Packing Guide: What to Pack for Venice in June

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Venice is one of the most popular and iconic cities in all of Italy. This magical city, sitting low on a fish-shaped island in a scenic lagoon, is the perfect European destination for a traveler to simply wander and get lost without stressing too much about his or her personal safety.

After all, you are on an island and can’t get off. You will eventually find your hotel or favorite museum or wine bar. Furthermore, you also don’t need to worry about cars randomly cutting you off, because no cars are even permitted inside this gorgeous city. 

As for me, I decided to travel alone in Venice and it was the most romantic and indulgent travel experiences of my life. I want to go again, haha.

In this post, I wanted to share what to pack for Venice in June, so you’re able to have a seamless summer vacation in one of Italy’s most stunning cities. 

Summer packing to Europe is a little stressful, especially given how airlines charge for multiple bags or bags over a certain weight, but Venice has its own special considerations that you need to know.

Venice in June Packing Tips

First I have some bad news for you. Venice in June is hot and humid (but Venice is still worth visiting, though, haha).

Seriously, I’m no stranger to hot and humid summers on the east coast of the USA, but Venice humidity is something else. I felt it in my bones, haha.

I also frequently showered and changed twice a day to stay cool. Air conditioned accommodation is a “must” in Venice. Does your reservation not include air conditioning? Change it. 

Now I didn’t think it was so hot that sightseeing was unbearable (I walked a lot and saw a lot), but you still need to stay hydrated and pace yourself. 

As a quick side note, I won’t shame you for traveling to Venice in summer unlike some other travel writers. Students, teachers, families with school aged children, and many others don’t always have the luxury of traveling in shoulder season.

So, if June is the only time you can visit Venice, then damn it, go to Venice and have a spectacular time. Just be prepared. 

What to Pack for Venice in June

I divided this packing guide into two separate sections to help you.

For the first part, I will cover all the important essentials for what to pack for Venice in June, such as luggage and travel insurance. 

As for the second part, I will focus on fashion choices, such as shawls for the churches and comfortable walking shoes that I wore on my own trip to Venice. 

Venice in June Essentials

Carry-On Sized & Lightweight Suitcase

In Venice, you will need to walk and use water taxis and buses (re: smaller boats) to reach your accommodation. Unless you want to pay extra money, you will need to carry your luggage and some boats charge a small fee for overweight bags. Not worth it, in my opinion, especially in the hot and humid summer months.

I recommend buying a lightweight suitcase, such as Tumi’s hardback international suitcase, which while expensive, lasts for years. 

Furthermore, you will want to use packing cubes to optimize the small space. 

EU Electronic Adapters 

If you’re coming from North America, the UK, or elsewhere, then you’re going to need an EU electronic adapter on your trip to Venice in June.

While some hotels will have USB plugs, you can’t guarantee that this will be the case and it’s always better to be “safe than sorry!” You don’t want your phone and camera to die because you packed the wrong charger. That wouldn’t be very fun, now would it? 

Italian Phrasebook

Tourists flood Venice every year and outnumber the locals (as for over-tourism, that’s a different topic for a different day). However, even though Venice is a tourism hotspot where almost everyone speaks some English, I still don’t think that’s a good excuse to not even attempt to speak Italian. 

Ultimately, learning a few phrases of the local language is a sign of respect. So I definitely recommend packing an Italian phrasebook and at least speak a couple basic sentences on your trip. 

Mirrorless Camera

This guide for what to pack for Venice in June obviously includes a high quality camera. Venice is such a unique city that it would be a mistake not to take pictures. 

And don’t get me wrong, I love my iPhone camera, but an actual high quality camera in Venice is a photographer’s dream come true. 

As for me, my personal favorite is the Sony Alpha 6400 which is a mirrorless camera that takes high quality shots. This camera is also quite light, so it’s not a pain in the neck to carry around all day either. Win/win if you ask me. 

Pacsafe Crossbody Purse

I totally understand the anxiety about pickpockets when visiting Italy’s most popular tourist sites. But I didn’t really feel too nervous in Venice. Day and night, it felt like a super safe city, and I wasn’t always checking my possessions. 

However, if you want the extra peace of mind, then I suggest wearing the Pacsafe crossbody bag that has anti-theft protection. You can’t go wrong. 

Reusable Water Bottle

When it comes to what to pack for Venice in June, you also need to take your personal health into consideration. I know I mentioned the heat and humidity, so common sense tells you that you need to stay hydrated, and not just from drinking another Aperol spritz, my friend. 

A reusable water bottle is very important on those longer sightseeing days. Drink plenty of water to stay healthy and happy.

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen

Sunscreen is, without a doubt, a priority item for what to pack for Venice in June. You need to take extra care of your skin. I saw some horrifically sunburnt tourists as I was sightseeing, and their red skin only reminded me to keep applying sunscreen frequently. Yes, frequently. A June visit means you will sweat off your sunscreen if you aren’t careful about reapplying it.

TSA Toiletry Bag & Bottles

If you are carrying on your luggage and coming from the United States, then it is especially useful to have a TSA compliant toiletry bag to keep all of your liquids organized. Having this bag not only makes packing easier, but you will also make it out of security faster than you would if you were rummaging around searching for all of your liquids. 

As a bonus, bring TSA-friendly silicone bottles to pack any special skin care or shampoo. I need my purple shampoo and special deep conditioner, haha. 

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is important for international vacations anytime of year. Venice in June is also more expensive than other times of the year, so you want to financially protect yourself. I always use World Nomads on my trips due to the coverage and reasonable prices. I’ve never had a single issue with them. Not to mention, World Nomads also has adventure insurance if you want to do adventure sports near and around Venice.

Venice and Veneto Guidebook

I love travel blogs (obviously) and guidebooks. Lonely Planet publishes my favorite line of guidebooks. Personally, I recommend buying their regional book on Venice and Veneto for your summer trip. 

Not to mention, the surrounding Veneto region offers several gorgeous day trips, such as a day in Padua or a weekend in Verona. A guidebook will give you good information for navigating public transportation and finding the best “must see” attractions. 

What to Wear in Venice in June

Costume Jewelry 

Costume jewelry is a super fun way to dress up an outfit without worrying about losing expensive diamond earrings. I personally love fun and bright Kate Spade items, such as this rainbow pendant necklace and these adorable square stud earrings. The possibilities are endless! 

Lightweight Dresses

As a woman who likes to travel, lightweight dresses are my favorite type of clothing to wear in Italy, but especially for Venice.

In hot and humid weather, you don’t want to wear heavy fabrics, such as short denim jeans or thick leggings, so I always opt for super thin and comfortable dresses.

As a side note, my favorite colors are neutral grays and whites that can easily match with all sorts of jewelry and shoes. Not to mention, lighter colors are more comfortable on those hot afternoons. 

Shawl 

Okay, I totally understand Venice is hot, and it’s way more comfortable to show a little skin than to cover your limbs in heavy clothing.

However, many of the churches, particularly St. Mark’s Basilica, have a fairly strict dress code. On my most recent trip, I saw multiple tourists turned away after waiting in long lines, and it wasn’t pretty. I don’t want that to happen to you. 

Invest in a high-quality shawl such as this Coolibar UPF shawl for your upcoming Venice vacation. It’s on the pricy side, but Coolibar makes great summer clothing, and this shawl will help you if you are wearing shorter dresses or shirts without sleeves.

Sunglasses

Shield those adorable eyes from the hot sun! Sunglasses are an absolute must for what to pack for Venice in June.

Keep in mind that the sun stays out late in the summer months, so you may even need to take your sunglasses with you in the early evening as you navigate Venice’s narrow canals. 

Very Comfortable Walking Shoes

If you take only one thing away from this post, it’s the importance of wearing comfortable walking shoes in Venice. Don’t go for cute high heels, because I promise that your feet will hate you for all eternity.

Not to mention, blisters in the hot and humid weather are especially unpleasant. 

Wear comfortable walking shoes. 

Merrell has great comfortable sport sandals with arch-support that are perfect for Venice in June. Your toes will feel cool, and your feet will stay supported after a long day of walking 20,000 steps. 

Wide-Brimmed Hat

You will definitely want a wide-brimmed floppy hat with sun protection to keep you cool in Venice. Not all of Venice’s canals are shaded, so wearing a hat will protect your skin during a long day of sightseeing.

In particular, these floppy hats are easy to roll-up, which means you don’t have to worry about them taking up too much space inside your luggage. When considering what to pack for Venice in June, don’t forget the hat!

I hope you enjoyed reading about what to pack for Venice in June. Is there anything else that you would add to this packing guide? Feel free to share with me!