Firstly, there are some items that you should pack for every trip to Naples, and Italy generally, no matter what season you are traveling.

• A neck pillow. The technology has come a long way so there is a huge variety of styles that are far more comfortable than the classic u-shaped ones! I love this memory foam one that can be twisted into different shapes, and this one with neck support comes with great reviews.
• A water bottle. Tap water in Italian cities and countryside is completely safe to drink so save on buying bottled water (as well as helping reduce the amount of plastic being used) and bring one of these collapsible water bottles with you.
• A portable charger. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be using your phone a lot while you travel, and having no battery when you’re out and about is the most frustrating thing! I pretty much always have a portable charger in my bag to keep my phone working.
• Luggage scales. Knowing before I get to the airport that my luggage is within the airline weight limits makes the journey much less stressful, and these digital scales are so small you can easily fit them in your bag for the return trip as well!
• A travel adapter. While I used to have a collection of different adapters for different countries, now I just have one which is suitable for use all over the world.
• A first-aid kit. Having a first aid kit with all the simple essentials you need to treat a minor injury is a must, it’s very handy for when you need something quickly.
• Travel insurance. Not technically something to pack, but definitely a travel essential! Comprehensive travel insurance is absolutely a must, so make sure you arrange this before your trip starts.
• An eSIM. Again, this is not something to physically bring with you but an eSIM is extremely helpful to have set up on your phone before you travel.

While winter in Naples isn’t as cold as in other parts of Italy, you’ll still need clothing on your packing list that’s suitable for the cooler and wetter weather here.

It’s definitely not shorts weather so you’ll want to wear jeans or other long pants, along with long sleeve t shirts or jumpers to be comfortable on cooler days. Women in Naples often wear a dress with tights or leggings during the winter, paired with either ankle boots or sneakers.

Whatever you’re wearing, you’ll want a warm, waterproof jacket and scarf as your outer layers. The average temperatures in southern Italy do not dip as low as they do further north, but the wind off the sea can feel cold so do not underestimate how many warm layers you’ll need.

The shift from winter to spring happens quickly in Naples, one week you’re wearing a warm jacket and scarf and then the next you’re thinking about lighter t-shirts and sitting outside in the sunshine!

Deciding what to add to your spring packing list very much depends on whether you’re coming to Naples in earlier in March and April or later in May and into June.

In early March the weather is still on the cooler side so you’ll want long pants and skirts/dresses, along with warmer tops and definitely a light jacket. However by the end of May the warmer weather is here to stay, so you’ll see plenty of people wearing shorts, short sleeved tops and lighter clothing in general.

Layers will be your friend in spring, so you can add or take off clothes as needed. I like to layer a light dress with leggings, a cardigan and then a jacket on top – this also keeps it easy to be respectful when entering churches as I can guarantee I will have covered shoulders and knees.

Shorts are common in late spring with tourists and even some Neapolitans so you will not look out of place if you choose to wear them, but be aware of the dress codes for places you want to visit and come prepared to cover up with a light wrap or longer length pants.

Summer in Naples and further south in Campania is hot, there is no escaping this, so your summer trip packing should all be about staying cool.

With the temperatures soaring in the summer heat, you will want to think about not only the type of clothing you wear, but also the material those clothes are made from.

The difference in personal comfort wearing linen or cotton versus polyester and other non-natural fabrics is huge. When I first moved to Italy I didn’t understand why I was feeling so hot in the summer months until I realised that a lot of my wardrobe from the UK was just not made of the right materials! I paid close attention to what locals wear in Italy and adapted accordingly, which had a huge impact.

Follow Italian style and you won’t go wrong. This means linen shirts, loose maxi dresses, light cotton pants, smart linen shorts for men and all in light colors. You can absolutely wear shorts if you prefer.

If you’re heading out to the beaches at Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast remember that many of these towns don’t like tourists walking around in just their bathing suits so please bring clothes to wear on top when you’re on the train/buses and going into shops, bars or restaurants.

As with the spring months, there is a lot of difference between what to pack for a trip in early fall and late fall due to the big change in weather.

In September the weather is still very warm and people are still going to the beach, so you’ll want to continue wearing your summer essentials of loose, linen clothing. Shorts are still popular and you won’t need anything beyond a light jacket for the evenings.

However, as the year progresses the temperatures start to cool and you’ll definitely want to switch to long pants/dresses and heavier layers. Bring a variety of long-sleeve and short-sleeve tops along with a few light cardigans or pullovers to mix and match according to the weather, and a heavier jacket and scarf for the evenings.

November is the wettest month of the year so you should definitely wear a waterproof coat and have an umbrella in your day bag, but it isn’t too cold so don’t overdo it with the layers!

Unlike in northern Italy, Naples is not a particularly formal city. When thinking about what to wear in Italy, people often think they need to dress up for dinners and events but this really is not the case.

The vast majority of restaurants in Naples have no dress codes, so you will be fine wearing whatever makes you comfortable. High heels are not expected for women and men do not have to wear shirts and ties.

The exceptions to this are if you are planning to dine at a higher-end restaurant or are staying at a luxury hotel on Capri or around the Amalfi Coast – these establishments do come with higher expectations.

I tend to bring a few nicer outfits set aside for evenings in case we go somewhere a little nicer or I just want to dress up a little, but you do not need to have a whole separate section of formal clothing on your Italy packing list!

There are two types of items that I would recommend not bringing with you to Naples (and Italy in general).

Firstly, hairdryers, straighteners and curlers. American-voltage hair appliances just do not work here in Italy, or really anywhere in Europe. Yes, you can buy voltage converters but having tried many different types, these do not work consistently and are liable to short-circuit the electricity in your hotel room or apartment.

Hairdryers are provided as standard these days but the quality of these can vary considerably so instead I pack a dual voltage travel hairdryer which is also lighter and smaller than a regular one.

You can also purchase dual voltage straighteners and curling irons, or if you’re coming to Europe regularly, buy them here to be sure they will work without issues.

The other thing I recommend people not bring to Italy is large suitcases.

I am not a light packer and will almost always go for checked luggage when traveling, but my one rule is that I can lift and carry my bags by myself.

You’ll need to get your luggage across airports, train stations, on and off trains and to your accommodation, and the chances are high that at some point you’ll encounter stairs, narrow streets and uneven surfaces. Navigating all this while dealing with a huge suitcase is extremely difficult, so I recommend going with either a large backpack (if you’ll be moving around a lot) or my preferred combination of a smaller suitcase and medium backpack.