After more than 15 years of living in and traveling across Italy, I could write a whole book of travel advice, especially about visitor etiquette. But if I had to narrow it down to the one most important tip for being a better traveler in Italy, it would be two simple words.
Dress nicely.
Of course, that’s in addition to being polite, respectful and patient, as you hopefully would anywhere you’re a visitor. But in a country known for its fashion, design and sense of style, as well as its long-standing traditions, dressing decently in Italy is a way of showing respect and courtesy, not just for yourself, but to the people you’ll encounter and the places you’ll visit.
This doesn’t mean you have to invest in a suitcase full of designer clothes for your trip to Italy; it just means you should leave the shabby stuff at home, starting with this list of hard nos:
- Avoid flip-flops because the people dining at the table next to you don’t want to see the bottoms of your grubby feet. Really, none of us do so save those pseudo shoes for the beach.
- Basketball shorts or sweat pants may be comfy on your long-haul flight, but most Italians wouldn’t even go to the grocery store in such attire, much less to a museum.
- Baseball caps advertise that you’re a foreigner. But if you must wear one, take it off and put it out of sight anytime you’re indoors, especially in restaurants and churches.
- T-shirts with glaring logos, like your university or favorite sports team, are considered too casual for daily wear. Stick to plain, solid-colored tees instead.
- Mini-skirts, booty shorts, and low-cut tank tops may work for a night on the town, but they’re too much for daytime wear, and may prohibit you from entering churches where dress codes are enforced.
While there’s no hard and fast dress code for touring Italy, here’s a safe rule of thumb to follow: dress like you’re going to brunch. For men or women, that simply means looking pulled together, with clean, neat, wrinkle free clothing, structured shoes, and nothing on your body that resembles pajamas or slippers. Not only will you blend in a wee bit more, but you’ll look like you give two cents about your appearance and that you’re courteous enough to show up looking decently. You just might find you’re welcomed a little more warmly in a nice outfit versus something you’d throw on to take out the garbage.
