With rising baggage prices, it’s worth taking a closer look at ways to save on luggage. Our Holiday Checklist Greece is intended to be an important planning aid and shows you what you should not forget for your summer vacation in Greece.
In summer, you’ll quickly realize that you don’t need a lot of clothes in the Mediterranean and especially on the Greek islands. In addition, many hotels offer a laundry service or you can simply wash quickly by hand and the clothes will dry again in a few hours.
Before the big holiday, you often ask yourself: “Have I really thought of everything?” So that you don’t have the feeling that you have forgotten something at home, we have put together in our holiday checklist for summer all useful things listed.
We have deliberately designed the holiday checklist to be extensive, as every holidaymaker has different needs and therefore takes different things with them on the trip.
By popular demand, we also have a packing list for travelling with toddlers attached. Here you can read our packing list Greece and download it free of charge as a PDF and print it out if necessary:
*Transparency: If you book via one of the colored links to Amazon, we receive a small commission. Of course, the price does not change for you. Perfect if you want to buy the item anyway and support us for free at the same time.
#1 Luggage and bags
➲ To the large suitcase Travelite*
A large suitcase in which everything really fits. Robust and of good quality. Ideal if you are only vacationing in one place in Greece. After countless flights, we have had better experiences with fabric cases than with hard-shell cases in terms of durability.
➲ To the hand luggage suitcase Travelite*
If you don’t take a lot of clothes with you on your travels, this compact carry-on suitcase is just right. Above all, this saves time and money, as there is no need to check in luggage. The suitcase complies with IATA’s strict hand luggage dimensions (55 x 40 x 20 cm).
➲ To the Deuter 60L trekking backpack*
You plan Island hopping in Greece? Forget the suitcase, because you pull it over paved and uneven paths. It won’t be long before the first cog is broken. Much more practical for island hopping is a trekking backpack. Quickly put on, you master the way through the small alleys and the baggage check-in on the ferry. Our faithful companion has been an Deuter Aircontact backpack for years. Super stable, comfortable and durable, he has traveled with us all over the world.
A functional backpack for a day trip should be lightweight and still have plenty of space to carry small items.
- Handbag or belt bag
#2 Storage and order
➲ To the Amazon Packing Cubes*
We don’t want to miss the panniers anymore. Finally, the clothes no longer fly around loose in the backpack or suitcase. Everyone packs their things in the appropriate bags and you have them quickly at hand without having to search for them forever. This means that the suitcase can be put in and out in no time at all. Super convenient, whether traveling or at home to store seasonal clothes.
➲ To the transparent toiletry bag for liquids*
According to EU legislation, liquids up to 100 ml may be carried in hand luggage. All containers must be placed in a fully transparent, sealable bag with a maximum capacity of 1 litre. Only one bag is allowed per passenger, which must be shown at the security checkpoint. In the toiletry bag you can stow a small hand cream, disinfectant gel, tablets, plasters, eye drops or lip balm, for example.
➲ To the laundry bag for dirty laundry*
- Freezer bags or used plastic bags: Ideal for small items, shoes and liquid containers. If something leaks, the whole suitcase is not messed up.
#3 Useful travel accessories in Greece
➲ To the Greece travel guide for your island or region*
The perfect read on the plane and on the beach. So you can discover one or the other insider tip and learn a few chunks of the language on site. No desire or time to plan excursions on holiday? Then we’ll do it for you! Check out our travel guides here: Greece Shop
High-quality luggage tag with full address field. From the outside, only the name is visible. Available in different colors. This avoids case mix-ups and an address is stored if the suitcase is lost.
➲ To the toiletry bag/cosmetic bag*
Great for hanging in the bathroom, where all hygiene products can be placed. The bag is very compact and easy to store in your luggage.
Ideal if the hotel’s music system is booming late into the night or the room neighbor is too loud. Indispensable and should not be missing from any packing list.
Now available in most hotels and holiday apartments. If not, this compact model is ideal for vacations.
Especially on long flights and for children, neck pillows are a blessing.
- Sunglasses and case
#4 Technology and camera on the road
➲ To the smartphone for holiday photos
For unforgettable holiday photos and videos, all you need today is a smartphone with an excellent camera. Modern devices offer high-resolution sensors, strong AI support, and impressive zoom capabilities. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 8 Pro are particularly recommended – perfect for any holiday memory!
Whether with the children on the beach or with the quad bike across the island. The rugged camera does it all, is waterproof, and delivers high-quality photos and videos. Also suitable for underwater photography.
➲ To the Amazon Kindle waterproof e-reader*
If you don’t want to carry around so many books, you can use an e-reader to download enough reading material for your holiday. Amazon’s free Kindle app for smartphones does it too.
➲ To the power bank (mobile USB charger)*
Perfect for on the go when the mobile phone battery runs out again. The power bank charges your smartphone reliably and even completely several times.
We can connect this small, powerful speaker to our mobile phone via Bluetooth at any time and thus listen to our favorite songs in excellent sound quality wherever we are.
➲ To the MP3 player and Headphones*
For music and podcasts on the beach and on the go. The lightweight and compact MP3 players are a good alternative to smartphones and also save the battery.
- Memory cards, batteries and chargers
💡 Travel adapter for Greece: Type C and F sockets are used in Greece. The mains voltage is 230 V at 50 Hz. Check which travel adapter you need before you travel. To the travel adapters
#5 Packing List Greece for the Beach
➲ To the travel and beach towel*
Since beach towels are provided free of charge in most hotels, a small travel towel is usually sufficient for on the go. These are much lighter, very compact and dry quickly.
➲ To the beach bag for your holiday*
If a foldable backpack or the eco bag from the drugstore is not chic enough for you, there are of course even nicer ones for the beach day.
➲ To the waterproof mobile phone case*
And suddenly the smartphone disappeared into the sea or sank into the pool. To prevent this from happening to you, there are these practical waterproof mobile phone cases for iPhone, Samsung and Co.
➲ To the bathing shoes for children and adults*
In addition to fine sandy beaches, Greece also has some pebble and stone beaches. Neoprene bathing shoes are recommended here so as not to end up with bloody toes like we did.
For underwater fans, the Greek islands have a lot to offer. There are countless snorkeling masks on Amazon for this adventure.
➲ To books and reading for Greece*
What could be better than reading a good book or an exciting novel in peace and quiet on the beach lounger while the sea rustles quietly in the background?
- Notebook and pen
#6 Packing List for Clothes and Shoes
- Shorts
- Long cloth trousers or jeans (for the flight and chilly evenings)
- T-shirts and tops
- Cardigan or hoodie (for the flight and chilly evenings)
- Rain jacket (in the mountainous region on the Greek mainland)
- Casual Dresses
- Sportswear
- Evening wear (chic dress, shirt, linen trousers, belt, etc.)
- Bikini or swimsuit*
- Swimming trunks*
- Hat or cap as sun protection
- Bra and nightwear
- Underwear
- Socks (against cold feet on the plane)
It is impossible to imagine a beach holiday without this large shawl, which is perfect as a beach dress or skirt in seconds. Perfect for the beach restaurant or a trip when too much bare skin is not desired.
➲ To the Buff Multifunctional Scarf*
Perfect as protection under the helmet, scarf and face mask on the plane.
➲ To flip-flops and thong sandals*
Flip-flops are ideal for the beach, the pool or short distances on holiday because they can be put on and taken off quickly. They are lightweight, space-saving and perfect for warm temperatures. However, they offer little support, so it is better to pack sturdy shoes for longer walks or hikes.
➲ To trekking shoes and sneakers*
Ideal for sports activities, hikes and on scooters and quads. We recommend sturdy shoes if you want to explore the islands on hikes.
- Sandals/ Birkenstock*
💡 Dress code tip for Greece: Many hotels and resorts, especially in the upscale star range, attach importance to the fact that the gentlemen wear long trousers in the evening in the in-house restaurant. Men don’t have to squeeze into tight jeans, airy linen trousers will do the trick too.
#7 Packing list cosmetics and hygiene
Cosmetics are an important part of the holiday packing list that can save you a lot of luggage. You can buy most cosmetics, such as shampoo and shower gel, in Greece, unless you want a specific brand. We always take a bar of solid soap with us to shower for the first few days and then buy the rest on site.
We only recommend that you get enough sunscreen with you to Greece . This is many times more expensive in Greece and many other Mediterranean countries. In addition, it usually stays in the sun for a whole season or longer. That’s why you should definitely put sunscreen on your packing list.
- Solid shower soap*(saves space, weight and is environmentally friendly)
- Solid shampoo*
- Face cream and cleansing
- Deodorant without aluminum or coconut oil
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Sunscreen without microplastics*
- Lip Care
- Contact lens fluid (also available on site)
- Contact lenses or glasses
- Shaver for Man + Woman
- Disinfectant gel/wipes travel size
- Hairspray Travel Size
- Dry Shampoo Travel Size
- Hairbrush (Tangle Teezer)*: Ella’s favorite for detangling hair
- Manicure Set Travel Case*
- Handkerchiefs/cotton swabs
- Virgin coconut oil*: Great as after-sun care or natural deodorant
- Hair ties and clips
- Make-up and remover (if needed)
- Contraceptives (condoms, etc.)
- Tampons / Pads / Menstrual cup*
#8 First-aid kit for Greece
We have continued to optimize our vacation checklist over the years and especially in the area of first-aid kits, we have noticed that many medications are available locally in pharmacies. Some of these are the same products as in Germany. Here is a selection for your packing list:
| Allergy | Antihistamine |
| Eyes | Bepanthen Eye Drops |
| Cystitis | Femannose D-Mannose Sachets (for emergencies) |
| Diarrhoea | Lopedium acute |
| Diarrhoea | Elotrans (electrolytes) |
| Fever | Domotherm Rapid Clinical Thermometer |
| Insects | Anti Mosquito Spray* |
| Insects | Fenistil Gel (also for sunburn) |
| Gastrointestinal | Iberogast |
| Ache | Paracetamol 500mg |
| Nausea | Emesan |
| Wounds | Bandages (gauze bandages + staples) |
| Wounds | Octenisept Wound Disinfection |
| Wounds | Hansaplast Plaster Mix |
| Wounds | Compeed blister plasters* |
| Wounds | Bepanthen Wound and Healing Ointment |
#9 Important documents on vacation
Since Greece is a member of the EU, simple regulations apply to German citizens when entering the country. If you arrive by plane, the usual boarding including security check will take place at the home airport. When entering by car, the trunk is checked at the border.
→ You can find more information about entry here: Getting to Greece
As in most EU countries, you can enter Greece with your normal ID card and stay there for up to 6 months without having to register. However, it is advisable to carry a European passport with you, e.g. for short stays in non-EU countries (Turkey, Albania).
- Identity card (or passport for excursions in Turkey)
- Passport for children
- Copy of ID card or passport
- Credit cards / debit cards
- Wallet with cash
- Driving licence
- Flight and train tickets
- Booking confirmations
- Emergency telephone numbers
- Blocking numbers for bank cards
- International health insurance or el. Health card
- Front door key
- Surfing, sailing and diving licence
- Hotel address and telephone number
- Vaccination card
- Student
- Green insurance card (if you arrive by car, check validity!)
What else should you know for your holiday planning and where are the faux pas lurking on holiday in Greece? We’ll tell you in our 90 facts about Greece with lexicon from A-Z: Greece Profile
→ You want even more Travel tips for Greece? Then read on here and get an overview of the most popular Greek islands:
- Crete at a glance
- Corfu at a glance
- Kos at a glance
- Rhodes at a glance
- Santorini Highlights
- Zakynthos Highlights
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