What to pack for Italia?

What's the hardest thing about traveling to Italy? What to pack! 

Honestly, even more than the anxiety of buying my flight or fear of train strikes, my biggest stress every year is what do I bring. Weather wise, Tuscany is very similar to Southern California which I'm very familiar with. This means it can be both chilly at night and very warm during the days.

So how on earth do I pack for these two temperature extremes, multiple weeks at a time, the looming chance of a summer thunderstorm AND still try to keep it all to a carry-on?! Read on to see my tips and tricks and what I recommend for packing during a summer in Italy!

The biggest factor when packing is knowing how much your airline allows. Some are 1 carry-on only for free, others are a checked and a carry-on for free. Some airlines even charge for just bringing anything on board with you! When buying your ticket, it's always good to note what the limitations are for: carry-on and checked bags, size limitations, and weight restrictions! Knowing the weight restrictions is also helpful for your return trip...you may have left space in your suitcase for 2 bottles of wine but do you have the weight to spare when it comes time to weigh it at the airport?

A smaller or carry-on bag is also helpful for just manuvering around Italy. A good rule of thumb is if you can't lift your suitcase then it's unlikely you'll get it up in the overhead storage on a plane...or up the steps onto a train...or up a hill when walking from the train to your AirBnb! 

After over a decade of visiting Italy, I bring home less souvenirs now BUT I know how tempting all the goodies in Italy are. I like to bring a collapsible duffle that fits in my suitcase and I can expand it for the return trip if I need a second checked bag. The 2nd checked bag fee may be steep BUT it's often cheaper than paying to ship stuff home.

Another factor that helps me pack less is being strategic about where I stay while I'm in Italy. By that I mean I try to stay somewhere with a washing machine at least once a week! This allows me to pack less and still stay fresh! Keep in mind, we have laundry facilities in both retreat locations so don’t feel like you need to bring an outfit for everyday! 

Now for the fun part...what do I actually pack?! 

Even in my heavier packing years, I limit myself to 1 small suitcase (carry-on size with GOOD WHEELS) and a backpack! Within that suitcase, I try to bring no more than these items, and while using packing cubes:

• 3-4 dresses or skirts
• 1 pairs of shorts
• 1-2 pairs of pants, 1 pair of jeans and/or one other pair that coordinates best with your tops
• 4 tank tops
• Sleep shorts and top
• 2 sports bras (it’s hot there) and 2 athletic shorts (to wear under dresses)
• 1 pair of long leggings or workout pants (to hide my legs from mosquitoes at night by the pool!)
• 1 cardigan or light jacket
• 1 swim suit
• Shoes: 2-3 pairs of broken-in, non-strappy sandals, wedges and slip on flats. I don't try and compete with the fashionable Italians anymore ;) Bringing 2-3 pairs helps to rotate shoes if one pair is giving your problems, too.
• Underwear and such
• Toiletries (just the necessities, you can still buy a lot of good products and familiar brands in Italy) 

​And that's it! I do my best to have everything somewhat coordinate so I can mix and match too. I prefer wearing dresses and skirts during the summer so sometimes I never even wear that pair of jeans! But adjust as needed to your comfort level and stylish desires! 

Within my backpack (or suitcase, if there's room), I also bring these items:

• Converters and/or power adapters: These change the prong style of your devices so they can charge in the outlets in the walls but there’s a difference between the two…
  • ​Converters: Converters are usually big and blocky and have a space to plug in your device and then plug in the converter into the outlet with the proper prongs. They’re necessary when you bring a hairdryer as you need to convert the voltage so as not to blow a fuse or even burn out your device. We will have hairdryers in both locations so you can skip bringing one if you like but some American hair dryers are dual voltage so you can lower the voltage without needing a converter.
  • Power adapters: These are little plastic attachments that go over the prongs of your chargers and allow you to plug them into the European outlets. Travel stores sell these, even Ross or TJ Maxx carry them. You can also get them on Amazon!
• A cross-body purse: This is more of a safety precaution to prevent pickpockets or thieves that go for more easily targeted backpacks or purses just resting on your shoulder. We’ve never personally encountered pickpockets but it never hurts to be cautious.
• A collapsible hair diffuser: As a curly haired gal, I need a diffuser to help get my curls contained. I don't pack my own hairdryer (too stressful making sure the wattage won't blow up my converter) so I use hairdryers in the places I stay and just pop my travel diffuser on the end!
• Sunscreen: We can’t emphasize this one enough, pack sunscreen! Italian sun feels stronger and seems to burn us faster. Don’t worry if you forget to pack some...the sunscreen quality in Europe is AMAZING and better for you BUT is usually WAY more expensive and sold in smaller quantities.
• Sunglasses and/or folding hat: Knowing Italy in the summer, it’s going to be sunny! Best to be prepare for those bright days. There’s lots of great folding hat options so you don’t have to sacrifice being stylish for a sunburn.
• A scarf: I usually keep a scarf tied onto my purse strap all summer. They’re really handy to have in case of a light rain to protect your hair, cover your chest and shoulders from the sun but also to cover your shoulders when entering a church.
• Collapsible canvas water pouch: It’s really nice to have a flat water bottle and be able to fill up at a free fountain when you need to, instead of buying yet another plastic water bottle. This saves money for gelato too!
• Packing cubes: We questioned these for years but now we’re convinced. It’s really nice being able to organize your clothes...shirts in one, pants in another. Clean here and dirty there. It makes traveling between multiple destinations a LOT easier.
• Portable charger: The last thing you need while out in the middle of a day trip is a dead phone. A portable charger allows you to charge your devices while away from an outlet!
• Collapsible grocery bag: I carry one of these on me at all times. They’re really helpful for last minute grocery runs or even unexpected souvenir shopping! 

We also have a whole list on Amazon with these items (and more) if it's easier to scan through what you actually need. And of course, feel free to send us a message if you're not sure about what to pack for your Tuscan adventure! 

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