creative commons photo by Kate Ter Haar
Packing for any trip can be kind of challenging, especially in these days of more people trying to travel carry-on only. Packing for an Italy trip, however, is a whole other level of challenging – how are you supposed to fit weather-appropriate clothing into your suitcase that will also help you blend in among some of the world’s most fashionable people?
In short, you’re not supposed to. You can try, though, and there are ways to pack that will have you looking more like a local and less like a tourist. That’s a good idea not just because you’ll feel more comfortable in a crowd, but also because the less you look like an outsider the less appealing you may be to pickpockets who prey on travelers. So my advice is to focus on hitting that sweet spot of comfortable travel wear that looks good in Italy.
Don’t forget to consult my Italy weather page to find out what the conditions will be like during your trip!
Clothing
Italians tend to dress up more often than many other cultures do, including for simple trips to the grocery store. You won’t catch Italians out in public in yoga pants or sweats unless they’re on their way to the gym, and this is not cutoff-jean-shorts country. (Those jeans you may see young Italians wearing, the distressed ones with all the holes? Those are designer jeans they bought with the holes already carefully created.)
I stick to one neutral dominant color for my travel wardrobe in Italy (my neutral of choice is black), and I bring a few colorful scarves along to brighten up the palette. I often end up bringing one semi-nice outfit, too, especially if I’ll be spending a good chunk of time in cities. That may mean a simple dress that travels well, or a pair of designer jeans with a sweater or nice top (not a T-shirt). The latter works as an overall guide for guys, too, though men can also bring a pair of slacks that travels well.
Italy used to be a country where I would hardly ever see shorts on anyone (except at the beach) in the summer, but that’s changed. Still, if you’re going to wear shorts, choose what you might call “dressy” shorts rather than the usual casual denim variety. Personally, I go with capris instead. And guys, don’t feel left out – capri-length pants for men have been really popular in Italy for years (they’re sometimes referred to as “man-pris”).
Note that most churches will require you to be more covered up than some of us dress in summer, so when you’ve got a church on your itinerary you’ll need to be ready with appropriate attire. Make sure your shoulders, midriff, cleavage, and knees are covered. Often, an oversized pashmina-type shawl will do the trick for the top half, ladies.
If you’re simply dying to know about the latest fashions in Italy so you can be “of the moment” the instant you get there, here’s my tip: prowl the outdoor markets for clothing stalls to see what color is everywhere, and then pick up an item or two in that color – a scarf is a great option, as it’ll serve as one of the colorful additions to your neutral wardrobe, or a shirt that you can easily wear a couple times during your trip.
Shoes
Unless I’m going to Italy in the height of summer (or I know it’s going to be blazing hot the whole time I’m there), I typically pack a pair of boots (these are my current favorites, both stylish and extremely comfortable for all-day sightseeing), a pair of comfortable (and nice-looking) sandals (these are the ones I own now), and perhaps also a pair of walking shoes. I don’t even try to keep up with the fashions of Italian women who teeter on heels over cobblestones – I’d break an ankle in a heartbeat. (That doesn’t mean I don’t shop for heels while I’m there, it just means I wait to wear them until I get home!)
Younger generations of Italians are starting to get more casual with their attire, including footwear, but you still won’t see those seemingly ubiquitous rubber flip-flops unless you’re at the beach. Even casual sandals in Italy are nicer than the usual fare I see at home. Athletic shoes are quite common these days, but – like the jeans with the cultivated holes – they bear brand names, are sometimes a fancier version of what you might consider everyday shoes, and are usually spotless.
Accessories
There are a few things that I like to pack almost regardless of where I go, and they’re all handy in Italy. Your mileage may vary with each one, depending on when you’ll be in Italy and whether your feet are as chronically cold as mine, but here’s my go-to list. I hope it serves as a starting point for your own packing must-have list.
- Pashmina Scarf – Even if I’m visiting Italy in summer, I almost always bring one of those oversized pashmina shawls with me. They’re great for chilly plane trips, and (if they’re lightweight enough) they’re perfect for carrying around in case you want to go into a church while you’re wearing a tank-top.
- Slippers – As I said, my feet are nearly always cold. I pack a pair of down slippers with me everywhere I go. (They squish down to almost nothing in my bag.) I’ve even worn them on some summer trips in Italy, if it gets a little cooler at night and those tile or stone floors are no longer pleasant to walk on.
- Purse Hook – These handy little things keep your purse (or daypack, or camera bag, or laptop bag) off the floor and out of easy reach of thieves when you’re sitting at an outdoor cafe. No more cradling your valuables in your lap underneath your napkin, or constantly worrying with your bag slung over the back of your chair. There’s a crazy-huge selection of purse hooks on Amazon, and most of them hold a fairly substantial weight.
- Paper Fan – Hot weather in Italy usually means high humidity, and that dense air is even worse when it’s stagnant in Metro stations. I have a stock of collapsible and cheap paper fans (I often get them at a local Asian market, and you can also get paper fans on Amazon by the dozen), and bring one with me on most trips to Italy. It’s not exactly portable air conditioning, but it’s a bit of welcome relief in a hot Metro train car.
- Clothesline – I’ve never been someone who washes all my clothes in the hotel sink, bringing only a few items and rotating them every four days. I do, however, wash underwear and socks in hotel sinks so I don’t have to pack too many of them. There are specialized travel clotheslines available at travel shops and online, but for decades all I’ve used is a Chinese jump rope. They’re super cheap (you can find lots of Chinese jump ropes on Amazon), and the circular design means it’s easy to loop around things like chairs, door knobs, window latches, etc.
13 responses to “What to Pack for an Italy Trip”
Greg Speck says:28 September 2016 at 04:54
Since I left my Rick Steve clothesline in a B&B in Montepulciano, I need a replacement and the Chinese Chothesline is now on order. One other thing to consider is a portable electric fan which runs 120/220 not only great for those B&B without air conditioning, but we found it will speed up the drying of clothes. It weights about 10 oz. Great blog, I am signing up.
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- Jessica says:
28 September 2016 at 10:49
Thanks so much for the note, Greg! 🙂
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- Aseenuga says:
24 November 2016 at 00:32
lm traveling from Nigeria to Italy for December, how will the weather be and how do I tend to copy with the language
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- Jessica says:
28 November 2016 at 20:23
Here are some articles to help you with both questions! Weather in Italy and Basic Italian Language Tips
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- Lisa says:
17 July 2017 at 17:09
Wow what great information! I’m going to Italy for 3 weeks in Sept. So excited and your advice is going to help it be a fantastic vacation. Thank you!!
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- Jessica says:
18 July 2017 at 12:08
Thanks so much for the kind comment, and I’m glad you’ve found the site useful!
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- John says:
17 August 2017 at 07:17
Can you add more about men’s clothing suggestions?
Are new jeans okay in the smaller mid-Italian towns then black
Slacks around Rome?Reply
- Jessica says:
25 August 2017 at 16:01
You’re right, John, I need to offer more clothing suggestions for you guys – it’s honestly just so rare that I get asked for any! In my experience, you’d be fine with nice jeans anywhere in Italy, unless you’re going to a fancy restaurant or the opera. And in warmer weather, Italian men tend to wear lighter pants – linens, for instance – or what I’d call “golf shorts,” the nicer kind of dressy shorts.
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- Eunice says:
31 August 2017 at 21:10
I’ll be going to Italy April 2018 (4/3-4/17). Do you have any recommendations on what to pack for Spring time? The cities/regions we’ll be visiting: Positano, Florence, Tuscany, Rome. I’m hoping to not encounter any April showers, but I guess one must be prepared for anything. Any tips from you would be much appreciated!
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- Jessica says:
11 September 2017 at 14:56
Spring weather can be pretty unpredictable, Eunice. Here’s my general information about what to know about visiting Italy in spring, including some weather information. You’d be smart to pack a small umbrella or rain jacket, and I think you’ll be happier with shoes that aren’t sandals (in case you need to walk through wet streets), but you might get lovely sunny days, too.
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- Denise Mayer says:
1 November 2017 at 03:44
I love reading the questions and answers. Usually I find something that is relevant. Heaps of terrific information.
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- Waneta Larios says:
21 July 2018 at 17:17
Thank you Jessica! I really value your tips and suggestions. These will really help me with my Sept./Oct. trip to Italy.
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- Jessica says:
24 July 2018 at 13:30
Oh, I’m so glad to hear this! 🙂
Reply
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