What To Wear In Italy
To sum it up - Smart, the Italians like to dress up
- Feel free to be glamorous and stylish.
- Italians like to dress up and you will feel more comfortable in smart casual dress. A wrap is a versatile piece that will dress up any outfit.
- When visiting restaurants our advice would be no trainers; this is a time to get those glamorous sandals or shoes on.
- If you are visiting the big cities leave your swimsuit at home it's very unlikely that you will find facilities to use it.
- It can rain at any time and our advice would be to pack a lightweight raincoat and small umbrella even in the summer.
- The summer sun is fierce, so be sure to pack sun cream, sun hat and sun glasses.
- Make sure you take comfy footwear for daytime as there are loads of cobbled streets, plus religious sites and museums with wooden floors.
- Save your high heels for the evenings.
- If you are planning on visiting any religious sites then be sure to take your pashmina shawl to cover your shoulders and bare legs.
- A lightweight day sack will come in handy to carry your sightseeing essentials.
- Be sure to pack your deodorant, as this can be hard to buy in Italy.
- In winter ( December - February) dress up warmly, with layers and take a warm smart coat and warm scarf.
- Clever layering is the key to dressing for changeable weather.
- To avoid taking separate electrical leads, chargers and adaptors for all your phones and devices, try a solar powered charger - this one gadget will charge most devices anywhere at any time.
- And look after your mobile phone with a phone bunjee - this elasticated strap will secure it to your bag or pocket, so you don't need to worry about dropping it anywhere (and it will be harder to pickpocket in the crowds).
- In Venice in the winter, loud sirens sound to warn the locals of particularly high tides - at night this can make sleeping difficult, so you may want to take some earplugs!
- Click on our Facebook page for pictures of what people are wearing in Rome.
- For more pictures and ideas, see our Pinterest board: What to Wear in Italy.
- Stay healthy on your trip - travellers' diarrhoea can affect as many as 50% of people travelling abroad. We've tried and recommend Bimuno Travel Aid pastilles to help support your digestive health. And WhatToWearOnHoliday readers can claim a great 10% discount using code WHBIMUA at the checkout.
See below to download your FREE detailed packing list for Italy >
From Our Shop
Great products to pack for a holiday in Italy:
See all shopping recommendations for Italy >
Your thoughts
Being a native German, living in the States and organizing small group travel to Europe I find your site accurate and very helpful. My clients often ask what to pack when visiting Europe and I loved your motto: Dress smart! Nice job guys:) - Russ and Elke, USA
Remember that if you want to visit a church, you must have your shoulders and knees covered. If you are wearing clothes that expose those areas, be sure to carry and use a pashmina/shawl and/or sarong. Otherwise, you will be asked to purchase and wear a plastic piece to use for coverage in order to enter the church. This also applies to men. - Arlene, via Pinterest
