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Taking a Greek vacation? From the cities to the mainland and the islands, we’ve got the inside scoop on what to pack for Greece in summer!
Written By:Sonja Riemenschneider
Sonja Riemenschneider withBreadcrumbs Guidespent a month traveling around Greece, visiting Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Folegandros, Tinos, Hydra, Delphi, and Meteora.
She traveled by plane, train, bus, ferry, shuttle, caique, rental car, hitchhiking, and regular hiking–carrying everything on herback (and front) to explore this gorgeous country.
Each island or region in Greece has its own personality, and you’re going to feel more in sync with the local vibe if you tweak your outfits in your capsule wardrobe accordingly.
Fortunately, the weather isn’t much different throughout Greece in the summer. Be prepared for hot, sunny days wherever you go, with thechance of rain increasing from zero to slight as you venture toward the mainland.
Dress | Hat| Earrings | Sunglasses | Sandal | Tote
What to Pack for Greece: Santorini
You’ll fit right in wearing breezy dresses, linen shirt-dresses or lacey tops, and shorts or a skirt. White is the color of choice, but bright colors are popular, too.
Pack dresses you’ll be comfortable lounging in as you take advantage of killer balcony views or napping in the shade.
Stock up on this vacation staple with this season’s 10 bestlinen clothing pieces!
Shirtdress | Hat | Crossbody| Sandal
For shoes, flat sandals with an ankle strap and a sturdy sole are perfect. Heels are almost impossible to wear on the extremely hilly cobblestone streets. If you mustbring heels, choosea pair of comfy wedges so you get a little more stability. Packing cubes make the perfect shoe bags to protect your luggage from dirty shoes.
The stacked buildings that make the cliffs of Santorini so beautiful also make for some seriously steep streets! Pack your shoes accordingly.
Check out thesecomfortable walking sandalsthat don’t sacrifice style!
Cover-Up | Top | Shorts | Tote | Towel | Bikini& Bottom | Earrings | Sunscreen | Sunglasses | Sandals
What to Pack for Greece: Mykonos
Mykonos is all about beach life and night life. Crop tops or see-through tops with bikinis underneath paired with high-waisted shorts or skirts will give you that perfect beach to bar look.These stylish summer shorts for women will take you from day to night, city to sea, and so much more!
Lacy cover-ups that can double as dresses are great, too. Flat sandals that can go from beach to club are best.
The streets in Mykonos town are more even and flat than Santorini, so you won’t need as sturdy a sole here, but it won’t hurt either. Don’t bother with fancy heels–it’s not that kind of nightlife. Wedges arefine but not necessary.
These are thebest sandals for travelin summer!
Dress | Tote | Earrings | Sandal | Bracelet
What to Pack for Greece: Hydra
Hydra is one of Greece’s Saronic Islands, which is very close to Athens and the Peloponnese. It’s a popular weekend destination for Athenians and tourists looking for a quick break from the traffic of Athens. Hydra is entirely traffic-free–the only mode of land transportation is by foot or by donkey!
The attire here isa little less casual, with off-the-shoulder tops, classy, lightweight dresses, and strappy leather flat sandals or wedges. The café and restaurant scene is excellent, with lots of harbor-front cafés under large sun canopies packed with comfy couches and tables perfect for leisurely lounging.
Be sure to bring a pair of cute and comfortable sandals that can handle some light trails too, as the walk from Hydra Harbor to the nearby Kamini Harbor and further Vlychos Beach will reward you with panoramic coastline and views to the nearby islands.
It’s the season for easy breezy vacation style! Shop our roundup of beautifulsummer maxi dresses!
Cover-up | Hat | Camera | Bikini& Bottom | Tote | Sunscreen | Sandals
What to Pack for Greece: Folegandros
Greece has many gorgeous islands that haven’t yet been overwhelmedby tourism. My favorite was Folegandros but the same fashion principles apply to them all: you can wear pretty much whatever you want!
The beaches of Folegandros are quiet and pristine, and many are clothing optional. Assuming you’re a bikini gal, bring multiple–as the beaches are thething to do here. Don’t miss the boat tour around the island, stopping at many of the isolated beaches and swimming coves.
Bring shoes that can get wet and a cover-up that dries quickly and will keep you from getting burned while you’re out on the water. An underwater camera can be a lot of fun, too.
These beach sandalsare must-haves!
For walking around town or exploring the island by land, anything loose and comfortable will do–shorts, tanks, rompers, or dresses.Don’t bother with jeans or other heavy clothes. Athletic sandals are ideal for beach days since a lot of beaches require a bit of hiking or scrambling over rocks.
There’s no need for fancy accessories or heels here: your primary goal is to soak up the sun, explore the island, and splash around in the aquamarine jeweled water.
Take a look at thesecute summer dresses for women!
Tunic | Hat| Earrings | Belt | Crossbody| Sandal | Sunglasses
What to Pack for Greece: Athens
Athenians are fashionable but the areas around the Acropolis are packed with poorly-dressed tourists. If you want to try to blend in with the locals, try sundresses, belted tunic dresses, and fitted tops with high-waisted shorts and skirts.
Durable shoes like leather strappy flat sandals with a non-slip sole are key. You might even want to wear an athletic sandal during the day while you tour the ancient sites, since you’ll be walking on lots of steep slopes with smooth marble. Itcan bedangerously slippery if it rains.
Read this post for a completepacking list for Athens!
Dress | Bracelet | Clutch | Sandal
In the late afternoon, head back to your hotel to shower and change into your nicer clothes and sandals for dinner and drinks or an outdoor movie in the park.Find out how to wear a shirtdress on vacation!It’s the most versatile, comfortable, easy-to-wear outfit for travel.
Pair them with lace-up sandalslike these!
Dress | Scarf|Hat|Sandal |Crossbody
What to Pack for Greece: Mainland
Outside Athens, at the tourist sites of Delphi and Meteora, you’ll see fewer short skirts and crop tops and more conservative dress. Summer maxi dresses are great for mainland Greece. For more conservative places, knee length or longer is best.
Lightweight tanks will keep you cool and a light shawl or scarf wrapped around your shoulders will get you into the monasteries of Meteora without having to don the provided wraps at the door (which undoubtedly get a lot of use… and sweat).
Keep in mind that women wearing shorts or pants (vs skirts or dresses) will need to wear the provided wrap-around skirt to get into the monasteries.
What’s better than a maxi dress for travel? Read this post to learn more!
What to Pack for Greece: Essentials
There are a few things you don’t need for Greek summers (pants and sneakers, for example) because it’s way too gorgeous outside to wear anything but sandals and sundresses. Don’t forget to bring these six essentials when you plan what to pack for Greece in summer!
Flat Sandal|Slingback| Fitflop|Ankle Strap
Sandals
Greece is rough on sandals! All that sun, sea, and salt combined with lots of rugged beaches and unevencobblestones will do a number on even the sturdiest pair.
I brought one old pair that was on its way to the sandal graveyard and planned on buying a second pairin Greece. My sandals broke on the first day on a rogue cobblestone so I was scrounging for a pair in Santorini,possibly the most expensive place to buy a pair of sandals. I had sandals break two more times after thatand had to borrow my sister’s shoes!
Find out howand why to choose the best walking shoes for Europe!
So bring sturdy sandals, and bring multiple–at least 2 pair, or 3 if one of them is a heel. Also, keep in mind that it gets slippery on those stone-paved streets, so don’t bring your old sole-worn-smooth sandals unlessyou wantsome slip-and-slide action.
Shoes should be durable. A sandal that is secure on your foot, has an ankle strap, and is comfortable for all-day walking and climbing lots of stone steps will do.
Check out our roundup of comfortable walking sandals that don’t sacrifice style!
Dress | Sundress | Print Dress | Tank Dress | Maxi
Sun Dresses
Sundresses are the carryon traveler’s dream in Greece. They’re trendy and sophisticated inAthens, breezy and beautiful in Santorini, casual and effortless on rugged Greekislands, and comfortable and classic on the mainland.
You can easily turn asundress from the perfect beach cover-up to aperfect dress for a night out in Mykonos with a fewkey accessories. Pack a fewdressesof different lengths and you’re set for anywhere in Greece.
A maxi dresswas perfect for every place I went so I was constantlywashing it! Thankfully, the Greek sun dries clothes in practically an instant.
Keep reading for some stylish beach dressesthat you can wearon and off the sand!
Clinique| Banana Boat| Sun Bum
Sunscreen
With little cloud cover in the summer and lots of water and white buildings to reflect the sun, therisk of burning goes way up. Bring at least SPF 30 and apply it everywhere and often.
Sunscreen in Greece is very expensive on the islands! It’s hard to find anything above SPF 30. And whenyou run out, you won’t be in a position to shop around.
Bring one tube per week per person and use itevery day. Apply it as you get dressed in the morning and re-apply in the afternoon, because sunburn and skin damageis no joke.
Read this postfor earth-friendly, natural beautyproducts!
Square| Polarized | Colette | Retro
Sunglasses
Bring sunglasses you like because you’ll be wearing them all day, every day. It’s a bonus if they’re polarized tocut out the glare from theAegean. A lot of people wear hats, but bringthem at your own risk; the Greek islands get verywindy in July and August.
Use these cute summer hair ideas for a fun and stylish way to update your vacation hairdo!
Black One Piece |Stripe One Piece |Green Top & Bottom | Pink Top& Bottom |Blue Top& Bottom |Print Top& Bottom
Swim Suits
Half of the allure of Greece is theincredibly clear, blue water. It would be a shame not to hop in as muchas possible! Bring that bikini–you’re going to want it! Plus, on the islands you can get away with a bikini+ cover up as a complete outfit, so it can’t hurt to pack a couple extra as versatile wardrobe options inthe name of packing light, right?
These are thebest one-piece swimsuitsof the season!
Shopper| Crossbody| Shoulder Bag IHandbag
Purses and Totes
There are two bags you should bring for a summer trip to Greece: a small purse and a tote. Your purseshould be small, light, and easy to carry, preferably with a crossbody strap.
Your tote could either be your carryon or it could be a foldable bag that you pull outwhen needed. This is what you’ll use for beach days or when you’re out and about all day. It should fit a towel, water, sunscreen, and have alittle extra room for miscellaneous items.
Look for a zipper closure to prevent wandering hands from snatching your things, although I wouldn’t worry about that in most places in Greece (except busy areas inAthens). Plus, this bag willmostly be filled with non-valuables and you can always stick your wallet at the bottom.
These are thebest beach bags and totes for a pool or seaside trip!
No matter what you wear or what you bring, it’s hard not to fall in love with Greece!
What are your tips on what to pack for Greece in the summer? Share in the comments below!
For more Europe packing tips, please read:
- What to Wear in Greece: Islands and Cruising
- What to Wear in Greece: Packing List for Athens
- What to Wear inAthens in Summer
- What to wear in Europe
Suggested travel resources:
- Lonely Planet Europe on a shoestring
- Lonely Planet Greece (Country Guide)
- Travel Shoes for Europe
- The Best Carry-on Suitcases for Europe
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Author Bio:Sonja Riemenschneider is a PhD chemical engineer with a dream to make travel guides. On hertravelblog, Breadcrumbs Guide, shecreates in-depth guides to inspire people to travel independently. Shetells it likeit is so you can have the best experience possible!Subscribe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
As someone deeply passionate about travel, culture, and fashion, with a vast repository of knowledge that extends across various destinations and packing essentials, I'll dive into the nuances presented in the article you provided.
1. Greece's Geographical and Cultural Diversity: Greece, with its mainland and multitude of islands, offers a rich tapestry of experiences. Each region—whether it's the bustling streets of Athens, the picturesque vistas of Santorini and Mykonos, or the tranquil beaches of Folegandros—has its unique character, climate, and fashion sensibilities.
2. Climate Considerations: Summer in Greece is typically hot and sunny. However, the chance of rain can increase slightly as you move towards the mainland. This climatic variation influences the choice of clothing and accessories recommended for different regions.
3. Island-Specific Wardrobe Recommendations:
- Santorini: Emphasis on breezy dresses, white being a popular color. The terrain is characterized by steep streets, making sturdy-soled, flat sandals essential.
- Mykonos: A blend of beach and nightlife, where outfits should transition effortlessly from day to evening. Think crop tops, high-waisted shorts, and versatile sandals.
- Hydra: A traffic-free island close to Athens. The attire here leans slightly less casual with off-the-shoulder tops, lightweight dresses, and comfortable sandals suitable for light trails.
- Folegandros: A serene island less frequented by tourists. Here, the attire is relaxed, with a focus on beachwear and comfortable walking shoes.
- Athens: The capital city demands a mix of fashion and practicality. While staying stylish, it's crucial to consider the city's historical sites and uneven terrains. Lightweight dresses, durable sandals, and non-slip soles are advisable.
4. Footwear Essentials: Given Greece's diverse terrains—be it the cobbled streets of its islands or the marble-laden paths of its ancient sites—it's paramount to prioritize comfort and durability. Sturdy sandals with ankle straps are recommended. Also, having multiple pairs, given the wear and tear, especially in places like Santorini, is prudent.
5. Clothing Choices:
- Dresses: Sundresses and maxi dresses are versatile and apt for various Greek destinations. They can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and locale.
- Swimwear: Given Greece's pristine beaches and clear waters, swimwear is indispensable. Whether it's bikinis or one-pieces, they serve as both functional beachwear and fashionable attire when paired with cover-ups.
6. Accessories and Other Essentials:
- Sun Protection: The intense Mediterranean sun necessitates ample sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats.
- Bags: Opt for a small purse for essentials and a tote for day trips, beach outings, or general exploration. Prioritize bags with secure closures, especially in bustling areas.
In summary, packing for Greece in summer requires a blend of style and practicality, considering the country's diverse landscapes and cultural nuances. Whether you're exploring ancient ruins in Athens, lounging on the beaches of Mykonos, or wandering through the quaint streets of Folegandros, being well-prepared ensures a memorable experience in this enchanting Mediterranean paradise.
