Italy Packing Tips for a Spring Vacation - Pack Your Bags Right

By: Amy Chambers, Founder of Scappare Travel Club

We realize this is completely individual and varies with each person. However we thought there are some general packing curiosities you might consider for a shoulder season vacation in Italy and Spring and Fall are our favs. I myself follow these to a T every time I am in Italy.

A Real-Life Packing Moment

Bring less than you think you need.

Because we’ve all been here…

Being able to close your suitcase = you’re made.

If you can’t manage it yourself, it’s too much.

What to Pack

Money Belt: You’ll want to protect your cash, cards, passport, and valuable documents. They should be on your person at all times and the safest way is with one of these.

Puffer Jacket or Vest: In April in Italy it is still crisp, with cool nights, mornings and evenings and the weather can change quickly. These types of jackets/vests are light weight, squish-able/packable. Plus – all the Italians wear them constantly. You will fit right in.

Layers: As stated, Springtime in Italy is one of the most beautiful times to travel, with the best weather. But the weather is notorious for changing on a dime, and it does. Bring layers, you will be thankful you did.

A typical outfit for a Springtime day in Tuscany: Jeans or light pants, a light cotton undershirt such as a tank top or fitted t-shirt, a pullover thin sweater, a puffer vest.

Packing essentials for Italy vacation

Scarves: For both men & women. Again, this is not a must. However these are very handy to have in your travel wardrobe. They can spiff up an outfit such as for dinner, and help if there is a draft or breeze, and you can also use them as a cover on the plane. They also will protect you from the infamous colpo d’aria in Italy ;)

Medicine: Bring it. Antifungal creams, anti-inflammatory creams (such as hydrocortisone), antibiotics if you have them, antibacterial ointments (such as bacitracin or Neosporin). The pharmacies in Italy are actually extremely helpful and have everything, it is true, and you can always go in and consult them. But it is good to have items of a medical nature you are comfortable with and know how to use them properly and for which use. And if Amy is on your trip, ask her. She is also a Nurse Practitioner and can advise you. Also bring bandaids…these come in handy in many ways when you are there.

Sunglasses: Or you can buy a fabulous pair there, of course.

Liquid Bottles Pro Tip: If you pack liquids in bottles (shampoo, etc): seal them in the bottles including with tape to secure them closed, and put them in a ziplock baggie which is closed. They have a tendency to open and explode mid-flight due to the change in air pressure and if you prepare ahead of time you will avoid soaps/lotion/shampoo exploding onto your clothes. Remember you can always buy such items there, or you can get these:

What NOT To Pack

A few ideas, based on years of experience traveling in Italy, of what to avoid bringing with you. Don’t waste the space in your luggage.

Flip Flops: We wear them all the time in the US, Italians never EVER do. The streets and terrain we will be covering are not like the streets in the US, they are much different. If you wear flip flops, you will stick out like a sore thumb, and your feet will hate you.

New Shoes: Don’t do this to yourself. It is tempting to buy the perfect sandals or boots for your trip – so if you want to do this, do it way ahead of time and break them in. We have seen countless people attempt Italian excursions in new shoes and it never goes well. I also have personal experience having done this myself (more than once) – never again!

Too Much Stuff! We recommend bringing only what you can manage carrying/handling yourself. Even though you will have help with your luggage on your trip with STC, this is a good guide for packing – bring only what you can handle (for example: take on and off a European train) by yourself. For us, this usually means a carry on piece of luggage ONLY, as well as a personal item (bag, purse, backpack). You’ll have an easier time with the airlines, and you will not be the person dragging a bunch of heavy luggage you can’t manage all over the place. A way to avoid this is to pack neutral items you can “mix and match”, everyone does it and it’s fine.