I Just Got Back From 15 Days in Italy—15 Pieces I Packed to Look Like a Local

Hot take coming at you in three, two, one... You will regret overpacking for that next trip. Before you scream, "heresy," please hear me out: there are few worse experiences in this life than arriving in Rome, Florence, or anywhere in Italy, and having to drag your overweight suitcase across the cobblestone streets in the heat—speaking from personal experience here. Yet even some of the most "devout" minimalists can find it easy to transform into a maximalist once it's time to crack open the suitcase! It's a common travel mistake, but there comes a point when one has to learn how to curate a capsule wardrobe for a vacation (or pay the price later). Of course, the concept of building a capsule is easier said than done, especially if you're planning on traveling to Italy.

While there are so many reasons to be drawn to this region of the world—the geographical diversity, the otherworldly hotels, the infinite possible itineraries, the list goes on—they also make packing trickier. It’s no wonder, then, that so many travelers have been stressed out before about trying to figure out what to pack for an Italy trip. Luckily, you’re not alone, friends! I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve had my fair share of mental breakdowns in front of my suitcase, so I'm going to hopefully use my my extensive experience traveling across multiple regions of this continent to help you. Ahead, you’ll find a guide on how to pack for Italy, that includes a few travel outfit ideas, shopping recommendations, and a list of the best basics to pack based on my most recent 15-day trip through Milan, Genoa, Rome, and Sicily. No matter where you’re heading in Italy, you’ll find this list to be a great starting point.

How to Pack for Italy

Before you begin packing for your trip to Italy, you should consider a few things to pack strategically...

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1. Travel Destination: What region of Italy are you going to visit? You wouldn't necessarily packing for a trip to Milan the same way you would if you were visiting Naples, so be sure to consider the climate of your destination before packing.
2. Travel Duration: How long will you be visiting Italy? Depending upon the length of your stay, you should plan how much your packing accordingly, the last thing you want to do is overpack for a short trip because luggage fees are quite high in Italy.
3. Type of Transportation: How will you be traveling in Italy? If you're planning on taking a direct flight to your destination, you might be able to get away with bringing more luggage, but if you're planning on taking the train from city-to-city, or even driving, you won't want to be hauling around the extra luggage.
4. The Vibe of the Trip: what are planning on doing on your trip? Arguably the most important thing to consider while packing, you want to be intentional about planning what to wear around what you will be doing (it's the safest way to avoid overpacking).

Italy Packing List (at a Glance)

• White Dress
• Black Dress
• Tank Top
• Button-Down Shirt
• Going-Out Top
• Linen Pants
• Denim Shorts
• Swimsuit(s)
• Sunglasses
• Tote Bag
• Shoulder Bag
• Silk Scarf
• Statement Jewelry
• Quirky Sunglasses
• Comfortable Sandals

Editor's note: you don't have to pack every single item included!

My Looks

For Sightseeing: Linen Midi Dress + Thongs + Jewelry

No matter if you're visiting Rome or Florence, there are so many sights to visit during your trip that the last thing you want to be worried about is choosing what to wear. Personally, I'd recommend opting for a linen midi dress styled with comfortable walking sandals, a statement shoulder bag, and other fun accessories. It's the perfect way to cosplay as a pop star trying to fit in with the locals (à la Lizzie McGuire or Dua Lipa style).

For a Shopping Day: Silk Halter Top + Linen Trousers + Sandals

After you've seen all the historical sights, there's something even more important to do while in Italy [insert dramatic pause] hit the shops. While most might assume that Milan or Florence has the best shopping, there are many coastal destinations in Italy with incredible designer, vintage, and obscure shops—Portofino was one of my more recent discoveries.

For my own day trip to the coastal town, I chose to channel the energy of a "Sciura", aka an affluent older woman, by styling a silk halter top with linen trousers and embellished sandals. The look earned me quite a few compliments from locals, so it's safe to say you should recreate it on your own trip, too.

For a Food Tour: Maxi Dress + Sandals + Kerchief

While I love shopping as much as the next fashion girl, there's one thing that is far more synonymous with Italian culture that couture, ahem, food. Pizza! Pasta! Please thank an Italian today for giving us all the best plates known to man. While there's plenty of famous dishes, every region of Italy has different food, so at some point during your trip, planning some sort of food tour is the fastest way to get to the heart (or the stomach) of your destination.

Once you've planned if you're going on a pastry or pasta hunt, you'll want to pick an outfit that allows you to chow down comfortably—for me, that was an oversized maxi dress, flat sandals, and a crochet scarf. Not to be blasphemous, but I've never felt closer to God than chowing down on cannolis made by nuns living in a convent in Palermo, whist wearing a vintage Khaite dress from The RealReal. Heaven is a place on earth, and it's called La Dolceria di Santa Caterina.

For an Aperitivo: Black Dress + Sandals + Unique Jewelry

While making pilgrimages for specific types of food is a rite of passage in Italy, sometimes you just want to sit on a patio in the sun for a little appertivo. Of course, dressing up for happy hour, or even dinner, requires a little more formality than maybe something you'd wear to a food market in Palermo or Roma. That subtle distinction in dressing can be made by making small styling swaps—e.g, opt for an evening-forward black dress over a white one, swapping flat sandals for maybe heeled ones, or adding more buttoned up accessories.

For a Beach Day: Silk Scarf + Bikini + Coverup

Beyond spending hours sitting on a patio with light bites, there's another quintessential pastime that's beloved among locals: lounging by the beach. If you happen to be heading to a destination with water nearby, you don’t want to pass up a chance to witness the magic that is, well, an Italian sea day, it will surely be the highlight of tour trip (at least it was for me). However, because the beaches in Ligurian coastline differ vastly from those on islands like Sicily, I’d recommend packing multiple swimsuits or planning styling your beachwear differently throughout your trip.

For example, when it came time to pick a beach outfit for my time in Sicily, I decided to channel Tanya McQuoid-Hunt from the television series White Lotus by styling a slinky bikini with a vintage Pucci statement scarf and oversized Tom Ford Sunglasses. While my approach to beach-hopping in Northern Italy was a bit more buttoned-up because of the formality of beach towns there, so I styled a brightly hued bikini underneath a silk halter and linen trousers for the day. Both beach looks were drastically different, but managed to capture the essence of each place perfectly.

For a Sailing Day: Silk Scarf + Denim Shorts + Fun Accessories

While there's nothing wrong with embracing the Italian ethos, “dolce far niente,” or in layman’s terms, the sweetness of doing nothing, some travelers love to be a bit more active. If you're one of those people, I’d highly recommend taking a sailing lesson (or simply riding on a boat) if you find yourself somewhere by the water in Italy. But you can’t necessarily wear the same thing you would for any other activity on your itinerary, as you’ll want a look that’s functional for the sailboat yet fashionable enough to get a few pictures.

Of course, you’ll want to wear a swimsuit, but if you’re planning on actually sailing the ship (like I did), then you’ll want to make your look a bit more practical by pairing it with a scarf top (or tank), loose denim shorts, and comfortable sandals or flats. Alternatively, if you’re chartering a boat with friends, you can be a bit more relaxed with your look—e.g., for my second boat look, I styled my colorful bikini with a linen shirt-and-short set, a beaded bag, and colorful sandals.

For a Travel Day: Satin Tank + Shorts + Statement Jewelry

It’s certainly fun to think about transport like riding a boat, but one of the more imperative things to consider when packing for a trip to Italy is what you’re going to wear to the airport, on the plane, or really when riding any form of transport. You’ll want to pick something that’s comfortable enough to endure trains without air conditioning yet polished enough to look good at the airport—enter a matching silk set in the chat. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with styling a satin tank top with matching shorts, thong sandals, and a statement necklace for a day spent traveling. It will make the entire trip a breeze, trust me.

More Styling Inspiration

For a Vineyard Tour: Elevated T-Shirt + Capri Pants + Ballet Flats

One thing you'll come to realize about traveling to Italy is that you could go for an extended period of time and still not get to everything on your list. While I didn't personally get the chance to go on a wine tour in Tuscany, I've saved the ensemble above to my Pinterest board for future inspiration (and you should too). No matter what type of vineyard you're planning on visiting, you'll look like you own the place if you wear an elevated shirt with capri pants, ballet flats, and a headscarf.

For a Fancier Dinner: Oversized Shirt + Trousers + Heeled Sandals

When your plans for the evening don't just include multiple rounds of wine, it’s worth considering dressing up a bit. Whether you're visiting a buzzy restaurant in Milano or a hidden cocktail bar in Venice, you can't go wrong with styling an oversized shirt with relaxed trousers, heeled sandals, and a few fun accessories. It’s a simple styling formula that eats every single time.

For a Museum Day: Voluminous Dress + Kitten Heels + Sunglasses

While much of Italian culture centers on "edible art", many museums in Italy offer their own visual feast as well. From the Vatican Museums in Rome to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, you’d be remiss not to add a few art stops to your trip’s itinerary. But if you’re unsure of what to wear, consider taking cues from the muses themselves by opting for a dramatic white dress styled with kitten heels—you’ll rival the beauty of a Botticelli painting.

For Day-to-Night Clubs: Bikini + Capri Pants + Heels

Last but certainly not least, there’s one other activity to consider doing (and packing for) during your trip: a look that can be worn to a beach club. From Puglia to Palermo to Positano, there are plenty of destinations known for their nightlife in Italy, so if you plan on dancing after drinking a few spritzes by the sea, consider packing a look that can be worn from day to night. If you want to avoid overpacking, consider also dressing up your swimsuit for the night by pairing it with capri pants, sandals, and a statement scarf. It's a look that will be as memorable as your trip.