What I packed for 10 Days in Greece - in a Carry-on!
A stunning view in Santorini.
My daughter and I just returned from a 10 day dream trip to Greece this summer and it was absolutely amazing! The stunning views in Santorini, the ancient cobblestone roads weaving through Athens, and the smell of pastries and salty sea air - it was as if we were living in the movie Mama Mia!
If you are planning a trip to Greece in the near future, or even just dreaming about it, one of the most challenging parts is figuring out what to pack for Greece in the summer and more specifically, how to pack for Greece in only a carry-on!
Did I really just say that? Yep. You heard me right. I packed for a 10 day trip to Greece in a carry-on bag! It sounds impossible, especially for a fashion and beauty diva like myself, but with a little planning and a lot of compression bags, it is totally possible!
We had an ambitious itinerary:
✨ Athens sightseeing
🚢 A 4-day cruise through the Greek Islands (Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Patmos)
🕌 And a magical tour of Ephesus in Kusadasi, Turkey
With so many stops and small spaces, we were highly encouraged to pack light — as in: carry-on only. And trust me, hotel elevators in Greece are super tiny or non-existent so I was really happy that I did!
I honestly didn’t think I would be able to pack for a 10 day trip to Greece in a carry on - but with some planning, strategy, and a few game-changing essentials, I did it — and I didn’t sacrifice style or comfort.
Here’s everything I packed for 10 days in Greece — and the must-have items I’d recommend to any woman heading abroad, especially if you’re 40+ and want to look good, feel good, and not break your back.
The Travel Backpack I’ll Never Fly Without Again
I debated for weeks about what bag to use as my personal item — and I’m so glad I chose this travel backpack. It was perfect for Greece.
Here’s why I loved it:
✔️ Tons of space but still compact enough for airline guidelines
✔️ Laptop sleeve for travel days
✔️ Easy-access front zip pockets for passports, sunglasses, snacks
✔️ Lightweight + stylish enough to carry every day on our cruise and excursions
It even slid neatly under my airplane seat — and held up beautifully through long ferry rides, busy ports, and full days of sightseeing.
🧼 Compression Packing Vacuum Seal Bags
If it weren’t for compression packing bags, there would have been NO WAY I could have packed for Greece for 10 Days in a carry-on! These were my #1 MVP for making it all fit. I used this set from Amazon and rolled everything tightly.
✔️ Fit 10 days worth of outfits in my carry-on
✔️ Organized by type (dresses, swim, undergarments, etc.)
💦 TSA-Friendly Toiletries:
The 3-1-1 Rule
Without a doubt, figuring out which toiletries to take, and which ones to ditch, was the hardest part about packing for my trip. I learned pretty quickly that packing light (and in a carry-on) also means downsizing your beauty routine.
TSA rules only allow 3 oz. bottles in ONE 1 quart-sized zip bag — and let me tell you, this was a challenge!
The trick was prioritizing what mattered most:
✨ ZO Skin Health Travel Set (my skincare essentials!)
✅ Everything under 3 oz. and fits into 1 bag
Pro tip: Use mini refillable bottles for everyday products and buy travel sizes of your luxe favorites.
💄 Foundation Counts as a Liquid (So Choose Wisely!)
Speaking of downsizing your beauty routine for travel, here’s a TSA packing truth no one warns you about:
Foundation is considered a liquid. 😬
Which means it must go in your 3-1-1 liquids bag — and with limited space, every product counts.
I chose the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50 as my go-to because it did double duty:
✔️ Foundation-level coverage
✔️ High SPF protection
✔️ Lightweight and radiant finish
With the Mediterranean heat and sun, I pared my makeup routine down to:
💧 This multitasking CC Cream
👁️ Mascara
💋 Lipstick (or tinted balm)
And honestly? It was a blessing.
Heavy makeup doesn’t hold up to the Greek sun — this light, smart routine made me feel polished and protected without melting off halfway through the day.
Affiliate Link: IT Cosmetics CC Cream with SPF 50
👗 What I Wore in Greece (And Would 100% Wear Again)
Let’s be real — Greece is hot, full of cobblestones, stairs, and sunshine. Your clothes need to be light, comfortable, breathable, and versatile. Fabrics like linen are your best friend in the mediterranean heat! But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. I packed smart, wore every piece I brought, and felt like the best version of myself — even while sweating through temple tours and ferry rides.
Here’s what was on repeat in my suitcase:
👖 Palazzo Pants — My Greece Travel Uniform
Light, breathable, flattering — palazzo pants were my go-to!
Perfect for touring in the afternoon heat, and easy to dress up for dinner with a tank top, sandals, and a pair of statement earrings.
✔️ Great sun coverage
✔️ Packed small
✔️ Easy to dress up or down
Check out these Linen Palazzo Pants or these Side Split Palazzo Beach Pants on Amazon as great options!
👒 Rachel Zoe Straw Fedora Hat
This hat was a lifesaver. It shielded my face from the Mediterranean sun and saved me from bad hair mornings during early excursions. Plus, it looked amazing in every photo!
✔️ Packable
✔️ Stylish
✔️ Practical
Check out this Fedora Straw Hat on Amazon that is very similar to my Rachel Zoe Fedora and has sun protection!
✨ The SPANX Active Dress
This was my secret weapon — cute and functional. I wore it on travel days, walking tours, and even dressed it up for dinner.
✔️ Built-in shorts
✔️ Holds its shape all day
✔️ Lightweight but flattering
👗 Sofia Vergara Maxi Dress (Walmart find!)
This dress made me feel like a goddess — and it was under $30! I wore it on our last night in Athens when we did a food tour of local eateries with sandals, statement earrings from Amazon, and a shot of Greek tequila!
✔️ Flowy, forgiving, and flattering
✔️ Doubled as a dinner dress and cruise day cover-up
💎 Accessories That Traveled Well
I kept my jewelry minimal, but a few bold earrings made even my simplest outfits feel polished.
Lightweight, statement earrings were perfect for dressing up dinners without taking up any space. I brought a few bold earrings that didn’t tangle or take up space. They dressed up any outfit in seconds — especially for dinner after long days.
I found these Raffia Hoop earrings on Amazon for less than $10 and they were the perfect compliment to the dress!
The Best Shoes to Wear in Greece
Unlike Italy, where I saw many women dressed to the nines, wearing high heels and fur coats (I went in the winter), Greece has a much more casual, island-like vibe, even on the mainland of Athens. Let me say it clearly: Leave your heels at home. Yep. You heard me right. Normally, I’m ALL about the heels, but we walked miles a day, often on ancient, uneven streets. My daily steps averaged between 13,000-17,000 steps a day easily, and that included our cruise days because we had an excursion every day! So, plan for comfortable walking shoes. These two pairs were all I needed:
Vionic Sandals & Skechers Walk Shoes
Let me say it clearly: Leave your heels at home.
🖤 Vionic Rhinestone Sandals from QVC – supportive + stylish
🩰 Skechers Go Walks from Amazon – total lifesavers
I wore the sparkly Vionic sandals to dinner, on the cruise and on the islands and saved my Sketchers walking shoes for long excursions to the Parthenon, walking through the uneven streets of Ephesus and other long excursions.
💡 Pro Tip: When Packing for Greece, Think Basics.
Build your wardrobe around 3–4 main colors so everything mixes and matches easily. My palette was white, navy, tan, and (of course) black— it made packing (and getting dressed) a breeze and was easy for mixing and matching. It was also great because I found this stunning silk wrap blouse in the outdoor marketplace on the Island of Rhodes, and it easily matched my white palazzo pants and tube tope that I had packed!
Stacey and Liv on the Cape of Sounion where the Temple of Poseidon overlooks the Aegean Sea.
And that’s a Wrap… But Don’t Forget to Pack These Essentials for Greece:
🔌 Portable Chargers & AC Converters
You’ll need EU plug adapters AND portable chargers for the long days out exploring.
🔌 AC Converter Set – Multiple Ports
💧 Brita Filtered Water Bottle
The Greek islands are HOT — and staying hydrated is key.
This was a lifesaver for excursions and long walking tours.
Affiliate Link: Brita Filtering Bottle
💼 Crossbody Travel Bag (with water bottle holder!)
Hands-free is a must when you’re navigating cobblestone streets or browsing a market in Santorini.
I loved this lightweight, anti-theft design crossbody bag that also held my water bottle from QVC.
🏖️ Quick-Dry Towels Are a Game-Changer (Dock & Bay FTW)
If you’re planning any beach excursions, day trips to the islands, or lounging poolside on a cruise — you need a towel that dries fast, packs small, and doesn’t weigh down your bag.
I packed a Dock & Bay quick-dry towel and used it constantly:
✔️ At the beach on the Island of Rhodes
✔️ Poolside during our cruise
✔️ Even as a wrap for boat rides
These towels are lightweight, compact, and dry in under an hour — perfect for travel, especially when you don’t have access to a dryer. Plus, they come in fun colors and roll up to fit inside your carry-on without taking up space.
Affiliate Link: Shop Dock & Bay Quick-Dry Towels
💛 Final Thoughts
Packing light for 10 days in Europe at 40+ might sound impossible — but trust me, you can do it beautifully.
Plan smart. Choose pieces that work hard. And let go of the idea that you need a new outfit for every photo. (The sunsets in Santorini steal the show anyway.)
Traveling light gave me more than suitcase space — it gave me freedom.
🧳 Want to feel that kind of clarity in more than just your luggage?
Download my free Find Your Purpose Workbook to start unpacking the next chapter of your life — with intention, confidence, and ease.
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