Tips

What to Pack by Climate: City-by-City Clothing Tips

Red and dark cinder cones across Haleakalā's summit crater — Kalahaku Overlook, Haleakalā National Park · Photo: Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0

Cities grouped by climate type, from warm all year to below-freezing winters, with January and July normals and the clothing tips each city guide gives.

Published Oct 12, 2026

Before you pack: check January and July normals

In the same January, Bangkok tops 30°C in the afternoon while Sapporo sits below freezing. That is why packing by the month's temperatures works better than packing by country. This post groups cities by climate type and gives each one's January and July normals together with the clothing and packing tips from this app's city guides.

Temperatures are written like 'January 33/23°C': the first figure is the average high, the second the average low, rounded to whole degrees. They are the climate normals shown in each guide, and the source, station and period differ by city (sources on each guide page). Normals are long-term averages and can differ from this year's weather, so check the forecast just before you leave.

The cities here are examples from this app's city guides. The temperatures and tips are what the guides show and can change, so check official information again before you go.

Warm all year: light clothes, plus sun, rain and temple dress

These cities have highs of 30°C or more in both January and July. Pack light, but plan for strong sun, sudden rain and the dress codes temples ask for.

Many temples require covered shoulders and knees, so shorts and sleeveless tops alone can keep you out. Add thin long trousers or a knee-length skirt and a light layer that covers your shoulders.

A tile-decorated great chedi of Wat Pho against a blue sky. — Wat Pho · Photo: Bjørn Erik Pedersen / CC BY-SA 4.0

Bangkok: January 33/23°C · July 34/26°C. Cover shoulders and knees at temples and remove shoes indoors.
Kuala Lumpur: January 33/24°C · July 33/24°C. Afternoon downpours are common, so the guide says to carry a small umbrella and plan outdoor sights for the morning. Cover shoulders and knees at mosques and temples.
Bali: January 33/24°C · July 30/23°C. Cover shoulders and knees and wear a sarong in temples; many entrances lend them. For the pre-dawn volcano sunrise hike, bring good shoes and a warm layer.
Guam: January 30/24°C · July 31/25°C. The sun is intense, so bring sunscreen, a hat and a rash guard; coral and rocks are common, so water shoes help.

Hot summers, cooler winters: pack at least one layer

Summer highs climb past 30°C, but January lows drop to 14-17°C. It is easy to pack only T-shirts, yet the guides agree: bring a layer in winter.

Some places also run strong indoor air conditioning, so a light layer is useful even in summer.

Hanoi: January 20/15°C · July 33/27°C. December to February is often cool and grey; don't pack only T-shirts, bring a light down jacket or warm layer.
Taipei: January 19/14°C · July 35/27°C. Carry a small umbrella for sudden showers, and a light layer for strong indoor air conditioning.
Ishigaki: January 22/17°C · July 32/28°C. In January-February the north wind makes it feel cooler, so bring a jacket.

Below-freezing winters: warm coat and non-slip shoes

January lows here fall below freezing, while July highs reach 24-27°C, so what you pack changes completely with the season. In winter, icy streets matter as much as the cold, and every guide stresses non-slip shoes.

The Sapporo guide notes that indoors is warm, so dress in layers: several easy-to-remove layers beat one heavy outfit. For even colder places such as Harbin, see the Harbin post linked at the end.

A quiet, snow-covered street in front of the Sapporo Clock Tower at night. — Snowy street by the Sapporo Clock Tower · Photo: MIKI Yoshihito from Sapporo City,Hokkaido., JAPAN / CC BY 2.0

Sapporo: January 0/-6°C · July 25/18°C. From December to March sidewalks are icy and very slippery; wear shoes with good grip and consider slip-on ice cleats sold locally. Bring a warm coat, gloves and a hat.
Otaru: January -1/-6°C · July 24/17°C. Winters bring heavy snow and icy streets; wear shoes with non-slip soles and bring gloves and a hat.
Toronto: January -1/-9°C · July 27/17°C. January-February brings sub-zero cold and snow; pack a warm coat, gloves and non-slip shoes, and use the PATH on bitter days.
Ulaanbaatar: January -16/-26°C · July 25/13°C. From November to March temperatures stay below freezing and winter nights can drop below -40°C; in winter, pack serious cold-weather clothing and wear a mask on days with heavy air pollution.

Cool and changeable: layers and a waterproof jacket

Even midsummer highs are only about 23-25°C here, and the weather can change several times a day. Auckland is in the Southern Hemisphere, so January is summer there. An umbrella or waterproof jacket and thin layers are worth packing in any season.

In some places, such as San Francisco, summer can actually feel chilly, so pack a long-sleeved layer even for a midsummer trip.

London: January 8/3°C · July 24/14°C. Rain is possible year-round, so pack an umbrella.
Amsterdam: January 6/1°C · July 23/14°C. The weather changes often within a day, so bring a jacket in any season.
San Francisco: January 14/7°C · July 23/13°C. Even in summer, fog and wind make it chilly; dress in layers and bring a jacket.
Seattle: January 9/3°C · July 25/14°C. October-April is cloudy with frequent drizzle; a waterproof jacket beats an umbrella.
Auckland: January 24/16°C · July 15/8°C. Weather changes fast, so pack a rain jacket; UV is very strong, so especially from September to April, 10am-4pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses even on cloudy days.

Highlands and strong sun: mountain cold and UV

Two things are easy to miss if you pack only by city temperatures: the cold on mountains and summits far above town, and strong sun regardless of temperature.

The temperatures below come from each city's station, so mountain areas can be much colder. Maui's figures are from Kahului Airport station.

Kunming: January 16/4°C · July 25/18°C. The Stone Forest's official site describes a spring-like, mild climate all year. With a January low of 4°C, a layer for mornings and evenings is still handy.
Almaty: January 1/-8°C · July 31/19°C. Medeu, Shymbulak and Big Almaty Lake are much higher than the city and the weather changes quickly, so bring a jacket even in summer.
Maui (Hawaii): January 28/18°C · July 32/22°C. Haleakalā's summit is roughly 30°F colder than the coast and can drop below freezing before dawn, so bring a warm jacket and long pants.
Perth: January 31/18°C · July 19/8°C. UV is among the harshest in the world; even on cool or cloudy days, cover up, use SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and seek shade.
Lisbon: January 15/9°C · July 28/18°C. Steep hills and polished stone pavements get slippery, especially in rain, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip; on summer afternoons carry water and sunscreen.

Dress codes at places of worship, and a final checklist

Many churches, mosques and temples have dress codes in every season. Even in hot weather, a scarf or light layer for your shoulders and something that covers your knees will keep your plans on track.

Before you pack, check the month's average high and low, rain and sun gear (umbrella, waterproof jacket, hat, sunscreen), shoes (non-slip or comfortable walking shoes), dress for places of worship, and a warm layer if you plan to go up a mountain. Baggage weight and carry-on rules are in the post linked at the top.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque and its minarets at sunset — Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) · Photo: Moonik / CC BY-SA 3.0

Rome: July 30/18°C. Churches require covered shoulders and knees, so carry a light scarf or wear long trousers.
Istanbul: July 30/21°C. In mosques, take off your shoes, cover shoulders and knees, and women should cover their hair.
Samarkand: July 35/20°C. In mosques and mausoleums avoid shorts, T-shirts and skirts; women should cover shoulders, back and legs, and cover their heads. From around 20 June to early August comes 'chillya', the 40 hottest days, so carry a hat, sunglasses and water.
Delhi: January 20/8°C · July 36/28°C. Remove your shoes and dress modestly at places of worship, and cover your head at gurdwaras. April-June is hot, reaching up to 45°C, so wear light cotton and a hat and drink plenty of water; December-January is cool, so bring warm layers.

FAQ

Will the weather match the normals?

Not necessarily. Normals are averages over many years and can differ from this year's weather. Use them to plan the basics, then check the forecast just before you leave to decide on an umbrella or extra layer.

Do I need long clothes for hot Southeast Asia?

Pack one or two pieces. The Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Bali guides say to cover shoulders and knees at temples, and the Hanoi guide says December to February is often cool, so bring a warm layer.

What shoes work in Sapporo or Toronto in winter?

Non-slip shoes. The Sapporo guide says sidewalks are icy and very slippery from December to March and suggests slip-on ice cleats sold locally. The Toronto guide also says to pack non-slip shoes for January-February.

Why pack a jacket for a summer trip?

Some places are chilly even in summer. The San Francisco guide cites fog and wind, the Almaty guide says the mountains above the city call for a jacket even in summer, and Haleakalā's summit on Maui can drop below freezing before dawn.