Packing for Sicily in December

For this sort of timing, you need to dig deeper than monthly average temperatures; you need to know how warm and how cold it can be at that time of year. One source for that information is timeanddate.com, which provides actual, historical, day-by-day weather statistics for most destinations of tourist interest.

Palermo Dec 2022

Check the most recent five years, using the pull-down box just above the right end of the graph. To check other destinations, use the Search box at the upper right. I imagine places in the interior would be cooler.

Don't just look at the high temperature each day. As you can see, you don't get those high temperatures for very long. What's it going to be like at 8 AM? At 8 PM?

You'll find average monthly precipitation data in the cities' Wikipedia entries. December's usually quite a wet month in Palermo.

I spent about a month in Rome and Naples this year, roughly from mid-February to mid-March. Although I looked at the weather graphs, it hadn't registered with me that it could be about noon before the temperature got up to 40 F. The short days bugged me, too, and that situation will be a lot more noticeable in December.

What I packed to cater to the potential weather issues was adequate for me. I'm cold-natured, so this would be overkill for some folks, I'm sure. On the other hand, my weather was about at the average, or warmer, every day. That was lucky for me.

Long john bottoms (2 pairs, at least one of merino wool)
Light fleece jacket (same one taken on summer trips to northern Europe)
Full-length unlined raincoat (for sure-to-be-rainy days)
Unlined rain jacket (for days it might rain; easy to stuff in purse)
96% nylon pants that shed rain to some degree
Flannel-lined pants of a similar material (wore these a lot)
Long-sleeved cotton turtleneck and round-neck tops.
Brimmed sun hat sprayed with Scotchguard
Waterproof shoes

I took but did not need a lightweight, packable down jacket, a buff and fleece gloves. At least I don't remember wearing the gloves.

The combination of merino long johns under nylon pants has kept me decently comfortable on days when it was both wet and chilly. PrAna, Columbia and Eddie Bauer make the nylon pants; fabric eight varies. My flannel-lined pants are from Eddie Bauer.

Thank you so much. I will definitely purchase what you have suggested. I can use all the advice I can get.

I will check the weather as you suggested. Great idea for every trip i take. Thank you.

I thnk it's really important to look at recent, actual, daily weather stats for the month(s) you'll be traveling. Averages hide extremes. You are likely to experience some extremes, so you need to at least consider packing for them. It is all too easy to look at monthly averages and think: "High temperature of 56F; I can deal with that!" But it may be 34F when you step out of your hotel at 9 AM, and if your clothes get wet at that temperature, it will not be fun.

The other thing to watch out for is that the very handy climate-summary charts in cities' Wikipedia entries are usually based on time periods that cut off in the year 2010 or even 2000. Weather has gotten a lot wackier since then, so I really question the utility of that data. I do use it for precipitation stats, but otherwise it's mainly for comparisons between potential destinations (How much colder is an inland city likely to be, compared to one on the coast?) or between months (How much riskier is February than March?).

You may well not need as much cold-weather gear as I did. I am very intolerant of being cold, and I knew I'd tend to hibernate in my hotel room if I was cold outdoors. I'm also more accepting of being a bit warm than most people, so I didn't worry much about how warm it might get later on when I started out wearing those flannel-lined pants. Separate long johns and regular pants would be more flexible, because you could retire to a restroom in a museum and remove the long johns in the middle of the day if you were overheating. You don't want to end up with a suitcase full of winter layers you never wear.

I loved Sicily, even in the summer. I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

Hi there, wow @acraven has given you a lot of great information! Just wanted to add that before I walk out the door here in Sweden, I not only look at the temperature but also at the windchill. If you scroll down on your phone below the weather, you will see 'feels like'. Oh my have I regretted not reading that number. I loathe long underwear, but many people here wear silk ones, more $$ but lighter weight, wicking & feels a bit better under clothing.

Have you found the waterproof shoes of your choice and are they broken in?? When I travel anywhere in Europe, I only wear waterproof Merrill Moab 2, with Smart wool sock. Hope you have a fantastic trip and would love to hear how the packing works out!

I also do not like being cold, but acraven’s list seems like extreme overkill to me. Our first trip to Sicily was in late December/early January. We had one rainy day, and most highs in the mid-50’s. To prepare for the possibility of extremes, I suggest #1 a hat and/or warm scarf and #2 gloves. Those go a long way toward keeping you warm. You can also get a pair of silk long johns, which dry quickly and take up little room in your luggage.

One water- resistant outer garment with a warm lining should be sufficient. I would go for something that hits around knee length. A fleece, down, or wool vest added under it should keep you adequately warm.
We will be spending almost 3 weeks in Rome and n.e. Italy in December this year. The one special purchase I will be making for that trip is a pair of booties. In my web searches, I’ve seen them for as little as $40 and up into the hundreds. Some have fleece lining. I plan to wear them on the plane and pack a second pair of comfortable shoes. Mine are essentially sneakers but made of a metallic leather material. One good thing about getting old is you can get away with not “dressing up,” so I think I’ll be good for restaurant dinners. Lol
Enjoy your trip. Sicily is fabulous.

These posts have been a blessing. I love the silk long johns. I never even heard of that and I will definitely buy. After all I needed to bring to stay warm I couldn’t imagine how I was going to get all of it into a reasonably sized suitcase. I travel with as little as possible and try to use only a carry on that will fit under a plane seat. I have a puffer hip length jacket. Would you suggest I bring it and if so what could I eliminate? I also always take a light weight water resistant jacket which I can tie around my waist and also keeps me warm on the plane without taking up any room. Your advice? Thank you.

I think it's prudent to have a warm layer that fits under a waterproof jacket or coat. My warm layer is the fleece jacket. Some folks choose a merino wool sweater or a packable down vest. You could use the puffer jacket, absolutely. Do you have something waterproof to go over it? I wouldn't settle for a water-resistant coat on a winter trip.

Thank you again for taking the time to help me out. I lack imagination because I have no idea what I could put over the puffer jacket other than the plastic jackets and/ or pants. Pretty ugly but I would go for ugly if it works.

I was in Sicily in December 2019 right before the pandemic. It was actually sunny and warm during the day, cooler at night and early morning- I packed a warm scarf, gloves, cardigan, and also a light puffer coat. Dress in layers, bring an small umbrella as well. Enjoy, Sicily is amazing.

Happy Travels✨

I'd have no hesitancy about using a poncho if it kept me dry. You'd want one with some weight to it. Cheap ponchos aren't much heavier than dry cleaning bags and will fly around and be pretty useless on a windy day.

Following a suggestion on this forum, I sized up on my most recent purchase of a waterproof jacket so it would fit over my light puffer jacket if necessary. However, I look like the Michelin Woman in that combo.

I travel enough that I don't mind buying suitable outerwear, but I have not sprung for Goretex. You'll definitely hear my rain jacket crinkling when I walk. I wouldn't overdo the new purchases unless you are confident there will be many more trips in your future. Sometimes you can find something suitable at a place like Goodwill.

Don't neglect shoes. I'd want waterproof shoes, and grippy soles will be essential if you have to traverse wet cobblestones. There is nothing more miserable than feet that hurt, and a sprained ankle is a major impediment to seeing what you've planned. The shoes are the only thing I willingly spend money on. Everyone's feet are different. I've found something that works for me on my urban trips. I accept that I'll wear out the shoes and the insoles on a 4-1/2 month trip, after which they're only useful for short walks at home. So every trip costs me over $200 for the combo of shoes and Aetrex insoles. It's totally worth it.

Another thought - So, personally I would spend the $100 for a Gore-tex jacket that will last you a decade or more, after all this is a small price compared to how much you're spending on the trip. And I would add a light weight puffer jacket, Uniqlo has good ones, and size up on the waterproof rain coat so it fits well. Neither of these items weigh much, and others have suggested adding a scarf (wool or cashmere) & gloves. All super light weight!

I will look for that jacket especially since it has rained in Florida everyday for months. I don’t know how long you patient people want to be involved in my wardrobe. I am considering all advice so please know it is not waisted. I am waiting for Gor Tex running shoes from Amazon by Sacony that reviews say are waterproof. I will look for them in a store if they don’t fit. I did purchase the silk long johns and they feel heavenly so I don’t know how heavy my pants need to be if it is cold. I have a light weight pair of Colombia that is 96% nylon and 100% polyester lining. Doesn’t seem heavy enough to me and I don’t think I need fleece lined pants with the long johns. ??? I will check out Good Will and Dicks Sporting Goods and see what I can find there. On another note: I do like to give back and have traveled a bit through the years… The entire US , and more recently the Adriatic and Eastern Africa. Feel free to private message me if I can help someone else.

I was in Sicily in May and it was unseasonably cold and rainy. I have a marmot precip lightweight rain jacket that I bought at Amazon for less than $100 that kept me dry in pouring rain. I would recommend it.

I had hiking shoes which I appreciated on uneven and sometimes wet surfaces. But they were not waterproof and was never a problem even though we had plenty of rain. In my experience waterproof is necessary when hiking through wet grass. I have some hiking shoes that are because of doing so at home with my dog but they are bulkier so don’t travel with them.

I am not sure you need as much as some have suggested you do. I have been to Chicago in winter and walked around the city and never wore long johns. And I am from Florida too.

Hi again! It seems many of us are intrigued by packing issues, so ask away...

"I did purchase the silk long johns and they feel heavenly so I don’t know how heavy my pants need to be if it is cold. I have a light weight pair of Colombia that is 96% nylon and 100% polyester lining." Nope, I don't think you need more than this, remember the air between the layers warms you up, this should be more than enough. Take one pair pants for the sunny days?

"I have a puffer hip length jacket. Would you suggest I bring it and if so what could I eliminate? I also always take a light weight water resistant jacket which I can tie around my waist and also keeps me warm on the plane without taking up any room."
That sounds good enough unless it pours, seem to recall you're taking a travel umbrella? You could just buy that along the way

I put everything out on the dining room table a week before departure. Maybe there are multiples of things you can cull? SHOES weight a lot - I take my hiking boots because my feet need them, flip flops for hotels, (orthotic oofos) & a pair of light weight black & white trainers that I wear on the plane, but others would say wear the heavy boots.

Just wanted to let you know that I have followed the advice and I believe that I have everything I need for the trip. Now that you have dressed me perhaps you would like to feed me as well. I just wanted to thank you all again for taking the time to advise me and to let you know that I just posted a restaurant question. Any recommendations great. If not at least you know I will be well dressed.

I have started traveling with a Woolx merino crew neck top for my last 2 fall Italy trips. It is soft, doesn’t wrinkle and makes a great base layer shirt. I wear the Jenny style as I prefer 3/4 sleeves. I’ve also started taking a Gortex rain trench coat. Is an excellent windbreaker as well as raincoat.