What to pack for Florence in May

14 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

UV index reaches 8.7 and May sun reflects off stone buildings.

Glare bounces off the Arno and every palazzo facade for 14.7 hours.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Crowded museums and transit mean minor cuts and blisters happen.

This country runs on Type C, F or L. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Walking the city all day means carrying water, map, and snacks.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Fourteen rain days mean damp air; moisture-wicking fabric dries faster than cotton.

UV hits 8.7 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

The sun climbs high in a sky that stays clear most days.

Tap water is safe; a bottle beats buying drinks for two weeks.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Pickpockets work the crowded piazzas and trains constantly.

Crowded piazzas and trains make bags easy to lose.

Two weeks in one bag needs organization or clothes stay creased.

Fourteen rain days and 73% humidity make laundry dry slowly.

Train noise and crowded museums wear on the ears by day three.

Rain hits 14 days this month and sidewalks stay wet between showers.

Lips crack in 73% humidity and intense May UV.

High-touch surfaces in galleries and buses carry germs year-round.

One outlet per hotel room charges three devices at once.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Border crossings and hotel check-ins require the passport daily.

Shared hostel lockers and train compartments need a lock.

Wet clothes from fourteen rain days need somewhere to dry without creasing the rest of your bag.

Train and bus rides to nearby towns eat sleep time.