I have only ever seen Italian men wear shorts on the beach. Men should wear collared shirts and jackets and belted pants. Yoga pants, crop tops and flip flops might be comfortable or in fashion where you are from but in Italy you will stand out a mile. When you are in Italy, at the very least you should make some effort with your style. That means no shorts, crop or spaghetti strap tops. It’s also important to note that shoulders and knees should be covered when entering churches – yes, that means the Vatican, San Marco in Venice and Santa Croce in Florence – all of them. One thing you will not see many Italians wearing, if any, are gym clothes or flip flops on the street. Clothes are ironed, hair and nails are groomed and outfits are accessorised. You can see bella figura every day but particularly on Sundays as Italians enjoy passegiata – their afternoon stroll. Italians are always wonderfully turned out in the best that they can afford. It refers to presentation and how you show yourself to the world. You can also buy this case as part of a nested set which is great if, like me, you’re short on storage and like things that match.Ĭlick here for our guide to the best luggage for your trip to Italy Italian style – La Bella Figuraīella Figura translates literally as the beautiful figure and it is a concept of great importance to Italians. I like that it has a TSA security approved lock and a zippered internal compartment so your loose belongings don’t fly around. This luggage is stylish, durable and the four double-spinner wheels make it easy to move around. It’s big enough to hold all your necessary items but can also be stored in the overhead racks on most trains. While many people recommend taking carry on luggage only, I think a medium case is the right size for a 7-10 day trip. Our favourite luggage is a medium hard cover lightweight suitcase from Samsonite. Our top rated luggage for a trip to Italy
Trust me, the cheese souvenir is a very good idea. Gorgeous scarves, shoes and leather goods as well as specialty food items like cheese which can be vacuum sealed. There are so many wonderful things to buy in Italy that you cannot get at home. I also like to shop and bring home some treasured souvenirs. That eats into my trip and vacation time. This is because I like to be prepared and get annoyed if I need to chase around a new destination looking for things I have at home. Summertime calls for sandals you can walk miles in and light clothing you can layer. In Italy, you need comfortable, sturdy and water resistant footwear for winter. No one wants to spend their well deserved trip with sore feet or cold hands feeling miserable. Style is important but you need to think about comfort too. Visiting sights, walking the cobbled streets and climbing up and down stairs to get those incredible views means you need to be practical about clothing and footwear. When you walk around the picturesque streets of Italy’s cities, villages and townsthere are 1,000 photo opportunities around every corner.
Want this checklist as a printable PDF document? Click here Walking on cobbled streets
More about seasonal dressing in the full packing list below. I find that the best approach is to find pieces that layer and don’t add bulk. The key to having a great trip to Italy is making sure you are prepared for the elements and to not overpack.
Air conditioning is a bit of a luxury in summer and not as common as you might expect.
It’s important to note that buildings are generally well heated so in the middle of winter it can be stiflingly hot when you are indoors. It is also the season when you are most likely to experience rain Spring – – Spring in Italy is lovely Temperatures at this time of year average between 60☏ and 75☏ (16☌ and 24☌). High temperatures range between 50☏ and 55☏ (10☌ and 13☌) Winter – Italy has cool to cold days and nights in winter with snow and sub zero temperatures in the Alpine regions. Top temperatures range between 65☏ and 75☏ (18☌ and 24☌) Expect temperatures between 77☏ and 86☏ (25☌ and 30☌)įall/Autumn – temperatures in fall are ideal for sightseeing with generally warm sunny days and cooler nights. Summer – Italian summers are warm to very hot and humidity is high. Here is a guide to the average conditions – do check the forecast for the different regions you are visiting. You can even see snow in Venice!Ĭheck the weather forecast a week before your trip to see what is in store. In the south and Sicily the temperatures are very hot in summer and they experience much milder winters.Īs you would expect, in the north and alpine regions it is very cold in winter.
Italy has four distinct seasons and temperatures vary by region.