I was there in November and it was wet. Of course, I did not see any shorts, but jeans were evident. A lot depends on where in Italy you will be. If in Rome, there are many, many places to see that are not the typical tourist destinations. Many European cities have Hop-On, Hop-Off bus options. Check on those.

As to temperatures, check out a site that shows historical weather data. You should be able to get a reasonable sense of what might be appropriate.

When we went to the vatican DD had a camisole top on for the hot summer day. They would not let us in until we bought a tourist scarf that she could wear over her shoulders.

Be very careful in Italy, especially Rome and Naples. When we were there 12 years ago there were bands of gypsies that were experts at robbing tourists. DH was surrounded out in a crowded piazza and he knew what was happening and started shouting and yelling and they disbursed. The countryside is much safer.

Thanks. We will be on a tour. Rome, Venus and Florence in June.
Anyone else have advise re: appropriateness of shorts and jeans.

Rick Steves' travel site might help you. I wore jeans in Italy in 1990 and so did a lot of other people.

Here is a link that might be useful: travel tips

did a search....

Here is a link that might be useful: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090412222325AAONHBj

DH and I were in Rome 3 years ago. It was in October, most were wearing jeans/ very casual attire. I had a pair of dockers that I wore for dinners out and was fine. Rarely saw anyone dressed up. My SIL frequents Venice and Florence and does so in jeans or dockers. Because the weather was chilly, I did not see shorts.

If you were visiting London, I'd say dress business casual. I stuck out with my white tennis shoes and jeans lol

I've lived off and on in Rome (teaching) for extended periods. Italians do not wear shorts on the street and the easiest way for you to scream "American tourist" is by wearing them. Pants or jeans of any type--even capris--are much more appropriate. My staple wardrobe for street wear is black dockers and black tennis shoes. White tennis shoes will also scream that you are an American tourist. Rome and places south can be very hot in July and many places are not air-conditioned. I think jeans would be far too hot to wear.
I'd bring a couple pair of black dockers, a skirt or two, and a couple of tops with throws to put on when the sun goes down or in St. Peters. For shoes: black tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes, comfortable sandels. Streets are often cobblestone and, unless you were born and bred an Italian woman (who seem to manage on stilettos) stick to
good-soled and good quality shoes.

Another warning about pickpockets in Rome. Men should keep their wallets in an inside pocket of a jacket or front pocket of pants.If you carry a backpack, don't put any valuables in it. A member of our group had his wallet in a backpack and while riding a train, someone slit the backpack without him knowing it. I have something flat that is attached to a cord that goes around my neck. I keep my money and passport in that and wear it under a jacket or other garment.

Thanks everyone for your input.

I agree 200% with marita about avoiding white tennis shoes. Might as well wear a sandwich board sign that proclaims "I am an American".

Summer skirts or light dresses always work well - you really can't go wrong with them. Skip shorts unless you are going to the beach.

I don't wear white tennis shoes, my sneakers are grey. Although I have dozens of shoes, only two are comfortable for great amounts of walking.
My sneakers and my ugly Ecco sandals.

I won't bother with shorts but my DH likes to be super comfortable. I told him to just bring a few if the occasion arises.

My biggest challenge is not over packing. I am picky and like choices, yet as I writing this and traveling back north in jeans that I have worn for days now! I guess it's just the thought that if I needed those other two jeans, they are there

I think the fact I am going to be with a tour will scream tourist more than my shoes will ;)

It's gonna be HOT!! I was there last July and it was hovering around 90 degrees...I was in a polo shirt, flip flops and capri's and wishing I was in a sundress!! knock on wood I've not had any bad experiences with theft there...just act like you know what you're doing and you'll be fine!

Italy - my favourite spot. We are going mid July. We have been twice in June - I would suggest packing an umbrella and perhaps even a light waterproof jacket. Both times we had major rain and it always happened during the siesta period - when we were out in it. Didn't matter where we were.

I don't wear slacks so I pack skirts or dresses - and wear a money belt UNDER the dress or skirt. I do have nice looking flats and also have a pair of Go Walk shoes that I wear to walk down the hill from the B & B that we stay in in Chianti - and if going to our favourite restaurant for lunch (after all, one has to do something during siesta, so why not eat and drink) - I carry a pair of dressier shoes and change. Re food try and avoid any place that has a sign reading "menu turistico". Hopefully your tour does not make you eat at said places! And that you will have lots of free time to do your own thing if you want to.

We are not tour people. I am able to speak a bit of Italian - enough that I can book a train, ask about accommodations, ask for help from the police....

We have to land in Rome this year - frankly not my favourite place. Yesterday I booked our "ticketless" tickets on the Trenitalia website to get us to Florence. We also stay in 2 properties owned by the same couple and their son (and dog) one being in Florence the other in Panzano. But we will be spending the first night in Rome because I have landed at FCO before and sometimes it takes a long time to get luggage and then the trek to the airport train and if moving right to Florence another long trek to the Eurostar train - so would not want to risk missing it. On the return I am getting our butts back to Rome 2 days before our flight. I don't want to do it, but am afraid to wait until the day before in case of a strike - and they happen a lot in Italy. We are booked into a Trip Advisor recommended hotel for our first night and the second last night - I hope they don't give our room to someone else - we always select Best Available Rate, but if someone wants 3 or 4 days - well the owners don't know us. The last night we are staying at the airport. Originally our return flight was at 1:00 - now it is at 11:30 - who knows what it will be next week. At least we don't have to go through the extra check-in via Terminal 5 that Americans do (yet). As someone on Flyertalk said the Rome airport is a "cluster" - that is one word for it.

The Italian women who wear jeans do not wear junky looking jeans - and they are usually paired with a nice blouse and/or scarf and shoes with hair and makeup applied. No fanny packs!

I agree - no white sneakers. And, yes, you will want to have your shoulders covered in many churches and some museums.

The food is fabulous - I can eat it all. They do not GMO everything. And I can sit by the roses and breathe - unlike in Canada. So I am really looking forward to the trip.

I hope you have fun - and that the weather is wonderful and that you don't get robbed.

Now if only the Cdn. $ would rise against the euro. I am used to $1.40 Cdn. for 1 Euro but right now it is close to $1.60 so it all adds up.

P.S. There is a public bathroom on the top floor of the Renaissance Dept. store in Florence. It sure isn't like here so you will find that when there is not a bathroom, that is when you will need one. In Venice there were lots of pay to go toilets that were clean and well managed. It cost 1 euro to get in when we were there 4 years ago - each visit.

Finding public bathrooms is always a major challenge. Even bathrooms in coffee shops or restaurants may be either non-existent or dirty. The only time I scope out McDonalds in Rome and other large cities is because it is one place you can sneak in just to use the john. I always carry wipes because the gross factor can be big. But when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Lots to think about. Since I am on a tour, I wonder if there will be a bathroom on the bus? I usually carry antibacterial lotion anyway.
As I mentioned we are doing Rome, Venus and Florence. Are they all places with the potential to be robbed? Sheesh!
We love Costa Rica and never give this a thought.

You have the potential to be robbed wherever you travel. Just be street smart, as you would be anywhere in any city in the world. Don't sling your purse or backpack behind your back; wear it in the front. Don't put anything in pants pockets. And don't sling your purse on the back of a chair in a restaurant! Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

There's very little violent crime in Europe versus the U.S. but petty crime such as robbery is common. All told I feel significantly safer in Europe than I do in many American cities.

I also have a funny story about taking a public bus from Rome to Siena (3 1/2 hours) and finding out the hard way there was NO bathroom aboard and NO stops along the way. It turned out ok but was touch and go, white knuckling it, for at least the last hour. . .

Several people who posted made note that wearing white sneakers was a horrible no no because only American tourists wear them. Well I am an American and a tourist so what is the big deal about that? I am confused.
Joann

Ellendi, on a tour they see to it that you stop at places that have bathrooms. Some buses have them, some don't. My husband comes from Italy so I've been there many times. My favorite is Venice. Yes you can wear jeans but it's hot at that time of year. When I pack to go and we usually stay for two or three weeks, I bring one pair of good jeans, five tops, one skirt and, in their summer, 2 pairs of capris. That's it. I do bring scarves, jewelry and one shawl I can fold for evenings and the last is one jacket. I can pack in one suitcase for 3 weeks. Try and keep your luggage to a minimum, it makes it all so easy. I wear a small money belt around my waist and under my to so it's not visible and keep my passport, license and $ with me at all times. Enjoy every minute of it, it's your trip and you'll make your own memories. Will you be going to Venice at all? If so, let me know so I can tell you a secret.

I think the thought is that you don't want to scream American because it makes you an easier target. After all, we are all rich and naive and don't know how to conduct ourselves when traveling about the world, wink.

Yaya , yes we are going to Venice. Would love to hear your secret.

The safest way to conduct yourself in any crowded public place is to blend in, not scream "Look at me ! I'm a stranger here." It is just common sense. Plus many people like to observe the social norms of the places they are visiting, including clothing norms. It is an inroad into absorbing the culture and making friends.

Wouldn't you know, just as we got to Vatican City, my camera battery went dead, so this is the only picture I got.
You can see what most were wearing.

Thanks Glenda. Looks very casual! My husband was upset when I said jeans would not welcome every where . I guess our tour guide will fill us in on what is appropriate on each given day.

this was my gf and I on the spanish steps...you an clearly see the girls behind us in SHORTS!!