What to pack for Italy in February: tried and tested packing list for families

Family packing list for February in Italy: what to pack for Italy in February to be comfortable and stylish on your family trip to Italy with kids

February is the last winter month in Italy and a time of transition weather-wise. 

During this month, you can expect cold days that call for a puffer jacket and a scarf (possibly even something heavier if you are used to hot climates), yet you will also have times when you’ll want to unwrap.

On a sunny day at lunchtime, if you are lucky, you may even have moments when you may like to be in a t-shirt! 

In general, February in Italy is a month during which it is best not to underestimate the weather: light layers are your best friend, which applies everywhere from north to south.

Need to know! The biggest packing mistake I have seen happening for Italy in February is expecting the South to be hot. It is not! The weather doesn’t change significantly depending on how north or south you are in February, and you can be freezing in Sicily in February as much as in the extreme north.

The one place that calls for different attire is the mountains: if you go to the Dolomites, this is snow and skiing season, so you’ll have to dress accordingly. 

But for sightseeing and a non-ski vacation, however, where you are in Italy doesn’t change what you need to wear, so this Italy packing list for February is all you need! 

I am from Rome and usually travel around Italy in February as this is when schools take a short break, and we make the most of it to explore without the crowds.

In the last few years, we have been to Rome (of course! Starting point!), Puglia, Venice, Florence, Aosta and Turin.

So you see, when it comes to packing for February, I have experience!

Based on my family’s experience in Italy in February, this is my recommended family packing list for families with kids.

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February in Italy: weather patterns and rain

Historically, February in Italy has been a mild winter month, with temperatures ranging from cold to pleasant, depending on the year and time of the month. Rain is possible. 

In general, early February tends to be colder than later in the month.

Lately, the weather has gone through significant warming; however, early February can still be cold. Out of all the months of the year, easily February is when you’ll want to have a warmer coat. 

Later in the month, the spring tends to make the air a little milder, but overall, in February, think winter!

A question I receive often is about rain in Italy. Specifically, I get asked if rain in Italy is light or downpours and if it is constant or more like rain showers.

There is no answer to this.

In Italy, rain comes in all shapes and forms, and there is no way to predict how it will be. In general, we don’t have the same patterns as a tropical country, so you do not have a situation where you have predictable downpours at certain times. 

In general, rain tends to be heavier than, let’s say, in the UK and can come in the form of a semi-constant drizzle or a torrential downpour. 

Occasionally, a bit of both on the same day! It is also possible to have days with only occasional short sowers of predicted rain that don’t happen.

I know you wanted a different answer, but rain in Italy is unpredictable so the best way to deal with it is to have good shoes, a raincoat and an umbrella. Rain in February is possible anywhere in Italy.

How do Italians dress in February?

In February, we dress for winter in Italy, so you’ll see us in heavy puffer jackets, long pants, scarves, and boots. 

What we wear has little bearing on what you need to pack as you need to be comfortable, no matter what that may look like to others (we also look like tourists when off work! Don’t worry about standing out!).

However, if you are curious about what to expect or if you are going to an event and need to dress the part, it is helpful to know that February is not a month for flowery dresses but more a month for sober yet warm colors (Bordeaux, mustard yellow, brown, black etc.).

Popular, cute and trendy outfits you see a lot in February include:

• Jeans (adults and kids).
• Chinos for men, worn with polo shirts or long-sleeved shirts and a sweater or blazer.
• Cute baggy pants with tapering legs to the ankle, worn with a shirt, layered sweater, and an oversized coat or jacket for women.
• Puffy jackets

Midi skirts are also popular, and later in the month, you’ll also see mini skirts worn with dark-colored tights. 

Regarding shoes, runners are the most versatile and popular, as well as booth (ankle and knee lenght).

Children commonly wear leggings, tracksuit bottoms or sports pants, jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and coats. 

Do I need to pack fancy clothing for dinners and churches in Italy? 

You only need to dress up for dinner in Italy if you are going to a fancy restaurant with a dress code or somewhere upscale. Otherwise, whatever you have on to sightsee is ok!

There is also no need to dress up for Church. If visiting a sacred space, however, you must ensure that you are dressed respectfully, which in the case of Catholic churches means modestly. 

Avoid short skirts and shorts (even with tights), plunging necklines, and visible slogans on clothing or skin that the Church may consider offensive.

If you attend mass, you can expect people to be dressed nicely: even in this case, casual attire is perfectly acceptable; you don’t need your Sunday best. 

Before we go on with the list, pin this!

The best shoes to wear in Italy in February

The best shoes for February are comfortable shoes that allow you to walk for hours without getting blisters or causing fatigue to your arches or calves.

Runners are exceptionally popular with locals and visitors and are a universal choice, allowing you to go day to night.

Fashion in Italy is similar to what you see anywhere else (we are as exposed to global brands as anywhere else), so you’ll see the same clothes you see back home.

In 2024, Vaja shoes, stan smith by Adidas, and New Balance shoes, nike, puma for instance, are all popular brands and people of all ages wear them with skirts, pants and shorts.

I urge you not to believe people telling you we don’t wear sneakers in Italy! Of course, we do; nobody would expect anyone to have to be on their feet all day to wear anything but comfortable walking shoes.

Since rain is possible, I recommend you pack two pairs so that one can dry off overnight if needed. 

What to pack for Italy in February: clothes for adults and kids

• Underwear
• Socks
• Long sleeve tops
• Short sleeve tops 
• Sweaters -hoodies are popular for kids and adults; cardigans and light merino wool work excellently if you want a more dressed-up look .
• Long pants/midi skirt (jeans, chinos or corduroy are popular). Athletic wear is usually the mark of the American tourist and I know many would advise against it. To be honest, there is no need to worry about this: wear what is comfortable to you, if you’re out sightseeing all day, you’ll look like a tourist anyway and at least you are comfy!
• Mid-season jacket (puffer jacket), ideally rainproof
• Light scarf
• Two pairs of shoes (sneakers or any closed shoes you can walk in comfortably)
• Long sleeve / long pants pajamas
• Slippers / House socks with grippy soles for kids (to use as slippers on the cold hotel or rental floors of your Italian accommodation!) 

Fashion accessories

• Sunglasses
• Hair ties/hat
• Collroful scarved and necklaces (very popular in Italy and a great way to add color and change up an outfit)
• Earrings

I always recommend custom jewelry for safety when traveling anywhere (not just to Italy) as a fun way to dress up and add color without stressing about losing important and pricey pieces. 

Good bags for Italy

Day bag for your essentials: I recommend a not-too-big crossbody bag to securely keep the phone, documents and money.

You do not need an anti-theft bag. You, however, want to make sure you have your bags with you all the time, ideally at the front in shoulder-to-shoulder crowded places, so you can keep the zipper in check.

For luggage, I really like travel backpacks as they allow me to have hands-free, but I also have a good Samsonite wheelie bag I find comfortable and easy to use.

Packing for February in Italy for a baby, toddler or active child

Same as above, but I recommend bringing rain pants and, if space allows, wellington boots so they can jump in puddles. If they are too annoying to pack, they are easy to source and cheap in Italy!

If using a stroller, which I recommend in Italy, a cover or footmuff you can zip open and close can be handy, especially for children who sit/ nap for long and may get cold faster than those trotting around. 

Small kids’ items you may want to pack are:

• Babygrow/Onesie
• Long sleeve tops
• Sweaters
• Long pants
• Socks
• Jacket
• Baby shoes
• Rain Cover for the pram/ stroller
• Baby hat
• Long sleeve pajama
• Baby sleeping bag

Other Baby/toddler essentials

How much to bring for a baby depends on what you are used to and your exact plans once in Italy.

However, baby items are easy to source in Italy, so you only need to carry everything from home if you have specific reasons to want a brand that may not exist here.

I recommend packing what you need for the journey plus a little more to avoid being in a rush to find a shop as soon as you arrive. 

Things you want to pack are:

• Diapers for the journey/ first day (you can then buy them locally)
• Diaper cream and wipes (so you know it agrees with your baby’s skin)
• Teether
• Dummy
• Bottles (if using) and bottle brush
• Sterilizing equipment if using
• Sippy cup
• Favorite comforter
• Baby carrier
• Pram/buggy – I am very much team stroller for Italy! Even in stroller-unfriendly places, it is nice to be able to have your child down and napping occasionally, and the stroller will be invaluable on long days out walking and even in museums.
• Snacks for the journey. 

We have lots of baby food in Italy, but snacks are different here, and we have fewer packaged choices than you have in some other countries. 

We have purees, pouches, rice cakes, kids’ cheese, yogurts, biscuits, and crackers. 

However, we also offer kids a lot of fresh food, so you’ll find a lot of parents offering fruit, bread, pizza/ focaccia (from the deli). 

I hear all the time from foreign parents: Italian kids don’t snack! But this is not true at all: they snack differently! 

So, if you think your child may not be happy to experiment with local options, bringing snacks from home is a good idea!

Read here >>> where to buy baby products in Italy.

Additional baby / toddler items you may want to consider

• Car seat (please be aware that car seats in the EU must be EU compliant to be used legally. If you have a seat from overseas, this is most likely not EU-approved. Consider sourcing one locally. You can read here >> an overview of car seat rules in Italy. 
• Anti abandonment kit – this is a small device that alerts you if you leave your baby unattended in the car and is a legal requirement for kids under 4 years old in private cars. You can purchase on #ad Amazon Italy
• High chair/harness: most places in Italy have high chairs. However, many don’t have a harness (for hygiene reasons, as I know). If you worry this may be a danger to your child, you can bring a travel high chair or harness.
• Blackout blinds with suction cups like #ad these ones on Amazon: these can be good if you are in a rental without heavy curtains and you have a child who prefers a very dark room. Super portable and packable too.

Electronics

• EU adaptor/ converter like #as this one You will need an EU converter for hair straighteners and all electrical items not dual voltage. Not all adaptors are also converters; make sure you check if they are coming from a different voltage system, such as the US! 
• Phone and its charger
• Charging cables
• Spare battery pack
• Sim with local number as Airalo, so you can use your phone on the go without incurring in international charges (In Italy, whatsapp for instance, is very common for restaurant bookings or to communicate with your guide/host so it’s great not get caught out with roaming charges)
• For baby: if using a white noise machine, consider downloading an app that can replicate that sound without carrying around an additional item.

Toiletries

Basic toiletries such as hand soap and generic shampoo are usually offered in hotels and, occasionally (not always) in rentals.

You can also buy toiletries and essentials in supermarkets and pharmacies in Italy.

Use this quick list to tick what is relevant if bringing your own.

• Shower gel
• Shampoo/conditioner/hair products
• Body lotion
• Deodorant
• Dental kit (Toothbrush; toothpaste; floss; personal essentials)
• Hairbrush/comb/detangler
• Feminine products
• Tweezers
• Nail clipper
• Shaving essentials
• Perfume and make-up, if using

Medications

In Italy, you buy medications in pharmacies (farmacie). These are specialized shops where you can get over-the-counter and prescription medicines. 

Please be aware that what you need prescriptions for in Italy may be different from what you need back home (antibiotics, for instance, require a prescription in Italy) 

• Any prescription medication you may be on, plus your prescription
• First aid kit for minor injuries and burns
• Anti-fever/pain medication of choice (you can also buy baby medicine here. However, the flavor, dosage and delivery method may differ from what you’re used to, so I recommend having a small stock of what you habitually use.
• Allergy medication is prone to reacting to pollens, etc. While November is not a high pollen season, the difference from back home can trigger reactions in people sensitive to it)

Entertainment

• Headphones
• Kindle reader with downloaded books/book
• Downloaded music
• Kids’ toys for the journey (magic board, magnetic maze, aqua doodles, stickers, coloring books, sensory books) worked well for us. Card games like Uno, Headbandz, or Travel Monopoly are also easy to carry and fun for older kids. 

Documents

Check with the embassy closest to you to ensure you have all the documents necessary for your trip. 

You can find here >>> the official website of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs with the list of their offices and presence abroad. 

Documents you’re likely to need are: 

• Passport
• Visa /any additional entry documents depending on circumstances (ask the embassy what applies to you: visa, other relevant permits, document for children etc. Please be aware that requirements differ between countries, even within the EU. Consider all intermediate stopovers when looking at entry requirements.
• Driving license (if intending to drive)
• International driving permit (if applicable- if you are not from the EU or the UK, there is a high chance you will need one). Some official sources you may find helpful are: For US driving license holders here >>> https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/transportation-driving/ For Australians >>> https://italy.embassy.gov.au/rome/DriversLicences.html Canadians >>> https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/italy-italie/drivers_licenses-permis_de_conduire.aspx?lang=eng New Zealand >>> https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/europe/italy/new-zealand-embassy/living-in-italy/transport-in-italy/