What To Wear In Italy In September

Italy is one of the year round destinations that draws tourists every year. Like all European countries, Italy sees a flux of seasons. In this particular article, I’m going to talk specifically about what to wear in Italy in September and by default what you should pack when you travel. I’ll even talk about what to pack if you need to travel light because most people love to take the budget flights in and out of the country which means the right capsule wardrobe can make or break your trip.

Luckily I have good news for you. Generally speaking the weather across Italy is warm in September. This means that you can ditch the numerous layers that you have to pack for winter in Italy. It is also important to understand that since Italy is a very long country and it covers diverse terrain, the weather changes from place to place in the same month. I’ll be talking about that in a bit too.

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Is September Summer In Italy?

Summer in Italy is between the 21st of June to the 22nd of September. September houses the last bit of the summer days and often this is the time when the weather is slightly influx as we head into autumn. Since the weather fluctuates a bit. I thought I would cover what to wear in Italy in September in detail. If you are traveling in June, July and August too then I would suggest checking out my guide to what to pack for Italy in summer for more tips on the other months.

What’s The Weather Like?

September is one of the warmest months in the country. It does however have its own share of cooler (not cold) days and rain. A lot of it depends on which part of the country you are in. The south is hot. I’m talking about the regions around Naples and Sicily. Here you will find that the temperatures range between the highs of 24-28°C (75-82°F) and lows of around 17-21°C (63-70°F)

Central Italy is slightly cooler with temperatures ranging from 18-27C (65-80F). Northern Italy is the coolest with the nights at 13C (55F) and the peak day temperature at 24C (75F). This means that while in the south you may not need warm wear, you definitely would need warmer clothes if you are out in the night in the north.

What To Wear In Italy In September – A Quick Packing Guide

Since the weather is warm you’ve probably realized that packing light is relatively easy except for the fact that it is humid. That means you will sweat a lot and then have to change and wash your clothes frequently. Generally speaking it is easy to get accommodation with a washing machine or you can just wash it the old fashioned way by hand and leave the clothes to dry in the heat.

Lets take a quick overview of what are the must haves in the season.

Cardigan: I would not carry my heaviest winter jackets but I do advise getting a light cardigan or a jacket for the cooler nights especially if you are headed up north. This way you can layer it on your clothes for a suave look if you want to hit the town at night.

Scarf: I would throw in a scarf too as both an accessory and for warmth. Lately thanks to global warming the once predictable weather patterns often are in flux. This helps ensure that you are not blind sighted when considering what to wear in Italy in September.

Comfy shoes: Now the type of shoes vary according to the person using them but the idea is to have something comfortable to walk in. This is because most of the exploring will be done on foot.

Summer Dresses And Skirts: This one is for the ladies. Summer dresses and skirts are great and comfortable for the hot weather. They are also great if you want to slip them on top of your beach wear. Plus they look awesome. I would also add a pair of cycling shorts (if this is something you do) to prevent chaffing since it is very humid in Italy.

Formal Attire: There is nothing quite like fine dining in Italy but if you do want to visit one of these establishments, you will have to dress up a bit. I found this very different when compared to the more laid back culture in the Netherlands. A nice black dress is a failsafe but since it is summer you could go with something pastel too. Just don’t forget your heels or sandals.

For the men, a pair of formal trousers and a nice cotton shirt will do the trick. Just make sure to give it a bit of an iron before heading out or get a wrinkle free one!

Sun Protection: Everyone heads to Italy in summer for the sun. After weeks of bad weather in the Netherlands, I get the feeling. Even if you are trying to get in the last rays of warmth before the next winter, make sure that you don’t forget to protect your skin. When you are thinking about what to pack for Italy in September, make sure to include a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.

What To Pack For Italy In September: Footwear

I think one of the things that people really don’t pay attention to when packing for Europe is their footwear. I know that its a whole continent but one of the few generalizations that I can make is that everyone here walks. 5 kilometers? Not a big deal that’s just like a drop to school. Most cities are designed for pedestrians over road traffic. This is true for Italy too.

Since you will spend a great amount of time walking about, I would recommend picking a pair of shoes that makes you feel comfortable. Got a snazzy new pair? Break them in before you come to Italy. That way you won’t be groaning about shoe bites when you reach here.

Now since this is summer I can recommend a couple of different types of shoes that work for me. You would have to see what works for you.

Sandals

Open sandals are great for the warm days. Not only do they look super chic, they are also comfortable. I personally love to ditch the sneakers and socks unless I am hiking about. Plus sandals work for those days that you spend on the beach too. They are the perfect all purpose pair if you are looking for shoes to pack when you are deciding what to wear in Italy in summer and you are along the coast.

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Now I generally prefer Crocs. Yes they may not always look the best but they are durable, secure and washable. I’ve used them all across South East Asia and Europe (in the warmer months) and these are my default pair. You actually get a couple of uber cute pieces that are not the traditional clog shapes. If you don’t mind the clogs then there are so many cute colorful pairs.

Big bonus is that you will find that these work great on pebbled or rocky beaches. Another thing that people do like about the design of these shoes is that they dry fast. I’ve had my pair for years and the last pair I replaced was after about five years of continuous use and then only because the base had worn out.

Water Shoes

Water shoes are another great option. This is a great swap for the Crocs especially if you don’t wear your Crocs everywhere like I do. The water shoes fold up pretty small unlike many other sandals. They work great if you are on a beach that has pebbles or sharp rocks. Plus they are great when you want to swim off these beaches.

There are different brands that offer these type of shoes but SEEKWAY has some of the best rated shoes for both men and women. You’ll find that I recommend these again when I talk about the best capsule wardrobe for Italy in September. Their size and versatility make them perfect.

Swimwear: What Should You Pick?

I believe that swimwear is a personal choice and it is largely dependent on what you feel comfortable in. In Italy, you don’t really have to worry about wearing conservative swimming wear.

What you do need to know is that the swimwear is designated for the beach and you can’t just wander around the cities or go sightseeing in it. I honestly thought that it was pretty obvious but I recently read an article on Forbes about how you can get fined which meant that people were actually doing it. So its worth noting here.

I’m not going to talk about all the different swimsuits here but I will drop a couple of recommendations which should help if you are looking for a new swimsuit.

Recommendations

• One Piece Swimsuit: CUPSHE Women’s Ruffled Swimsuit
• Bikini: Suvimuga (Pro Tip: Buy more than one bikini and mix and match!)
• Men’s Swim Trunks: Kanu Surf

Other Beach Wear And Accessories

Since its hot, let’s talk about what to wear in Italy in September when it comes to the beach. There are a couple of accessories that I always recommend.

Sarong Or A Wrap: I love my sarong. The ones that I bought were from Indonesia but you get amazing ones online. The reason why I suggest carrying them is because they are very versatile. I use them as towels (don’t judge me!), to lay them down on the sand, to wrap myself up if its cold or just as a beach cover up.

A Cool Hat: Now everyone has a different preference when hats and caps are concerned. I prefer the wide brimmed airy hats because they pair well with all kinds of attire. The downside is that unless you find a nice foldable one, it is hard to pack. These hats also protect your eyes from the sun.

Sunglasses: You really really need a nice pair of sunglasses for the trip. It’s hot, the sun is bright and it is the perfect accessory for your wardrobe. Thank me later.

Bikini / Swimwear Coverup: We generally don’t always have our accommodation close to the beach. So often we don’t have a chance to change before heading out to our next destination. Most people choose cool swimwear coverups just to head back home. I sometimes prefer to use a light beach dress or a oversized cotton shirt paired with shorts for the occasion.

A Beach Bag: I generally set aside a beach bag with all my beach things in it so I don’t have to keep packing and unpacking them. This works for me because I have kids so I tend to carry a bit more than I would if it was just me. Aside from being practical, it ensures that sand doesn’t get into everything. There are plenty of great (foldable) beach bags online that you can choose from.

Sunscreen: Don’t leave home without it!

Dressing Up When Visiting Religious Places

I haven’t mentioned much about this in my October packing guide for Italy because people pretty much cover up more as the temperatures drop. Summer is different so it is worth talking about here since the churches of the Italy draw visitors from all over the world.

The dress code is that your shoulders and knees should be covered. That’s what everyone will tell you. After growing up in a very Catholic community and experiencing how many people misinterpret the dress code rules, I would add here that the midriff needs to be covered too.

Don’t worry. This won’t affect your wardrobe much. Generally speaking what I do is carry a light cardigan that I can throw on when I walk in and if I need a sarong that wraps around my waist like a wraparound skirt. These are items that I would be carrying either way so I don’t find myself affected by it.

What To Wear In Italy In September: Wardrobe Recommendations

We’ve talked about shoes, beach wear and even what the recommended dress code is for religious institutions. Let’s now get into the nitty gritty of what your wardrobe should look like when deciding what to wear in Italy in September.

Light Cotton Shirts: I recommend pastel colored light cotton shirts. Not only do they feel cool in the heat, the help absorb sweat keeping your skin dry and look cool when paired with a nice pair of denims or trousers. A big bonus is that they can easily be used for a more formal look when you want to head out at night.

Tank Tops: Tank tops (and tube tops) are another great go to when it comes to what to wear in Italy in September. Wear them as is or pair them with the light cotton shirt that you packed or just with a cardigan. I generally prefer white and black because they are easy to mix and match.

Summer Dresses: One of the most popular items of clothing is the summer dresses. There are tons to pick from. Cotton ones that are floral are the trend in this season as are pastel colors.

Shorts: Whether you are a guy or a girl, you will find that a good comfy pair of shorts is the perfect addition to your Italian wardrobe for September. Easy to wash, quick to dry and versatile. Plus its super cute!

Formal Wear: If you plan on heading out at night to one of the upscale restaurants you will need to dress up. That’s just how the Italians do it. For women a nice formal dress will do the trick. Generally I pack my black one. Its a fail safe. And I can accessorize it differently to give it a different look. For the men, a nice shirt paired with formal trousers will do the trick.

What To Wear In Italy In September: Accessories

Accessories can really change the way each outfit looks and are the key to making your mix and match routine perfect. Some of them also just make life easier on so many levels. So make sure to consider them carefully when you are deciding what to wear in Italy in September.

A Necklace: Everyone has different styles but if you have a simple dress, a necklace can dress it up a bit for the night.

A Backpack: I generally carry my waterproof bright yellow Columbia bag about because its all season and carries tons of stuff inside. But there are some super cute dressier bags. Like the Montana West Vegan backpack which works well with all kinds of outfits.

A Crossbody Bag: If you don’t need to lug a laptop or lots of things around, a crossbody bag is perfect just for the essentials.

Cosmetics, hair accessories as per your preference, combs and hairbrushes, socks, bathroom essentials etc. are all things that have to be packed. As this is pretty much something that you have to do for every trip, I’m not going to go into the details of this. But note that it is something that you should consider when planning what to wear in Italy in September.

Documents

Since we are talking about what to pack for Italy in September, I thought it would be wise to also talk about all the documents that need to be packed. These do change depending on your country of residence.

• Passport with visa
• Health and travel insurance
• Flight tickets
• Local currency: Italy uses the Euro.

Packing Cubes

When you are packing your clothes and planning what to wear in Italy in September, think about the packing solutions that are available. My absolute favorite is packing cubes. These help organize your belongings so that you don’t have to unpack everything all the time. If you don’t have a set, I would urge you to check out the pros and cons of packing cubes before picking the right one for you.

Capsule Wardrobe For Italy In September

Okay so this is the part that you are waiting for. Now if you need to travel light and have one of those budget flights, don’t worry. This capsule wardrobe will help you understand what to pack for Italy in September while keeping it light.

• 2 pair of cotton shorts
• 2 pairs of cotton shirts
• 1 swimsuit coverup
• 2 bikinis / swimsuits (perfect to mix and match)
• 2 pastel or floral summer dresses
• 1 light cardigan preferably white or black
• 1 wide brimmed hat (you can get one that folds up small)
• 1 pair of sunglasses
• 1 pair of sandals
• 1 cool backpack or crossbody bag
• 1 floral skirt
• 1 pair of trousers preferably black.