· 3 min read
The Greek islands in early summer: what to pack for ferries, beaches and monasteries
Warm days, a sea still cool enough to make you gasp, strong sun and a dress code at the monastery door. How to pack for island hopping without dragging a big suitcase down the harbour.
ATH · JTR
- When
- May–June
- Weather
- 18–28 °C, sunny
- Pack
- Light layers, water shoes, a scarf
The story
The ferry leaves Piraeus at half past seven, and the harbour is already warm. You find a seat on the open deck, and twenty minutes out of port the wind picks up, fresh and salty, and you pull a light sweater from your backpack. Next to you, a family with three enormous suitcases is trying to work out where to put them. You’re traveling with one small bag, and you feel smug about it.
The island’s harbour is a long walk and a longer flight of steps from your room. Your bag has wheels, but the path is stone steps and cobbles, so you carry it. Five minutes of that and you understand why the locals smile at suitcases.
In the afternoon you find a small beach at the end of a dirt road. The water is so clear it looks shallow, and so cold, in early June, that you gasp. The beach is pebbles, not sand, and you’re glad you packed water shoes: getting in and out is easy, and they save your feet from the rocks while you snorkel along the shore.
The next day you walk up to a monastery on top of the hill. At the door there’s a sign asking visitors to cover their shoulders and knees, and a basket of wraparound skirts for those who didn’t know. You take the scarf from your bag, tie it around your shoulders, and go in. Inside, it’s dark and cool and smells of candle wax.
In the evening the wind rises again. The sunset is spectacular, and the light sweater comes out once more. Island summers are simple to pack for if you remember three things: the sun is strong, the wind is cool, and every monastery has a door with a dress code.
What to pack
Pack small: ferries, steps and narrow streets don’t reward big suitcases.
Clothes
- Light, breathable clothes: linen shirts, T-shirts, shorts and a dress or light trousers.
- A light sweater or jacket for ferry decks and windy evenings.
- A scarf or sarong: it’s a beach cover-up, a sunshade and your ticket into monasteries and churches, which ask for covered shoulders and knees.
- Two swimsuits, so one can dry.
Shoes
- Walking sandals with good grip for stone steps and hilly villages.
- Water shoes for pebbly beaches and rocky entries.
- Light sneakers for longer walks.
For the sun and the sea
- Sunscreen SPF 50, a hat and sunglasses.
- A snorkel mask. The water is very clear.
- A quick-dry towel, although most places provide beach towels.
- A refillable bottle.
For the ferries
- Seasickness tablets, if you need them. The wind can make crossings rough, especially in July and August.
- Your tickets on your phone, and a charger: some ferries are long.
Documents, money and tech
- Passport or ID card, and your ferry bookings.
- Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for small tavernas and kiosks on smaller islands.
- A plug adapter if you come from outside continental Europe.
Good to know
- Weather: in May and June, days run from about 18 to 28 °C (64 to 82 °F), and the sea is 19 to 22 °C. July and August are hotter, and the strong northern wind called the meltemi can delay ferries.
- Plugs: types C and F, 230 V.
- Money: euro.
- Ferries: book in advance in summer, especially for popular routes and cabins. Arrive early: boarding is quick and ferries leave on time.
- Entry: Greece is in the Schengen area. Non-EU visitors should check visa and travel authorization requirements.