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Are you planning a spring trip to southern Italy, but want to make sure you pack all the right things to look and feel your best? If you like to pack just enough to fit into a carry-on bag, then you’re in luck. Having just returned from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, today I am sharing my own Italy packing list from a one-week trip in late April.
Personally, I like to pack light and I’ve managed to fit everything into a carry-on bag for as much as a two-week trip. Therefore, I find doing so for one-week in warm weather to be pretty easy! Plus, I’ve now visited the likes of the South of France, Greece, and Italy so many times that I’ve practically got my wardrobe memorized.
Basically, you are in good hands and I’ll make sure you have all the essentials for your trip – especially if you enjoy cute outfits that are still comfortable for exploring! That said, here is my complete southern Italy packing list for spring travels.
The Ultimate Italy Packing List for a Carry-On Bag
Packing for Italy in a Carry-on: The Essentials
Below are the items you’ll never see me travel without – especially internationally.
- Passport
- Copy of passport to keep on your person. I like to keep my actual passport locked in my hotel room to avoid it being lost or stolen. Even a phone screenshot is better than nothing.
- Global Entry card
- Boarding pass (be sure it reflects TSA PreCheck if you have it)
- Credit cards: I like to bring one Visa and one Mastercard when traveling internationally. AMEX is often not accepted at European restaurants.
- ATM card: Wondering how much cash you should carry in Italy? Withdrawing about €100-200 should do the trick.
- Face masks (optional at this point, but still handy to have on hand)
Starting in late 2026 (date keeps changing), Americans will need a visa to enter Italy and other European countries.
Spring Clothing for Your Italy Packing List
Packing for a spring trip to Italy can be trickier than summer since you may need a few more layers. Evenings can be cool, while the midafternoon sun can feel quite strong. Some days may feel suitable for the beach and some will be more comfortable for a hike (like on the stunning Path of the Gods along the Amalfi Coast).
As you can see, your Italy packing essentials will depend in part on what activities you will do. Below is everything I packed for a late April/early May trip that included a hike and boat tour around Capri.
Every day was in the high 60’s, low 70’s °F range, which was perfect for linen pants and a short sleeved shirt. At night, I typically threw on a light jacket to stay warm, since we almost always dined outdoors.
Related: The Perfect 10-Day Italy Itinerary You Should Steal
The Spring Clothing I Packed for 1 Week in Southern Italy
- 10 pairs of socks
- 10 pairs of underwear
- 3 bras (2 regular, 1 strapless)
- 2 pairs of pajama shorts
- 7 pajama tank tops
- 1 bralet
- 1 pair of jeans
- 2 pairs of linen pants (1 beige, 1 black)
- 1 pair of lounge pants
- 1 sweater
- 1 light short-sleeve black sweater
- 1 white tank top sweater
- 1 white linen tank top
- 4 casual tees/tanks
- 2 long flowy dresses
- Beige jacket
- 2 linen scarves (purchased on Capri)
- Hiking shorts
- Hiking top
- Sports bra
- 1 swimsuit
- 1 swimsuit coverup
- 1 sheer patterned shawl
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- 2 pairs of earrings
- 2 necklaces
- 2 bracelets
Footwear for Italy
Shoes will depend on what works for your feet, as well as room in your suitcase. For me, sneakers are the most practical choice for wandering the city streets of Italy. However, I’m glad I also had space for something more suitable for our hiking and boat days.
I usually recommend bringing no more than two different types of shoes in a carry-on, but for this trip I made an exception:
- Sneakers
- Dressy shoes/sandals – my navy blue Chacos can get wet by the beach, but also pass for suitable shoes to wear at dinner.
- Hiking boots (optional)
- Shoe inserts for people like me, who have arch issues
Personal Care Items
Below are all the essentials you’ll need for personal care when packing for southern Italy. Since you aren’t checking luggage, you will be limited to a 1-quart bag with up to 3.4 oz. each for liquids, gels, and aerosols.
To comply with this, I use small reusable containers for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. However, if you aren’t picky, hotels and vacation rentals often provide these items for free. For things like face wash and shave gel, I try to find tiny samples for purchase from stores like Target, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty.
Pack in Your Carry-on:
- Face sheet mask
- Eye sheet mask
- Chapstick (with SPF)
- NAKED Eye Shadow Palette
- Wide-toothed comb
- Dental floss
- Toothbrush
- Razor
- Pads/tampons
- Face wipes for makeup
- Hair ties
- Eyelash curler
- Deodorant
- Q-tips
- Cotton balls
- Band-Aids
- Bronzer
- Blush
- Makeup brushes
- Eyeliner
- Eyeliner sharpener
Pack in a Separate 1-Quart Liquids Bag:
- Conditioner (not commonly provided by European hotels)
- Face wash
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen for face (this one is my go-to)
- Eye shadow primer
- Mascara
- Perfume (I love Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue for spring/summer)
- Toothpaste
- Vitamin C serum
- Eye makeup remover
- Hand lotion
- Eye cream
- Concealer
Travel Savvy Tip
Surprised not to see shampoo or body wash on the above list? I’ve started strictly using what the hotel provides, which saves so much space in my 1-quart liquids bag.
If it is still difficult to squeeze the above items into a small 1-quart bag, see if you can share anything with your travel companions (if applicable). For example, my husband always seems to have leftover space and we can both use the same toothpaste.
Additionally, some airlines have become more lenient with hand sanitizer in recent years. Therefore, you might be able to pack a small container outside of your normal liquids bag.
Medications
It’s critical to continue taking care of your health while traveling; the last thing you need is downtime in Italy nursing an ailment. Aaron and I both caught a cold halfway through our one-week trip that necessitated a trip to the farmacia. Things happen!
Minimize interrupting your adventures for medical reasons by staying proactive. This includes daily prescriptions and preventative items, like the following:
- Prescription meds
- Advil or other pain reliever
- Band-aids
- Neosporin
- Vitamins (keep that immunity high while traveling!)
- Probiotic (in case of upset stomach)
Due to our colds, we also purchased nasal spray and pseudoephedrine at pharmacies in Sorrento and Naples. We had no trouble communicating with the pharmacists, who spoke good English in both instances.
Electronics
In today’s world, it’s necessary to travel with at least some electronics. For example, you’ll definitely want your cell phone for communication, if not also for navigation and photos.
Even though international flights usually have decent entertainment, I still like to download a few Netflix shows to my iPad. I also prefer to bring my Sony A6000 camera for high quality photos.
- Cell phone
- Phone charger
- iPad
- iPad charger
- Portable USB charger
- Universal travel adapter/converter (the outlets in Europe are a different shape and voltage than in the USA)
- Camera
- Camera lens
- Hair straightener (to be honest I didn’t use)
- Hair wand for curls (I used once during our trip)
Other Italy Packing List Necessities
Below are some other miscellaneous items you will want for your spring Italy trip. I know I was glad to have the following:
- Copies of itinerary, entry tickets, addresses for lodging
- Small leather cross-body purse (I actually bought a new one made of Italian leather in Capri)
- Any unused euros from prior trips
- Insulated water bottle. I recommend filling it up before boarding your flight.
- Under-the-seat bag for plane
- Cell phone tripod
- Headphones
- Pen
- Alcohol wipes for airport and plane. Those tray tables can be filthy.
- Books
- Snacks for plane. I really don’t like plane food, so I try to bring granola bars from home and purchase sandwiches in the airport.
Items to Leave at Home When Packing for Italy
Don’t bother bringing the below items, which are supplied by your hotel or will otherwise take up extra space. You can always buy the below products as needed in Italy.
- Hair dryer (see below)
- Towels – if needed, just get these at a souvenir shop
- Hairspray
- Sunscreen for body
- Aloe vera in case of sunburn
- Bug spray
- Anti-itch cream for pesky mosquito bites
Travel Savvy Tip
I am beginning to change my tune when it comes to European hair dryers. Yes, hotels do have them. However, I have been unhappy with basically all of them.
Why? Unless your hair is fine and almost dry already, they don’t really work. My hair is thick and long, so all the European hair dryers do is blow a weak stream of hot air that causes a world of frizz and does little actual drying.
To be honest, I am going to look into purchasing a travel-sized hair dryer for future trips.
• • •
Now you are all set to start packing for Italy in just one carry-on bag and small personal item. Not only will you look fabulous while staying comfortable, but you will also avoid the hassle of checking a bag and lugging a large suitcase around Italy. All you have to worry about now is crossing the busy streets of Naples and choosing the best tours for endless coastal Mediterranean views.
Would you like me to create a printable version of this packing list? Let me know below!
