Last Updated on September 25, 2024 by Tori Pines
So you’re planning your dream vacation to Italy, congratulations, that’s SO exciting!! At this point you probably already have a lot of your trip planned and booked (And don’t worry if you don’t, I have tons of helpful Italy content you can read next!). But next you have to figure out what to wear in Italy and to start packing for your big adventure!
Planning what to wear in Italy for both men and women can be a daunting task. Italians always look amazing! So you’ll definitely want to fit in. Plus, you’ll likely be taking tons of photos there. The whole country is as beautiful as a postcard, so you’ll want to make sure you look great in those photos for years to come.
But at the same time, you’ll likely be walking SO much each day! If you’re exploring any of the big cities, don’t be surprised if you’re walking 20k steps each day! So comfort needs to also be the main priority when figuring out what to wear in Italy.
And on top of that, there are some small rules when it comes to visiting public places in Italy that you need to be sure to follow. Oh and not to mention the weather to consider too!
Overwhelmed yet? Don’t worry, I’ve laid it out below for you and walked you through it all. Plus linking TONS of super cute and practical outfits to choose from! So get packing!
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What to Wear in Italy for Women
First and foremost, there’s a few important things to know for women planning what to wear in Italy. Italian women dress really well. I mean, Milan is one of the fashion centers of the world after all! There’s tons of fancy high end brands from Italy, and the country does take their fashion and the way they look in public seriously.
Now does that mean you have to dress like them? No, and there’s plenty of tourists who are happy to look like a tourist. And that’s okay! I am just not one of them. I want to look the part, and like I mentioned, I wanted to look good in my photos in Italy too. I mean they are plastered all over my house after all! So, at the end of the day, it’s up to you, but I recommend you try to fit into the Italian fashion culture at least a little bit.
And along those lines, it’s important to know that while everyone in America wears athleisure all day every day, that is not the case in Italy. You wear athletic wear to workout, end of story. SO while you definitely might want to wear it on your travel day, be sure to change once you get to your hotel and dont bring it out again unless you workout!
Cover your Shoulders and Knees
But the most important rule to know about when planning what to wear in Italy is about visiting churches. If you plan to enter any churches while in Italy (which you definitely will) then you must have your shoulders and knees covered out of respect. This means St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the Pantheon in Rome, the Duomo in Florence, and many many many more throughout the country. So, either plan to wear pants and shirts with sleeves (can be short sleeves of course) or long dresses with a sleeve!
The long dresses are my style anyways, especially when in Italy. Something about a flowy midi dress is just perfect for galavanting through the cobblestone alleyways of Rome and rolling hills of Tuscany. I’ve mostly only included items below that fit these guidelines, but you won’t be going in churches every day so you don’t always have to have your shoulders and knees covered!
Capsule Wardrobe
And my next biggest tip when planning what to wear in Italy is to try to create a capsule wardrobe. This means lots of items in the same color scheme that can be mixed and matched for different outfits. One shirt to go with pants or a skirt, one skirt with three different tops, you get the point. This will allow you to bring less clothes and travel lighter!
Definitely don’t feel like you have to bring an outfit for every single day. You won’t mind having to buy some cute new clothes in Italy, I promise.
Something White
Do you plan on visiting any of the rainbow villages of Italy? I’m talking about Burano, Positano, the Cinque Terre, etc. Then you must bring something white! A beautiful white dress is the perfect outfit to wear in these places so you stand out amongst the brightly colored buildings. It makes for the best photos. I have included a few cute ones in the next section so be sure to grab one of those if you don’t already have one ready to go.
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Be Comfortable
No matter what, make sure you are super comfortable in anything you wear in Italy. For me, this means sneakers during the day because we walk so much while in Italy, sometimes as much as 10-15 miles a day! And comfortable for me also means wearing spandex shorts under my dresses also, to allow me to walk so much each day! So figure out what is most comfortable for you before you leave.
Dresses
I just love wearing dresses while in Italy because they are not only cute for photos but they also allow you to be out all day and be dressed appropriately for everything. They’re cool and airy during the warmest parts of the day, is appropriate to go into churches in (if they have sleeves and are long) and are perfect to go straight out to dinner in at the end of the day too.
As with everything else, I picked a lot of sleek timeless looks in neutral colors. I’ve also picked out a few flowy florals that are perfect for the countryside. Exploring Tuscany? Wear those!
And as I mentioned above, white dresses are perfect for the days you spend exploring the brightly colored towns like Burano and the Cinque Terre. And finally I included some beachier styles for your time on Capri, at the Amalfi Coast or any of the other beach towns on your Italy Itinerary!
And finally, I’ve included the shorts I wear under the dresses! I personally have and love both of these options for different occasions. The spandex shorts are comfortable and great for under loose dresses, I also love that they have pockets. While the shapewear has tummy control and is best under more form fitting dresses!
While I love wearing dresses when I’m in Italy, I also need to wear shorts under them if I want to be comfortable walking for 12+ hours. So I love these biker shorts (left) with pockets for most days. But if I want something with some shape wear in it, I have these Skinnygirl shorts that I love too!
Pants
For pants I recommend comfortable but stylish, neutral colors that can match a lot of things! I personally didn’t bring many pairs of pants because I love dresses, but these are perfect options for the ladies who don’t love to wear dresses or who just want a good combination of both!
Skirts
Like dresses, I looooove a long flowy skirt! And they can be even more fun cause you can get creative with the tops you pair them with. Here’s a few that I think will be absolutely perfect for what to wear in Italy with their classic styles and neutral colors.
Tops
If you’re bringing skirts or pants then obviously you’ll need some cute tops to mix and match with them. Here’s a great variety of tops to wear in Italy that will match with different styles and colors. I made sure to keep them all classy and Italy appropriate, with many that would be allowed in the churches.
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Shawl
As I’ve mentioned, a shawl is a must if you are visiting Italy in the warmer months. If you plan to wear any tank tops or dresses during your trip then you’ll need to have something with you to cover your shoulders. These are two great options to carry in your bag. Both are super small and would fit easily in most purses.
Swimsuits
If you’re visiting Italy in the warmer months, and you plan on going to any coastal towns (lakes included) or hot springs (like the Saturnia hot springs in Tuscany!) then you’ll want to bring along a swimsuit or two! Here’s some that just scream Italy and will look so cute on you with the gorgeous Italian coastline in the background.
Shoes
I know I’m a broken record at this point but comfort is key. And that goes for shoes more than anything else! I personally like to wear sneakers all day every day while exploring Italy, and my go-to is always my white Keds. I add arch support inserts and they are the perfect and most comfortable option for me, while also looking so cute with dresses! But I know comfortable shoes look different for everyone, so be sure to test out whatever you buy beforehand!
Alternatively I also think Allbirds sneakers are a cute and comfy option, or some Chacos sandals if you want something more open. You can bring a pair of heels or fancier shoes for dinners, but this is definitely not necessary. And make sure if you do that they are super short heels, because high heels and cobblestone streets don’t go well together!
And please don’t bring too many pairs of shoes. For one, you just don’t need that many, but also you will likely want to buy some when you are there! Italy (Tuscany especially) is known for their incredible leatherwork and that includes beautiful leather shoes. And the Island of Capri is known for the custom sandals they make to your foot, so of course you must have some of those made too!
Bags
Thinking about what bag to wear in Italy is super important too! This is what you will carry around every day as you’re exploring the cities. If you want more information about luggage bags be sure to read my detailed Italy Packing Guide!
I personally love my Travelon pick-pocket proof bag. You might be thinking, wait is so Italy dangerous that I would need a pick-pocket proof bag? No, I do not feel like Italy is dangerous, but a city is a city and there will always be pick pocketing in large cities where there are lots of tourists. It just is what it is. So I recommend you protect yourself. This particular Travelon bag is incredibly good quality, the perfect size to carry around your necessities (even has a water bottle holder!) and will help keep you protected from pick-pocketers with the zipper locks that are built in. I love this bag and bring it on all my vacations to cities.
However there are definitely other options, like a basic cross-body bag, or the trendy belt bags (aka fanny packs). A belt bag definitely can’t hold as much, but if you are okay with that then it is a safer option!
And while you’ll likely bring a backpack for your luggage, I highly recommend you leave it in the room! With the bag on your back it’s out of sight and much easier for people to pickpocket. Crowded touristy places are not a good spot to have a backpack on!
Accessories
Accessories are definitely very personal things, so wear what you like and feel comfortable in. And don’t worry about loading up your bags with accessories, you don’t need much. A few things that I think are necessary for what to wear in Italy are sunglasses and a cute hat for the countryside. I mean, did you really even go to Tuscany if you don’t have a picture of yourself frolicking through the vineyard with a huge sun hat on?
Hiking Clothes
If you plan on doing any hiking while in Italy then you’ll definitely need to bring some things for that. There’s tons of beautiful hiking trails around the country, but some of the most popular ones include The Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast, the trail along the Cinque Terre and the hikes in the Dolomites!
These hiking outfits are both cute and comfortable and can also double as a travel outfit on the way there, or on train travel days during the trip, one less thing to pack! And of course, don’t forget sneakers too!
Cold Weather
There are a few things that you’ll definitely want to consider for what to wear in Italy in the winter if that’s the time you will be visiting. I won’t dive into a super long list of wintertime things to wear, but I do want to make sure you pack the essentials!
Italy can get seriously cold in the winter so you need to stay warm if you plan on sightseeing all day! And while I definitely recommend you bring ll of this with you from home, I also want to remind you that you can and should get some really high quality and beautiful leather products like gloves and jackets in Tuscany. My husband got the most amazing leather jacket that he wears every winter!
My list below includes the basics like coats (I adore my KUHL Parka, it is worth every penny!!!) and hats, but also something that people often forget when planning what to wear in Italy is base layers! Having a wool base layer makes all the difference on whether you will be warm or cold! So don’t forget it!
What to Wear in Italy for Men
What to wear in Italy for men means simple, clean-cut, modern items. No, you don’t have to be a fashionista, and you definitely should wear what you are most comfortable in, but think about pieces that are more neutral and timeless. This means no brightly colored logo shirts or ones with funny sayings. I beg you to please leave those at home so you don’t stand out like a sore thumb. Plus you’re honestly more likely to get pickpocketed the more you look like a tourist.
I’ve included a bunch of simple outfit ideas below so try to build your wardrobe around that for your trip to Italy.
Cover your Shoulders and Knees
As with women, you’ll need to cover your shoulders and knees if you plan on entering any churches (which you definitely will). This means no tank tops or shorts. So plan accordingly, especially if you are visiting during the warmer months!
Layers
Layers are key when planning what to wear in Italy, no matter what time of year you are visiting. It will of course be warmer in the day and cooler at night in Italy, so you’ll want something to throw on in the evenings. And similarly, it will be warmer in the southern parts of Italy and cooler in Italy’s northern towns. Plus, it is usually pretty darn warm inside any of the museums and other public buildings because they often don’t have AC, or it’s not always the best if they do. Make sure you have layers to put on or take off as needed!
Capsule Wardrobe
And just like for women, I highly recommend a capsule wardrobe. This is several pieces in the same color palette that can be easily mixed and matched. Reware tops with different bottoms and vice versa so that you don’t have to lug around as much clothes during your trip.
Pants
You want to bring a few pairs of long pants. Even in the summer, pants are necessary for entering churches and are usually a good idea when going out to dinner too. Make sure to only bring jeans without holes, and I recommend bringing some khaki pants too. The Birddog pants are my husband’s absolute favorites, and he also has and loves those lucky jeans.
Shorts
If you’ll be in Italy any time from April to October then you’ll definitely want to bring some pairs of shorts. Again, Birddogs are my husband’s favorites as they look like dress shorts/pants but feel like athletic shorts, they’re that comfortable!
Tops
Here’s some of the tops my husband loves to wear in Italy. They are super sleek and neutral while still not going overboard on the Italian fashionista thing. It’s just not his style. So this way he can fit in but still wear the things he likes to wear back at home.
Shoes
Comfort, comfort, comfort! Bring shoes that you can walk around in for hours and hours while still looking good with your outfit. This usually means trendy/nice looking sneakers. Here’s a variety of options that my husband has and absolutely loves. Plus a few sandal options for the beachier spots!
Swimsuits
If you’re going to the beach or might have access to a pool, be sure to bring a swimsuit. My husband actually got his favorite pair of swim trunks ever from the island of Capri, so feel free to shop around for them in Italy too!
Accessories
Accessories for what to wear in Italy are simple for men too. You’ll probably want a hat and a pair of sunglasses. Again, keep the hat neutral and simple if possible. This Melin hat is always a winner for style and practicality! But I would likely only wear a hat in the beachier areas, men dont really wear them in the cities in Italy.
Cold Weather
If you’re planning on visiting Italy in the winter, you’ll definitely need some different clothing in your suitcase. Here’s what to wear in Italy in the colder months!
Hiking Clothes
As I mentioned above, there’s many great hikes in Italy. So if you plan on hiking, you’ll need to bring something to wear. By far my husband’s favorite sneakers for anything are the Adidas Ultraboosts. Bring these along for any hikes you plan to do, and also wear them for travel days to be super comfortable!
Hopefully this detailed guide can help you figure out what to wear in Italy and make packing a breeze, and also make sure you look perfect in all of your vacation photos! Don’t stress too much over it, wear what you feel the most confident and comfortable in! Have an amazing trip to Italy!
