After 15 years of traveling and living across the continent ItalyI could fill a book with travel advice. Especially about visitor etiquette. If I were to choose just one tip to help you become a better Italian traveler, it would be these two words.
Dress well.
This is in addition to the usual politeness, respect and patience you should show wherever you are a guest. Dressing decently is an important part of respecting and being courteous in Italy, a country that’s known for its style, fashion and design, and its long-standing tradition.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should invest in a suitcase full of designer clothes It means that you should pack light for your trip to Italy. Start with these hard no’s:
- Flip-flops are not appropriate for dining. The people at your table don’t like to see your dirty feet. We all know that we don’t wear them, so leave those fake shoes to the beach.
- It may be comfortable to wear sweat pants or basketball shorts on a long flight, but Italians won’t go to the store, much less a museum, in this attire.
- Baseball caps are a sign that you are a foreigner. But if it’s a must, you should remove it from your head and keep it hidden when inside, especially in churches and restaurants.
- The t-shirts with large logos like those of your school or favourite sports team are too casual to be worn every day. Keep it simple with solid colors.
- Miniskirts are fine for nighttime, but not for the office. They may also prevent you from being allowed into churches with strict dress codes.
Although there is no set dress code in Italy, you can follow this simple rule: Dress as if going to brunch. Men and women should dress well, wearing clean, wrinkle-free clothing, structured shoes, without anything that looks like pajamas. This will help you to blend in better, and you’ll also appear more courteous if you dress decently. In a nicer outfit than something you might wear to go out and take the trash, you may be welcomed with a bit more warmth.
