What to wear in Italy in the fall to be comfortable and stylish

A complete list with what to wear in Italy in the fall: what to pack for visiting Italy in autumn to be comfortable, stylish and ready for Italy’s autumnal moody weather

The fall is a wonderful time to visit Italy.

We go every year, when the kids’ school breaks up for mid term, and while we do get some rainy days at that time, I always marvel at how mild, bright and sunny Italy can be outside of the summer months

However, this doesn’t mean that packing for Italy in the fall is easy. It actually is a bit of a headache!

What to take into account when packing for Italy in the fall

When deciding what to wear for your fall trip to Italy, you need to take into account a few things:

• Italian weather in the fall in changeable and you need to dress in layers so you can stay out morning to evening without freezing/roasting. It is very much not an always-sunny destination

• Italy doesn’t have consistent weather in different cities so if your Italy itinerary brings you North to South or includes cities and countryside, you will need different attire.

• Italians are known to be stylish and you are likely to want to somewhat blend in. While this does not mean you need to ditch your tried and tested travel clothes, it does mean you may find yourself wanting to pack a little differently from other times. This is particularly true when packing for the fall in Italy, since you will be in functioning cities with locals more than tourists

• In Italy you will walk, a lot! Especially in the fall, when the temperature is mild, you are likely to find yourself clocking in over 20 thousands steps a day so having clothes that will keep you comfortable is paramount

And so, this is where this packing list for Italy in the fall comes in.

These are my tried and tested favorite items to pack when visiting Italy in the mid season and that allow me to stay comfortable and stylish at all times.

Why trust me in particular, you may ask? I am Italian (from Rome), and while I now live aboard o go back to Italy several times a year, once always being in the fall.

On top of this, I have a passion for traveling light as you can see from the many packing lists on this blog (check out my packing list for Rome in the fall/ winter as a good example, is one of my most read)! 

I hope you find this Italy packing list for the autumn useful: happy packing!

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When is fall in Italy?

Fall (autumn) in Italy starts at the end of September (around the 21st of the months) and ends on the 21st of December, the exact dates slightly changing every year (some info here).

Overall, what you can expect at this time are mild temperatures moving from warm in late September to increasingly cold as November and December approach.

In this post, I have stretched a little the definition of fall in Italy and I have included the whole of September and December for ease of planning.

You can read my other post about packing for Italy in winter for additional info on the coldest months in Italy and packing tips for those.

What to wear in Italy in the fall: essentials

What to wear in Italy depends on your exact plans, age and style, but these are my essentials for an autumn trip pretty much anywhere in Italy.

• Good walking shoes (2 pairs) I love sneaker/trainers/runners for Italy and I urge you not to believe people who say Italians don’t wear them – that’s nonsense, see below my tips!
• Long trousers (chinos style and denim)
• Under the knee skirt (for churches)
• Tights
• Socks
• Long and short sleeve tops
• Scarf (light and woolen, see below month by month recommendations)
• Colorful necklaces, jewelry, accessories 
• Windbreaker / light jacket (waterproof)
• Winter jacket
• Toiletries
• Cross body bag – this is a selection of some I love for travel
• Cash and credit cards
• Pocket phrasebook
• Chargers
• Adapter 
• One day to night dress / long sleeve shirt for man and blazer 
• Sunglasses
• Bathing suit (for thermal baths and indoor hotel pools)

What to wear in Italy in September

September is still very much a summer month in Italy, pretty much everywhere except on the mountains (the Dolomites for instance) where temperatures are significantly lower.

At this time, you may still find yourself wearing sandals in the hottest parts of the day and you will want to transition to close shoes as you get closer to the end of the month 

For visiting Italy in September pack:

• Summer walking shoes such as light sneakers/trainers
• Walking sandals if visiting early in the month
• Light trousers or jeans
• Skirts
• Polo shirts or long sleeve shirt for men (Italian men tend not to wear short sleeve shirts)
• Undergarments and socks 
• Light cardigan
• Light scarf (this is more for look and for covering up your shoulders in church should you have very revealing tops)
• Light jacket if going at the end of the month

In September in Italy you usually do not need tights under your skirt and won’t need a jacket.

However, I do recommend having one as the evenings can get chillier air and you are likely to need one of visiting hilltop villages and open countryside (gorgeous at this time)

What to wear in Italy in October

October in Italy is hit and miss when it comes to the weather and the trickiest month when it comes to packing.

At this time, you may have days that are still hot and summery but you can also get rain and much cooler temperatures, especially in the North

For October in Italy, packing layers is paramount and while you may still have the chance to wear a summer dress on a good day on the Amalfi coast, I would not count on it and rather go for mid seasons clothes!

What to pack for Italy in October:

• Long trousers
• Capri pants (I find these are excellent to be stylish comfortable and still with a touch of summer clothing)
• Short and long sleeve tops
• Cardigan
• Light jacket (ideally rainproof, mid weight)
• Closed toe shoes (2 pairs for rain)
• Umbrella
• Scarf

What to wear in Italy in November

November in Italy is a winter month in terms of feel.

At this time, temperatures can be pleasant but the time for summer garments is well and truly gone.

In Italy in November you won’t wear shorts but rather long pants, long sleeves and you will also need a decent jacket especially in the North

In November you are likely to encounter rain so proper shoes a waterproof jacket and a travel umbrella are a must have

For Italy in November pack:

• Long trousers
• Under the knee skirt and tights
• Long sleeve tops
• Sweater / cardigan
• Waterproof jacket (warm, not just a windbreaker)
• Scarf
• Winter shoes and a change 
• Travel umbrella

What to pack for Italy in December

When packing for Italy in December you need to be ready for cold.

While Italian winters are overall mild (with glaring exceptions anywhere on the mountains) you will need to be properly covered up as temperatures can get to zero or below, depending where you are, and humidity can make you feel a lot colder than temperatures suggest

For Italy in December pack:

• Proper winter jackets
• Scarf, hat and gloves
• Long sleeve tops
• Long trousers and or tights if wearing skirts
• Woolen cardigans or sweaters
• Winter waterproof shoes or boots
• Umbrella
• Thermal underwear if going to the country or the mountains

What shoes to pack for Italy in autumn – style tip

As I mentioned above, you may have read online that Italians don’t wear sneakers/trainers and that you need to avoid them if you don’t want to look like a tourist.

I get in a rage every time I read it because it is 1) terrible advice and 2) not true!

Let’s start from number one: if you find sneakers comfortable for walking at home (aka: you have good ones, with good bounce and good support) they will be your best friend in Italy.

Telling someone not to wear good shoes for walking with all the walking you will do in Italy is just nonsensical.

About number two, I think the confusion here is about when Italian wear sneakers and what type of sneakers we wear.

In terms of when, we wear sneakers any time we need to walk long distances (such as when sightseeing) and any time there is no requirement for special attire such as going to the office or formal dinner.

So yes, if you want to look like an Italian on the way to the office no, you don’t want to wear sneakers.

If you want to look like an Italian sightseeing or on a day off, trainers are perfect

In terms of what type of sneakers we wear, what is true is that we usually go for fashion sneakers rather than full on runners.

This is particularly true for ladies (gets more and more true the older you get) who prefer different types of shoes even when dressed down. But this is personal style more than anything else; just wear whatever style you like most!

You can read my selection of the best shoes for Italy in all seasons here

More things to pack for your Italy trip

On top of the essentials and specific items I also recommend you add:

• First aid kit – this is what we have in ours
• Italy guide books 
• Reusable water bottle
• House socks
• Swimsuit for pool or thermal baths
• Child car seat if traveling with kids (if so, you may like our full guide to planning a trip to Italy with kids here)

Essential toiletries for your Italy trip

You will find all essentials in Italian supermarkets and pharmacies. If you prefer to bring your own, for instance so that you can use a travel size bottle or you need a special brand, this list may be useful not to leave essentials at home:

• Shower gel (often provided in hotels; not always in rentals)
• Shampoo (often provided in hotels; not always in rentals) and conditioner (usually not provided)
• Moisturizer
• Dental kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss)
• Brush / comb
• Hair ties
• Deodorant
• Feminine hygiene products
• Tweezers
• Make up and perfume
• Sunscreen (for September or if you have very sensitive skin)
• Chap stick for the colder days
• Shaving kit

I hope you found my packing list and tips on what to wear in Italy in the fall useful. Safe travels!