What to Wear in Florence

What to Wear
Florence’s major churches, the Duomo included, enforce the same dress code you’ll find across most of Catholic Italy: shoulders and knees covered, checked and enforced right at the door. A light scarf or shawl carried specifically for this purpose is the easiest fix if you’re wearing sleeveless tops or shorter skirts elsewhere in your day.

Beyond church visits, there’s no formal dress code, though Italians generally lean a notch more put-together than some other destinations — and dressing reasonably smart-casual rather than in obvious tourist gear tends to get you marginally better service in restaurants and shops. Small thing, but locals notice.

Comfortable walking shoes matter more than you’d expect given the historic centre’s cobblestone streets — beautiful to look at, genuinely tough in anything but proper flat, supportive footwear. This is one of the most common regrets visitors mention when they’ve packed for appearance over the actual walking surface.

Seasonally, spring and autumn call for light layering given variable temperatures. Summer (June to August) brings real heat, often above 30 degrees, so breathable fabrics and sun protection matter even though there’s no specific cultural dress requirement outside the churches.