What to Pack for Italy: Clothes by Season, Shoes and Beach Gear

Pack closed walking shoes with grip for the clay and gravel slopes of the Boboli Gardens in Florence, and sandals for the pebble beach at Positano on the Amalfi Coast. The season sets the rest of the bag: August highs in Rome reach 89°F (32°C), while January nights in Milan fall below freezing.

At a glance

• Summer temperatures (day and evening): Rome in July, high 88°F (31°C), low 67°F (19°C)
• Winter temperatures: Rome in January, high 54°F (12°C), low 38°F (3°C)
• Essential shoes: closed shoes for the clay and gravel, sloping terrain of the Boboli Gardens
• Beach type: pebbles at Positano, a long beach at Maiori
• Drone rule: tourists can be fined or detained for using aerial drones

What should you wear in Italy in each season?

*Long-term monthly averages.*

Summer in Rome means 88°F (31°C) afternoons in July. Light cotton or linen clothes, a hat and sunglasses make sense, since the city gets 11 hours of sun a day that month. Evenings stay mild at 67°F (19°C), so a thin layer is enough after dark. Florence is hotter still, at 90°F (32°C) in July.

In spring and fall the days are pleasant and the evenings cool. Rome in April reaches 66°F (19°C) by day and drops to 48°F (9°C) at night, so bring a sweater or light jacket. Rain is part of the picture: Rome has about eight rainy days in both April and October. Naples sees ten rainy days in November, so a compact umbrella or a rain shell earns its space.

Winter calls for a real coat. Rome in January reaches 54°F (12°C) by day, and Milan’s January lows sit around freezing. Venice gets under three hours of sun a day in December and January, so pack warm socks and a waterproof outer layer for damp walks. Palermo is milder, with January highs of 59°F (15°C).

• Summer: light clothes, hat, sunglasses · 88°F (31°C) in Rome in July
• Spring: a sweater and a rain layer · 48°F (9°C) lows in Rome in April
• Fall: a light jacket and an umbrella · 8 rainy days in Rome in October
• Winter: a warm coat, gloves and waterproof shoes · 54°F (12°C) highs in Rome in January

What shoes should you bring to Italy?

Italy’s main sights are walked, not driven to. The Boboli Gardens have clay and gravel terrain that is almost completely sloping. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine are covered by one 24-hour ticket, which means a long day on foot. Pompeii is a whole ancient city with suburban villas, and Ravello sits on a rocky spur 1,198 feet (365 meters) above sea level.

One pair of broken-in walking shoes with a grippy sole is enough for most trips, with sandals added only for the beach.

• Boboli Gardens, Florence: closed shoes with grip for clay, gravel and slopes
• Roman Forum and Palatine, Rome: sturdy walking shoes for a full day of ruins
• Pompeii and Herculaneum: closed, comfortable shoes for the ancient city
• Venice: waterproof shoes, since the city has rainy days in every season

What should you pack for the beach in Italy?

Positano has a pebble beach, so sandals or water shoes make getting into the sea easier. Maiori has one of the longest beaches on the Amalfi Coast, and a small beach at the bottom of the Fiordo di Furore is open for swimming. Cefalù in Sicily is known for its long beach, and the lake towns around Como offer equipped harbors and lidos. Bring a light beach bag and a towel, and keep the swimsuit in your day pack when you tour the coast.

Medicine, drones and customs: what can you bring into Italy?

The U.S. State Department warns about a few rules that affect what you carry and do in Italy, including drones and fountains.

Tourists can be fined or detained for buying counterfeit goods (usually fashion accessories), defacing historic monuments, and using aerial drones. Many cities in Italy have rules for fountains and monuments that ban activities like eating, drinking, sitting, or bathing. There are also restrictions on drinking alcohol after certain hours. Before boarding, you must validate your ticket at a machine (usually near the entrance). If you don’t, an inspector may fine you.

What is the packing checklist for Italy?

• Light cotton or linen clothes: July highs reach 88°F (31°C) in Rome
• Hat and sunglasses: 11 hours of sun a day in Rome in July
• Light sweater or jacket: cooler evenings in spring and fall
• Compact umbrella or rain shell: rainy days in every season
• Warm coat and gloves: January lows near freezing in Milan
• Broken-in walking shoes with grip: Boboli Gardens, Pompeii and the Forum
• Sandals or water shoes: the pebble beach at Positano
• Swimsuit and towel: Maiori, Furore and the Como lidos
• Camera, but leave the drone at home: aerial drones can bring fines