Dress Code in Rome including Vatican?

[MMOMOM]

I have Teva's and Merrell's (water sandals) with thick soles and arch support, which would be OK. I've done a lot of walking with those, but they're not flip-flops.

 

You know I probably used the wrong terminology ... mine aren't the thin, plastic, beachy type, but with thick soles and arch support too .... so really more like sandals I guess. Thanx for all the input guys! I really think my feet will be fine with the walking, just glad they will let me in (and husband with Teva's) with them on! :) That was really my only concern.

[MMOMOM]

Were his knees covered? I saw many people wearing shorts a few weeks ago BUT their knees were covered. As a matter of fact when I was walking to the tour bus from the ship the tour guide checked the length of my shorts to make sure that I would not have an issue. I didn't. :)

 

On another note. The trip to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's was miserable. So many people packed into one area pushing and shoving to get photos. It was a cattle call. Add to that the heat and I was ready to leave after an hour. Whatever you do wear comfortable shoes.

 

I'll check my husbands 'shorts' he says he has that cover the knees, and may just buy a pair of the zipper/pants/shorts too, just to be safe. As I said, I will wear a long dress that's cool with a sweater/shrug to put on when entering. The packed, pushing cattle call is what we so dislike in regular tours. That's usually why we just do things on our own. However, this seems, from all I've read and researched, to be something we should have some guidance with, so we've got a private tour booked. Hate to say it, but as much as everyone says, you've got to see and do this and that, when it gets crazy .... we're 'outa there'!! LOL!! We will be able to do that with the private tour and I'd rather pay for that option. We know our trip to Europe will be fast and busy, but seriously, when we travel, we do a lot and always pack a lot in. If we get to see the major things and get the 'feel' of each city, we will be happy. :)

[Ron98GT]

My father was refused entry because he was wearing shorts. They knew ahead of time and my mom wore a longer skirt but Dad didn't believe them. So, no Vatican for them.

 

Sue

 

I would have pulled my shorts down till they covered my knees. :D

 

Once your in, you can always pull them back up a little.

[lisiamc]

I would have pulled my shorts down till they covered my knees. :D

 

Once your in, you can always pull them back up a little.

 

Somehow, I don't think they're going to let in someone with his bum hanging out, even though his knees might then be covered! :o

[euro cruiser]

I would have pulled my shorts down till they covered my knees. :D

 

Once your in, you can always pull them back up a little.

I'm assuming that this was posted with tongue firmly planted in cheek but, just in case someone thinks this is a brilliant idea, you can't move more than a couple of feet in the basilica without passing a security person. They have no problem escorting you to the exit.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Men as a general rule don't wear shorts in Europe. When in Rome- do as the Romans do. Long pants or jeans are the style.

[Ethel5]

If you look at the attached picture Rebeccalouise posted, it is showing a "No Entry" on the example of a male wearing shorts. I also read where "manpris" were not allowed either.

[CintiPam]

Men as a general rule don't wear shorts in Europe. When in Rome- do as the Romans do. Long pants or jeans are the style.

 

+1. In Europe, locals do not wear shorts in major cities, saving those for the beach or countryside.

Edited July 2, 2014 by CintiPam

[Ron98GT]

Men as a general rule don't wear shorts in Europe. When in Rome- do as the Romans do. Long pants or jeans are the style.

:confused: When was the last time you were in Rome? Boloney. We just spent a week in Rome, in May of 2014, along with a week in Venice and a week in Greece. Shorts are not a problem, as long as you don't go into one of the churches, specifically the Vatican. I'm a tourist, there's no hiding that, and I don't care what the locals wear. The only day I wore my long pants was the day we went to Vatican, otherwise I wore my Levi cargo shorts. We stayed in a hotel across from the Pantheon and even walked in there on numerous occasions without any problems. Rome is tourist town, tourists in Rome wear shorts and sandals, You a Tourist, don't be afraid to wear shorts. People state these silly little rules that are no existent.

 

If a guy wants to dress like a local/Roman, wear skinny pointed shoes, blue jeans, a blue sport coat, and chain smoke cigarettes, but not me. Shorts Rule :D

Edited July 2, 2014 by Ron98GT

[Ron98GT]

I'm assuming that this was posted with tongue firmly planted in cheek but, just in case someone thinks this is a brilliant idea, you can't move more than a couple of feet in the basilica without passing a security person. They have no problem escorting you to the exit.

 

Absolutely not. I wear Levi cargo shorts, which are long, but just above the knee. I always wear long polo shirts with the tails hanging out: I don't tuck them in. It wouldn't be that hard to pull my pants down enough to cover my knees. I just wouldn't want bend forward, else I may expose the notorious plumbers crack. :o But I heeded the warning and wore long length cargo pants to the Vatican, but switched back to shorts for the nite on the town.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Ron98GT

[mcmomny]

We did alot of research for our trip to Rome and in general all the other cities on our cruise and one of the things we knew from the get go was knowing we needed to dress respectfully for the Vatican and any museums and churches we visited.

 

It was mid Sept and hot and humid but my husband wore long khakis, a short sleeved button down shirt and comfortable walking shoes

 

I wore cotton sundresses with a small sleeve that I ordered online in a "tall" size even thou I am not tall, this way they all went below my knees. I also wore my Merrells, maryjane style, breathable and good walking sole.

 

We were comfortable and happy with our attire as we often saw people not allowed access into places because of their attire, I can't comment if it was because of shoes or not but we saw lots of woman rushing to buy scarfs to cover their shoulders and sometimes cleavage so they could enter a church!

 

One church was evening selling brown paper shawls for 3 euros!

 

Now I am a flip flop/ sandal fan and they are my preferred foot wear but I knew I would have really sore feet if I walked all over Rome in them for the day. Plus I am a clutz and I often trip and fall so having safer shoes on uneven walking paths was huge for me! Yes my feet got hot but I carried a small travel size foot powder to keep them fresh

 

Now all of this being said one guy in our tour group to the Vatican had on a solid green t shirt, gym shorts that did not cover his knees and white sneakers and he got in with no problem but his appearance to me was disrespectful.

 

JMHO

[6rugrats]

Hmmm .... definitely something to think about. We have the private tour and we may just bring a change anyway ... thanx! :)

 

Where will you change? The lines to the restroom can be horribly long, and then you'll be carrying clothes around. Better to just dress appropriately in the first place.

[Stay_calm_and_vacation]

We just returned from our cruise and this is what we did. Our daughters wore their usual shorts and and tank tops, me..a sundress. Before we entered the Vatican my daughters slipped on maxi skirts over their shorts and we all slipped on light weight cardigans. We kept this all in our backpack. Our day in Rome my husband just wore jeans and a button down. Since we live in CA the heat wasn't really getting to us (until we got to Pompeii!)

 

 

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[shofer]

Were his knees covered? I saw many people wearing shorts a few weeks ago BUT their knees were covered.

 

No they weren't covered, hence the refusal to enter. I remember that Mom was quite angry with him over this.

 

Sue

[CathyCruises]

:confused: When was the last time you were in Rome? Boloney. We just spent a week in Rome, in May of 2014, along with a week in Venice and a week in Greece. Shorts are not a problem, as long as you don't go into one of the churches, specifically the Vatican. I'm a tourist, there's no hiding that, and I don't care what the locals wear. The only day I wore my long pants was the day we went to Vatican, otherwise I wore my Levi cargo shorts. We stayed in a hotel across from the Pantheon and even walked in there on numerous occasions without any problems. Rome is tourist town, tourists in Rome wear shorts and sandals, You a Tourist, don't be afraid to wear shorts. People state these silly little rules that are no existent.

 

If a guy wants to dress like a local/Roman, wear skinny pointed shoes, blue jeans, a blue sport coat, and chain smoke cigarettes, but not me. Shorts Rule :D

Not ALL tourists dress as you claim you do. Some of us are respectful enough to follow local custom and clothing requirements. And the rules are not 'no existent'. The rules clearly state that shoulders and knees are to be covered when entering the basilica as well as many other churches and cathedrals throughout Italy. Is it any wonder that locals may have a negative opinion of American tourists?

[CintiPam]

Not ALL tourists dress as you claim you do. Some of us are respectful enough to follow local custom and clothing requirements. And the rules are not 'no existent'. The rules clearly state that shoulders and knees are to be covered when entering the basilica as well as many other churches and cathedrals throughout Italy. Is it any wonder that locals may have a negative opinion of American tourists?

 

+1

Thanks, Cathy.