What to Wear in Greece: A Complete Packing Guide

If you’re reading this that means you’re planning a trip to Greece and I’m equal parts excited for you and jealous of you. I’m seriously obsessed with Greece. I’ve been there 4 times and I’m even getting married there next year. I know the hardest part about travel can be packing but you’re in good hands because I consider myself somewhat of a packing expert. In this post we’ll dive into a Greece packing list (perfect for mainland and the Greek Islands) and plenty of packing tips to help you know exactly what to wear in Greece so you can focus on what really matters – jumping up and down with excitement that you’re going to freaking Greece!

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By the way, if you’re looking for a men’s packing list, my fiancé has a whole Greece packing list for men.

Don’t want to read the whole post? Feel free to jump around:

But first, a note about my packing style

If you’re looking for an over the top packing list, you’re in the wrong place. I made the switch to one bag travel a little over a year ago and I haven’t looked back since.

Being able to pack light has been a game changer for me. It makes it so much easier to get from place to place with only one bag and cuts down on time spent thinking about what I’m going to wear. If you’re thinking, “Priyanka, there is no way in hell I could do that.” Trust me, you can, especially in a place like Greece where you need warmer, lightweight clothes which will help you save on space. It’s completely possible to pack light and look stylish. The key is making sure you can mix and match pieces to create endless outfit combinations.

Either way, I am not trying to convert you to one bag travel in this post. We can do that at another time. The packing list included in this post is perfect for a backpack like my Minaal 3.0 carry on but you can also throw it into a carry-on suitcase if you prefer. You do you.

What is the weather like in Greece?

Of course, this depends on when you go. However, I’m assuming you’re either going during shoulder seasons (spring and fall) or the summer months. If you’re going during the summer, the average temperature during this time of year can get very hot. For example, July’s peak temperatures can reach 91°F (33°C).

Regardless, for this packing list, we’ll assume you’re going during the warmer month which means it can be a little cooler in the early morning and late at night and you’ll generally experience warm weather during the day. You can also adapt this list for extremely hot weather but let’s be honest, it never hurts to have a lightweight jacket around. 

By the way, if you want my opinion, I think the best time to go to Greece is during the shoulder months (May or September – October). You avoid the crowds, still have good weather, and you can also find cheaper hotels/flights. Plus, by going during shoulder season or off season, you’re helping to prevent over tourism during peak season.

How to pack for Greece

Before we get into what to pack for Greece, let’s talk about how to pack. This will help you save time and cut down on overpacking. These tips can also be used for any trip you pack for!

Create a packing list (or use the one I provide for you at the end of the blog post)

Creating a packing list is the first thing I do before every trip I pack for. It prevents me from overpacking because if it’s not on the list, I don’t pack it and it also helps me to not forget anything. It also helps me save time when I actually go to pack.

Think about how many days you’re going for, how many outfits you need, what you’re doing, etc to help you create your packing list.

Do your laundry before you start packing

It’s the worst when you’re ready to pack and then you realize your favorite pair of leggings are dirty. Make your life easier by having everything ready to go.

Try on your clothes

I know this may sound like a pain but if you’re trying to pack lighter this is an important step. By trying on your clothes you can see how many outfit combinations you can come up with which will inevitably help you pack less.

Take photos of the outfit combinations

If you do end up trying on your clothes, be sure to take photos of the different outfit combinations you come up with. I love doing this because I can easily select the outfit I’m going to wear for the day by just looking through my photos.

Use packing cubes

I have two packing cubes that I use for my backpack. One is a larger one that fits all my clothes and the second is a smaller one that fits undergarments, bathing suits, active clothes, etc. Packing cubes are a great way to stay organized and help you optimize the space you’re working with.

These are the packing cubes I use. I personally love them because they have a clean side and a dirty side so I don’t have to worry about my clean and dirty clothes mixing together.

What to pack for Greece

Quick note: I tried to find links to the pieces I am wearing in the photos. Unfortunately, a lot of these pieces I bought years ago so I couldn’t find the exact ones. I tried to find as many options for you as possible and have linked them in the sections below.

General Greece packing tips

You’ll find no shortage of cobblestone streets in Greece which means you should leave the high heels at home. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than wobbling around on cobblestones after drinking a bottle of Greek wine. Hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you don’t love an article of clothing, don’t bring it. Your trip isn’t the time to experiment and be like hey that dress hasn’t fit me in over a year but maybe this will be the time it suddenly does. Or, I like that shirt but I don’t know how to wear it so I’ll figure it out on my trip. Stop. Don’t do that. You want to spend your time actually exploring Greece and swimming in that beautiful blue water, not trying to figure out how to make your clothes work for you. 

Generally speaking I don’t pack a ton of bright colors if I’m trying to mix and match. Of course, I do love me some color so I’ll usually throw in a bright dress while keeping my tops and bottoms more neutral colors. 

I’ll give you an itemized packing list at the end of this post but first lets go through each of the categories. 

Tops

I have these crop tops that I love from Express that work so well for layering and they take up no space at all when I pack. You can wear them on their own or underneath another shirt / sweater. I recommend bringing a mix of crop tops and tank tops (another option here). You also want lightweight longer sleeve options, like linen shirts, that can be a mix of short sleeve or long sleeve. While I keep most of my tops neutral colors, I love to throw in one fun shirt which is usually this flowery bodysuit in the photo below. Other fun shirt options here, here, and here.

Bottoms

This kind of depends on your style. I am not personally the hugest fan of shorts so I tend to bring more pants options and just one pair of shorts but in general for Greece you want lightweight breathable bottoms. I’d recommend linen pants and/or a long skirt (neutral or colorful). If you’re a shorts person you can’t go wrong with a pair of linen shorts (another option here) or even denim shorts.

Dresses

It can get pretty windy in Greece depending on where you are. The first time I went to Greece I wore a short dress and then ended up desperately clutching it to stop it from flying up. Another time I had zero problems so it’s really a mixed bag. To eliminate that, I recommend maxi dresses or midi flowy dresses. Or, bring a pair of biker shorts you can wear underneath your dress. Just in case.

Dresses are a great way to add a pop of color. I usually bring a white dress and then one bright colored dress. The white looks so beautiful against the blue water in photographs! Not a fan of dresses? Throw in a jumpsuit!

Layers

Definitely bring a light sweater or light cardigan that you can throw on top of your outfit for cooler mornings / evenings. You might even want a light jacket depending on when you go. Some of my favorite options are a blazer or a jean jacket. 

Shoes

You want to focus on comfort with shoes and I personally don’t think you need a lot of shoe options for Greece. I’d pack one pair of comfortable walking shoes (maybe some white sneakers?) and a nice pair of sandals that you can wear exploring but also use to dress up an outfit. Add in a pair of flip flops for a boat trip or a beach day and you’re good to go.  

I haven’t personally been to a spot that had a strict dress code of formal wear. A lot of the islands I’ve been to have been laid back so I’ve never had an issue with shoes. 

Bathing Suits + Accessories

When I first moved in with my partner I had something like 30 bathing suits. He was horrified. I’ve since then calmed the eff down and cut down massively on my bathing suit collection. If you’re going to be swimming a ton in Greece I would recommend two bathing suits you can alternate out. If not, one is just fine. I’d go with a black one-piece swimsuit. You could easily throw on your linen pants or shorts and make an outfit out of it. I’d then bring a white two piece. Again, the top can double as an actual top so you can go from exploring to swimming. I’d avoid patterns and colors if your goal is to maximize versatility. You can also add in a cover up that could double as an outfit too. I have this black romper that I love to use.

What to wear on the plane

Depending on where you’re coming from, it can be a long flight to get to Greece. I recommend prioritizing comfort. I’d wear a pair of leggings and a comfortable T-shirt and then throw on either your lightweight jacket or lightweight sweater and pair that with your walking shoes. It’ll help you save space as well because you will wearing some of your bulkier items on the plane. And, you’ll be very comfortable so it’s really a win-win.

The Ultimate Light Packing List for Greece (perfect for 10+ days)

Without further ado, here is the packing list I promised you!

Tops:

• Black crop top (or tank tops. Another option here)
• White crop top (or tank top)
• Linen long sleeve white button up 
• T shirt (wear on the plane) 
• Fun top (I like to do a floral bodysuit)

Bottoms:

• Linen pants
• Linen shorts (another option here) or denim shorts.
• Maxi skirt (you can do neutral or colorful)
• Leggings (wear on the plane)

Dresses:

• Bright colored dress
• White dress

Shoes:

• Flat sandals (another option for sandals)
• Comfortable walking shoes (maybe some white sneakers. Wear on the plane)
• Flip flops

Layers:

• Lightweight sweater or lightweight jacket (wear on the plane)

Bathing Suit + Accessories:

• One piece black bathing suit
• Two piece white bathing suit (if you need a second option)
• Bathing suit cover up (even better if you can also use it as an outfit)
• One crossbody purse 
• Sunglasses
• Reusable water bottle (an essential item to have for any trip)
• Optional: small daypack to carry stuff for day trips, beach days, etc. I like to use a dry bag if I’m going to be around a lot of water

Of course, you’ll want to add in your electronics, undergarments, any necessary medication, and other personal items.

With this packing list you can make endless outfit combinations! All the tops go with all the bottoms and you can add different layering pieces for a whole new look. 

Bottom Line

You don’t need to pack a lot to look incredible in Greece. The key here is to have versatile articles of clothing that you can mix and match. 

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