Basic Etiquette
It is important to dress neatly and respectfully. Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing. Hats should be removed indoors. It is impolite to remove one's shoes in front of others.
Everyone has heard of petty theft and pickpocketing in the big Italian cities. It is important to protect your valuables while walking amongst large crowds. Many Italians wear fanny packs/ satchels everyday. You can easily store your phone, wallet, passport, and other small items while traveling around.
It's fine to wear casual clothes such as khakis, jeans, tennis shoes, and sandals to many restaurants in Rome. But remember that in Italy, modesty is key. You won't find Romans dining in shorts and tank tops, so keep this in mind for going out to eat, and again, for visiting the sites.
You can wear shorts in Italy and look perfectly normal.
I went ahead and packed three pairs of pants and three pairs of shorts. I am so glad I decided to pack some shorts!
In addition to what to wear in the summer and autumn, there are a few tips that can help you blend into the crowd. Firstly, if you are planning on visiting a church or religious site, your shoulders and knees need to be covered. Secondly, flip flops are only worn at the beach (if at all)… leave them at home.
What makes Polignano a Mare the friendliest city in Italy. Firstly, Polignano a Mare is a sun-drenched town right on the Adriatic sea, hence it's nickname “The Pearl of the Adriatic”.
Polignano a Mare!
A town on Italy's Adriatic coast known for its spectacular clifftop location and white pebble beaches, Polignano a Mare also happens to be home to a bunch of supremely welcoming restaurants, hotels and guesthouses.
We recommend that you take a mixture of cash along with currency on a pre-paid currency card. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and autostrada tollbooths. Where you might come unstuck is relying on American Express and Diners Club which are not widely accepted.
You don't really need to bring this from home, of course — Italy does have toilet paper! — but it's a smart thing for ladies, particularly, to throw in their purses before leaving the hotel in the morning.
Dressing well is respectful and you'll want to try to blend in with the locals. Unless you're going to a very fancy restaurant, dark jeans or other slacks are acceptable. Women wear a lot of dresses as it starts to get warmer.
Don't wander around alone: Moving freely around someone else's home is considered rude and inappropriate. Accept something they offer: Leaving a house without having a coffee, a piece of cake, or even just a glass of water might disappoint your host.
Florence, Italy. No list of walkable cities in Europe would be complete without mentioning Florence.
Far more Italians believe in the principle of welcoming the stranger and showing compassion, but they also reject a vision of open borders. They believe the net effects of immigration, like globalization, have been negative. Many are deeply worried about the job prospects for young Italians.
Lecce may be one of the most underrated destinations in Italy. Known as the Florence of the South, Lecce is full of baroque buildings and cultural attractions. Start your sightseeing in the Piazza S. Oronzo, a medieval plaza that is the hub for city residents.
Absolutely avoid the Hawaiian print, khaki shorts, flip-flops and baseball caps. You will immediately be recognized as a tourist and there might be a few eye-rolls along the way. Even if summer in Italy is scorching hot, it's not uncommon to find men dressed in button-down shirts and well-fitted trousers.
Italians dress differently for different times of day, so pack clothes for both day and night and switch outfits when the sun sets. Day fits are usually more casual (casual shirts and blouses, sightseeing sneakers) while night fits are more formal (blazers, dresses).
Beachwear and sweatpants do not translate into streetwear.
Though rubber flip-flops, yoga pants, and “athletic wear” have become day-to-day staples in many countries, Italians keep beachwear at the seaside, yoga wear on the mat, and athletic wear in the gym.
Can I wear leggings in Italy? Yes, you can. My cousins In Tuscany there wear them all the time. Italians are very fashionable, but they do wear things like jeans and Doc Martins.
The best shoes for Italy's cobbles and city pavements are cushioned and with flexible rubber soles. Italians are fond of stylish sneakers (see below some of our favorite sneakers for Italy) and they are the perfect choice if you want to walk without looking like a tourist.
Keep Your Shirt On
Not only is it offensive to locals to have visitors wandering the streets in varying states of undress, it is also against many local ordinances and you can get fined. A good rule of thumb is to take a look around and see how the locals are dressed.