What to Pack for Italy – Summer Packing List

In my last post I showed real outfits I wore in Italy, so today I’m back with my packing list! We were in Italy in for 9 days and we wanted to carry-on because of all the news surrounding people losing luggage and not wanting to lug around a huge checked bag. We were able to get by with one carry-on bag per person and I also brought a backpack as my personal item. Because we went in the summer, we really only brought light-weight items, which enabled us to not have to check anything.

I made a powerpoint for what I was planning on each day, which made packing and also getting dressed each day a breeze. This wouldn’t have been necessary if we checked a bag, but I knew I needed to be very organized with limited space in my suitcase.

Location

The Amalfi Coast was the perfect weather. We went the end of August and it was hot during the day (80s), which was perfect for the beach club and even at night I didn’t need a jacket. It did rain in the morning one day, but the sun came out by mid-afternoon. We just borrowed an umbrella from our hotel, so no need really to bring a rain jacket.

Rome was hot. Be prepared for 80-90s and full sun (if you go in the Summer). Wear something that is light as possible and stay out of the sun as much as possible. We did a Colosseum tour during midday and it was SOOO hot. When looking for a hotel, make sure to book one with AC.

What I Didn’t Wear

Jackets, pants, jeans

I brought a sweater that I didn’t end up needing at all. If you get cold at night, I would bring one lightweight sweater, but other than that I didn’t need any layers because it was so warm. I also didn’t wear pants once, so no need to pack pants or jeans. I also really didn’t wear shorts other than my cover-up set. It was easier to just throw a dress on.

What I Wore Most

Dresses

I could exclusively packed dresses and that would have been fine. And I only packed dresses that I could wear during the day time and also at night. Nowhere we went to dinner was so fancy that my dresses would have been too casual. I did pack my exercise dress, which I wouldn’t wear out to dinner but it was great for a travel day and packs down to almost nothing.

Shoes

For shoes, I wore my sandals during the day to the beach and for dinner. You do not need to bring heels (most of the streets are cobblestone so unless they are block heels, walking will be very difficult). We walked a lot both on the coast and in Rome. Expect to do A LOT of stairs in Positano, so only pack shoes that are comfortable. I was fine with two pairs of sandals that were already broken in and I wore some cute gym shoes on to the plane.

Bathing Suits and Cover-Ups

I also got a lot of wear out of my two bathing suit cover-ups. We went to the beach club everyday we were in Positano and Capri so I also brought several bathing suits. A hat to wear at the beach is also key so you can get the sun off your face. Also pack sunscreen if you’re planning on going to the beach a lot.

Bags

I used the Beis Backpack as my personal item for the plane and it was great! I also brought a belt bag so I could have my wallet and phone right in front of me. I could maybe have packed one more bag that is cuter than my belt bag, but I ran out of room.