What to pack for Italy in November: complete packing list for families.

What to pack for Italy in November: packing list, weather patterns, baby essentials, style tips.

November is a fall month in Italy and one of the hardest to plan for in terms of packing needs.

In general, November in Italy is a month for puffer jackets and ankle boots, yet the crazy weather we have seen in the last couple of years has meant I have photos of my daughter and me in November in Venice in short sleeves!

So, while having some idea of the weather in November will help you pack, it is safe to expect the month to throw some curve balls at you, and you may find yourself having to pack a little more just to be prepared for all eventualities

In general, November in Italy, you need closed shoes and layers that you can easily take off during the warmest hours of the day yet keep you warm when the sun sets or rain arrives.

So if you need one operative word to summarize your packing needs, let the word be: layers!

I am from Rome and usually travel around Italy in November 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 and Florence.

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

Based on my experience of November in Italy, this is my recommended packing list for families.

I have also included some info about the usual weather patterns in Italy at this time: I believe this is helpful to put temperatures in context and gauge how cold you may experience Italy to be.

November in Italy: weather patterns

Historically, November in Italy is a mild, relatively dry month, with temperatures ranging from pleasant to chilly, depending on the year and time of the month, and occasional rain.

In general:

Early November tends to be milder than later in the month.

While you may find yourself in short sleeves for part of the day in the first week of November, this is increasingly unlikely as you get into the second half of the month.

If traveling to Italy in November, I recommend you bring short sleeves as a layer and potentially a few hours at the start of the month, but expect to have a sweater on top most of the time.

November is also usually too cold for shorts.

My top tip! When deciding on what to pack for November, look at your destinations in terms of altitude rather than how north or south they may be on the map. Mountains and hilltops places get significantly colder than the coast.

While the south of Italy generally stays warmer for longer, it also gets cold, and mountainous areas get cold there too.

The cold tends to be more intense if you are close to mountains, in the countryside, or far from the coast.

Rain in November is possible, so bringing waterproof sneakers or a change of shoes in case one pair gets soaked and you need to dry it overnight is helpful.

What’s rain like in Italy in November

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

How do Italians dress in November?

In Italy, in November, we dress for winter.

This is partially habit and partially because November feels genuinely chilly to us in most cases after the summer’s heat.

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.

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 November 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 include jeans (adults and kids); chinos for men, worn with polo shirts or long sleeve shirts and a sweater or blazer; cute baggy pants with tapering legs to the ankle, worn with a sweater and an oversized coat or jacket for women.

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

In terms of shoes, runners and ankle boots are the most versatile and popular for the start of the month especially, for men and women.

Later in the month you also see boots.

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

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

You don’t need to dress up for dinner out in Italy unless you are going to a fancy restaurant with a dress code or somewhere very upscale.

There is also no need to dress up for church. If visiting a sacred space, however, you need to 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 may be considered offensive by the Church. Aside from that, you do not need to be in your Sunday best to go sightseeing in churches.

if you do go to church to attend mass, especially on a Sunday, you can expect people to be dressed nicely: yet even in this case respect is paramount, but casual attire is perfectly acceptable.

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

• Underwear
• Socks
• Long sleeve tops
• Short sleeve tops (mostly for layering)
• Sweaters
• Long pants / midi skirt (jeans, chinos or corduroy are popular)
• 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!)

Packing for November in Italy for a 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 therefore get cold faster than those trotting around.

Packing for November in Italy for a baby

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

Other Baby / toddler essentials

How much to bring for 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 don’t need to carry everything from home unless you have specific reasons to want a brand that may not exist as such 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
• 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 parents: Italian kids don’t snack! But this is not true at all: they just snack differently!

So, if you think you won’t be happy to experiment with coal options, bringing snacks from home is a good idea!

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

• 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.

• High chair/harness: most places in Italy have high chairs. However, many don’t have a harness (for hygiene reasons, as far as I know). If you worry this may be a danger to your child, you can bring a travel high chair or harness

Electronics

• EU adaptor
• You will need an EU converter for hair straighteners and all electrical items that are not dual voltage. Not all adaptors are also converters, make sure you check!
• Phone and its charger
• Charging cables
• Spare battery pack
• Sim with international data
• For baby: if using a white noise machine, consider downloading an app that can replicate that sound without having to carry 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.

If bringing your own, use this quick list to tick what is relevant.

• 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

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 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 method of delivery may be different from what you’re used to, so 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 all worked well for us. Card games like Uno, Headbandz or travel Monopoly also are easy to carry and fun for older kids.

Documents

To make sure you have all the documents necessary for your trip, make sure you check with the embassy closest to you.

You can find here >>> the official website of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs with the list of 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 useful 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/