Germany was my first trip in mainland Europe, while taking a study break from a year of grad school in Scotland. So, it’s hardly surprising that when I wrote out my first Germany packing list, it wasn’t exactly my most glorious travel-planning achievement.
I’ve since become a more experienced traveler. (Well, at least I think I have!) And after having since visited over 50 countries, figuring out what to pack for Germany now feels like a cinch compared to that first Central Europe adventure.
Here’s what I’d be sure to bring along with me in every season if I were to travel to Germany again as a first-time visitor.
What to pack for Germany: A guide for first-time visitors
Essentials
- Passport: This one goes without saying. Double-check your carry-on for your passport before you even think of heading to the airport!
- Cash: Although credit cards are accepted in most places around Germany, I’m also sure to pack at least a few hundred Euros whenever I visit an EU country. It’s good to have for small expenses like coffee or a leberkäse at a street market.
- Travel Insurance: I never leave home without travel insurance, especially when visiting European destinations like Germany. If you require a Schengen Visa to travel to Germany, you’re required to carry an insurance policy with at least €30,000 in medical coverage that’s valid for all 26 Schengen states. Even if traveling to Europe visa-free, I’d make sure to buy a policy that covers medical expenses, baggage theft/loss/damage, and trip cancellation.
Guidebooks & Phrasebooks
- Guidebooks: Even if you’re gung-ho about using tech to its fullest, having a paper guidebook by your side is a smart move. As with most destinations, I recommend picking up a copy of Lonely Planet Germany as it covers both the country’s most popular and lesser-known corners.
- Phrasebooks: Although I’ve never had much of a problem traveling around Germany with English alone, Germans appreciate the extra effort to speak their native tongue. The Lonely Planet German Phrasebook & Dictionary is where I’d start.
- Language learning resources: If you want to dig further into the German language, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of the audio/book combo course Teach Yourself Complete German. This book was my first introduction to German and set the stage for getting me to a lower-intermediate level of speaking & comprehension.
Luggage & Accessories
- Luggage: This one comes down to personal preference. I once would have laughed at the thought of traveling with anything but a backpack. These days, I’m more likely to roll around with rolling carry-on luggage, especially if I’m spending just 10 days in Germany or two weeks.
- Daypack: When my trip itineraries take me out and about, I’m always sure to bring along a daypack to carry all my essential travel gear for a day out.
- Packing Cubes: For staying organized, I’d suggest bringing along a set of packing cubes. These really grew on me, especially when I began to lean more on carry-on luggage versus travel backpacks.
Electronics
- Universal Power Adapter: Thanks to the popularity of USB charging and dual-voltage devices, those old-school bulky voltage adapters are often no longer necessary. A more versatile choice is to pick up a universal power adapter with plug-in sizes to fit outlets around the world. I’d try to choose one with both standard plugs and USB charging capabilities.
- Power Bank: If the thought of running out of juice midday scares you, don’t forget to bring along a power bank. I’d go with something like the Anker Nano Power Bank. It’s lightweight and compact, and it supports 40W fast charging.
- Pocket WiFi: One of the biggest changes in my recent trips is that I no longer rely on free public WiFi alone. I’d suggest renting a 4G/LTE Pocket WiFi Router for Germany. The rental includes unlimited data usage and allows you to connect up to 10 devices. While traveling, I also often use a virtual private network like NordVPN for an extra dash of safety.
- Headphones: Whether for a long transatlantic flight or the train ride between Berlin and Munich, I much preper listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts in peace with a pair of noise-canceling headphones. I personally love the Sony WH1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones. They’re super comfortable, sound great, and feature superb noise-canceling technology that’s best-in-class.
- Kindle: The only time that my obsession with paperbacks doesn’t follow me is while I travel. Cut down the bulk in your luggage by storing your favorite books on the Kindle Paperwhite. The non-backlit screen offers an e-reading experience that’s as close as you’ll get to the real thing. Compared to most tablets I’ve used, the battery life is also stellar.
- Camera: I was once a staunch supporter of using DSLRs for travel. That is until I got a FujiFilm Mirrorless Digital Camera into my hands. The lightweight design features manual adjustment dials for a retro look & feel unlike any other camera on the market. And the image quality is absolutely superb!
Outerwear
- Rain Jacket: Even when I’ve picked the absolute best time to go to Germany, I’ve never left without encountering rainfall. For the hot & humid European summer, I’d go with something as lightweight and breathable as possible. During the cooler spring & fall months, a slightly heavier rain jacket will give you a little more warmth and stronger weather protection.
- Fleece Jacket: For the cooler spring and fall, I’d be sure to add a fleece jacket to my Germany packing list. This works well as a mid-layer in the cold winter months as well, or underneath a rain jacket on a cool, rainy day.
- Softshell Jacket: If I were planning to enjoy more active adventures in the spring and fall, I’d opt for a versatile softshell jacket over a fleece. I find them a little stretchier than fleece, and they offer better wind- and weather-proofing.
- Hardshell Jacket: In the winter months, I’d be sure to pack a weatherproof hardshell jacket, especially if I were planning to hit the slopes or any other active winter sport adventures.
- Scarf: If you’re planning on visiting in the winter months (hello, German Christmas markets!), keep your neck warm with a soft & comfortable scarf. For carving the pistes in Southern Germany, this will be a lifesaver.
- Winter Hat: Although Germany hardly sees the harsh winters of other destinations further north in Europe like Finland or Sweden, for the sub-zero winter temperatures, one of the must-have winter travel accessories for staying warm is a winter hat.
- Gloves: If you want to keep your hands nice and toasty, don’t forget to pack a pair of warm winter gloves. I’d look for a pair of gloves with touch-screen-compatible fingertips to ensure I’d get that perfect Christmas market Instagram shot without removing my gloves.
- Hat: In the scorching summer months, I’d bring along a hat to protect myself from sunstroke and heat exhaustion.
Footwear
- Walking Shoes: If I were looking for an all-around travel shoe to take me from city to city, I’d be sure to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes for Germany. They tend to be a little more stylish in urban environments than a more outdoorsy hiking shoe.
- Hiking Shoes: For more adventurous pursuits in the outdoors, I’d also be sure to bring along a pair of hiking shoes. If I were visiting in a wetter season, I’d search out a pair with excellent waterproofing.
- Sandals: For summer walking through Germany’s hiking trails, I’d prefer an airy pair of sandals over a regular hiking shoe. Look for ones with excellent support for hiking. In an urban environment, however, I’d be more willing to go with something more casual.
- Socks: For everyday wear while traveling, I try to pick socks that are moisture-wicking and cushy. If I were visiting in winter, though, I’d likely bring high-quality Merino wool socks to stay both warm and dry.
Clothing
- Travel Pants: If I were serious about packing lighter, one of my first moves would be replacing my regular pants with travel pants. Made with lightweight materials, travel pants are designed to be more packable and breathable than everyday pants or jeans.
- Travel Shirts: Similarly, I’d swap out my regular shirts for ones designed specifically for travel to help save some space and weight in my luggage. The choices would depend on what season I was visiting. In the hot & humid summers, I’d be sure to pick something breathable and moisture-wicking. For winter, I’d go for a moisture-wicking base layer underneath heavier top layers.
- Sweaters: During the cooler fall & spring months, I’d add a sweater or two to my Germany packing list. Even in summer, I’d be sure to bring along at least one warmer sweater or hoodie for cooler evenings in a beer garden.
- Travel Shorts: For traveling in the hot European summer months, I’d also be sure to pack some lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking travel shorts. For wet days, I’d also look to pack at least one pair with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish.
- Travel Skirts/Dresses: In fashion-conscious Europe, packing skirts and travel dresses is a must for women. Like with shorts, I’d aim for something lightweight & breathable. Bonus points if you can find some with a zippered security pocket.
- Swimsuit: Since this is Europe, your choice of swimwear won’t be restricted in any way! I’d pack a pair of versatile lightweight & quick-drying boardshorts or swimming trunks.
Accessories
- Hanging Toiletry Bag: To keep all my toiletries organized, I’d pick up a hanging toiletry bag to save space in the bathroom and give me quick access to all my essentials.
- Travel Towel: Although most decent hotels in Germany supply towels to guests, if I were planning day trips outside of the city, I’d also pack a quick-dry microfiber towel.
- Travel Umbrella: There’s a very good chance you’ll get into some rain showers while visiting Germany. Be sure to bring a lightweight and packable umbrella like the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella.
- RFID Wallet: Digital theft is on the rise, and one of the easiest ways to protect yourself is with an RFID-blocking wallet that will protect your debit & credit card information from would-be thieves.
- Travel Purse: Even though Germany is a safe country, female travelers would be well served by bringing along a special travel purse. The best ones I’ve seen offer anti-theft features (including RFID-blocking and slash-proof construction) to keep your travel essentials safe.
- RFID Passport Protector: If you’re traveling on a newer biometric e-passport, I’d be sure to pick up an RFID-blocking passport protector to protect your information.
- Travel Pillow: If you’re not interested in wasting a good opportunity to sleep on long-haul flights or long-distance train rides, be sure to bring along a cushy travel pillow.
- Sleep Mask: Although I never travel with one myself, many travelers swear by sleep masks to immerse in total darkness on flights and sleeper trains.
- Ear Plugs: If you have trouble sleeping among noise, bring a pair of good earplugs along.
- Water Bottle: Whether I was hiking or just walking around the city, I’d bring along a collapsible water bottle to stay hydrated. (This is especially important in the hot summer months; Europe can turn into a furnace at times!)
- Hair Dryer & Straightener: Although most mid-range & luxury hotels in Germany will include a hair dryer, you may still want to pick up a dual-voltage hair dryer. To keep the frizz to a minimum during Germany’s hot & humid summers, bring along a compact dual-voltage travel straightener, too.
Toiletries
- Oral Care: Don’t forget to bring along your toothbrush, mouthwash, toothpaste, and floss. If you happen to forget, though, rest assured that they will be easy to find in German pharmacies.
- Body Wash/Hair Care: If you’re staying in good hotels, you can probably save weight in your bag by skimping on overloading with toiletries. In most cases, you’ll have no trouble finding many of your favorite brands in Germany.
- Hairstyling Products: Keep your hair in tip-top shape by bringing along your favorite gel, mousse, hairspray or wax. In a pinch, you’ll likely be able to find suitable substitutes at most German pharmacies and grocery stores.
- Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant: In the sweaty summers of Germany, packing a little extra anti-perspirant is never a bad idea. Most major brands are available in Germany.
- Lip Balm: At any time of year, it’s smart to bring some lip balm around. In summer, I’d opt for a UV-protected lip balm, while in the drier German winters, a stronger medicated lip balm might be a better choice.
- Sunscreen: Although sunscreen prices won’t be out of line as in some other places abroad, I’d still bring along some sunscreen to protect myself from sunburns.
- Hand Sanitizer: For germ-infested planes & trains, I’d be sure to stock a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my daypack.
- First-Aid Kit: I’m admittedly a little clumsy at times, but I’m not one to get paranoid about my travel first-aid kits. Try to bring along, at minimum, bandages, antiseptic ointment, tweezers, hydrocortisone, as well as anti-diarrheal, anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory/fever reduction, and allergy medications. All prescription medications should be in their original bottles while crossing international borders.
- Grooming Kit: In addition to the first-aid kit, keep a few grooming essentials like nail clippers, tweezers, and scissors handy, along with your favorite razor and shaving cream, to cover all your grooming needs.
