The Ultimate Packing List

What to pack for a trip to Italy, how much to bring on your travels, and how to fit it all in a single carry-on with room left over for souvenirs

Every item I myself pack for a trip to Europe
Just before leaving on a trip, I snapped this photo of every single item I take with me when I travel to Italy (minus the bag and daypack of course)—and it all fits into a carry-on size bag. This is the very same packing list I use before setting off on a trip (well, not the sundress or feminine hygiene stuff), whether it's a six-night jaunt or a six-month research trip. The only thing extra I bring is a laptop for work purposes.

The Clothes Make the Traveler

You must cover your shoulders and knees when enteirng most Italian churches; some provide the means to do so if you underdressed.
Even though Italian churches are filled with naked cherubs and frescoes of nudes (often being tortured in Hell), visitors have to cover up; bring a shawl or wrap to avoid the tissue-paper hospital gown look of the freebies.The five cardinal rules of traveling clothes:

1) Nothing white
2) Nothing that wrinkles
3) Clothes you can layer
4) Lots of pockets
5) Very few

Clothes take up the most space in your luggage, so don’t pack many. Just get used todoing a bit of laundry each night or two in your room.

Urban Europeans dress pretty snappily—not necessarily in the latest Armani suit, but well nonetheless. While you should travel in whatever wardrobe makes you feel comfortable, you’ll probably be happier fitting in, so save the Bermuda shorts and sleeveless T-shirt for that trip to Hawaii.

Note: In the churches—Rome’s St. Peter’s included—there is a strict dress code that forbids shorts, skirts above the knee, and bare shoulders. Pack accordingly (a shawl packs tiny, works as an emergency skirt or shoulder coverup, and doubles as an extra blanket during the plane ride).

If all else fails, many churches hand out at the entrance disposable shawls or smocks (see the picture above on the right, which I took in the cathedral of Pisa) made out of heavy-duty tissue paper—but don't count on this.

2 pairs of pants (men/women)—Take quick-dry travel slacks (with secret pockets); I always make one a pair convertible pantslink ( menlink/women) so I don't need to bring extra shorts.
1 pair of shortslink with pockets or convertible pantsREI (menREI/women)—European adults don’t often wear shorts (& most churches won't let you in with bare knees), but they’re good for hiking and, for men, as swimsuits (women: buy a swimsuit there if you find you need one—a great souvenir!).
1 long skirtLink or dresslink—The skimpiness at which your respectability will be questioned varies with the country, so hedge your bets with something long.
4 pairs of underwear (men/women)—They even make disposable underwear now for men and women.
4 bras or camisoles
4 pairs of socks (men/women)
3 T-Shirts (men/women)—Wear under long sleeves so the easily washed T-shirt will soak up all the sweat. Get quick-drying tops, not cotton.

2 long-sleeve shirts (men/women)—Button-down collared shirts are respectable for all occasions; travel ones have hidden pockets, sunblock, and easy washability.
SweaterLink (menLink/womenLink)—Warm and dressy. Or you can do a...:
Jacket (men/women)—Only for fall to early spring.
Wrap/shawl—For covering bare shoulders (or improvising a below-knee skirt over shorts) to visit churches (it's a rule).
Long UnderwearLink (menLink/womenLink)—Only for visiting northern countries from late fall to spring.
Good walking shoes (men/women)—No dress shoes, heels, flip-flops, or anything you can’t walk in all day for two weeks. (Travel sandalsLink—menLink/women—are also OK.)
Hat —The Tilley Hat is the ultimate travel topper.
Belt—Those with a hidden zipper let you hide your passport photocopy and some emergency cash.

Keeping Clean

Minimize toiletries spillage disasters by storing everything in resealable plastic baggies. Maximize the tiny space inside a bathroom bag with sample sizes and by putting shampoo and detergent into small, screw-top plastic bottles—bonus, this makes them TSA safe. Keep toiletries and cosmetics to a minimum. Perfume or cologne on the road become vain dead weights and spills waiting to happen (imagine everything in your bag drenched with Chanel no. 5).

Toothbrush & small tube of toothpaste
Small soaplink bars & small shampoo—Bring the soap sliver from your bathtub to start; filch more from hotels as you go.
RazorPartner & shaving cream—(Battery-op shaversPartner are OK (electric razors just bring the hassle of electrical converters and adaptors).
Medicines—Prescriptions should be written in generic, chemical form (not brand name).
Extra glasses/contacts— Count on losing them, and bring a hard glasses caselink. Also, bring enough saline solution to last (parts of the world sell it only in glass bottles).
First-aid kit—Take at least: a few Band-Aids, antiseptic ointment, moleskin for blisters, aspirin, Dramamine or motion-sickness wristbands (I swear by Relief BandsLink, worth the outrageous price) hand lotion and lip balm (traveling promotes chapping), sunscreen, Pepto-Bismol (indigestion and diarrhea), and decongestant.
Comb/flat brush

Laundry kit—To wash clothes on the go in your bathroom sink, you need travel detergent (biodegradable), a braided clothesline (the twists act as clothespins), a sink stopper, and I suggest the truly remarkable stain eraserLink (perhaps I'm a slob, but I need them at least once per trip). All available at travel and camping stores, or from Magellan's.
Towel—H2G2 fans don't need to be told this, but a shammy-style camping towel or even small terrycloth towel is a lifesaver when confronted with Europe’s nonabsorbent, waffle-pressed jobbers.
Feminine hygiene products—You can buy tampons abroad, but take what you need with you, especially if you’re brand-loyal.
Condoms—US brands are safer.
Pocket-sized tissue packs—Invaluable for sudden spills, substitute napkins, bathroom emergencies, signaling surrender, and, if still clean enough, runny noses.

Documents & Sundries

Don’t forget to carry your most important documents—passport, plane tickets, railpass, traveler’s checks, driver’s license, and credit cards—in a moneybelt.

Carry your daily needs items in a small backpack or security purse (designed to foil pickpockets and purse snatchers).

Guidebooks and phrase books
Journal and penslink—You won’t remember it all half as well as you imagine.
Camera— Bring extra batteries. Tote it in a purse or mild-mannered daypack, not a “steal-me” professional camera bag. I like the new waterproof pocket cameras.
Film/Memory CardsLink—Very expensive in Europe. Airport X-rays will fog higher speed films, so stow the rolls in large, see-through plastic baggies for hand-inspection.
Tripod—I like the GorillaPod, with flexible legs so you you can wrap it around tree branches and other impromptu supports.
Tiny flashlight
Travel alarm clock—Battery powered.
Plug adaptors—For charging your digital camera, cell phone, etc.
Chargers/cables—I carry all my plugs, cables, and adaptors in a small toiletry bag.
Cell phone Partner—Only bother bringing yours if a tri– or quad-band world phone with AT&T or T-Mobile (on the GSM standard used in most of the world). Otherwise, rent a cellphone. Full story
Swiss Army KnifePartner or Leatherman/multitoolPartner—Most useful features: screwdriver/can opener, blade, corkscrew (for picnics), tweezers, scissors, nail file. Remember: pack it in your checked luggage.
Small bottle of water—Buy them as you go, but always have one; outside of Europe and the North America, carry a bottle with a built-in purifier or get a sterilizer.
Sunscreen
Bug spray—Most countries have yet to discover window screens. Also handy: After Bite for the itch.

Address list—Friends appreciate postcards at the time more than a slide show afterward.
Luggage locks—Get enough for every zipper; make sure they're the kind approved for TSA use.
Sleep Sack—If you'll be camping or staying in hostels.
Tiny folding umbrella
SunglassesLink
Pocket Sewing KitLink—Trust me.
Duct TapeLink—Ditto.
Novel or e-Readerlink—For long plane and train trips. If an e-Readerlink, load up before your leave or get one with WiFi (so you can download outside the U.S) or one of the new Kindleslink (which connect for free in 100 countries).
Teensy binoculars—Maybe I'm getting old, but increasingly I find these useful for admiring distant frescoes, wildlife, landscapes, popes, etc.
Neck pillow - For the plane. Inflatable kinds pack smaller than bean-filled. Some prefer the all-around-the neck style to the old horseshoe collar. An eye mask is useful, too.
Noise-canceling headphones - The one seemingly silly travel gadget I actually use (it really does make flying less stressful, even if you don't sleep; also: easier to hear the movie). There are tons of models. I currently rock a JVC HANC250Link—1/3 the price of Bose; just as good.
Driver’s license & International Driver’s Permit—Only if you plan to rent a car.
Wallet—But keep important stuff in the moneybelt.
Money—Credit cards, ATM bankcard, traveler’s checks, and cash (euros if you got 'em and some emergency dollars).
Passport—You won't get very far without it.
Airline tickets—Crucial.

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This material was last updated February 2011. All information was accurate at the time.

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