Greece Travel Tips: What to Pack for Greece

Recommended Fabrics for Greece

Summer

Cotton is the best fabric for Greece as far as tops and socks are concerned. Denim and cotton the best for shorts and trousers. Light is the way to pack. Remember you have to lug this stuff around. Always bring half of what you think you need. A couple of shirts, tee's, shorts, slacks, one windbreaker and one sweatshirt should do. Sandals and flip-flops you can buy here.

The average summer Grecian temperature in July and August is 90 F or 33 C and plan for no shade. Summertime Greece has a dry and arid climate but its often windy on the Greek islands. Summer nights are surprisingly short; only about 8.5 hours long and even shorter if you are having fun or sleeping on a beach somewhere. After a night of island partying Greeks sleep late, chill as much as possible and only venture out when and if they decide to go to the beach where they may lay around from 1:30 to 8:30 PM. With the days so long there is no hurry to get to the beach.

To be prepared for all this sun I recommend a white cloth type of hat that you can fold up in your suit case or day pack and your pocket and even swim with. I also recommend and XXX-LG white Tee shirt you can wear on the beach when you start to feel the sun get too strong or even before. Many beaches in Greece have become "organized", that is, they rent beach umbrellas and loungers for 3 to 6 euro depending on the beach. By law there has to be an small area without these amenities where you can just put your towel down and sunbathe too.  If you fall into the later category and eschew the umbrellas you'll need the above hat and tee shirt. The sun is nice but only is small doses. Some Sun screen even has carcinogens in it so shade is mandatory for many who are not used to the hot sun. There are no clouds and even if there were the ultraviolet waves still can cause sunburn.

The idea of these organized beaches is pretty new in Greece and really got me all steamed up before I mellowed out about them and started preferring the shade. I am surprised they didn't think of it thousands of years ago too? Maybe they did.

What really gets me steamed up though is when a beach side bar starts blaring really loud techno-music all over the beach. This happens all over Greece and there are laws against it too! Greek Laws and E.U. laws both. Its just another instance of friendly Greek police having strava matia and looking the other way accidentally on purpose as they bend over to pick up an envelope. So you may need to bring some more headwear:
ear plugs!

In General for hot climates packing 100% cotton clothing is the best choice, with linen and hemp close behind!  Because its so hot in Greece you will perspire and cotton wicks away moisture. Each has its advantages but cotton is the easiest to carry and care for of the 3. It dries quickly and Greece is a good place for quick hand washing. Sun and breezes!

Also visit the what not to pack for Greece page for some tips on what you can leave home and buy in Greece!

Dangers of Greek Beaches: Rocks, Sea Urchins, Jelly Fish, Sunburn

I mentioned sunburn above but just so you are aware... certain times of the year such as late August, the jelly fish come out to play. Not Portuguese Man o' War but small ones. They still hurt and can ruin your day. I know from experience. Jelly fish are called 'Tsouk-tress". Hopefully a word you can promptly forget. I saw one recently on the Peleponnisos when I went swimming. It was the small clear, diaphanous, see-thru kind, they sting too but this one didn't get me. It was May 10th too, not August. Yes it was a bit chilly! There is not much you can do about jelly fish except get out of the water. Pebble style Greek beach above left.

Sea urchins are small black balls with long needle like thorns that like shallow water where they cling to rocks and wait for you to step on them. Many beaches in Greece have such rocks that you will have to cope with. The good news is that you can generally spot the sea urchins and try to avoid stepping on them. Wave walkers for the rocks and the sea urchins are a good idea. Plastic sandals work too. If some thing like a sea urchin has a plus side its that the insides are edible and supposed to be an aphrodisiac. You can pry them off their perch yourself with a diving knives. You'll need one of those "catch bags" fishermen use. They are consumed raw with lemon juice. Dining on sea urchins left. I was just kidding about sea urchins laying in wait for you. Sea urchins probably have no idea we exist and seem to live in a dimension all their own as you'll agree if you've ever seen those time-lapse films - they actually have places to go and things to do. So be considerate - you'll be glad!

SUMMER NIGHTS

Men and women both will likely need to pack some sort of evening over-garment like a sweat shirt or jean jacket or wind breaker. Not that its cold, but with a steady breeze blowing you have the wind chill factor to consider. A thin windbreaker or a sweat shirt can make a big difference to your comfort on the Greek islands, at least it does to mine. If you are traveling by slow ferry boat bring along a pair of medium weight socks too. Even if you are traveling by fast ferry boat or plane as air conditioners can be annoying too.

HAND WASHING YOUR CLOTHING IN GREECE

You may purchase a plastic washing bowl in Greece for 3 Euro and a box of soap and the Greek sun will dry out your Tee's and dainties in a NY hour from within your Greek hotel bathroom or your Greek islands beach encampment if you have enough fresh water.

Some clothes pins and a piece of twine and you are in business. Or forget the bowl and use your Greek hotels bathroom sink.

BUYING YOUR HAND WASHING EQUIPMENT

Greek Supermarkets and small store owners sell these very common items.They sell 'Tide' too but it costs more and is more for machine washing. 'Roll' is what to buy. Because so much of this is imported to Greek islands it will cost far less to buy in Athens Omonia Sq. area and then hopping on the metro to the Piraeus Port. OK so forget the bowl but lots of other handy things are sold in this area too.

GREEK HOTEL LAUNDRY SERVICES

Some Greek hotels have laundry services, B class and above, mostly. These cost money and usually have to be sent out by the hotel to a laundry service or local washer person and I have heard of complaints about delays, prices, etc. There are not a lot of laundromats in Athens, Greece but there is one right in the center in the Plaka near Syntagma Sq. On the Greek islands you may even get hand washed service if you are in an isolated enough area or no washing service at all.

To Plyn-ti-rio is a laundromat in Greek.

PACKING FOR WINTER IN GREECE RAINY & COLD SEASON

Bring a collapsible umbrella and moderately heavy jacket etc. It snows in Northern Greece and in mountainous areas and even in Athens. I have scarf, gloves, neck warmer and all that stuff and have to put it on too especially December thru March. I wish I had brought my duck shoes from Boston for the puddles too! Its snowing as I write this!

PACKING TO VISIT GREEK CHURCH'S & MONASTERIES

Attire in Greece is generally casual except during business meetings and entering religious institutions such as church and monasteries. Women are not allowed to enter Monasteries.

They are expected to wear: a below the knee skirt and a hat/scarf for church entrance as well as a buttoned up blouse. For men trousers should be worn... shirts too!

As this sign at 'Holly' Aghia Lavra Monastery so eloquently points out. You ladies would never wear any provocative clothing now would you?

GREEK RESTAURANT ATTIRE

Very few fancy restaurants require a coat and tie. A nice shirt and and ascot works well. Please see the Athens Guide for shopping/dining tips.

FORMAL ATTIRE

Dressing Up in Greece? For some reason, when I am just visiting, I always pack more than I end up ever wearing and I try to travel light anyway. My mother always wants me to bring a suit and tie so I can impress all my relatives.. they know better.

Trust me, unless you always wear a suit anyway, don't bother. A nice shirt and ascot will spruce you males up sufficiently. Only the most exclusive hotels or restaurants have a dress code that extreme. In Athens before heading to a Greek island you can always trot over to Kolonaki Sq. or down to Ermou St. and buy something nice.

These size charts are also on the Important Telephones page for printout.

SIZE CHARTS FOR GREECE, EUROPE & AUSTRALIA

SECURING YOUR ON PERSON VALUBLES IN GREECE

Forget those neck document pouches unless you keep it under your shirt the whole time. They can be pulled off your neck. Plus they get in the way.The only item of this type I would have bought cost $40 and had a pouch for everything. The best thing I've seen is a pouch with a loop on it that you slide your belt through and then wear inside your pants. I'd keep my bulk cash and travelers checks in there with enough for incidentals handier so you don't get arrested for indecency when you try to get to your money.

I had a money-belt once but I couldn't fit much in it. I guess they were more popular in the old days when we still had $500 and $1000 bills.

Larger sporting goods stores usually have a good selection of all this stuff to choose from. Wal-Mart has a few too.

Failing that a search on line for wheeled luggage in google will work too.

In fact I just saw this rather interesting item but dont know how convenient it would be, the 'leg stash' is what its called.

It may be more trouble than its worth.

OTHER RECOMMENDED GREEK TRAVEL ITEMS

Sun Screen & General Sun Protection for the Greek Traveler

Usually available at most Greek island or tourist area periptera. You may not find your favorite brand and it may cost more than you are used to paying . Coppertone and Ban du Soleil are common in Greece. A really good waterproof brand is worth the extra money as you'll be in and out of the water a lot.

GET BORED ON THE BEACH?

Beside a good book, a towel is a good idea and a straw roll up mat to lay on, which may be purchased locally on your Greek island sometimes or in Athens.

Bring your mask, snorkel and flippers and you'll greatly enhance your beach/swimming experience! You can buy these here in Greece too but you'll save time bringing your own. If you like to spear fish buy your spear gun here in Athens. They even have the CO2 kind that I couldn't find in the states. A collapsible fishing rod is a great idea too!! Frisbees are fun but rare so bring your own. Paddle ball is common as is volley ball.

Now, if you are American and reading this your thinking: Jeepers I have been swimming in the Atlantic or Pacific and see no need to buy these things. You cant see anything in the waters anyway. Well that's true but in Greece you can see deeply into the water usually, except in Santorini because of its black sand shallows. Its like the Caribbean with out the sharks and barracudas. There are basically no tides in the med too or very small ones.

A FLOATING frisbee is also a good item to bring to the Greek Beach. Frisbies are not well known in Greece and are widely unavailable too so bring your own. White is not a good color as it can be impossible to find in the surf - bright orange or green is better. Also a full size frisbee is not neccessary! buy a smaller circimferance frisbee and you'll spend less time chasing it in the wind. Plus that attractive foreigner you are playing with may not be the ultimate frisbee palyer that you are either!

RADIOS, WALKMEN AND IPODS

A quality, small battery operated/plug, multi-band transistor radio is a fun toy too, as at night, from an island say, you can pick up stations all over the SE Med and the Levant. I have heard some great music this way. Tunes you would probably never hear back home! Certain Arabic music is pretty wild played in this environment but you'll hear rock, jazz, pop and other stuff too! I was in Algeria years ago and the poor people there were so repressed by the Communist regime in power, it was frightening, but they still had soul.. all you could get on the radio was American rock and R & B. Chuck Berry got something on his finger etc.

SEE THE LUGGAGE SECTION FOR SOME TIPS TOO!