Packing for Greece in May was a little difficult for me. Reading the average temperatures on my app still left me somewhat unsure of how it would FEEL in Greece during May (or even in late April). Would I be chilly? Could I swim? Here is what to pack for Greece in May from a practical standpoint (I’m no fashionista).
As a practical packer, I travel carry-on only 90% of the time, especially to Europe when stairs are notorious. The not-so-secret secret to traveling for 7-9 days or more with carry-on only is to do a wardrobe capsule with lots of neutrals that you can match with multiple items.
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Weather in Greece in May
The weather in Greece in May is one of the reasons I have deemed May to be the perfect time to visit Greece 😍 It bodes lots of sunshine, mild temperatures and pleasant conditions for exploring!
- Athens weather in May: Average highs of 76 degrees F (24 degrees C ) and lows of 60 degrees F (15 degrees C)
- Santorini and Northern Greek Island weather in May: Average highs of 72 degrees F (22 C) and lows of 61 degrees F (16 C)
- Crete and Southern Greek Island weather in May: Average highs of 74 degrees F (23 C) and lows of 60 degrees F (15 C)
If you need all of the reasons May is the perfect time to visit Greece, click here 😍
Weather Difference from the Beginning of May to the End
The tricky part of knowing what to pack for Greece in May is due to the variability in the weather during each day AS WELL as during the month. There is actually quite the warm up in temperatures from the beginning of May to the end of May in Greece.
Athens:
- The average highs in Athens the first week of May are typically low to mid 70s F.
- The second and third weeks of May are more mid to high 70’s F
- The last week of May is typically in to the low 80’s and feeling more like a European summer
Northern Greek Islands (Santorini and up to Ios, Naxos, Mykonos, etc):
- Santorini and islands north of it typically do not reach the 80’sF in May.
- They will likely be in the mid 60’s to low 70’s F most of the month, maybe reaching mid 70s by the end of May
Southern Greek Islands (Crete, Kasos, Rhodes, etc):
- The southern Greek islands temperatures will likely fall a little cooler than Athens and little warmer than the northern islands
- The first week of May may have upper 60’s F temperatures, but typically the temperature in Crete and the southern Greek islands will be mid to high 70s F.
What to Pack for Athens and the Northern Islands in May
Now that the boring (yet important) stuff is out of the way, lets pack for Greece!
You are going to love exploring Athens in May. You won’t melt while walking thousands of steps nor will you melt while you are high on the acropolis with the sun beaming down on you. However, the mornings can be a little cool, so if you are cold-natured, be prepared for that.
If you are visiting some of the more northern islands, expect them to be cooler than the temperatures in Athens. Unless you plan to jump in the ocean in the northern islands (which will be 🥶), your wardrobe in Athens and the northern Greek islands can be quite similar.
Bottoms: Pants or shorts?
If you plan to get an early start (which you should when visiting the Acropolis) you will have a chilly morning start (upper 50’s/lower 60’sF). However, the afternoons will warm up and you will definitely warm up walking up the acropolis. Therefore I don’t recommend a thick or heavy jean or sweat pant material; you want something versatile that will transition through the changing temperatures well!
I recommend packing:
- A lightweight long pants such as linen pants or lightweight joggers
- Or, if you prefer to be a little more dressy, a long, flowy skirt to explore in in Athens.
- Either will let you transition from the cooler mornings to the nice afternoons well.
These are also the type of bottoms that will transition nicely to the mild but windy northern Greek islands!
- Though the temperatures may look mild, if the sun decides to dip behind the clouds while the wind is blowing, you will want some coverage for the legs!
- Also, on the topic of wind, if you decide you want to wear a shorter dress on a windy island like Santorini, I’d suggest sliding some spandex shorts underneath 😉
**The exact khaki, high-waisted joggers I’m wearing in the first photo are from Halara and are the first linked photo below. I especially loved them for how high-waisted they were and that they came in petit for my short legs**
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Tops: Is a Tank Top Appropriate?
The afternoons and the sunshine will bode close-to-perfect weather, so short sleeves or a tank top are definitely appropriate to pack. They are a great layer that won’t be too heavy under your top layer in the morning and will be comfortable in the afternoons. Layers will be key!
I don’t recommend packing long sleeves; they will be too heavy in the afternoon while exploring and even too much in the morning with a top layer.
The ideal tops to pack for Greece will be lightweight tops that are neutral and that can be worn with the long pants in Athens and the north or be worn with the shorts for the southern islands.
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Top Layer: Jacket, Cardigan or Sweater
You’ll want to a lightweight jacket, cardigan or sweater for cooler mornings and evenings. I packed one blue jean jacket and one khaki, lightweight trench coat (exact one linked below) and both were worn more than once during the days in Athens and Santorini.
However, I know sometimes jackets are unstylish. So another option is neutral colored cardigan or sweater that can be worn with linen pants or skirts.
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What to Pack for the Southern Greek Islands in May
The southern Greek islands, such as Crete, will have more consistent warm weather with less variability in the conditions. Also, if you are visiting Crete, it is a MUCH larger island than most of the Greek islands, therefore the wind will be much less of a factor.
- Low 70s F here feels much warmer than on a windy island like Santorini
At the beginning of May in 2023, we didn’t wear long pants or jackets once in Crete!
- Though the temperature was between 68 and 72 degrees F, we were still able to lay out by the ocean and it felt so nice!
- Here, you can pack more for a “typical” summer beach destination!
Bottoms: Will Shorts be Okay?
Long pants really won’t be necessary in the southern Greek islands. Even in the mornings and evenings, you will be much more comfortable in shorts or skirts compared to Athens and the more northern Greek islands.
- However, double check that you won’t be in Crete with abnormally cool conditions before you pack too many shorts!
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Dresses and Jumpsuits
If you are’t big on piecing outfits together, dresses and jumpsuits will work great in the southern Greek islands. However, be mindful of how many of these you pack for Greece because they are not interchangeable with other clothing items and they may take up more space in your suitcase.
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Swimsuits and Coverups
What to pack for Greece in May? Swimsuits! Even at the beginning of May, you will be able to partake in some summer activities! We visited two beaches in Crete and were able to lay out by the ocean comfortably.
- Though I didn’t test the waters, others on the beach did. So, if you aren’t too scared of cooler water, you can even swim at the beginning of May! Once you get toward the end of May, the water temperatures should start to warm up as well.
A great way to save room for carry-on only travelers is to choose a dress or jumpsuit that can double as a swimsuit cover.
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What to Pack for Greece: Other Essentials
Now that you have a better idea of what clothes will be appropriate to pack for Greece in May, what else should you plan to pack?
What shoes to pack? Be prepared for lots of walking in Greece! At the very least, have one comfortable pair of tennis shoes to explore Athens in and then have one comfortable pair of sandals that you can alternate them with. You can likely also squeeze a nice, light sandal for your dinner wear as well!
Should I bring a hat? A hat is not a bad idea for Athens and for the less windy islands. The sun is BRIGHT! However, if you are going to Santorini or another windy island, be aware that you may have a hard time keeping the hat on your head.
Sunglasses? Absolutely. Do not attempt to go to Greece with its beautiful white washed buildings and sunshine without sunglasses or you will have a hard time keeping your eyes open fully 😅
Should I pack sunscreen? You are going to need sunscreen, even if you don’t plan to layout on the beach. The reflections off the white-wash buildings are real. However, if you are packing with carry-on only, it may be a better option to buy sunscreen when you arrive in Athens.
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Recap of What to Pack for Greece in May
Obviously, don’t forget your undies and essential toiletries that you take everywhere; I am confident you are smart enough to pack those without my help 😜 But maybe now you will have a better idea of what it will FEEL like in May and how you should pack for it! I truly LOVED Greece in May; it was nearly perfect, crisp Spring weather.
For a great 7 day itinerary to Greece including Athens, Santorini and Crete (or another southern Greek island), click here!