Off Duty Traveler

I visited Italy in early March, a tour that included Venice, Florence, Rome and Sorrento, with an EF Go Ahead Tours group. March is the off-season in Italy, so expect cool temperatures, some rain and much lighter crowds. I prefer cooler weather, especially when traveling, and the less crowded the better!

With this in mind, and with the fact that I like to pack light to leave room for souvenirs, I’ve created this easy guide for what to pack for Italy in early March.

Pro tip: You can find many of these items on my Amazon Store

Let’s Talk About European Style

European street style is decidedly more dressy and formal, shall I say snappy, than the typical American casual style. For this reason, I choose classic, tailored outfits that don’t scream American tourist. When traveling in Europe it’s a good idea to avoid wearing items such as:

• Sweats
• Disney themed items
• USA-themed patriotic items
• Political statement shirts and jackets
• Themed t-shirts with offensive/vulgar language
• Ball caps

Packing for Italy: Coats and Jackets

When traveling during cooler months, remember you will be wearing a coat the majority of the day. Bringing more than one coat helps provide variety in your wardrobe and allows for one warm and one rain-repellent coat to accommodate changing weather. Temperatures in early March in Italy range from 45 to 55F, so it’s good to have a couple options. I generally plan my outfits around the coat I’ll be wearing.

On my trip to Italy I packed two trench coats. Both can be paired with a variety of layers but still have a dressy, European flair. I look for pockets, a good closure, zipper for example, and rain/sleet resistance.

I love black and red, so for me these trench coats were perfect. Both are available in multiple colors, and the red version has a hood, which is extremely helpful if you don’t like carrying an umbrella.

Hint: Clicking on each item will take you directly to where you can purchase them.

.

What to Pack for Italy in March: Outfits

Did I mention you’d be wearing your coat every day? For this reason, I pack a variety of neutral layers such as dressy leggings, light and fitted turtleneck sweaters, loose blouses, and comfortable pants, all with a slim profile so as to not be bulky under my coat. You’ll still look great when you take off your coat for lunches or indoor tours, but you won’t feel weighed down. Choose items you can wear multiple times mixed and matched. Don’t be weird about wearing the same clothes more than once. Doing so makes it so much easier to pack and leaves room in your suitcase for those leather goods you plan to purchase.

For your flights to and from Italy, I recommend leggings and a soft, comfortable top with a light jacket or vest. This allows for maximum comfort during that long flight and an easy transition through TSA security. For my flights I am obsessed with these fleece-lined KUHL Trancendr leggings and (not shown) Weekendr tights. They are warm, comfortable and stylish enough for the long flight and transition perfectly to city wear or outdoor activities like hiking in the Tuscan countryside. Bonus – they have usable pockets!

For daily touring, I am in love with this simple black turtleneck dress. Pair it with tights and boots and you are good to go!

Another classic travel dress, easy to wear and no wrinkles!

What to Pack for Italy: Shoes and Boots

Just as with my coats, I bring more than one, typically three, pairs of shoes and boots. European travel requires a great deal of walking, often on uneven terrain and cobblestone, and it can be wet, dirty or a combination of both. We often walk between 10 and 12 miles each day, so comfort is a must.

Packing two to three pairs allows me to rotate them, keeping them dry between wearings and rubbing to a minimum. I’ve personally worn these boots and shoes and can recommend them as providing comfort, yet still allowing for the style I want. I have two pairs of tall boots, both black and camel.

I’ve walked at least 150 miles in each of these Clark boots.

I wore black Clark sneakers for the first time on this trip and they were great. So lightweight, easy to take on and off for airport security, and super comfortable.

What to Wear in Italy: Accessories

Since I am wearing the same two coats and just two or three pairs of footwear, I like to change up my look each day by wearing a variety of scarves. Here’s where you can add a pop of color and style without adding a lot of bulk in your suitcase or your budget. I recommend light scarves rather than bulky blanket scarves as they won’t interfere with your bag strap, audio tour headphones and other things around your neck. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself constantly adjusting your scarf and untangling yourself when you’d rather be taking photographs and enjoying the scenery!

My favorite color is red (and why I named by business Carmine Media) so you’ll usually see at least one red item in my photos. Go with your favorite color combinations here.

Packing for Italy: Travel Bags, Chargers, and Converters

When traveling to Europe I bring one duffle bag style suitcase to check, one carry-on tote bag and one cross-body day bag. For the flight over, I pack a few of my toiletries, a scarf, chargers and perhaps one outfit in the tote bag just in case my checked suitcase doesn’t arrive. I then have what amounts to an empty tote bag for the flight home for any purchases I make. I can easily bring the tote bag on the bus each day filled with a water, snacks, phone batteries, umbrella etc, and leave it on the bus if I only need my day bag to tour. It fits under the seat on both the plane and bus. Easy peasy.

For my day bag, I prefer to use a cross-body version with lots of zippered compartments in a color that goes with all my outfits. Pickpocketing is a big problem in Europe, especially on public transportation and crowded areas, so having a bag with zippered compartments allows you to protect valuables such as your money and passport. Keep what you need in the same place in your bag throughout the trip and you’ll never be digging for it.

Here’s an example of one I’d recommend. These come in darker colors such as black and deep red, which I would personally prefer as they’d show less dirt and wear. Whatever bag you choose will be across your body every day, all day, for the entire trip. Choose one that’s comfortable and durable.

Remember your chargers and converter!

You’ll want to make sure you have an electric converter and a portable charger. You don’t want your phone to die while you’re taking pictures of yourself in all these cute outfits!

Makeup and Accessories

I mentioned you’ll be outside touring the majority of the day, right? For this reason, no matter where I travel, I choose a foundation with built-in sunscreen. Bring a good lip protectant like chapstick or Vaseline to avoid chapping, and a couple of your favorite lipsticks that highlight your scarves and outfits. Keep the fuss to a minimum and avoid anything you need to reapply often. Leave valuable jewelry at home and, if you want, opt for costume jewelry. But like everything else, keep it simple.

This red Super Stay lip liquid from Maybelline stays on all day, even after eating. You won’t need to reapply, trust me! And I’ve found the perfect affordable manicure for travel as well, which needed an entire blog to describe it!

Bring a great pair of sunglasses for those sunny days, a small umbrella in case of rain, and keep a pair of gloves handy in case it gets cold, especially in the evenings. A simple pair of black leather gloves will go with everything and stay good-looking even if they do get wet or slightly dirty.

That’s it! Pack lightly but smartly and you’ll be ready for anything, plus you’ll have room for those beautiful Florentine leather jackets. Arrivederci!

Check out my Amazon Store for more ideas on what to pack for Italy in March, and to see a review of the tour I took, read my EF Go Ahead Tour Review of Italy blog post!

Note: If you buy any of these Amazon items I may be compensated.