What to Wear in Rome & Tips on What to Pack from Locals (2024)

A trip to Rome is a dream for many. But on top of planning your logistics, hotels and sightseeing activities you will need to be sure to bring the right gear! Let’s explore what to wear for the weather in Rome in July, December and all the possibilities in between!

• Casual is out. Fashion conscious Romans don’t do baggy, or tracksuits. Jeans maybe at a stretch, if they are nicely tailored
• Shoes for Rome should be equally fashionable – a cheap pair of flip flops, even a nice pair of havaianas – will give you away as a tourist
• You may think black is the en vogue colour of choice, although this may be more of a Parisian thing. For Italy, classic nudes are also in, but also daring colours!
• Your accessories are as important as the outfit. Leave your old rucksack at home – if you want to dress like a local a stylish bag will be the norm for women.
• To be comfortable – especially in the warmer summer months – think tailored pants, dresses and light shirts

The spring months in Rome can cover a wide range of temperatures. From early March, which may be warm enough for lighter clothes during the day through to the end of May which can be positively summery, there's a lot of different gear required.

When visiting Rome in March, make sure you have gear that will protect you in case of rain and cold nights. In Rome in April you will need to be able to layer up or down depending on the situation. And when deciding what to wear in Rome, Italy in May you can nearly abandon all the trappings of spring as summer is fast approaching.

Bring good shoes – flip flops will not do if it rains, even in May – and ensure you have a coverup for the night time. In March and April you will likely need a coat if you sit outside. In May, you may be able to get away with a shawl for women or a jumper for men.

The good news about March, April and May in Rome is that the weather is warm but not stifling hot. This means that you will likely not be stuck sweating in an outfit that turned out to be too warm. For men, you may want to throw in a pair of shorts, women maybe a dress or skirt, just in case you get a particularly warm day.

Deciding what to wear in Rome in August – or June and what to pack for Rome in July for that matter – can be a bit more straightforward. You won’t need to lug heavy winter gear around. You can bring light shoes – even flip flops (despite our fashion guidance above!). During the evenings you may get away with just a tshirt, and the mornings will be warm enough to not need to layer up either.

Tip For men, slacks and shorts as well as polo shorts will do well. For the ladies, what about a few beautiful summer dresses and a nice pashmina for the evenings?

A word of note for the summer months – whilst it can be unbearably hot in Rome in the summer, please pay attention to the dress code in the Vatican and the other churches you may visit. If you are going for a less is more approach make sure you bring the required coverups with you for entering holy buildings.

As autumn approaches you may not notice any great difference. Visiting Rome in September can still feel positively summery. Working out what to wear in Rome in early October too isn’t that difficult. As the end of the month approaches however you will need to start thinking about layers and a good coat for the evenings.

For men, bring a few jumpers and light jackets. Ladies too will probably still get away with summer dresses but will need to team these with something warmer for the evenings.

Wondering what clothes to wear in Rome in January? Wonder no more – check out the detailed guide to the weather in Rome in January here. You will definitely need a coat for Rome for the months of November, December, January. You will also need to work out what to pack for Rome in February.

Tips for winter weather in Rome? Whilst it can be cold outdoors you may find places like restaurants, museums and other indoor attractions pretty warm. So make sure that you have layers that you can remove when going indoors. Footwear too for men and women should be appropriate for wet weather – nothing worse than slipping and tripping your way around the ruins!

Rome is a pretty easy going city. Whilst you will want to keep your swimwear for the beach – this is a major city after all – you can pretty much wear what you want.

The exceptions are of course the holy sites of the Vatican and other churches. Here, you need to adopt a dress code that is in keeping with the sanctity of the buildings. Here are some tips below.

Being the centre of one of the world’s major religions, it is no surprise that the Vatican carries a dress code. The aim is to ensure that no unnecessary flesh is exposed in this holy place.

For women and men this means that lower legs and arms should be covered. There is no requirement to cover your hair. In addition, try to dress respectably – that means no ripped jeans, no tattoos on display, and no inappropriate slogans. Check out the full guide to the Vatican Dress Code here.

The answer to this question entirely depends on where you are going and when! For touring the Roman Forum or Colosseum in the middle of August you need to go light and casual. Out for dinner on a roof terrace in May?

Bring a smart jacket. Christmas shopping? A hat and gloves perhaps. Don’t worry about all this – we have summarised everything you need to know about Rome’s weather here so you can plan.

• towels – your accommodation should have them
• shampoo – your hotel should generally provide this unless you are in self catering accommodation
• stilettos! try walking on cobbles on those…
• a completely full suitcase – where are you going to put all your souvenirs!