What to pack for Italy in summer

Italy in summer means heat, cobblestones and dress codes. Pack a light scarf or shawl for churches, shoes with real soles, and a refillable bottle — the public fountains are drinkable and everywhere.

61 items · 7-day city break, hot and dry weather, with a checked bag · tick them off, print, or adjust the list to your trip below

Churches turn people away every day

St Peter's Basilica, the Duomo in Florence, and hundreds of smaller churches require covered shoulders and knees, and they employ people at the door specifically to enforce it. In 35°C heat you will not want to dress for it all day — so carry a light scarf or linen shawl in your bag and a pair of trousers or a longer skirt for any day with a cathedral on it. It weighs nothing and saves the queue you already stood in.

The cobblestones are the real terrain

Rome's sampietrini, Florence's flagstones, and Venice's bridges are unforgiving. Thin-soled fashion sneakers leave your feet aching by day three, and cheap suitcase wheels genuinely break. Pack shoes with a proper sole and, if you're moving between cities, a bag you're willing to carry up a staircase rather than drag.

Water is free; the fountains are safe

Rome's nasoni run continuously with cold, drinkable water, and most Italian cities have equivalents. A refillable bottle saves several euros a day and a lot of plastic. Restaurants charge for bottled water and it is normal to be asked whether you want it — 'acqua del rubinetto' is tap and is fine.

August is quieter than you expect, in the wrong way

Mid-August is when Italians take their own holidays. Cities empty, but so do the good restaurants and small shops — many close for two or three weeks. If you're going then, plan around it, and expect the heat to peak. Dress a shade smarter than you would at home: Italy notices, and the difference between beachwear and city clothes matters inland.

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Each one is a full list with advice specific to that trip — and the generator underneath it, so you can adjust it to yours.

What to pack for Italy in summer

Churches turn people away every day

The cobblestones are the real terrain

Water is free; the fountains are safe

August is quieter than you expect, in the wrong way

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