The Only Holiday Swimwear Packing List You Need

Every year, without fail, I overpack swimwear. I tell myself I need options. I tell myself each bikini serves a different purpose. And then I spend the entire holiday rotating between the same two pieces while six others sit folded in my suitcase judging me. So this year, I sat down and worked out the actual formula. How much swimwear do you genuinely need for a week away? Here’s the honest answer.

The Magic Number: Four

For a seven-day holiday, four swimwear pieces is the sweet spot. More than that and you’re overpacking. Fewer and you’re doing laundry on holiday, which should be illegal. Here’s how I break it down.

Piece one: the everyday bikini. This is your workhorse. Something comfortable, quick-drying, and in a colour or print you genuinely love. This is the one you’ll grab most mornings without thinking. A classic triangle or bralette style works perfectly — nothing fussy, nothing that needs adjusting every five minutes.

Piece two: the statement swimsuit. A one-piece that can take you from the pool to lunch without a wardrobe change. Pair it with a linen skirt and sandals and you have an outfit. A sculpting black one-piece is the safe choice, but honestly, this is where you can have fun — a bold print, an interesting cut-out, something that makes you feel fantastic.

Piece three: the activity bikini. If you’re swimming, snorkelling, paddleboarding, or doing anything beyond lying still, you need something that stays put. A sporty bikini top with a crossback or a high-neck crop style paired with a mid-rise brief that won’t ride up. Function over fashion here, though plenty of brands now do both brilliantly.

Piece four: the going-out piece. A beautiful bikini or swimsuit that you’ll wear to the beach club, the rooftop pool, or wherever the holiday takes you on that one day when you actually want to look effortlessly put-together. This is where your Hunza G or your Melissa Odabash earns its keep.

Cover-Ups and Accessories

Two cover-ups is all you need: one casual (an oversized linen shirt or a cotton sarong) and one slightly elevated (a midi dress or kaftan that works for evening). Bring one pair of flat sandals for the day and one pair of heeled sandals or mules for dinner. A wide-brim hat, decent sunglasses, and a waterproof pouch for your phone. That’s it.

The Rule I Swear By

If you haven’t worn it in the last twelve months, it doesn’t go in the suitcase. That bikini you bought on sale two summers ago that’s never quite fitted right? Leave it at home. Holiday swimwear should be the pieces that make you feel your best, not the ones you’re “giving another chance.” Pack less, pack better, and you’ll actually enjoy getting dressed every morning instead of staring at a pile of options with decision fatigue.

Trust me — four pieces, two cover-ups, and a good hat. You don’t need anything else.