What I Actually Used in Italy: Travel Must-Haves for Rome & Florence
Last October, we went to Rome and Florence, and let me tell you — I did my research before this trip.
And when I say research, I mean RESEARCH haha.
I wanted to make sure we had everything we could possibly need. I read packing lists, watched TikTok videos, searched Amazon, and convinced myself that certain things were going to be absolutely necessary once we got to Italy.
Needless to say…I bought a LOT.
And some of it?
Never touched it. Not once.
But there were also several things I packed that ended up being so necessary, and those are the things I would absolutely bring again.
So instead of giving you another giant Italy packing list filled with 47 things you might need, I’m sharing the things we actually used during our trip to Rome and Florence — starting with a few things that made that eight hour flight SO much better.
Let’s Start With the Flight
Before we even get to Italy, we need to talk about GETTING to Italy.
An eight- or nine-hour flight is a long time to be sitting in one seat, especially when you’re trying to sleep. There were a few things I brought that made the flight so much more comfortable.
1. The Travel Pillow That Actually Kept My Head Still
Okay, this was AMAZING. I brought one of those travel pillows with the attached eye mask/strap that connects to the headrest of your airplane seat.
If you’ve ever tried sleeping on a plane, you know the struggle.
You fall asleep.
Your head drops.
You wake up.
You reposition yourself.
Five minutes later, your head is falling in another direction. 😂
With this one, everything was connected to the seat, so my head wasn’t moving all over the place while I slept.
That alone made it worth bringing.
For a long overnight flight to Europe, I would absolutely pack this again.
My tip: Test it at home before your trip so you know how everything connects. The middle of a dark airplane cabin is not when you want to start reading instructions.
2. Compression Socks for That LONG Flight
Another thing I’m glad I packed: compression socks.
Eight or nine hours is a LONG time to be sitting.
Compression socks can help with blood flow in your lower legs and may help reduce swelling during long periods of sitting.
I put mine on for the flight and would absolutely bring them again for another long-haul trip.
I would also still get up when possible, stretch, move around a little, and drink water throughout the flight. Compression socks aren’t a substitute for moving your body.
And obviously, if you have a medical condition or aren’t sure whether compression socks are appropriate for you, that’s something to ask your healthcare professional about before traveling.
Now, the Things We Actually Used in Italy
3. A European Plug Adapter — Absolutely Bring This
Let’s start with one of the things you really do need.
The outlets in Italy are different from the ones we use in the United States.
Meaning your regular U.S. plug isn’t necessarily going straight into the wall when you get there.
I bought a European travel adapter that allowed us to plug in multiple devices, and we used this constantly.
Between our phones, watches, portable chargers, and everything else that somehow needs to be charged every night, having an adapter with multiple USB and USB-C ports was so much easier.
[EUROPEAN/ITALY TRAVEL PLUG ADAPTER]
My advice: If you’re traveling as a family, get one that lets you charge several things at once. Everybody will suddenly be at 12% battery at the exact same time. 😂
4. Know Whether You Actually Need a Voltage Converter
This was one of the things that confused me when I was planning our trip.
A plug adapter and voltage converter are NOT the same thing.
The adapter makes your plug fit into the outlet.
A voltage converter changes the electrical voltage.
Before you buy one, check the voltage information printed on the device or charger you’re planning to bring. Some electronics support a range of voltages and don’t need a separate converter.
And ladies — pay particular attention to your hair tools.
Don’t assume your favorite flat iron, curling iron, or blow dryer will work just because the plug fits into an adapter.
Figure this one out before the trip, not while standing in your hotel bathroom trying to get ready.
5. Tiny Locks for Our Backpacks
THIS.
Such a simple thing, but I was really happy we had them.
Before going to Rome, I kept reading about being mindful of pickpockets, particularly in crowded tourist areas and on public transportation.
So I bought these tiny locks that we could put through the zippers of our backpacks.
Were we walking around terrified someone was going to steal something?
No.
But when you’re in a crowded train station, on public transportation, or standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people at an attraction, I liked knowing someone couldn’t simply unzip my backpack without me noticing.
For something so tiny and inexpensive, this was absolutely worth bringing.
6. Luggage Locks
Along those same lines, we had locks for our actual luggage too.
I especially liked having these because we weren’t staying in one place for the entire trip.
We traveled between Rome and Florence, which meant luggage, trains, hotels, checking in, checking out…all the things.
They’re tiny, take up practically no room, and gave me some extra peace of mind.
7. A Travel-Size Steamer
This one? Necessary.
[TRAVEL-SIZE CLOTHING STEAMER]
When you're packing clothes tightly into a suitcase — especially for an international trip — things are going to come out wrinkled.
And I did not travel all the way to Italy, plan my outfits, take up valuable suitcase space with them…and then want to walk around Rome looking like my clothes had been balled up in the bottom of a suitcase. 😂
A small travel steamer was so convenient because I could quickly steam whatever I planned to wear that day without dealing with an ironing board.
Just make sure the steamer you bring is compatible with the voltage in Italy. This is another one of those appliances where you want to check before plugging it into the wall.
For me, this was absolutely worth the little bit of suitcase space it took up.
8. A Portable Charger — DO NOT Leave the Hotel Without This
If there’s one thing I want you to take from this list, it’s this:
Keep a portable charger with you. Everywhere.
[PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER / POWER BANK]
Your phone becomes EVERYTHING when you’re in another country.
It’s your map. Your camera. Your reservations. Your tickets. Your translation tool. Your train information. Your way to look up where you’re going.
And most importantly, it’s your way to communicate if you need help or get separated from the people you’re traveling with.
The last thing I wanted was to be somewhere in a different country and watch my phone hit 1%.
No ma’am. 😂
So the portable charger didn’t stay back at the hotel. It stayed with me.
Charge it overnight, put it in your bag in the morning, and make that part of your daily routine while you’re traveling.
9. A Crossbody or Secure Travel Bag
I wanted something I could keep close to my body instead of carrying a big open tote.
[CROSSBODY / SECURE TRAVEL BAG]
I didn’t need something enormous. I wanted something comfortable, easy for me to access, and not easy for somebody else to casually get into.
Smaller was definitely better for sightseeing.
10. Comfortable Walking Shoes — I Cannot Stress This Enough
Italy is not the trip for the cute shoes that hurt after an hour.
Rome especially had us WALKING.
And walking.
And somehow…walking some more.
Between cobblestone streets, sightseeing, train stations, museums, and exploring, comfortable shoes were more important than half the things I bought.
And please bring shoes you’ve already worn. My fave pair are the New Balance 530s
This is NOT the vacation to break in a brand-new pair because they looked cute with your airport outfit.
Your feet will humble you very quickly.
11. Vacuum Seal Travel Bags — Especially for the Trip Home
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Forget packing cubes — the vacuum seal bags were the real winner for me.
[TRAVEL VACUUM SEAL BAGS + PORTABLE PUMP]
You put your clothes inside, remove the extra air, and suddenly all of those bulky clothes take up so much less room in your suitcase.
They were helpful when we were packing for Italy. But where they REALLY made sense?
Coming home.
Because somehow your suitcase never closes as easily on the way home as it did when you left haha.
You have everything you originally packed PLUS whatever you bought in Italy. Using vacuum bags for our clothes gave us extra room for the things we were bringing home without having to sit on the suitcase and pray the zipper survived.
If you get a set, I would look for one that includes a small portable pump so you're not depending on having access to a vacuum.
What I Would NOT Do Again
My biggest lesson from planning this trip?
You don’t need to buy everything somebody on the internet says you need.
If I Could Only Pack 7 Extras for Italy…
If you don’t want to buy a million things, these would be at the top of my list:
Those are the things I’d start with.
Save This Before Your Italy Trip 🇮🇹
If you’re planning a trip to Rome, Florence, or Italy in general, save this list before you start packing.
And if you’re currently in the phase where you have 17 Amazon tabs open because the internet has convinced you that you need an entirely new life before you can go to Europe…
I’ve been there. 😂
Start with the things you’ll actually use.
I’ll also be sharing more from our Rome and Florence trip — what we did, what was actually worth the money, and what I would do differently next time.