What to pack for The Greek Islands in January

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Some islands fine you for the regular stuff.

Glare bounces off the sea even when skies are overcast.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Slips on wet stone and minor cuts from rocky shores happen fast.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Limited outlets at smaller island accommodations drain devices quickly.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 6:25pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins fit standard carry-on across all airlines serving these islands.

Day trips between islands mean carrying water, snacks, and a light layer.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Wind at 29 km/h cuts across open water and chills exposed skin.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

Tap water is safe, but carrying your own saves time between villages.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Ferry terminals and crowded ports attract pickpockets year-round.

Bag handlers at international airports don't always treat luggage gently.

Damp salt air wrinkles clothes unless they're organized and compressed.

Eleven rain days in January keep clothes wet longer than you'd expect.

Engine noise on ferries between islands runs for hours at a stretch.

Coastal swimming in January is cold but the water stays clear.

Rain and sea spray soak gear during boat transfers between islands.

Doubles as a towel, a scarf, and a cover-up where one's expected.

UV index of 3.2 still burns lips during nine hours of daylight.

Guesthouses share facilities and surfaces see many hands.

One charging point means cables need to reach from bed to wall.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Salt spray and humidity corrode paper documents without protection.

Shared hostel storage areas require locks on your own gear.

Humidity at 70 percent makes bathrooms steamy and toiletries damp.

Ferry bunks are narrow and boat motion disrupts sleep on overnight routes.