What to pack for The Greek Islands in November

Some islands fine you for the regular stuff.

Glare off the sea and limestone reflects even at UV 3.7.

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

Island pharmacies have limited stock and ferry delays happen.

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

Ten hours of daylight means charging happens once daily.

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

Dark by 6:05pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Ferry overhead bins are smaller than mainland airports.

Day trips to nearby islands mean carrying essentials separately.

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.

Coastal wind cuts through a t-shirt fast.

Wind hits 26 km/h across open water and exposed paths.

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

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

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.

Ferries and crowded sites attract pickpockets year-round.

Luggage transfers between islands happen without your direct supervision.

Laundry facilities are scarce; packing efficiently stretches wash days.

November is still warm enough that clothes dry overnight.

Engine noise on ferries lasts hours between islands.

November water is 18 degrees and still swimmable.

Six rain days soak gear left on boat decks.

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

Six rain days mean sun breaks through between them, unfiltered.

Guesthouses share bathrooms and surfaces get touched constantly.

One outlet per room is standard on smaller islands.

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

Border checks at ports require documents ready to hand over.

Shared dorms and hostel lockers need securing.

Humidity at 72 percent makes mildew a real problem.

Ferries to other islands run early; sleep on the boat.