Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Style

    Off on vacation? I've compiled the summer holiday packing list you need

    All the essentials.

    Zoe Anastasiou's avatar
    By Zoe Anastasiou
    Published 6 May 2023 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Holiday packing list: Fashion week show goers wear orange, holiday-inspired looks
    (Image credit: Getty)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Summer is on the horizon, and if you're anything like me that means you have one thing on your mind: a summer holiday. Whether you opt for a vacation to a far-flung location or a staycation in your hometown or city, there is nothing better than shutting off for a few days to prioritise rest and relaxation.

    Of course, any planned holiday will elicit the same question, what do I pack? This is why today, we have put together the ultimate summer holiday packing list, to make sure you never forget the necessities again. 

    It goes without saying that different types of holidays will require different things, so of course, there is no "one size fits all" rule, so to speak. Though, in general, if you're going on a summer holiday (cue the iconic tune by Cliff Richard) there are some absolute wardrobe essentials you need to take with you. 

    Fashion week attendees wears summer look featuring orange shirt and shorts

    (Image credit: Getty)

    While clothing might seem like an obvious answer, there are a few specifics you'll need beyond just the basic underwear, shorts and a T-shirt. If you're going to an area with a sunny, hot climate then packing a hat and sunglasses is an absolute must. Avoiding sunburn and being sun-smart is imperative to ensuring you enjoy your trip. 

    Aside from this, a sunny location will likely warrant the need for a beach bag, so that you can tote all the essentials, including sunscreen, water and even snacks. 

    While you might be inclined to simply pack a pair of flip-flops to cover your footwear needs, sturdier, more supportive shoes will be a far more practical decision. When exploring a new city, you often cover more steps than your average day, so making sure you're wearing shoes that support your feet, will help you avoid unwanted issues down the line. 

    Keep scrolling for a packing list of the essentials you might need for your next summer holiday and shop our favourite summer buys below.  

    What do I need in my holiday packing list?

    Of course, the items you will need to pack for your holiday will entirely depend on the kind of vacation you are planning to take. A ski holiday will require completely different items to a beach holiday, for example. With summer coming up, today we're focusing on a summer holiday packing list.

    • Passport
    • Underwear 
    • A few T-shirts or tops
    • Some light (potentially linen) trousers 
    • A pair of shorts or a few skirts
    • A hat
    • Light summer dresses in mini, midi or maxi lengths 
    • Your favourite swimwear 
    • A light cardigan/jumper/jacket for cooler nights 
    • A beach bag
    • Sunglasses
    • Sandals 
    • Trainers
    • Gym Kit
    • Skincare 
    • Makeup 
    • Sunscreen 
    • A towel 

    Shop our summer holiday packing list:

    Best crochet dresses: Oysho Long cotton crochet dress

    Oysho Long cotton crochet dress
    £50 AT OYSHO

    Best Basket Bags: Loewe

    Loewe x Paula's Ibiza Small Anagram Basket Bag
    £550 AT LIBERTY

    Best Sunglasses: Celine Triomphe oval-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses

    Celine Triomphe oval-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses
    £370 AT MATCHES FASHION

    best summer sandals: Charles & Keith

    Charles & Keith Gabine Buckled Leather Slides​
    £95 AT CHARLES & KEITH

    Best Summer Dresses: Reformation Linen Dress

    Reformation Linen Dress
    £220 AT BROWNS FASHION

    Arket Linen Shorts

    Arket Linen Shorts
    £35 AT ARKET

    Sleeper Lili gingham maxi skirt

    Sleeper Lili gingham maxi skirt
    £195 AT FARFETCH

    Best Hen Party Dresses: Omnes Winslow Midi Dress in Cream

    Omnes Winslow Midi Dress in Cream
    £59 AT OMNES

    Agolde Stella high-rise organic-denim shorts

    Agolde Stella high-rise organic-denim shorts
    £190 AT SELFRIDGES

    Cos Woven Straw Bucket Hat

    Cos Woven Straw Bucket Hat
    £45 AT COS

    Jacquemus La Serviette Bandana towel

    Jacquemus La Serviette Bandana towel
    £115 AT SELFRIDGES

    Hunza G Domino scooped-back swimsuit

    Hunza G Domino scooped-back swimsuit
    £160 AT SELFRIDGES

    Best Linen Trousers: M&S Pure Linen Belted Wide Leg Trousers

    M&S Pure Linen Belted Wide Leg Trousers
    £35 AT MARKS AND SPENCER

    New Balance 327 Trainers

    New Balance 327 Trainers
    £110 AT FLANNELS

    & Other Stories Fitted Square-Neck Ribbed Top

    & Other Stories Fitted Square-Neck Ribbed Top
    £45 AT & OTHER STORIES

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Zoe Anastasiou
    Zoe Anastasiou
    Social Links Navigation
    Fashion Editor

    Zoe Anastasiou is a Fashion Editor with over eight years of experience working across digital publications in New York, London and Australia. She has contributed to publications including Harper’s BAZAAR and ELLE Australia, and was the Fashion and Social Media Editor at Who What Wear UK before joining Marie Claire. 

    Latest in Style
    AW26 Shoe Trends
    Shopping From Heeled Loafers to Square Toes and Lace-Up Courts, Consider This Your Guide to Autumn's Defining Shoe Trends
    Eva Omaghomi
    Fashion After 17 years in the Royal Household, Eva Omaghomi Talks Bringing African Design Talent to Harrods
     
     
    Jodie Comer
    Shopping Jodie Comer Just Announced the Start of Knee-High Boots Season
    Coach Tabby bag
    Fashion Why Coach’s Forever Bags Are the Ultimate Wardrobe Investment
     
     
    Latest in Buying Guides
    AW26 Shoe Trends
    Shopping From Heeled Loafers to Square Toes and Lace-Up Courts, Consider This Your Guide to Autumn's Defining Shoe Trends
    30 AW26 BUYS
    Fashion 30 of the Most Sought-After New Season Buys to Kick-Start Your Autumn/Winter 2026 Wardrobe
     
     
    Senior Health Editor trying Rapha, Pas Normal, Universal Colours, and Jelenew cycling gear, in Richmond Park and Brighton
    Fitness I'm a Fashion-Conscious Health Editor Who Just Started Cycling—6 Brands That Finally Nailed Style and Performance
    Best foundation balms
    Make Up If You’ve Fallen Out of Love With Foundation in Your 30s, This Hydrating, Blurring Alternative Still Gives Impressive Coverage
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.