I recently visited Rome and it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the most visited cities in Europe. Most of my days were spent on my feet, walking from one beautiful monument to the next. And it wasn’t uncommon to leave my hotel at 9:00 am and not return until 5:00 pm, to get ready for the evening ahead.

Like most popular tourist destinations, I had to consider large crowds, pack items I could travel with all day and for Rome in particular, I needed to make sure I had a scarf to comply with modesty rules when I visited churches or other religious sites around the city.

I only brought a carry-on suitcase this trip, so I had to bring items I could repeatedly use throughout the week. I brought a beautiful crossbody bag that worked for every occasion, a collapsible water bottle to utilize Rome’s many drinking fountains, a lightweight scarf that was practical and chic, a small jewelry case to stay organized and zipper clips that gave me peace of mind in crowded spaces.

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1. An RFID Crossbody Bag

This was the most useful item I brought with me. I spent a long time looking for the right bag, because I wanted a bag that was practical for sightseeing, but still felt polished, and this one checked all the boxes. The navy colour kept it versatile enough to wear with all my outfits and the RFID protection gave me an extra level of security while travelling. I was able to wear it all day sightseeing and then heading out for dinner each evening, without feeling like I needed to change my bag. The best part is that it’s a bag that I’ll continue to wear now that I’m back at home.

2. A Collapsible Water Bottle

A collapsible water bottle turned out to be one of those simple travel items I was very glad I packed. Rome has fountains scattered throughout the city called “Nasoni” that provide free drinking water. It’s historic city centre has over 200 of them, so while it’s not hard to find water, you need to bring your own bottle. Having a collapsible water bottle allowed me to refill water without having to buy a bottle each time. The fact that it was collapsible and lightweight meant that I could fold it and clip it to my bag when I wasn’t using it.

3. A Lightweight Scarf

A lightweight scarf was very useful in Rome because it served both a practical and style purpose. Many churches in Rome require shoulders to be covered, so I could drape the scarf over my shoulders when I needed to cover up rather than having to carry a separate cover-up. It was thin, lightweight and easy fold into my bag or tie onto its strap.

4. A Small Travel Jewelry Case

It’s always been a challenge to pack my jewelry and accessories without worrying about them getting tangled. This small jewelry case made packing simple because I was able to keep everything organized during my trip. It took up very little room in my carry-on and made a noticeable difference when I was getting ready each day. During my trip, I relied on jewelry and accessories to elevate simple travel outfits, so having everything organized and easy to find meant that I could actually wear what I brought.

5. Anti-Theft Zipper Clips

These were one of the smallest items I packed, but they made a big difference. I appreciated using them while in transit at the airport and travelling to my hotel using the metro. I also appreciated having them in busy areas while sightseeing. I’m always mindful of my bag, especially in crowded spaces, but these zipper clips gave me an extra level of security while travelling in a large city. Rome is an amazing city to visit and explore (in fact, it’s my favourite city), and while I have always felt comfortable walking around, with any large tourist destination, crowded areas provide opportunities for pickpocketing. These little clips gave me peace of mind without having to change how I carried or accessed my bag.

I used each of these items every day throughout my trip. They were practical enough to carry with me all day long and in some cases, into the evening as well. What I also love about each of these items is that I can use them at home too, particularly the crossbody bag, scarf and jewelry case.

Travel should not be a packing challenge, where you focus on how much or how little you’re bringing. This trip reinforced the idea that when it comes to packing for travel, it’s more important to pack thoughtfully. Items you can use repeatedly during your trip and will happily continue using when you return home too.