Rome Packing List: What to Pack for Rome

Have you finally secured your vacation to Rome? Congratulations, that is a big step in becoming a world traveler and following your dreams. Rome is one of the most popular travel destinations around the world. But now that you have your tickets and hotel prepared, what do you pack? Since travel restrictions and suitcase requirements can get costly, it is important to know what you must pack during your trip to Rome. So, to ensure that you don’t underpack or overpack, here is your essential Rome Packing List. 

Travel Adapter

The number one and most important thing you need for your trip to Rome is a travel adapter. Without it, you are out of luck in charging any of your devices. Most travelers, especially first-time travelers in Europe travelers don’t realize that other countries use different outlets and plugs for their devices. If you bring your standard American three-prong plug, you’ll be shocked to find no place to plug it in anywhere in Italy. Instead, Italy uses a double-peg shaped plug. The way around this would be to purchase a travel adapter. This travel adapter plugs into the Italian outlet and allows you to plug your native plug into it. If you are traveling to multiple countries, you can use it in Germany, France, Spain, and Iceland too!

You can find the best-rated one on Amazon here! Get it now and pack it now! You don’t want to be without it.

Anti-Theft Bag

Next on your Rome packing list, you’ll need an anti-theft backpack or crossbody bag. Many first-time travelers are unaware of the heavy presence of pickpocketing all over Rome. Though Rome is a relatively safe place to travel, because of the hundreds and thousands of tourists seen every day, pickpocketing is a common crime many fall victim to. With this anti-theft backpack, it hides your keys, wallets, cash, and important documents away where quick thieves can’t take them.  

Find it on Amazon here!

Money belt

In the same sense, you want to pack a money belt. If you are not into carrying around a backpack or crossbody bag, you still need to protect yourself. Without a bag, you are even more of a target. Without a bag, pickpockets know there is only one place to go for your good and that is your front and back pockets. You won’t even realize it until long after. To combat this and not have to carry a backpack, pack a money belt.

With this unassuming belt, you can hide folded-up money, ID, or any other small important documents. Most will assume it is just a belt and even if pickpockets are familiar with it, the only way for pickpockets to get your belongings would be for them to tug it off of your waists. By then you would feel it and they would be in trouble. 

If this is the way to go for you, you can find your hidden money belt here!

Comfortable Shoes

Then on your Rome packing list, you want to include comfortable shoes. Too many of us travelers choose style over comfort. Many times, I have brought my glittery sandals out to travel, only to drop onto my hotel bed with blisters at the end of the day. Opt for comfortable shoes, especially when traveling to Rome. Rome is a very walkable city. This means you will be on your feet walking all day. If you choose to see the Colosseum, you will be climbing large steps all day. Taking a visit to St Peter’s Basilica? You’ll be climbing even more steps. You want to pack your most comfortable and most walkable shoes.

Here are the famous Brooks Adrenaline shoes. These are the highest-rated walking and running shoe with guiderails to support your feet all day. These are the exact shoes I word during my trip. If you want a Roman vacation free from foot pain and blisters. These are the ones to go. Click the link or the image to buy them on Amazon.

Digital camera

Before you skip this item and opt for your phone camera instead, I must emphasize that nothing beats the real thing. Ever. You need to bring a digital camera or DSLR during your travels to Rome. A phone camera can only go so far when it comes to capturing the true beauty of what lies in front of us. It has been tested and proven so many times that our small devices aren’t capturing the true depth of details of our friends, families, and the landscapes around us. Sure it is fine for everyday selfies and food pictures, but on your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Rome, you want to capture everything in the best way possible.

Include a camera on your Rome packing list to ensure you capture and remember the finer details of your trip.

You can find the highest rated here. This is the most popular among travel photographers and professionals. You can see the difference in detail.

Travel Umbrella

Then on your Rome packing list, you want to bring a Travel Umbrella. When the idea of Rome pops into your head, you may think of bright blue skies, fresh produce glistening in the sun, and fountains sparkling in the light. Though that is true most of the time, it is important to know where you are. So much of this region of Europe is rainy. There is a reason the fruits on the vineyard are always right and why the greenery is bright. It rains often and unpredictably. You don’t want to walk around getting soaked and unable to ask anyone where to buy an umbrella. It is best to be prepared for the weather no matter what time of the year you are visiting. When searching for the right one you also want to make sure it is wind-proof, sturdy, durable, and folds into a compact size.

Here you can find this travel umbrella. The perfect size to fit in your suitcase and strong enough to withstand the wind and rain.  

Portable Power Bank

Another important item you need on your Rome packing list is a portable power bank. Usually, I am all against spending time on your phone during a vacation, but on such a large trip it is inevitable. Though you may feel like you aren’t spending a lot of your phone battery by not checking social media or texting those at home, don’t forget about the hidden battery drainers. Duolingo and Google Translate will drain your battery. Then using Google Maps or Apple Maps to get around will suck the rest of life out of your phone.

We are so dependent on our phones there is no way around it, even when on vacation. You will be on your phone for a large amount of time whether translating, searching for a location, or bringing up experiences. Be careful not to be without a power bank. You don’t want to be lost and without your phone in Rome. A power bank will ensure you have enough phone battery to do everything you need to do throughout the day, without worrying about conserving your phone’s energy.

This power bank here is the most powerful, TSA travel approved, and compatible with both Samsung and iPhone devices.

Pre-booked experiences 

Another important on your Rome packing list is pre-booked experiences. You must pre-book your experiences for Rome. Rome is not the type of destination where you can show up and get inside your attraction within minutes. Luckily, I knew this before my first visit to Rome. While I waltzed into the Colosseum with my pre-booked tickets, I had to pass by a long line that stretched down the street. I felt so bad for those tourists complaining about them being there for two hours while my group just walked in. You do not want to be among those who have to wait 2, 3, and sometimes 4 hours for a single experience in Rome. There is so much to see in Rome and never enough time. Not booking your experiences wastes precious time that could be used exploring battlegrounds and sipping cappuccinos. 

Here are some high wait time experiences that can be dramatically reduced with skip-the-line tours. Find a few of those experiences here!

Modest clothing

You will also want modest clothing on your packing list. Though Rome is a hot spot in the Mediterranean, it is no Miami or Monaco. Romans dress modestly. You don’t have to cover up completely with a long robe or jacket in the summer. However, it is frowned upon to wear short too high or very small crop tops. This is especially true when visiting the Vatican City. In the Vatican City and Vatican Museum you are required to dress modestly. If you try to enter the Vatican museum in a tank top or anything immodest, you will be asked to cover up with either a shawl, scarf, or another outfit in total. Skip the embarrassment and wear modest clothing during your travel. 

Stylish Outfit for a Night Out

Along with modest clothing, you also want to pack your most stylish outfit. Along with being modest, Romans are also very fashionable. With influences from Monaco, Amalfi, and Milan, locals in Rome love to dress well. In fact, they can’t imagine life where they don’t dress well. You’ll find those heading to their grocery stores dressed in their best when we Americans are used to shopping in sweatpants and a t-shirt. You want to dress to impress, especially on a night out on the town. If you are visiting a fancy Italian restaurant, seeing a show, or enjoying an opera, you want to dress to impress. Skip the “I Heart Rome” t-shirt and the khaki cargo shorts. Opt for a nice dress or slacks and a button-up. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. 

Looking for more Rome travel tips? Check out Tips for Your First Time in Rome!

Want to Make sure your trip to Rome goes smoothly? Check out Travel Mistakes to Avoid in Rome.