I spent over a month contemplating what to wear in Italy in March. The travel itinerary would lead me through the northern region, to places with the average temperature of 60-degrees Fahrenheit and light rain, so packing would be no simple task (is it ever?).
I definitely didn’t get the packing thing exactly right the first time around, but there were a lot of lessons learned that I can share with you, so you don’t make the same mistakes as me.
How to Dress in Italy: What to Wear to Italy in March & What Not to Pack in Spring
Just like many destinations, travel fashion in Italy really does depend on the area you are in. The bigger the city the more trendy, and the smaller the town the more laid back. There is no rule that you have to dress as the Italians do, but if you don’t want to stand out as a tourist there are a few simple tips to follow.
Weather in Italy in March
Of course the weather depends on the exact location in Italy, but in general in March the weather in northern Italy ranges from 35-55°F and gets slightly warmer the more south you go. Due to the chilly weather, March is still the shoulder season, but this may make it the perfect time to visit (it was for me!). Anytime you can get to Italy when there is less traffic on the streets and at the attractions it makes for a better experience.
Keep in mind that many Italians dress for the season, not the weather. It doesn’t matter if the sun is out, if it is October they will be wearing their Fall clothes. Even on the sunny afternoons, I saw people bundled in their coats and scarves. I had brought a few sleeveless blouses for going out to dinner, though quickly found that even though the restaurants were warm, no one really wore anything that could be considered summer-time clothing.
What to Wear in Italy in March
- All types of Boots. Though I am a big fan of knee-high boots, most locals these days are wearing ankle or mid-calf boots. Here are some of my favorite travel boots.
- Thick Peacoat. Something that can be worn with a dress or a pair of jeans.
- Small messenger and cross-body bags. Nordstroms has a great variety of bags in all different shapes and sizes.
- Dark skinny jeans. Either dark blue or dark gray were the most popular.
- Cool, European-style tennis/walking shoes. See some examples here.
- Low-top Converse.
- Scarves.
- Dark, muted colors. When in doubt, black or gray are always safe choices. Very few people will be wearing anything too bright or fluorescent.
What NOT to Wear in Italy in March
- White tennis shoes. Unless they are Converse!
- Classic Fanny packs. Instead opt for a trendy leather one.
- Bright colors.
- Printed Souvenir T-shirts. Stay away from wearing any “I Love XYZ” t-shirts.
- Baseball hats.
- Sports/Camping Backpacks.
- Light colored jeans or white pants.
Things I Should Not Have Packed (But Did)
- High heels. It takes skill to walk the cobbled streets of Italy without tripping, a skill that I do not have. Plus, you will be walking a lot!
- Bright Red Jacket.
Things I Should Have Packed for Italy, But Didn’t
- More scarves. It would have been nice to have a couple different colors to accessorize with.
- A simple knit hat.
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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I got the idea of what to wear. i already told my friend, lots of leggings and different color and texture of scarves! Spring or winter coat? I'm from Ohio, a winter coat means winter!
You definitely can’t go wrong with with leggings and colored scarves. Many people were wearing winter jackets, but I got by just fine with a sweater, scarve and Spring coat. Though, make sure to check the weather before going.
This is helpful – thanks! Need more advice. My husband and I are going Feb. 22 – Mar. 4 to Rome and Florence. We are going with our four boys (17, 14, 12 and 9). They typically wear jeans, and long-sleeved shirts (tees and stuff). They have enough non-logo stuff… But they are going to want to wear their tennis shoes. I'm kinda nervous now! Do I have to buy them a new wardrobe!?
Have a wonderful time in Italy! My hubby wears white tennis shoes on every trip we have ever been on with absolutely no problems :) Though I like to fit in, it is more important to be comfortable for the miles…and miles…of walking you will be doing.
This was fabulously helpful. The pictures were perfect!! Im about to start packing for my trip in 2 weeks and this was exactly what I needed to see. Thanks!
I’m so happy it helped. I always go crazy when trying to figure out what to wear while traveling. Have a wonderful trip, Italy is amazing :)