Bug Repellent in Italy?

We never have. It is an item that, if needed, can be purchased locally.

If you have a preferred one then yes, pack it. I find it an inconvenience sometimes to source essential small items like that when travelling (cost, product ingredients etc). My spouse is a mosquito magnet and has needed mosquito repellant on our autumn trips in Italy.

Hello Gwen,

You can pretty much anything you buy at home at a supermarket at a larger store - like Conad - in Italy. The brands and labels often even look the same. The farmacia shops are everywhere easily found by the green cross logo - often lighted - outside the pharmacy.

As you can see the Italian is pretty easy to translate so even if the clerks or pharmacists doesn't speak English and you don't speak Italian.
Bug repellant: repellente per insetti
Sun Screen: crema de solare

Many things are available in farmacia including some things you would need a prescription for in the US.

Have a great trip!
=Tod

We were in Italy last September into October. The furthest south we went was Rome but we never needed mosquito repellent. I am also a mosquito magnet but I had no problems. I did pack some Bounce fabric softener sheets to ward them off. It was much easier to travel with and they helped to freshen up my clothes, lol.

I’ve taken Off wipes because mosquito’s love me. They don’t count as liquids in your carryon, and you can throw a few in your bag and use as needed.

I, too, am a mosquito magnet!

In October 2018, on the RS Sicily tour, we visited Mozia (an island on the west coast of Sicily). Mosquitoes everywhere! I had a couple insect repellent wipes that I should have used but since I didn't have enough for everyone I didn't pull them out. :(

In August 2002, in Milan, I was repeatedly attacked by mosquitoes. First thing upon returning to my hotel room was to search for mosquitoes. D*mn those high Italian ceilings! I bought some bug spray there and slept covered up despite the heat.

I leave for Italy in a week, and will have those insect repellent wipes with me just in case. And this time, if needed, I'm gonna use them!

We were in 6 places in N Italy last Sept-Oct. We never had a bug problem of any kind.

Thank you everyone.

If you decide to bring your own repellent and prefer no DEET, I can recommend Sawyer's Picardin pump type spray that comes in a 3 ounce bottle. I have traveled with this in carry-on bags to several Asian and US mosquito heavy areas - it is very effective. I have purchased from REI and Amazon in the travel size.

The wipes have the advantage of no concerns with over the capacity of a "liquid baggie" if you travel carry-on only. Has anyone used the non-DEET wipes? I haven't tried them - I wondered about the effectiveness.

I have read in the past that DEET-based repellants are not available in the EU. I don't know that from personal experience, because I take my own repellant on most trips (and never seem to need it).

People say DEET is more effective than the alternatives, if less environmentally friendly. Those who are especially attractive to mosquitoes should research this.

As far as I know, the most known Italian line of insect repellants, named Autan and widely available in pharmacies and supermarkets, is DEET-based. Please double check as this may not be correct.

It doesn't matter where I am, I always have some OFF wipe towelettes in my purse. When you discover that you are being chewed up by bugs, it is too late to go searching for the repellent at the Pharmacy. They take up no space, don't count as a liquid and have saved me several times.