Raincoat, Umbrella or Both??

My vote is for a cheap plastic rain poncho. In its original plastic cover takes no room and can be carried in your day bag if weather is iffy. It was a Maid of the Mist plastic poncho stuffed back in its original bag from Niagara Falls for many years. I take a good rainproof jacket if weather is cooler which doubles as a windbreaker. Used to carry a compact umbrella but no more as my packing has become very minimal.

I vote rain jacket. Mine weighs less than an umbrella and has more uses.

In many countries, hotels offer free umbrellas at their entrance. Perhaps you'll find this.
Have a great trip.

I've found Greece can be quite breezy and cool after the sun goes down if you're near the water, so I'd want some sort of light wrap. That might as well be a rain jacket.

The umbrella decision might depend on where I planned to travel in Greece (Corfu is a lot rainier than Athens, for example), but I'd be inclined to take one anyway. However, I am not a carry-on-only traveler.

I live on Vancouver Island where it is known to rain a lot at certain times of the year and a rain jacket wins every time! Umbrellas are more trouble than they are worth!

A collapsible umbrella is so compact that if you cannot fit it into your carryon, you may be over stuffed.
I take both.

I take a rain jacket. I like to take pictures and a jacket keeps my hands free. Also, I hate being poked by other people's umbrellas and I don't want to do that to others. On occasion, if there is a real downpour, I borrow a hotel umbrella or buy a cheap one.
Also, I LOVE my rain hat. It looks good on me, stuffs in a pocket, and is great when it's just a light drizzle.

Rick notes in one show - umbrellas are cheap and easily available. Pick one up if needed and leave it behind for the next hotel guest... So I bring a lightweight rain jacket as an "outer" layer.

I've noticed people on this forum tend to be very anti-umbrella. I am not, if I am going somewhere and I think it might rain I take one. A small umbrella takes up less space than a raincoat, and I agree that raincoats can get very warm in the humidity. Kalo taxithi!

Rain jacket with attached hood. Every place has umbrella sellers who magically appear when it rains. You'll be able to find one if you need one in Greece.

Hooded rain jacket is my vote. I find umbrellas awkward; what do you do with a wet umbrella when you go inside? And you can hit people with them. Or they may block someone else's view.

I am similarly headed off in a few weeks. I plan on both. The "raincoat" doubles as a well traveled light jacket.

My experience differs from Rick's thoughts on the easy availability of umbrellas. Other than in Japan, I have not found purchasing umbrellas to be universally convenient. I prefer to carry my lightweight, compact models. Doubly good when traveling in countries where the umbrella doubles to protect from sun. (Yes, I have UV models.) Thanks to Cat (above) for noticing the -umbrella bias on this board - I concur.

I do agree that the large hotel umbrellas can be great - but only in certain circumstances. Sometimes they are simply too large to tote around all day.

I agree with ORDtraveler. I think Rick's advice applies only if you expect to spend nearly all your time in touristy parts of touristy cities. If you're in a residential area when it begins to rain, you probably won't see a lot of umbrella vendors.

The one time I needed to buy an umbrella as it started to rain, I was lucky to encounter a vendor. Or not, depending on your point of view. The end of the handle broke off almost immediately. Within an hour or so, the umbrella no longer opened.

I always take my hooded rain jacket along on trips.

I’m in Italy now. The first week’s forecast had some rain which can be heavy at the lake mountains, so I brought my usual rain jacket but also a lightweight umbrella. Luckily the rain cooperated and fell when I was having dinner two times. I did leave the umbrella at Pavia - planned to donate it.

I have stayed at hotels where they bring out umbrellas if it’s a rainy night. But when you need an umbrella to walk to a train station early in the morning, the vendors won’t be a help. Bring your choice which sounds like the umbrella.

A light rain jacket and a small umbrella are invaluable items in my carryon.

Raymonelee…I too say both. Seems I have often been in pouring rain pulling luggage and so thankful for my good raincoat. Wind with rain even worse! I had no extra hands for my umbrella!!

My two cents is the adequacy of a rain coat depends on the pants you are wearing. Cotton is terrible. We were in Sicily on a guided hike on Mt Etna. It poured. I had a hip length rain coat and very lightweight cotton ankle pants on. I was so miserable. What I would have done to have had an umbrella.

I learned my lesson. We went the next year to Portugal in October. The north was known for being rainy that time of year. I left those pants at home and brought pants from Athleta. We had five days of rain and wore the same rain coat and was totally comfortable.