Are you wondering what to wear to Italy in May? Spring can be a challenging time to pack for Italy as Spring is definitely a transition season but fear not. We tell you everything that should be on your Italian Spring packing list looking at the weather and the differences between different parts of Italy such as Northern and Southern Italy as well as the islands and special events and places that may influence your Italy outfit selection.
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Weather in Italy in May
The difficulty in packing for Italy in May is that the temperatures fluctuate throughout the month. Also if you are traveling to different regions of Italy you will find the temperatures have a huge range.
Usually you can expect the average lows to be around 15°C/59°F towards the start of the month and in more Northerly parts to a maximum high of 28°C/82°F in the Southern parts.
If I were to generalise the weather in Italy in May I would say that the weather can be hot however there are still some chilly days and you will still want a wrap in the evenings.
Does it Rain in Italy in May
Is Italy rainy in May?
Summer is quickly approaching in Italy in May and as such you can expect Italy in May to be drier than Italy in April.
On average there is only 72mm of rain across the whole month and the later in the month you travel the less likely you are to experience rain.
To get a more accurate weather overview, be sure to check out our monthly city what to wear guides:
- What to Wear to Rome in May
- What to Wear in Venice in May
- What to wear in Florence in May
- What to wear in Tuscany in May
- What to wear to Puglia
- What to wear to Cinque Terre
- What to wear in Pisa
- What to wear in Sorrento
- What to wear on the Amalfi Coast
- What to wear in Positano
- What to wear in Naples
- What to wear in Capri
- What to wear in Pompeii
- What to wear in Sicily
- What to wear in Sardinia
And if you trip spans two months be sure to check out our other monthly guides:
What to Wear to Italy in May for Women
When putting together you wardrobe for Italy in May I recommend trying to pack a capsule wardrobe to reduce space and potentially even travel with carry on alone.
Some of the key pieces in your what to wear to Italy in May wardrobe should include
Jeans / Trousers
Although Italians are renowned for their style, jeans are still perfectly acceptable to wear in May, especially earlier in the month. However later in the month you may want to change these out for some lighter weight trousers
It is worth noting hot-wire that you won’t find many pairs of loose baggy jeans being worn by Italians so a form fitting pair is definitely the way to go. For this reason I would select the pair carefully though if you don’t want to look like a tourist in Italy. Therefore I recommend packing a pair of jeans that are more fitted and are in a darker colour.
Trousers
I would also add to your packing list a pair of smart casual trousers such as Chinos for evenings. These are good for going out for dinner in Italy.
Or you could add some lighter linen or cotton trousers to your packing list instead of jeans if you are traveling towards the end of May.
Longer length skirts
I would put short skirts on the what not to wear in Italy list. However I recommend taking at least one longer length skirt with you as the perfect day to night transition item.
However if you want to wear them in a church be sure there isn’t a slit that reveals a knee as this would be inappropriate in churches in Italy.
Blouse
A blouse works for the cooler days and nights. Italians are a smart bunch so a nice blouse is the perfect Italian Spring Packing List addition.
T Shirt
T Shirts are a great base or top layer no matter which region you are traveling to. In May shorter sleeves are going to be more useful than long.
I also recommend sticking to plain and dark colours instead of t shirts that have a graphic or text and that are in loud colors as this will make you look like a tourist in Rome.
Cardigan or Jumper
Although the weather in Italy in May on the whole tends to be pleasant, iI would still pack one jumper or cardigan with you for cooler days or evenings.
Jacket
While May has relatively good weather throughout Italy it is worthwhile packing a jacket for those cool Spring nights.
I personally think a blazer is actually the perfect item for Italy in May.
Pashmina
It doesn’t matter where I am traveling, a pashmina is always on my packing list especially for Italy. A pashmina can be used as a scarf or lovely accessory but can double up as an added extra layer or help provide some added modesty for churches in required.
PJs
Depending on which part of Italy you are traveling to will depend on the thickness of PJS you will require.
Underwear and Socks
What to Wear in Italy in May for Men
For men visiting Italy in May, I actually recommend actually keeping things similar to the ladies packing list. But for me any Italian Spring Packing list for guys should include
Chinos/Jeans
Having a couple of Pairs of smarter jeans and chinos with you are essential. If you have a smarter tailored pair of jeans or chinos this will be the perfect day to night transition item.
Again as with the packing list for women in Italy we recommend sticking to jeans that are of a smarter more fitted variety to help you look less like a tourist in Italy.
T Shirts and Shirts
During the day t shirts are great. For men short sleeve tees are probably going to be the most useful for you.
Again I would recommend avoiding anything with a graphic or slogan or in overly loud colors if you want to fit in with the locals.
You should also pack at least one button down shirt with you for Italy in May for going out to dinner.
However if shirts aren’t your thing then be sure to pack a smart polo on top of
Blazer
A blazer is a perfect to a men’s Spring Packing List for Italy as it is perfect attire for restaurants and will double up as an extra layer for those cooler spring days.
Best Shoes for Italy in May
Sneakers
As the weather starts to warm in Italy in May, it is time to ditch the boots in favour of more lightweight shoes.
I think the perfect shoe for Italy in May has to be a sneaker. They can cope with the warmer weather while also being good for your feet on cobbled and uneven streets.
I know that many people worry about wearing sneakers in Italy but they are actually fine to wear. I would personally pick more of a fashion pair as opposed to sports ones to fit in more with the locals but any pair is better than no pair.
Personally, I recommend sneakers that I am most comfortable walking in which include brands such as Hoka , Sketchers Go Walks or All Birds for walking in Rome. But go with whatever you feel most comfortable in.
Just remember to wear your sneakers in BEFORE your trip if you decide to buy new ones.
Sandals
As I said above, May for me in Italy means ditching the boots. Now while you might not be able to wear sandals every day in Italy in May I would always have at least one pair with me for those warmer days. I also think they are more appropriate for wearing to dinner in Italy than sneakers.
What Else to Pack for Italy in May
- Umbrella
- Small Umbrella
- Crossbody bag – unfortunately any tourist site attracts pickpockets and Italy is no different. Protect your belongings by having a crossbody bag with lots of zips.
- Travel Adaptor
- Power Pack / Battery recharger
How to dress in Italy in May for Special Events
There are no special events in Italy in May that will affect your Italy Packing List for May
Have you been to Italy in May? What did you wear? We would love to hear in the comments.