What to pack for Italy in July
July in Rome and Florence is properly hot. Afternoons are in the high 80s or low 90s, heat waves push them past 100°F, and the stone streets hold the heat long after sunset. It almost never rains.
So the list is built from linen and loose cotton, in light colors, with nothing that clings. The one rule that catches people out is the dress code: the Vatican, the big cathedrals and many small churches turn away bare shoulders and short hemlines, so every day needs something that covers both.
Checked
The weather
- Daytime high
- 89°F
- 32°C in Rome. Florence is often a degree or two hotter.
- Overnight low
- 65°F
- 18°C. The cities stay warm late into the evening.
- Wet days
- ~2
- A rare thunderstorm, and otherwise dry.
- Daylight
- 15 h
- Sunset around 8:45pm. The best light is early and late.
The capsule
A week, one traveler, Regatta palette. Mostly white and navy linen, so everything goes together and nothing shows sweat. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.
Tops
Linen shirt
Cotton tank
Silk top, for dinner
Bottoms
Wide-leg linen pants
Midi wrap skirt
Linen shorts
Dresses
Midi shirt dress
Sundress
Shoes
Flat leather sandals
White sneakers
Espadrilles
Three days from this capsule
Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.
The full list
Clothes
- Two linen or loose cotton shirts
- Two or three tanks or light tees
- Linen pants that reach the ankle
- A skirt or dress that covers the knee
- One pair of shorts
- Something a little dressier for dinner
- Swimsuit, if you are heading to the coast or a hotel pool
- Light sleepwear
Shoes
- Flat sandals with a grippy sole
- Sneakers for the long sightseeing days
- Espadrilles or dressier sandals for evenings
Sun and heat
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Sunglasses
- Light scarf or shawl for covering shoulders
- Refillable water bottle
- Small folding fan
Documents and tech
- Passport, and a photo of it on your phone
- Travel insurance details
- Card for tap-to-pay, plus some euros for small bars and markets
- Timed tickets for the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum and the Uffizi
- Type C/F/L plug adapter (230V)
- Power bank
Toiletries
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Anti-chafe balm
- After-sun lotion
- Blister bandages
- Any prescriptions, in your carry-on
Gear worth the space
Linen, in light colors
It breathes, dries fast and looks better creased than most fabrics do pressed. White and pale colors reflect the sun instead of soaking it up.
A packable sun hat
There is little shade in the piazzas and the ruins. Choose a brim that can be rolled or folded without losing its shape.
A lightweight scarf
It covers your shoulders in church, shades your neck at the Forum and becomes a wrap on an air-conditioned train.
An insulated water bottle
Fountain water is cold when it comes out, and an insulated bottle keeps it that way through a hot afternoon.
Afternoons near 89°F, and churches that turn away bare shoulders. Packlier packs your July for both.
Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.
One email at launch, nothing else.