I’m Going to Italy and Have No Idea What to Pack!
Planning a trip to Italy can be the dream of a lifetime until you realize you need to plan what to wear. Don’t stress!We’ve put together all the best tips from the entire blog so you can easily access everything in one easy location. Follow these tipsfor stress free packing for your dream trip:
STEP 1
Start by reading ourItaly Packing List, which is a seasonal guide offering information on what to wear in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
If you’re traveling between May-September, you’ll love this post on what to wear in Italy in the summer.
Italy style is tailored and chic, yet conservative with an edge. Italians love neutral colors and adhere to the“No more than 3 colors” rule. Black really is an easy color to wear here year round and navy is a good neutral for summer.
For even more fashion tips, take a look athow to dress in Italy.For the eternal city, check outwhat to wear forRome!
If you’re traveling to other destinations in Europe in addition to Italy, use the guidelines explained in thisEurope Packing Guide.
STEP 2
You might be surprised to learn that it is possible to travel carryon only even to a country like Italy. All you need is a strategic capsule wardrobe!
Acapsule wardrobeis an essential concept to understand in order to create a minimal yet highly functional (and fashionable) travel wardrobe. Read thispacking ebookto help you create the perfect travel wardrobe for your trip.
If you feel extremely overwhelmed at the idea of packing light or have a complicated itinerary,review thispacking coursewhich shows you specifictechniques to plan around limited clothing choices, varying climates, and other unexpected life situations.
Use theItaly Packing Listto find clothing ideastodress appropriately for your destination then use the guidelines from TFG’sSignature Packing Liststo help you customize your travel wardrobe.
If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, post a question onTFG’s Facebook Group.
STEP 3
Checkweather.com’sextended forecast in advance and 3 days before you leave.Think about how many days you will be in warm vs cold weather.
If you have a10 day trip to Italy and will be spending 7 days in the cold and 3 days in warm weather, plan for 70% of your travel wardrobe to be for the cold and 30% to be for the heat.
If you are only spending a short amount of time in cold weather or if you’re unsure if you will encounter cold weather on your trip, pack only the essentials: two outerwear PLUS two additional items: long sleeve top and leggings.
Italy is a beautiful city that experiences four seasons with a hot muggy summer and a grey cold winter. Even if you’re traveling in Spring or Summer, you might encounter colder weather than you expect so make sure to always check the weather so you have the most accurate information for your travel dates.
If your trip shows both cool and warm weather,please readthis packing guide for mixed weather trips.
STEP 4
Knowing how to pack for cold weather travel can be quite daunting especially if you want to pack light.If you’re traveling in winter, bundle up!
There is one major difference between being at home in the winter and traveling when it’s cold: the amount of time you’ll spend outdoors. When you’re traveling, you’ll likely spend extended periods of time outdoors sightseeing. Don’t be unprepared. Consider layering lightweight clothing such as the ones featured in thisItaly winter packing listto minimize the need for bulky sweaters and coats.
Avoid bringing a thick heavy coat when possible and opt for apackable down jacketinstead.Thermalsare also key to keeping you warm without having to pack thick sweaters. Don’t skip these!
You can even wearleggingsor tights under jeans or pants for extra warmth. If you’re not used to the climate, add additional layers until you feel warm. Don’t forget essential winter accessories like a scarf, hat, and gloves!
STEP 5
Picking the best shoes for travel to Italy will be one of your biggest challenges so start byreading this 10 step guide to packing thebest travel shoesfor any trip.
Oneunexpected issue that many travelers discoveronce they get to Europe are thecobblestone streets.While great to look at,stone streets aren’t always the easiest to walk on and can makefor sore feeteven if you don’t normally have discomfort.Depending on the city, these streets can also be hilly, slippery when wet, anduneven. Find out how to choose the best shoes for Italyhere.
My biggest piece of advice is to choose function over fashion. Really? Yes! The last thing you want is to allow pulsing, injured, or tired feet prevent you from enjoying the trip of a lifetime.
Bring no more than three pairs opting for shoes that match all your clothing.Pack one pair for sightseeing (walking), one pair of any special activities you have planned, and then a third pair to either dress up your outfits or one that’s appropriate for a change in weather.
These are the bestshoes for sightseeing in the coldand these are the bestshoes for sightseeing in the heat. Black ankle boots liketheseare the most recommended shoes for Italy when dealing with either cold or mixed weather.
Please read these posts for more Europe travel shoe inspiration:
- The Best Shoes for Paris
- The Best Shoes for Ireland
- The Best Shoes for Italy
Please note:ballet flatsare a popular travel shoe option when you want a dressier look but they are NOT recommended for long hours on your feet sightseeing.
Choose one of thesecute and comfortable walking shoesinstead – they’re the options most recommended by our readers!
STEP 6
It’s important to note that Europeans generally wear the same things that everyone else does around the world – the only difference is HOW they wear them. People value simplicity, clean styling, and agood tailored fitabove anything else.
In general, day-to-day European style is more dressy than American style. This DOES NOTmean business clothing.Think dressy top (or the type of top you’d wear to work) plus nice jeans (dark colors are always a good choice).
Italians LOVE an ankle fit jean or trouser! In general, slim or Skinny fit jeans are the preferred denim option. If that’s not your thing, having tailored denim always makes for a smart appearance no matter what the pant style. For example, hemming the leg length so there’s not an excess fabric at the bottom. If you’re not a pants person, black tights paired with skirts or dresses is perfectly acceptable.
Like anywhere, pack for the environment. Are you spending your time café crawling in the cities or getting lost in the wilderness?As with most destinations, practical sense applies. Leave the beachwear on the beach because it doesn’ttranslate well to streetwear in the city.
The same goes for gym wear; unless you’re actually headed to the gym, don’t dress in your gym attire.
There are many misconceptions about what should and shouldn’t be worn in Europe.To clarify a couple of the most common myths: you DON’T need to wear slacks or business clothing to sightsee and locals DO wear athletic shoes especiallythese– they just tend to wear them with a fashionable outfit.
STEP 7
One of the most important aspects about packing efficiently is usingluggage organizers.
Watch this packing video to learnhow to use packing cubesto maximize space and never check a bag again. These are the top 12 reasons why I preferpacking cubesto other organizers.We recommendthesepacking cubes – they’re ours!
Start with luggage.If you don’t already own a suitcase, choose one wisely. Read these tips onhow to pick a suitcaseand consider one of thesetop brands. Make your life easy with ourbest suitcase recommendations.
There are times whenbackpacks are better than wheeled bags. If you’re going on an adventurous trip, learnhow to choose the best travel backpack.
Use packing organizers.Do you want to know the ultimate tool to travel in a carryon?PACKING CUBES! They changed everything for me and thousands of other travelers. Seemy packing tutorialon how to use them! Trust me, they are a must!
Use tried and tested packing strategies.For a summary, read our top75 packing tips.
I’ve recently taken on a few extreme packing challenges to show you that packing carry-on only is possible for any trip. If I can pack like an ultra-minimalist (with style of course) then you can pack more comfortably in a regular carry-on. Watch these packing videos to learn more:
- Luggage Free Travel: One Week in My Favorite Purse
- What’s in My Bag: 4 Weeks Carry-on Only
Watch all my packing videoshere!
STEP 8
The biggest mistake travelers make with toiletries is not considering how much product they actually use. There are five key steps when it comes to downsizing your toiletries properly for a trip:
- Find combination items. You can find two-in-one shampoos and conditioners, body cleanser that can double as shave gel, a foldable brush with a mirror attached on the handle, andmulti-use makeup products.
- Purchase empty containersof various shapes and sizes and DO NOT default to choosing “travel size 100ml or 3oz” options. These are thebest travel containers.
- Stick to the basics. Simplify your skincare and pampering routine and bring acapsule makeup collection. It’s only temporary.
- Replace liquid beauty products with solids.Whilesolid toiletriesmay not help you downsize they will help you meet the carryon3-1-1 liquids rule.
- Choose the right toiletry bag.These are thebest toiletry bagsand these are thebesthangingtoiletry bags.
For useful tips such as downsizingtoiletriesand choosing thebest travel makeup, read ourUltimate Guide to Packing Toiletries.It includes a free printable checklist!
STEP 9
Don’t forget about safety:Be cautious about where you stash your cash. The safest place for your passport is locked in your accommodation. Carry a photocopy or other ID when you’re sightseeing or are out at night.
Keep your valuables safe with these anti-theft products:
- Money Belts and Anti-theft Accessories
- Best Anti-theft Bags for Women
- 6 Tools to Protect Your From Pickpockets in Europe
- 10 Tried and Tested Tips to Avoid Theft While Traveling
Read these tips onhow to keep your passport safewhen you travel!
STEP 10
Sign up for Travel Fashion Girl’s monthlynewsletterand get instant access to free packing templates, downloadable checklists, ebooks, and more!
BONUS SECTION: TRAVEL TIPS
One of our biggest travel tips for any destination is to buy either a print or digital guidebook. They help you plan your itinerary, give you insight on where to stay, and even give you facts about the historical sites, too.
These are a few popular Italy guidebooks:
Learn more about why I still usetravel guides!
ACCOMMODATION INITALY
For accommodation, we loveAirbnbfor accommodation in Italy and other parts of Europe.Sign up herefor a free $40 credit!
I prefer to to book “the entire home” instead of opting for shared accommodation on Airbnb. Aside from safety, I also like to feel like I’m living in the destination. It’s a small taste of local life plus you get more amenities than you would at a hotel such as a kitchen and washing machine.
Read theseAirbnb tipsfor more info!
If you prefer the convenience and comfort of a hotel room, I like usingbothAgoda.comandHotels.com. Tip: Hotels.com gives you a free night for every ten nights you book!
For flights, I like booking throughTravelocityorCheapoair(whichever one’s cheapest). Although I prefer Travelocity because they have a 24 hour money back guarantee.
To maximize your vacation time, fly into the city where you’re starting your trip and out of the city where your trip ends. Many times it’s the same price and saves you from having to spend extra time and money to go back to where you started your trip.
For hostels, we recommendHostelworldandHostelbookers. Always read the reviews before booking to get the best idea if the hostel is right for you. Some are quiet and family friendly while others are known for their party atmosphere.
Not sure about staying at a hostel?Read this.
TOURS
Tours are a great way to travel if you’re not ready to travel alone. A few top choices includeG AdventuresorIntrepid Travel. While I haven’t traveled through Europe with G Adventures, I didgo to South America and Africa with them as a new traveler in 2008 and enjoyed my experiences!
One of my favorite type of tours to do when I travel are food tours. In Europe, I’ve received complimentary tours byEating Italy,Eating London, andMadridFood Tours. I can’t recommend them enough!
In Rome, I did a City Tour and a VIP Vatican Tour withRoman Guy tours. Not only were there were only 3 people on my Vaticantour versus the groups of 25-50 around us but my guide Nina was a local fashionista. I also got to skip the massive lines and enter the Vatican one hour before the public!
For morecity tours,New Europehas excellent tours and the best part? They’re free! All you have to do is tip your guide.
Before your trip, it’s verybeneficial to learn a few keyItalian phrases. Locals will have a warmerreception to you ifyou’ve taken the time to learn this simple courtesy.
