sun protection at the beach and pool. Baseball caps also can be useful if you're doing some hiking or prefer that style. Summers are very sunny, so you'll want some shade.

Jewelry | You'll see fellow tourists sporting gold earrings, arm cuffs and even laurel-leaf headbands, especially in places like Athens. Vendors around the Acropolis and other ruins there sell cheap pieces if you want to join in the kitschy fun while sightseeing.

What to wear in Greece in October includes the outfit pictured here: a woman in a red knee-length skirt and white blouse stands with her hand on her hip in front of a creamy white church building with a wooden door perched on a stone patio that look…

Gear and Extras

From beach gear to electronics, these are a few of the extra items you won’t want to forget to include on your Greece packing list. Many can be purchased in a pinch after you arrive, but things like sunscreen tend to cost more on the islands.

Travel towel | Packable towels are a must if your itinerary includes the islands or mainland beaches, unless your hotel happens to provide them (none of ours did). Some organized beaches will have towels to rent. The smaller microfiber ones are easy to pack, though, and dry out quickly so you can wash and reuse them throughout your stay.

Daypack | A multipurpose bag comes in handy for long sightseeing days, beach trips, boat rides and hiking excursions. Consider adding a dry bag to your Greece packing list if you're sailing or beach hopping as they float in the water and also keep sand off your stuff. Otherwise, a small, water-repellent backpack to hold your water bottles and towels should work just fine.

Reuseable water bottle | While plastic water bottles are fairly inexpensive in Greece, they do create a lot of waste, so consider bringing your own to help the environment. While tap water is typically safe to drink in the big cities, it can taste off on the islands (and some places say not to drink it). Even if you have to purchase water, having your own bottle means you can buy larger jugs and refill your container. Drinking lots of water is essential in the hot summer sun!

Sunscreen | Slather on the sunscreen for summers in Greece as you'll likely be spending lots of time outdoors with bright and clear weather. We noticed it could be a bit pricey to buy on some islands, so bring your own from home if you can.

Toiletries | In addition to all your regular items, make sure you add a SPF chapstick and SPF moisturizer to your Greece packing list to protect your skin. Don't forget: Shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, moisturizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, razor and makeup.

Motion sickness meds | If you're visiting Greece on a cruise, island hopping on a yacht or ferries, or taking any boat tours, bring along a seasick aid like Dramamine to help any motion sickness.

Travel safe | If you have space for it, some form of travel safe or beach safe may come in handy, especially if your hotel doesn't have one to stow your passport and valuables in while you're out at the beach or on a boat excursion.

Greek phrase book | Most everyone you encounter will know at least some English in the touristy towns. However, learning a few phrases in Greek is polite and a language book will help with that. We also find it useful for decoding unfamiliar menu items.

GoPro | We love traveling with a GoPro to document our trips. They're small, durable and waterproof, which makes them easy to take along on adventures. You might also want to bring accessories like a float handle and underwater case to be extra careful on boat rides or at the beach. Other models of action cameras have great reviews at cheaper price points, too.

Electronics gear | Pack your phone charger, headphones, a univeral adapter for Greece's C and F plugs, a power bank, a waterproof phone case for beach trips, and extra SD cards for all the photos you'll take.

Important documents | Don’t forget your passport, wallet, cash and credit cards, international driver’s license if renting a car, insurance information, and ticket and hotel confirmations.

Greece Packing Tips

These packing tips for Greece include how to dress for the weather, the types of activities you should pack for, and what luggage is best for those old stone streets.

What to wear in Greece in August includes this red skirt and white blouse worn by a woman with brown hair leaning against a white half column with a Greek flag waving behind it on top of a hill with a white village down below in the center and the o…

Greece Weather

The season and weather will greatly determine what should go on your Greece packing list. Summer is the hottest and driest season in Greece, with the southern mainland and islands getting next to no rain between June through September.

Athens is one of the warmest destinations in the middle of summer, with average highs peaking around 90 in July and August. The Greek Islands often top out in the 80s thanks to sea breezes, and evening temps typically drop into the 70s.

The shoulder months of May and October will be some 10 degrees cooler on average. In winter, lows can reach the 40s in Athens but don’t drop much below 50 on most islands. Late fall and winter is also the rainy season.

Up north, Thessaloniki sees highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s in the midst of summer. Winters drop to lows in the 30s and highs that average around 50. Spring and fall have pleasant daytime temps in the 60s. The area also sees more rain than down south throughout the year with the same drier season in summer.

This packing list works well for visits between about May through October, though you might want to add a light sweater and long pants or skirts on the outskirts of that time frame. If you’re doing a mainland trip anytime between October and April, you’ll want to ditch the swimwear and pack more jeans, sweaters, and closed-toe shoes. This packing list for Europe has more ideas.

Destinations and Activities in Greece

Where exactly you plan to go and how you opt to spend your time will certainly dictate what to include on your Greece packing list. Consider whether you’ll be visiting any islands or beaches, tackling mountainous hikes, dressing up for fancy dinners each evening, or touring lots of ruins outdoors in the hot sun.

If you’re mostly sticking to the mainland, you might only need a single bathing suit for hotel pools or an afternoon at the beach, while island trips will require at least a couple of swim options to alternate. Sightseeing calls for comfy walking shoes with shorts and t-shirts, while island-hopping suits more breezy sundresses and sandals.

Type of Luggage to Bring

If you plan on traveling between multiple cities or islands in Greece, consider packing on the lighter side. This makes it easier to haul your bags between destinations, plus it might save you baggage fees if you’re using any smaller regional airlines.

Using a large backpack, duffle bag or small suitcase you can easily lift will also help when navigating the narrow alleys and bumpy, stone streets in many island villages. Most Greece travel happens in summer when the weather is warm, which means smaller, lighter clothing for your Greece packing list. Plus, warm outdoors temps make it easy to wash items out in the sink and dry them overnight on your hotel balcony to wear again.

Greece Packing Checklist

This free Greece packing checklist has everything you need to remember to throw in the suitcase. You can save it to your Pinterest to remember what to bring to Greece on vacation.