How to pack for a trip to Rome
It’s time to pack! The tickets are bought, the passports are renewed, the itinerary to discover the Eternal city is finally done: now all you need is a well-packed suitcase and you’re ready to go!
Rome Trip Tips suggests you to pack the following list of things
1. The first and for sure the most important thing to pack when you come to visit Rome is comfortable shoes for walking as snickers or sandals. Good shoes are essential in any trip, but it is important to have the right ones especially in Eternal city, where you are sure to be doing a lot of walking. Rome is a wonderful city for walking around and getting lost among the little streets (vicoli) in the city center is surely one of the most fascinating ways to get to know it, so we would always suggest walking rather than catching the bus for any short – medium distances. Just a warning: Rome streets are often paved with cobblestone (called "Sanpietrini or Sampietrini" literally ‘little San Peters’). The Sampietrini are charming and very Roman but they can be slippy and they are the worst enemy of high heels, so flat shoes are the best.
Just a funny curiosity: do you know what Italians call American kids they see walking around the Eternal City in $2 old navy plastic and foam flip flops? They call them “piedi neri,” black feet. Want to know why? Because in flip flops, it takes but a minute for the bottoms of your feet (and probably the tops, too) to become totally and completely black. It’s the truth. This city can be dirty and you should not be walking around it in shower shoes.
2. Another very essential thing to carry in a trip to Rome is a cross-body bag or a safe internal pocket for wallets or a money belt. Rome is not a dangerous city, but pickpocketing does happen and tourists are among the favourite victims. Try to avoid carrying rucksacks on your back and do not keep your wallet in your back pocket, especially if you mean to take public transport. Always zip your purse and your backpack.
3. Cash. We know this might sound strange after the mention of pickpockets, but in Rome, cards are not as widely accepted as in other European cities and never are for small amounts (you can’t pay for ice cream with a credit card for instance). While it is important to avoid carrying large sums of cash, it is handy to have some small notes always on you, for light meals, taxi hops etc. If you can, avoid ‘big’ notes such as 50 Euro and prefer smaller ones such as 20 or 10. Bring traveler's checks or credit cards. and paying with them will allow you to bypass currency exchange centers, which usually charge a fee. Newspapers in Rome will list the current exchange rate daily.
4. A good waterproof jacket: Rome is not very cold in the winter but if you go there between let’s say November to March, chances are you might get some rainy days and some good gear is essential. The fact is that in Rome when it rains, it really rains! Roman rain is nothing like the drizzle you get in northern Europe: when the rain comes down here, it does it in buckets and it’s important to be prepared not to get soaked. The good news is that usually it doesn’t last the whole day, so with the right gear on it shouldn’t stop you on your tracks for very long.
5. A small umbrella: maybe a bit of an old-fashioned piece of advice this one, but small umbrellas are really a lifesaver in Rome. The city is not very windy and even lightweight ones do the job for the occasional shower of rain. If you don’t have one or are stuck for space, don’t worry: as soon as it starts raining the streets of Rome get full of street vendors offering umbrellas in all shapes and sizes. They only cost a few euro and while they might not last forever, they are usually good enough to stay with you until the end of your stay
6. Bring clothing appropriate to the season. In the winter, Rome has an average temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, or around 48 degrees Fahrenheit so be sure to bring slightly heavier jackets and hats, gloves and scarves. Summers are dry and warm with an average of 26 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so bring cool clothing, such as short sleeves and light shirts. A good selection of long and short sleeved tops and cardigans, for layering: Rome is not cold, as we were already saying, but depending on how humid it is you might find you want to wear an extra layer so a cardigan or light jumper can come in handy, especially if you are planning on staying out morning to evening without stopping back to your hotel. Cardigans and layers, in general, are also very good to cover your shoulders when visiting churches. Rome churches and basiliche, in particular, such as San Pietro, San Giovanni etc, have pretty strict dress codes (you will not be able to enter if you wear a skirt above-the-knee shorts shorts. Same story for men wearing shorts or singlet or both.) so it can be handy to have something to cover yourself up without having to plan your all outfit on the church stop.
7. One casual but nice outfit if you plan to go out in the evening. Rome is not a particularly dressy city so the good news is that, unless you want to, you don’t have to pack your designer dress or your tailored suit to enjoy a night out there. The best dress code to followin Italy is ‘not too scruffy’: you don’t need special clothes to go out, but a good pair of trousers and shoes other than runners are a good choice for the evening. For women, the best way to dress up without packing too many things is to add necklaces and scarves. Italian women love them and wear them often, they dress up even plain clothes and are an easy way to feel ‘together’ with little effort, feeling very ‘Italian’ in the process.and won’t look like the stereotypical ugly tourist. A tip: buy some more Italian scarves; you won’t find anything more beautiful anywhere!
8. A map of the city and a guidebook: probably an obvious one, but still worth mentioning especially if you are used to relying a lot on your mobile phone to get around. Wi-fi is not always easy to get (and the ‘free city wifi hardly ever works) so don’t rely exclusively on technology to find your way.
9. A small dictionary or Italian phrase book. In Rome, especially in the city centre, you will find people with at least a basic understanding of English but this is not the case in all establishments and some familiarity with Italian can be handy, even if it’s just a book you can show them with the sentence you’d like to say. The lovely thing about Italy is that we usually speak terrible English so we do appreciate when we see a foreigner making an effort as we know how hard it is to make yourself understood
10. Sunglasses: when the weather is good, Rome has some amazing light so, after seeing its beautiful skies without filters, it is handy to have something to protect your eyes. Also, Italians love their sunglasses so why not make the most of it and make your own fashion statement ;-)?
11: Another item that will add an extra touch to your look, but one that doesn’t have to be extravagant. This could be left to purchase in Italy as traveling with hats can be annoying. .
12 Pack a power outlet adapter. Italian power outlets are in the C, E, or F styles. These are common throughout Europe, but are not used in North America and Asia. If you pack electronics, remember that Rome operates on 220 volts, while American outlets use 110 volts. Bring a converter for your electronics, and to be safe, only bring items that charge a battery, such as cell phones, laptops or cameras. Avoid bringing hair dryers or curling irons, which can overheat with the higher voltage.
About it read also "What to know about electricity in Rome".
13 Extra memory card for your camera. Rome is a beautiful city with a wealth of photo opportunities. Be sure to bring extra memory cards for your digital camera, or extra film for your film camera. And of course don't forget your camera at home!
DO NOT PACK A HANDBAG! Especially an expensive designer bag to flaunt or to try and fit in with the very, high-fashion conscious Italian women who wear them everywhere: you will be a easy target! If you have to pack a purse, take an old, junky one and where it strapped over your neck like a book bag! Hanging on one arm is just asking for trouble. Going out for the evening to a nice ristorante? Pack a tiny evening bag that carries only your necessities and keep it close to your chest when not in the restourant. Make sure you take a handbag that has a zipper, if you need to pack a handbag!
RECAP: remember to pack confortable shoes and a cross body money-passport beg or a safe internal pocket that holds on your neck.
