The Ultimate Greece Packing List

Greece is one of the most-visited countries in the world, and after spending 10 days traveling there, I can see why. From the pink sand beaches of Crete to the ancient ruins of Athens, it was easy to be charmed by the Mediterranean country. 

To be honest, I had a difficult time packing for this trip because I wanted to pack as light as possible due to our rigorous itinerary. As a member of the checked luggage club, it was a challenge to only bring a carry-on. I did some things right (and a few things wrong) when it came to my packing list, so I’m here to give you a glimpse of what worked well and what I’m already planning to do differently for my next trip to Greece. 

Packing Checklist for Greece

Clothing for Women

• Best Pants: Old Navy High-waisted Linen-blend Wide-leg Pants
• Best T-shirt: Buck Mason Coastal Linen Rib Tee
• Best Long-sleeve Shirt: Chico’s No-iron Stretch Shirt
• Best Skirt: Pistola Alice Midi Skirt
• Best Casual Dress: Quince 100% European Linen Smocked Midi Dress
• Best Fancy Dress: Aje Exurbia Seamed Midi Dress
• Best Athletic Dress: Royal Robbins Women’s Spotless Evolution Tank Dress
• Best Swimsuit: Unsubscribed Recycled Nylon Buckle Front One Piece

Clothing for Men

• Best Linen Pants: Bonobos Linen Blend Boardwalk Pant
• Best T-shirt: Vuori Strato Tech Tee
• Best Collared Shirt: Untuckit Wrinkle-free Performance Short-sleeve Gironde Shirt
• Best Shorts: Cuts Clothing Coz Shorts 7-inch
• Best Swimsuit: Silkworld Men's Swim Trunks

Shoes for Women

• Best Walking Shoes: Kizik Women’s Milan Sneakers
• Best Sandals: Everlane The Day Fisherman Sandals
• Best Dressy Sandals: Aldo Faiza Sandals

Shoes for Men

• Best Walking Shoes: OluKai Mio Lī Athletic Shoes
• Best Sandals: Keen Men’s Uneek Canvas Sandals
• Best Dressy Shoes: Toms Alonso Cream Heritage Canvas Rope Loafer

Bags and Accessories

• Best Duffel: Dagne Dover Lagos Convertible Duffle 
• Best Carry-on: Coolife ABS+PC Spinner Trolley
• Best Backpack: Fjallraven Kanken Backpack
• Best Travel Purse: July Everyday Crescent Bag
• Best Sunscreen: Dune Suncare The Mineral Melt
• Best Sunglasses: Morgenthal Frederics The Ninety-seven
• Best Portable Charger: Charmast Small Portable Charger

While the weather in Greece varies depending on the time you visit, the Mediterranean temperatures are usually agreeable year-round. Peak travel season for the country is May to September, which also happens to be the hottest time to visit. This means you’ll want to avoid bringing heavy clothing like jeans, jackets, or any other item that will weigh you down when temperatures reach the upper 90s (Fahrenheit). With sweltering weather conditions, it’s important to pack lightweight clothing made with breathable fabrics like linen, cotton, or bamboo. My packing list consisted of flowy, lightweight, and neutral-colored tops, dresses, and bottoms that I could toss on for an effortless and relaxed look.

Best Pants

Old Navy High-Waisted Linen-Blend Wide-Leg Pants

View on Gap.com

I wore these pants on the 10-hour flight to Greece and throughout the trip. They were perfect for when I wanted something slightly warmer than a dress that still offered plenty of airiness and comfort. The trouser style is effortless and chic, but it still felt like I was wearing sweatpants or loungewear. I ended up getting two more colors when I got back from my trip since it’s the perfect, stylish summer pant. 

Best T-shirt

Buck Mason Coastal Linen Rib Tee

View on Buckmason.com

Since most of my bottoms were long, flowy skirts or pants, I opted for this fitted tee from Buck Mason to mix and match with my outfits. While I’m typically not a fan of traveling with white T-shirts (one small stain can put it out of commission for the rest of the trip), the cream color was a solid compromise since it went with all my other neutral-colored clothing. I also love the ribbed texture for some dimension and the fact that the linen/cotton blend fabric is featherlight.

Best Long-sleeve Shirt

Chico’s No-iron Stretch Shirt

View on Chicos.com

When I went to Greece at the beginning of May, the temperatures were still mild, which meant the evenings could get a little chilly when dining outside (especially near the water). This cotton collared shirt from Chico’s will now be a mainstay in my suitcase for all future trips because it truly does not require an iron — a feature I was initially skeptical about. I shoved this versatile top into the depths of my suitcase, and although it came out wrinkled, the creases worked themselves out within 10 minutes of being worn or hung up in the closet. I opted for the regular fit to get that effortless oversized look, but I love that it comes in a fitted shape, too.

Best Skirt

Pistola The Alice Midi Skirt

$148 at Amazon $148 at Nordstrom View on Pistoladenim.com

I know, I know. I said to stay away from wearing jeans while in Greece. However, this midi skirt from Pistola is made with the lightest jean material I’ve ever worn. The slit in the middle makes the skirt even more breathable and movable while sightseeing, and it took up less room in my suitcase than one of the dresses I brought. I ended up wearing this clothing item the most throughout the trip since it was stylish, versatile, and breathable enough for up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Best Casual Dress

Quince 100 Percent European Linen Smocked Midi Dress

View on Quince.com

In my opinion, the easiest outfit to pack for warm-weathered travel is a versatile dress. I wore this linen midi dress from Quince during the day with sneakers and in the evening with a pair of dressy sandals. I love how roomy and stretchy the fabric is, and the smocked top with ruffled straps adds extra flare to the simple silhouette of the dress. This is yet another piece of clothing I brought on the trip and loved so much that I’m planning to get it in pink, too. 

Best Fancy Dress

Aje Exurbia Seamed Midi Dress

View on Ajeworld.com

Aje is my new favorite spot for picking up high-quality dresses when the occasion calls for a fancier outfit. This stunning midi dress is the perfect shade of blue for fine dining in Santorini. It’s also an elegant look for a summer wedding. Ideal for warm temperatures, the viscose material is ultralight and has a drapey feel to it. 

Best Athletic Dress

Royal Robbins Women’s Spotless Evolution Tank Dress

View on Royalrobbins.com

Aside from strolling through small villages or lounging next to the Aegean Sea, there are lots of opportunities for outdoor activities in Greece that could require a sportier look. I didn’t want to bring a lot of athletic clothing on the trip, so I opted for this tennis dress for boating and hiking. I wore the dress on a seven-mile hike and I found it to be perfectly supportive thanks to the built-in sports bra, and the UPF-50+ sun protection was particularly helpful during our afternoon hike. 

Best Swimsuit

Unsubscribed Recycled Nylon Buckle Front One Piece

View on Unsubscribed.com

I brought a handful of swimsuits to Greece, but I reached for this one most since it’s made with the softest material I’ve ever worn. We spent a few days lounging around the beaches of Crete and I could wear this one-piece underneath a dress or shorts without even noticing it was there. The retro buckle adds subtle style to the top part of the suit, and the green color earned so many compliments from fellow beachgoers. 

Best Linen Pants

Bonobos Linen Blend Boardwalk Pant

View on Bonobos.com

Men’s linen pants can lean on the dressier side, so I love that these ones from Bonobos have a relaxed style with a drawstring waist and slightly tapered pant leg to fit the laid-back style of Greece. The pants also have an elastic waistband, which makes the pants far more comfortable and breathable than a pair of trousers. They still look dressy enough to wear to a nicer restaurant with a collared shirt but also work with a T-shirt for traveling between islands. 

Best T-shirt

Vuori Strato Tech Tee

$43 at REI View on Nordstrom View on Vuoriclothing.com

This trip included a range of activities, from relaxing by the beach to hiking all day, so these moisture-wicking, performance tees from Vuori were key for being outside in the Mediterranean heat. Made with anti-odor and four-way stretch fabric, these shirts proved to be invaluable with a limited wardrobe. The off-white (cashew heather) color was reached for most during the trip, but you can’t go wrong with any of the other 14 shades.

Best Collared Shirt

Untuckit Wrinkle-free Performance Short-sleeve Gironde Shirt

$100 at Amazon $99 at Zappos View on Untuckit.com

While the dress code in Greece felt very relaxed, it doesn’t hurt to bring at least one nicer top like this Untuckit collared shirt. We went out to several nicer restaurants for dinner and this collared shirt was easy to toss on with a pair of shorts and boat shoes for a dressier look that was comfortable and required minimal effort. Plus, this shirt is extremely easy to stuff in a suitcase last minute thanks to the wrinkle-resistant fabric. 

Best Shorts

Cuts Clothing Coz Shorts 7-inch

$88 at Nordstrom View on Cutsclothing.com $88 at Revolve

The hottest day we experienced in Greece was, of course, the day we decided to visit the Acropolis. The hot sun and stagnant air was intense, so my boyfriend was glad he chose to wear these breathable, moisture-wicking shorts from Cuts Clothing. Besides the breathability, he was also grateful for the stretchy fabric for climbing up many flights of stairs. Plus, the shorts have a chino-like design so they look nice enough to wear to dinner. They also have a hidden zippered pocket, which is a helpful feature for storing a wallet.

Best Swimsuit

Silkworld Men's Quick-Dry Swim Trunks

$26 at Amazon

A pair of swim trunks that match the aqua blue shade of the Aegean Sea, this last-minute Amazon purchase proved to be essential in Greece for our early summer trip. The swim trunks are lightweight, quick-drying, and come in bright colors, which is always fun for a vacation swimsuit. If you plan on visiting Greece during the winter, you may still want to pack a swimsuit in case your hotel has a heated pool or jacuzzi.

For most of the trip, we opted to wear closed-toe shoes. It took just one loose cobblestone to the big toe on the first day for me to quickly realize the importance of solid foot protection. During the day, supportive sneakers with ample traction and sturdy ankle support were a must for navigating the uneven terrain of the roads, sidewalks, and hiking trails. Fancier dinners or excursions to vineyards for wine tasting called for dressier shoes like sandals with a small block heel and boat shoes, but leave behind your stilettos. 

While we opted not to bring pairs of flip-flops, our casual sandals worked well for boating and swimming. If you’re planning to spend most of your time by the water, then you’ll want to bring more water shoes. It’s best to bring shoes that serve multiple purposes (day to night, land and water use, etc.) if you pack light for island hopping like we did.

Best Walking Shoes

Kizik Women's Milan Sneakers

$99 at Amazon View on Kizik.com View on Seligashoes.com

I got these Kizik sneakers right before the trip and I was shocked at how lightweight and comfortable they were right out of the box. The shoes offer plenty of support, cushioning, and traction, which helped me avoid slipping through the slick streets of Fira in Santorini. My favorite part of the sneakers is the ability to slip them on and off hands-free thanks to the heel technology. While there are lots of colors to choose from, I opted for the neutral shade bone to go with all of my outfits and it worked out perfectly.

Best Sandals

Everlane The Women's Leather Fisherman Sandal

View on Everlane.com

These stylish fisherman sandals were the perfect choice of footwear to bring for a range of activities on the trip. I wore them to the beach, on a boat, out to dinner, visiting a monastery, and while traveling between islands. The leather material is buttery soft and the cushioned footbed kept my feet comfortable when I wore them for long periods of time. I also appreciated the style of the shoe, with crossing straps around the foot and in front of the toes for extra protection. 

Best Dressy Sandals

Aldo Women's Faiza Sandals

View on Amazon $67 at Zappos View on Aldoshoes.com

Whether heading to the clubs in Mykonos or going out to dinner in Athens, bringing a nicer pair of shoes certainly doesn’t hurt. The lower heel on these sandals makes it easier to walk around on uneven surfaces while elevating an outfit to make it dressier. The raffia-style material on the upper part of the sandals maintains the laid-back, beachy vibe of Greece. Plus, the brand’s Pillow Walk technology offers tons of comfort thanks to the cushioning in the footbed, so you can dance all night long without pain.

Best Walking Shoes

OluKai Men's Mio Lī Sneakers

$130 at Amazon $130 at REI $130 at Nordstrom

My boyfriend basically wore these sneakers the entire 10 days we were in Greece, and now that we’re home, he still wears them all the time. They are extremely lightweight without compromising support and cushioning in the footbed, and the upper material is superbreathable. The drop-down heel made it easy to slip the shoes on and off, which was especially helpful at the airport. After wearing the sneakers nonstop on cobblestone, dirt, and sand, they still looked as good as new after the trip — a true testament to the high-quality materials and construction of the shoes. 

Best Sandals

Keen Men’s Uneek Canvas Sandals

$93 at Amazon View on Keenfootwear.com View on Nordstromrack.com

It’s likely that you’ll spend at least some time in the water while visiting Greece, so bringing a pair of sandals that can be worn in and out of the water is smart. These ones from Keen are the perfect versatile sandals for going from the beach to dinner without having to change shoes. The woven rope upper looks nicer than your average pair of water shoes but these sandals boast the same quick-drying ability and generous traction you want for going in the water, riding on a slipper boat, or climbing on some rocks. The anti-odor technology is also a helpful feature for traveling. 

Best Dressy Shoes

Toms Alonso Heritage Canvas Rope Loafer

$70 at Zappos View on Toms.com

While it depends on your itinerary for your trip to Greece, bringing one pair of shoes that aren’t sneakers or sandals could be smart. These canvas shoes from Toms are on the more casual side of the traditional loafer style, but they still look nice with a pair of chinos for dressier occasions. Made with canvas and textural rope, these loafers are lightweight and pack down relatively flat, so they are easy to toss in a suitcase last minute before a trip.

If the style isn’t dressy enough for your taste, you can opt for an equally lightweight and easy-to-pack pair of shoes like Rothy’s The Driving Loafer for a fancier option. 

Greece is an expansive country, so the type of luggage you’ll want to bring will depend on your itinerary. If you’re planning to island hop, it’s important to pack light since you’ll be on boats or planes often. Even if you’re planning to stay on the mainland, you might want to skip bringing a checked bag or a heavy carry-on with wheels. I watched a lot of people schlep heavy rolling bags over cobblestone roads with steep hills and it did not look fun. 

We stuck to bringing hand luggage only since we planned to travel throughout the Cyclades, and it turned out to be the right call for us. Due to a canceled ferry, we ended up flying between the islands on a budget airline, and we were grateful for light, minimal luggage to avoid extra fees. Other bags and accessories we found helpful throughout the trip included a backpack and purse for day trips, sunscreen for all-day use, and a portable charger to keep our phone batteries topped up for directions and photos.

Best Duffel

Dagne Dover Lagos Convertible Duffel Bag

View on Dagnedover.com

We brought this convertible duffel bag from Dagne Dover and it was perfect for all of our city and island hopping. The bag is spacious enough to fit a week’s worth of clothing (with room to spare!) and it comes with stashable backpack straps for hands-free travel. When the duffel was packed full at the end of our trip, the padding on the backpack straps made it comfortable to carry the bag and distributed the weight of the pack evenly. 

Best Carry-on

Coolife ABS+PC Spinner Trolley

$100 at Amazon View on Coolifeluggage.com

If you want to bring a more traditional carry-on, I highly recommend a lightweight yet durable suitcase like this one we tested. At 6.7 pounds, the bag is perfect for airlines with stricter weight and size restrictions. Despite the lightweight materials, the polycarbonate and ABS plastic has plenty of give, which can help absorb any impact if the bag gets tossed around. We also found that the wheels felt extremely sturdy — an essential trait for rolling the bag over cobblestones. 

Best Backpack

Fjallraven Kanken Backpack

$76 at Amazon $95 at REI View on Nordstrom

On our first day, we quickly realized how easy it was to be out all day after leaving our hotel in Athens in the morning. Bringing a day pack is essential for storing items like towels, sunscreen, water bottles, sweaters, and snacks, along with other essentials like a wallet, passports, and car keys. This bag from Fjallraven packs down completely flat and can be folded up, so it hardly took up any space in a larger bag on the way there, and on the way back it was perfect for storing all our recently purchased souvenirs. 

Best Travel Purse

July Everyday Crescent Bag

View on July.com

I got this travel purse specifically for Greece since I wanted something more spacious than my other crossbody bags. I was blown away by the capacity of the bag for being able to store a water bottle, wallet, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, and other smaller items all at once. I loved the adjustable strap to wear the purse as a crossbody bag or shoulder bag (to make it look a little dressier in the evenings). The canvas material has a coating on the inside, so when my sunscreen spilled, it was a breeze to wipe it up. 

Best Sunscreen

Dune The Mineral Melt

$30 at Amazon $24 at Nordstrom View on Dunesuncare.com

The one thing I wish I brought more of on this trip was this sunscreen from Dune. We ended up using the entire bottle within the first few days since most of our activities were outdoors. The formula is velvety smooth and hydrating, which was soothing on our travel-induced dry skin. I loved that I could wear it on my face without that greasy feeling and left-behind residue. Plus, the bottle is under two ounces, so I never had to worry about the TSA regulations during our multiple trips to the airport. 

Best Sunglasses

Morgenthal Frederics The Ninety-seven

View on Morgenthalfrederics.com View on Hellovisionist.com

Sunglasses for your children, yourself, and your spouse are always essential for traveling, especially when visiting somewhere typically sunny like Greece. I was particularly glad I brought a pair of these polarized sunglasses from Morgenthal Frederics since we spent a lot of time on or near the water. These sunglasses are also superdurable and withstood being tossed around while traveling like a champion. They’re also very chic and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. 

Best Portable Charger

Charmast Small Portable Charger

$19 at Amazon

This little portable charger never gets left behind, whether I’m leaving for 10 hours or 10 days. It has been a lifesaver on too many occasions to count when my phone was about to die at the most inopportune times. I love that it’s pocket-size so it can fit in virtually any bag, purse, or even my pants pocket. I’ve also used this to give my iPad a power boost since the cable is compatible with various Apple products. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is an associate editor at Travel + Leisure where she covers all of the best travel products, from carry-ons to comfy shoes. In May 2024, Anna spent 10 days traveling throughout Greece, visiting as many spots as she could. From the famous pink-sand beaches of Crete to watching the sunsets in Santorini, Anna took detailed notes during her trip to share her best packing tips for visiting Greece. 

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