What to Pack for Italy in October: realistic, really useful Italy Packing List for fall

What to pack for Italy in October: useful, realistic packing list with practical tips and style guide + baby essentials and must haves.

October is one of the most beautiful months to visit Italy — but also one of the trickiest to pack for!

In general, October in Italy marks the heart of autumn: during this month, you’ll experience crisp mornings, mild afternoons, and cooler evenings, but how mild and how cold very much depending on the time of the month (beginning of October is warmer vs end of the month), where in Italy (in general, north gets cold than south) and you are and luck on the day.

October has very much its own mind, when it comes to temperatures!

On top of this, mid season temperatures are perceived very differently by different people and October is that type of month when some may still be ok in shorts while others are reaching for a scarf.

So while knowing the average weather patterns will help, it’s safest to expect a bit of everything. Think layers, comfortable shoes, and a few extra pieces in case the weather surprises you (which it likely will!)

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October in Italy: Weather Patterns and what to expect

Historically, October in Italy is mild and pleasantly cool — one of the best times for sightseeing.

• Early October often feels like late summer, especially in southern regions and along the coasts. You may still wear short sleeves during the day, although you will want also a cardigan, closed shoes and an umbrella
• Late October tends to be cooler, with jacket weather in most of the country and everywhere in the evening. Northern areas and hill towns can get quite chilly, especially in the evenings or when it rains.
• Rain is possible throughout the month, though usually as showers rather than constant downpours.

Average temperatures by region:

• Northern Italy (Milan, Venice): 10–20°C / 50–68°F
• Central Italy (Rome, Florence): 12–22°C / 54–72°F
• Southern Italy (Naples, Sicily): 15–25°C / 59–77°F

If you take away one word to summarize your packing strategy for October, it’s layers!

How Italians Dress in October

How locals dress in October is of relative important to visitors, because you do not need to dress like us.

However, since it can be fun to at least partially blend in and feel like a local or even just if you are curious to know what to expect around you, here are some info!

By October, Italians are officially in fall mode — lighter fabrics give way to autumn colors, jackets, and ankle boots with or without tights.

Shorts and sandals are a thing of the past, retired at the end of summer, partially because we are cold creatures and partially for style! We do very much change style as the season go!

You’ll see plenty of:

• Jeans, chinos, or midi skirts
• Long-sleeved tops and light sweaters
• A mid-weight jacket (puffer or trench)
• Ankle boots or closed shoes

Colors shift toward warm and earthy tones — burgundy, mustard, olive, and camel are everywhere.

Children dress similarly to adults: jeans or leggings, hoodies, sneakers, and light coats.

The best shoes to pack for Italy in October

The best shoes to pack for Italy in October are closed shoes that can keep you comfortable while walking and can take a bit of rain.

In most cases, the best shoes for Italy are runners / sneakers and ankle boots: these are the best styles for the weather and they are versatile enough that you do no need to bring too many pairs with you. A good pair of walking shoes like sneakers can easily get you from city sightseeing to truffle hunting and dinners out no problem.

Top tip: bring a second pair with you, so if one gets soaked in the rain and needs to dry overnight, you are not out of shoe wear!

Do You Need to Dress Up for Dinners or Churches in Italy?

You don’t need to pack fancy clothes unless you plan to dine somewhere very upscale. For most restaurants, smart casual is perfect.

When visiting churches, the key is modesty rather than formality — cover shoulders and knees, and avoid low necklines or short skirts. Casual but respectful is the rule of thumb.

What to Pack for Italy in October (Adults + Kids)

• Underwear and socks
• Short sleeved tops (potentially also long sleeve ones for layering)
• Light sweaters like a cardigan or hoodie for kids
• Long pants / midi skirt (jeans, chinos, or corduroy)
• Mid-weight jacket or rainproof puffer
• Light scarf
• Two pairs of comfortable closed shoes (sneakers or ankle boots)
• Pajamas (long sleeves for cooler nights)
• Slippers or house socks (floors can get cold)
• Sunglasses

Packing for October in Italy with a Toddler or Active Child

• Same as above, plus:
  • Rain pants or a waterproof shell if planning on a lot of outdoor time in the countryside
  • Light rain boots (optional, but fun for puddles!)
  • Stroller footmuff or even just a cozy cover for naps on the go

If you’re using a stroller (I highly recommend it, if you have littles: there is a lot of walking to be done in Italy!), a weather cover or blanket is handy for unexpected rain or cool breezes.

Packing for October in Italy with a Baby

• Babygrow / sleepsuit
• Long sleeve tops & sweaters
• Long pants / leggings
• Socks & baby shoes
• Jacket or cardigan
• Baby hat (especially for evenings)
• Sleep sack
• Pram cover or footmuff

Baby essentials:

You can buy all baby essentials in Italy (find here >>> where to buy baby items in Italy); however, for the trip or the first couple of days it can be handy to bring some essentials with you such as:

• Diapers for the journey
• Diaper cream and wipes
• Bottles, sterilizer, and formula if using
• Favorite comforter, dummy, teether
• Baby carrier & lightweight stroller
• Snacks for the trip

Good to know: we have tons of snacks for kids in Italy: rice cakes, galettes, crackers, biscuits, cheese, fruit, yogurt etc. However, brands for packaged things can be very different from what you are used to back home so if you area dealing with food sensitivities or picky eaters, bringing familiar snacks from home can be a good idea, at least to mix and match with new flavors.

Toiletries and first aid

Most hotels provide basic toiletries, but bring your own if you have preferences. Things you may want to have handy are:

• Shower gel / shampoo / conditioner
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush / styling items
• Feminine products
• Razor / shaving items
• Moisturizer (October air can be dry)
• Basic first aid kit and any personal medications
• Make up
• Perfume
• Cream

Medications:

Good to know: we have excellent pharmacies in Italy but the commercial names of medicines may be different from the names you are used to back home. Also, regulations vary and what is over the counter abroad may be prescription only in Italy. I find it best to always bring with me all medications I know I may need including prescriptions (with the actual doctors’ note too), painkillers like paracetamol and baby medications, so I don’t have to rush once abroad.

• 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 October is not a high pollen season, the difference from back home can trigger reactions in people sensitive to it)

Electronics & Documents

• EU power adaptor (Type C or F plug)
• Dual-voltage hair tools or a converter
• Phone & chargers
• Power bank
• SIM with international data – I like Airalo, which I find has excellent plans
• Passport & visa (if required)
• International Driving Permit (if planning to rent a car and not in possession of a EU/UK licence, you most likely need one – always check official sources with rules that may apply to you)

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.

As you can see, the key to packing for Italy in October is to layer, expect variety, and prepare for both sun and showers. Bring comfortable shoes, a rain-ready jacket, and clothes that can mix and match easily.

I hope this essential packing list was helpful. Safe travels!

What to pack for Italy in October: pin this!