What To Wear In Rome In May + A Capsule Wardrobe

Weather In Rome In May

Now it does depend on where you come from but in Europe 22–25°C is considered warm while back home in India we would thought that was cold. In the evenings and nights you would definitely find the weather slightly chilly.

Now the key here is to watch for the storms that hit the Italian coasts because those really change the temperature. The rain is not to be trifled with either. So check the weather forecast just before flying. That will give you an idea of any irregular weather patterns.

Shoes: What To Wear In Rome In May

Rome in general demands a comfortable pair of shoes that you can walk far in. The reason is because Rome is very walkable and every site that you head to, you have to walk to. You could try taking a cab or public transport in between but you would find yourself stuck in some serious traffic. This is why people choose to just walk.

Now you there are a couple of options that you can choose from and I’m going to list them out below.

Sneakers (Preferably waterproof)

Sneakers are by far one of the best option when it comes to what to wear in Rome in May. They provide support to your feet, keep the clean when you walk through the not so clean parts of Rome and you can choose from a variety of looks.

I went with a pair of waterproof Columbia sneakers and I did not regret it. The reason is that a storm caught us on one of the days we were there. The temperatures plummeted and there were a lot a puddles to wade through. It kept my toes dry even though the rest of me was not so lucky as my daughter took my jacket because the stroller got wet in the 2 minutes that we left it unattended.

Luckily we had waterproof shoes for the kids too. Columbia isn’t the only reliable brand. I got mine on a good sale and I’ve been using them for two years now. They’ve been very reliable and so have held up against all weather. Even the cold. Other shoes that you should check out are:

• Skecher’s waterproof shoes (Women)
• Adidas Terrex (Women)
• Adidas Terrex (Men)
• Columbia Newton Ridge (Men)
• Columbia Unisex-Child Peakfreak Rush Waterproof Hiking Shoe

Walking Shoes

When people ask me what to wear to Rome in May, I always start off talking about the footwear. If you don’t want to use sneakers then I would advise picking out a pair of good walking shoes. The idea is to keep your foot comfortable. Remember that the shoes should have good grip. The cobblestones are often uneven. Many of the historical sites don’t have a uniform flat landscape. Plus you will probably spend more than 10-12 hours walking around.

• Clarks Slip-Ons (Women)
• Hush Puppies Skylar Ballerina (Women)
• Hush Puppies Men’s Lace Summer (Men)

Jacket Or No Jacket?

A jacket is a must largely because the weather is pretty unreliable especially where the rain is concerned. You won’t need a very thick warm jacket here. Instead choose a rain jacket. Something that is light and foldable which will also act a windshield.

I use the Columbia Women’s Arcadia jacket because it folds into its own packet. Turns into a neat light pouch that fits in my bag. Shawn uses the Columbia Glennaker Lake II Rain Jacket which has a similar system.

There are other different types of jackets which are light and windproof but have a light fleece lining. These are called softshell jackets. They are warmer than the alternative that I recommended and are also really nice but on hot days, you will want them off. They are also a bulkier to carry about.

Instead we carry a light sweater or cardigan. That keeps us warm enough. If the weather gets wet, we layer on the rain shield.

Styles For Rome In May

Rome isn’t very cold in May. It may rain but it isn’t freezing. It may not seem like much but after you’ve been in the freezing cold with ice water trickling down on you, this is heaven. The best part is that the showers aren’t all the time. This means that you will have gaps with sunny weather.

So what kind of styles would work in Rome in May?

I gravitated towards light cotton fabrics. These helped keep me cool on the hotter days and I also carried a cardigan. This was very appreciated during the cooler nights. The true secret with unpredictable weather is to layer. Now in May keep the layers a lighter than in winter. Ditch the thick thermals. A cotton dress with a light cardigan and a scarf more than fits the bill.

Dresses That Work

While in Rome it is important to consider what you are going to do in the day. If you want to visit the cathedrals and churches, you will need a dress that reaches your knee and is a bit more covered. Generally carrying a shawl or a scarf will help solve the neckline or sleeve issues if they arise. Now its not hard and fast but if your dress is too short you could get turned away and will miss the chance to see the interior of the churches.

Now there are so many different styles of dresses that are available. I particularly like dresses like this one by WEESO which isn’t too long but loose. It flows a bit, makes it cool and comfortable. This dress by Fensace is another nice one. Light pastel colors or floral patterns work really well.

Keeping It Casual

You can also opt for a more casual look with a pair of denims. This is pretty much a failsafe where I’m concerned. It works well whether you are a man, a woman or a child. I usually always carry one pair. A nice denim jacket also works well as an accessory.

If you want to dress more Italian and formal then I would go with trousers and pair it with a nice dress shirt. Light colors work well with the shirts. I love white because it makes a great contrast with with the prominent monuments around. Not too bright a color but just light enough to stand out.

You could even pair it with a nice scarf just to accentuate the look. This works especially if you want to head out to a nice restaurant in the night. Just keep the scarf in your bag and simply put it on before you go. It transforms the outfit, is an easy fix and also means that you don’t pack a ton of stuff. Plus it keeps you warm.

The thing about using a combination of denim/trousers, dress shirt and scarf is that you can mix and match for so many different options. You can even throw in a simple t-shirt or a fancier one with some ruffles. I sometimes even choose the dressier but oversized t-shirts. Super nice on a very hot day.

A skirt also works very well with these combinations. With about 6-7 different pieces of clothing, you have so many possibilities. Just make sure that they match each other.

My recommendation when it comes to this is

• 2 trousers / 1 pair of trousers + 1 denim / Linen trousers
• 1 skirt (either long or knee length)
• 1 dress shirt
• 1-2 simple t-shirts
• 1 fancier t-shirt
• Add in some accessories (I’ll talk about this next)

Accessories That You Should Carry Or Consider

Since I’m talking about what to wear in Rome, I’m also going to talk about the accessories. The right accessories can bring your outfit together, transform your outfit for a night out or just bring an additional bit of comfort to your day. Here are some of the must have accessories.

A Small Backpack Or A Sling

This may sound like common knowledge but when you choose one note that Rome is famous for pickpockets. You would need a sling that closes well. Not one that is lightly closed. This makes it easy for thieves to slip their hands in. I carry a backpack largely because I travel with kids and have a lot of their paraphernalia. In crowded places, I switch the backpack to my front so that I can monitor it. Way safer that way.

Antitheft bags like Cheruty are super handy and they are also pretty cute. There are loads of different antitheft bags online and they come in different colors, sizes and shapes. The LATMAP sling is another cool one to checkout. Its a sling that can also be used as a sort of a backpack. Its smaller and practical. Not to mention waterproof. Its not what I would choose but I can see how it would appeal to some.

Crossbody bags are my go to when I’m not carrying a lot of stuff. Easy to keep an eye, practical and can be taken almost everywhere. I love the vegan leather bags. They look as good as the leather alternatives and are just so me.

Sunglasses

Despite the fact that it is the end of spring in Italy, you will find that the sun can shine really brightly. Sunglasses are a must. There are so many types to choose from that I am not even going to delve into that because its a personal preference. If you need a pair, you can easily order one online. I generally recommend getting a polaroid pair if you can.

Scarves

You don’t need a lot. Just one would do. Scarves are the quintessential thing that you should add to your list when considering what to wear in Rome in May. As I mentioned the temperatures fluctuate so this gives you an additional layer of warmth when it gets colder. It also accentuates your wardrobe. I generally try to go with printed scarves if I use self colored or pastel dresses or shirts. Or a single color if my outfits are more colorful.

I have quite the collection because I’ve got them while traveling but Melifluos is a good example of a light weight but larger scarf. If you feel cold easily then a Pashmina scarf will work wonders. It provides much more warmth than the thinner scarves but its not that heavy to carry.

Swimwear

When people think about what to wear in Rome in May, they generally don’t include swimwear but you should and here’s why. Many of the hotels in Rome have pools. Some even have indoor ones so it really doesn’t matter if the weather is bad.

Rome is also a short stop away from the coast. While I haven’t been to it, my friends have and they enjoyed it. If you are in the city for a long while, the beach will offer you a change in scenery. So yes, swimwear is definitely something that should be on your list of what to wear in Rome in May.

What type of swimwear. This one is totally up to you. You could bring a bikini or a one piece swimsuit. There is no restrictions on what you wear in Italy.

What To Wear In Rome In May – Capsule Wardrobe

Now that we’ve finished talking about what to wear in Rome in May, I thought that I would combine everything together into a short packing list so that you can have a quick browse through it whenever you need. This capsule wardrobe keeps everything down to the minimum.

• 2 trousers / 1 pair of trousers + 1 denim / Linen trousers
• 1 skirt (either long or knee length)
• 1 dress shirt
• 1-2 simple t-shirts
• 1 fancier t-shirt
• 1 scarf
• 1 cardigan
• 1 cross body / antitheft bag
• Swimwear / Swim coverup / Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• 1 Sneakers / walking shoes
• 4 sets of underwear and 4 sets of socks
• A nice hat

Other Posts You May Find Interesting

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• Should Florence be a part of your itinerary?
• Free things to do in Florence
• What should you pack for October in Italy?
• Summer in Italy: The perfect packing list
• Should you visit Venice or keep it off your list?

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