The following is a guest packing list provided by Suzy Guese. See all packing list posts here.
You might say packing and Italy are my two great loves. I should include some hunky man in that list, but I can’t deny a perfectly packed suitcase bound for Italy. Beginning at 14 years old, I started a trend of frequenting Italy. I studied Italian in Sorrento for a month in summer. I would return just over a year later to study in Sicily for a semester in the fall and winter. Rather than going home, I jumped up to Florence to study for yet another semester in the country, spending late winter, spring and summer in the Renaissance city. After college graduation, I spent a few months in Italy yet again and then I returned last summer for three months, traveling from literally the top of the country to the very tip of Italy’s stiletto. Yes, I really do love Italy and packing for it always brings a certain thrill.
However after all of these trips of frequenting Italy in different seasons and different geographic locations, I have made some packing errors whether it be bringing too much or thinking I could wear sandals year round. Having learned from my mistakes, I hope Italy novices can in turn pack better with this list. I have included items that work year round, with some adding and subtracting for different times of the year. While Italy is diverse, it is pretty similar from toe to heel throughout the different seasons. From a two-week excursion to the country to semesters spent studying abroad, this list should be sufficient.
Clothing:
3 Basic Tank Tops
3 Basic T-Shirts
3 Nicer Blouses — Italians dress up. If you want to fit in, don’t look like a slouch.
3 Dresses — One with sleeves to go into churches and for cooler months in Italy.
2 Pairs of Skinny Jeans
1 Heavy Jacket (Pea coat type) — For late fall, winter and early spring only.
1 Lightweight Jacket — For fall, spring and summer only.
6 Pairs of Socks — For late fall, winter and early spring only.
7 Pairs of Underwear — A week’s worth you can wash out easily.
2 Yoga Pants — For more active days hiking or to sleep in.
1 Swimsuit — The country is surrounded by the sea!
1 Scarf — Basic in color so that it will go throughout each season. You can also use this to cover up in churches.
3 Sweaters — For late fall, winter and early spring only.
Shoes:
1 Pair of Walking Shoes — Make sure you test these out before leaving. In Italy, you will walk everywhere.
1 Pair of Flats — Flats are prefect for summer, fall, some days in winter and spring in Italy.
1 Pair of Flat Boots — If there is one item I didn’t think I needed before setting off for Italy it was boots. You will use these more than you can imagine. It rains in Italy and the winters can be bitter cold. Flat boots are easy to walk in and they keep your feet warm.
1 Pair of Flip-Flops — For miscellaneous purposes but most importantly the beach!
Beauty:
Toiletries are ridiculously expensive in Italy, especially for the amount of product you get in little bottles. If you want to save some money, bring some of your favorites from home. Your load will lighten as you use more products throughout your trip.
Shampoo and Conditioner
Bar of Soap
Deodorant
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Razor
Sunscreen
Hair Brush
Hair Ties
Tiny Tide Packets — You can wash your whole wardrobe in the sink with these miracle packets.
Pumice Stone — More so than in any other country, I always feel like I walk more in Italy. Most Italian major cities are walker friendly, but your feet pay. Italians don’t keep their streets entirely clean. The only way to keep your feet completely clean, especially in summertime from the dirty Italian streets, is to pack a pumice stone. I tried searching for these in Italy and found the Italian equivalent, rocks.
Mosquito spray — The mosquitos are mean in Italy. Florence is hit hard in summer with mosquitoes due to its location along the Arno River. The same can be said for coastal locations like in Sicily.
Gear:
Laptop — This varies based on the person but I couldn’t live without mine.
Camera – DSLR or point and shoot.
Internet Card — If you are staying for a while in Italy, consider purchasing an Internet card with a local phone company. I bought one for 60 euros and it lasted 3 months.
Luggage Lock — Petty theft is common in Italy. Keep your luggage locked up in your hotel room.
1 umbrella — Or you can buy one from those men who pop up on street corners whenever it rains in Italy.
Cell phone — Not just to communicate and use apps, a cell phone can be a great way to avoid heckling Italian men. I often would pretend to be on the phone walking down the street to avoid unwanted attention.
Other:
Wine Opener – Especially for the cost conscious traveler, you are going to want to pick up a cheap bottle of Italian wine at the supermarket on occasion. If you don’t have a wine opener this can be problematic for your evening. Pack one, for you never know if you might need it.
Depending on where you will be in Italy and what you will be doing, some of these items aren’t necessary. If you are traveling around Sicily in December, it will be cold and call for heavy coats and boots. If you are stationed in Rome or Florence for the summer, the heat will be engulfing. Sun dresses and breathable fabrics are the answer.
If you want to blend in, baseball caps and white sneakers are not the way to go. I prefer to blend in as much as possible in Italy for my bright red hair tends to mark me as a foreigner in the country. Dressing in short-shorts and tank tops in summer isn’t always the best option for Italian men will hassle you to the point of following you down the street, block after block. If you don’t want this kind of attention, dresses are a better option in summer along with those trusted skinny jeans. However, no matter what you pack for Italy, the attention will most likely come even if you are wearing a potato sack. On second thought, you may want to throw in some earplugs to drown out those catcalls.
Have you traveled to Italy? What do you recommend packing for the country?
Suzy Guese is a travel writer, born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She fell in love with travel at a young age on family road trips and vacations to Europe. Italy in particular has always had a special place in her traveling heart, so much so that she is always plotting a return. She has studied, traveled and eaten her way from the top of Italy’s boot to its pointy heel. Suzy writes about her travels on her website Suzy Guese, Traveling with a redhead temperament and on the One Travel blog.
As always, great tips from Suzy. There are some things on here I had not thought of, like the wine opener. I like that you mentioned what’s appropriate in churches. Before I left to study in Florence, our professor explained that to us, stressing that it was our responsibility to be respectful. It’s something a lot of people don’t realize when traveling in Italy.
The shoe list is dead on – heels + cobblestone = bad news so don’t even bother wasting room in your suitcase. I might even suggest bringing two pairs of flat boots though. I wore mine almost every day I lived in Florence and by the end of my time there they were pretty worn down. Although I guess the alternative is to buy another great pair of boots IN Italy.
I would also suggest bringing an Italy power adapter. It’s such a beautiful country you’re going to quickly kill the battery on your camera & you’ll need some way to recharge it! I got mine here: http://www.travelproducts.com/italy-grounded-plug-adapter.html before I left so I didn’t have to worry about finding one once I got there.
Do you recommend flat boots even in summer?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this list! I’m moving to Naples for a few years and my most of my things will take several months to arrive. I am NOT a light packer, so this list will help me slim down my baggage that I can take with me. Thank you for taking a huge weight off my shoulders (literally)!
Have a splendid time in Naples, Melissa! And let us know how the packing works out.
Update- Well, I’ve been in Naples for a few weeks now. I packed according to this list (mostly) and am so glad I did! I only have a few changes that I would add for me, and some things to consider for those on extended stays.
For those traveling in the late fall/early winter:
- If you are like me and anything below 50 degrees is very cold to you, pack a long-sleeved shirt (or two) and an extra sweater. Probably not necessary if you won’t be on an extended stay, but if you are you will wish you had them.
-An extra pair of jeans is always great to have, but not your favorite old ripped up ones. If blending in is your goal, you will want a pair of fashionable ones (skinny, trouser, etc).
- For your light coat, pack a raincoat. It’s something I had to purchase once here because the winter here in Naples is rainy!
-If you have room bring extra boots. I brought one black and one brown pair and am glad I did. I have yet to see an Italian wearing tennis shoes, with the exception of some blinged out Chucks and neon colored Nikes, something to consider when choosing your footwear. I brought a pair of Clarks as my walking shoes. Plan to use those flip-flops exclusively on the beach and not as regular footwear. All your footwear for walking around town needs to be closed-toed!
- I’m not much of a dress person, but I brought them. I haven’t been able to do many touristy things, like visiting some of the old churches, so I will wear them when I do but I haven’t yet. I did bring a skirt and some leggings, and have worn those a few times. Maybe an option for those of you who aren’t into dresses.
-Slippers or warm sock with grip, floors in Italy are generally marble or tile and can get very cold in the winter.
-Tide packets have saved me a few times and were not something I would have thought to bring on my own.
-Get a good converter app, so you know how much you are spending in dollars. Pay for things in cash, many banks charge international fees every time you use your debit/credit card in a foreign country.
- Don’t carry large purses, at least not in Naples. Limit the items you need to carry with you and carry a small bag, preferably one you can drape across your body. Theft is common, as noted in the article, and people on scooters will grab it as they pass you. Pickpockets here are professional, so be cautious. Not meaning to scare you, but be very aware of your surroundings and don’t make it easy for them.
Thanks again for the tips! I am so grateful I found this website. I will be referring back to other packing guides while we travel Europe.
Melissa, I’m so glad to hear it all worked out! Thank you so much for the feedback and thanks also for the additions! Every traveler is different so the more info we can share, the better
Great packing list! I would just recommend those travel rolls of toilet paper as I ran across several restrooms lacking it!
ALWAYS important to have tissues or the like in your purse/pocket. Great tips
We went to Rome in April with my husband’s parents and in rained the entire time! We were taking tour-groups around locations heavy with opportunities for rain puddles and though we were wearing walking shoes, I saw a gal with rain boots and I thought it was genius! Wished I’d thought to bring those from home…since we lived in Switzerland at the time it wouldn’t have been an altogether extra thing to bring since it was raining when we left and raining when we got back from Rome! Whenever I travel, if I take boots, I fold my underwear and rolls my socks and make as much use of the extra pockets of room as possible.
Loved the post! The most random item I brought with me turned out to be the best! This is specifically for people backpacking. I bought a poncho for my pack… sounds frivolous right? But is turned out to be amazing on walks through the cities and countryside in the rain. Everything on my pack was kept perfectly dry (since my pack wasn’t waterproof). But another useful feature is I didn’t worry about pickpockets at all regarding my pack while I was walking through crowed areas. I recommend it to everyone. And if you are staying in a hostel, a headlight is very useful.
Enjoy your travels!
Thanks for sharing, Jen! Love the poncho idea – so useful!
You’re so right about the Italian men! I once got followed down an alley by two guys in a golf cart–they didn’t mean any harm, but I was NOT in the mood for it. I turned around and yelled at them, which was by far the most effective strategy I tried. You just have to tell them to go fuck themselves and look serious about it. Silly American girly deference (i.e. smiling while telling them no) won’t do you any good here, because they’ll feel like your words say no, but your face says yes. Just a little cultural difference to be aware of!
I’ve actually got to disagree with you on taking full-size toiletries and detergent, though. I sacrificed my huge bottles of shampoo and conditioner at the airport for weight before I even left, and I’m so glad I did! I was able to find GREAT shampoo for 2 or 3 euro–you’re right that they’re small, though. I was there for five weeks, and I probably went through a bottle a week. (I was so sweaty sometimes that I showered twice a day, though.) Everything I tried made my hair look amazing in the hot, humid summer weather, and that’s an experience I never would have had if I’d taken my American products along. And I felt the same about the laundry detergent I bought there. Washing things by hand and hanging things to dry is much more common in Italy, and so I found that their detergent worked way, way better for that purpose than any American one I’ve found, even Woolite. I find that I have to rinse SO thoroughly with American detergent, and even so, my clothes sometimes dry crunchy and uncomfortable. Not so with the Italian stuff. I wish I could get detergent like that back home, actually!
Lovely list!
I went on a trip to Italy this summer and we visited PLENTY of churches… so something I would add is a maxi dress and scarves to drape over your shoulders for church sightseeing in the summer. It was SO hot while I was there and I was glad to have a dress that was loose and stopped at my mid calf. Same with the scarf, because I could take it off after leaving the church to get cooler.
So far I have only been camping in Italy (there are really beautiful camping grounds along the Adriatic coast and around Lake Garda) and what I always felt I missed was having several towels. Some towels take really long to dry and any towel you use at the beach will be sticky with salt and sunscreen, so make sure to bring enough. I lately discovered there are quick-drying towels that also pack up really small and therefore don’t take much space either in your backpack or your beach bag. They are even available in different sizes: http://www.amazon.de/Tropicare-BV-Handtuch-60×120-Microfaser/dp/B001QC1GOK/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1358125720&sr=1-3 (I’m sorry the product description is in German.)
Lots of good suggestions! We travelled to Italy two years ago for three weeks. We found that Rick Steves book very helpful. I took only a carry on bag on wheels, and packed half as many shirts, socks and underclothes. I figured I could purchase anything else I needed. I washed out what I wore that day the following evening usually. I would recommend a wash clothe and pick clothes that are somewhat coordinated. And don’t dress down, look nice and you will be treated accordingly. We took only our IPOd’s which were great to go online, listen to books or music and not a huge loss if stolen. We had a great time!
Hi Lynn
Some great feedback here. So happy to hear you went carry on and still had a great time!
I’m going to live a year in Torino and this list is seriously sooooo helpful!
Pack sensible shoes, an anorak and warm clothes, for winter in Turin is a serious one, with frost and snow possible from December to early March.
I will be going to Italy in May. Should I be bringing boots? I heard it will be quite warm.
Really great information! I am going to be in Sorrento/Rome in May. Should I be packing for summer weather? I too was wondering about bringing boots and a rain jacket…or will an umbrella suffice?
Thanks for the tips, I am going to Italy for a study abroad this summer, and was unsure what to pack. Colorado summers are so different from Europe and I have only been to the colder European countries in Spring before. I am so excited to go and this checklist should make the trip great!
I too will be in Italy in May and am on the fence about a few things, especially since we will touring the country from N to S. Are boots necessary? How about a wide hat? Is it too early for a wedge sandal?
I am going to italy for 10 days in the end of march early April, will it still be cold or should I be packing more like dresses and springy clothes? Also can I just wear like Toms everywhere you think or should I try to find more shoes?
I’ve been to Italy a few times, usually in June. My experience during June is, it is chilly in the North part of the country (Venice) and gets warmer the further south you go (Rome is warm, with Naples being even warmer, and Sicily quite warm). I never took boots, but I did take jeans and used them. I wouldn’t necessarily take wedges because again, if you are doing a lot of walking, you are going to want comfortable shoes on cobblestones. I took cute flats, Toms, and sandals. I have also found the times I didn’t bring a warmer sweater or sweatshirt were the trips when I could have really used one. Again, like others have mentioned, make sure if you are going in to a religious site to have on appropriate clothes. Italians are very serious about showing respect in churches and will not let you in if you are not dressed appropriately. Some sites do have something you can use to cover yourself, but don’t count on that. Hope this helps some.
I just found your website!! I absolutely love the idea of creating a blog solely about things to pack when traveling. This was extremely helpful because this summer I will be going to Italy and I actually bookmarked this so I can refer back to it! Keep blogging for al those travelers out there like me:)
Hello. Love that I came across this blog!
Heading to Rome May 27 and will end up in Venice – headed home June 6. Shoes are my big concern. I will be packing active skorts (with shorts underneath) for hiking, biking, Vespa tour so will bring cute Diesel sneakers for those outfits.
I’m packing long skirts and maxi dresses for the rest of the trip. I was planning to bring a pair of Tory Burch sandals but worry that these may not work for the long walking. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cute sandal that works with dresses?
My closet is filled with over 100 pairs of shoes, most of which are heels and platform wedges (4″ or more). I prefer the wedges but from what I’ve read, not practical.
Thanks for any help you can provide!
I am going to amalfi coast and tuscany in September, first time to italy will be on a tour will be travelling over to Rome by myself any tips to see rome as a middle age woman travelling alone? This is my first time overseas so I am anxious as well as excited about it.
Hi Veronica! I would suggest carrying a smaller purse or wearing a light jacket that has pockets on the inside for your wallet & passport, or cargo pants or wear a cross-body purse so you can tell if someone on the metro or in large crowds is tugging at it, but nothing just with straps that someone can swipe off your shoulder and run with. If you’re going to be collecting souvenirs I’d suggest a backpack for the same reasons. Don’t count your money in the street. Don’t get me wrong; Rome is so amazing and the people are very nice but every country has their pickpockets and shady neighborhoods that if you don’t want to avoid, it’s best to take precautions. I even had a small pocket knife, even though I was traveling with my husband and my parents-in-law. He carried one, too. If you prefer pepper spray I’d suggest that as well. It sounds so serious but you can never be too careful, especially traveling alone. Hope this helps!