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Germany Packing List (What To Take + TIPS!)

A Germany packing list is vital to compile before you head to the country.

Germany is a big country, so depending on where you go, the weather can be markedly different.

If you plan on travelling around the country, it’s important to consider these factors when packing for Germany!

It can be hard to know what pack at times. Whether you’re spending 3 days in Berlin, or you’re staying for longer, you are bound to worry about what to wear in Germany.

This guide will let you know all the clothes and items you should take on your trip to Germany!

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Germany Packing List

What to Wear in Germany

What you should be wearing in Germany will largely depend on what time of the year you visit.

What to wear in Germany in winter will be different to what you should wear during the summer.

You should pack your clothes accordingly depending on the season. With that said, there are still some items you should take regardless of the weather, such as a jacket.

The weather can change a lot in Germany depending on where you are. It’s always best to be prepared for all eventualities.

If you know you’re not going to be in Germany during a certain time of the year, then you can discount some of these items.

Otherwise, below are some of the clothes I recommend you take with you to Germany!

Beanie

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03/07/2024 11:03 pm GMT

Winters in Germany can be cold. A beanie is a useful item to take to Germany to keep your head warm during these cold months.

When it’s cold in Germany, it’s really cold!

While a beanie isn’t a necessity, it will keep you that little bit warmer during the winter!

If you want to keep yourself warm in Germany during the winter, a beanie is a good and cheap item to take with you!

Flats

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03/08/2024 12:21 am GMT

Flats are a convenient choice of footwear when travelling to Germany.

They offer a nice balance between being fashionable and comfortable. If you plan on doing a lot of walking, they are a good piece of footwear to have.

Flats don’t take up as much space in your backpack as trainers or hiking shoes would either!

Jacket

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02/18/2024 08:56 pm GMT

A jacket is an important item to take with you to Germany.

The weather can change at regular intervals. One moment it can be sunny, the next it can be raining.

You must have a jacket with you as a precaution. If you plan to spend 3 days in Munich during the winter, you will need to bring one!

Even if you visit during the summer, I would still take one in case you get caught in a downpour.

Gloves

If you’re wondering what to wear in Germany in December, a pair of gloves is a necessity!

Winters in Germany can be very cold. Temperatures can regularly dip below freezing.

You don’t want to go outside without a pair of gloves in conditions like that, as they will be freezing within minutes.

Taking a pair of gloves will ensure your hands stay warm and you don’t have to waste time warming them up once you’re back in your accommodation!

Shirts

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02/18/2024 10:11 pm GMT

A good shirt is an essential item to pack for Germany.

If you plan on going out while you’re in the country, you will need to pack one.

The good thing is they are versatile items. You can wear them out during the day too!

You should pack 1 or 2 shirts, maybe more, depending on how long you’re in Germany.

Shorts

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03/08/2024 01:11 am GMT

A good pair of shorts is necessary if you’re wondering what to wear in Germany during the summer.

It can get hot in Germany from May to September. If you plan on walking around in trousers you will get hot very quickly.

Shorts will keep you cool as you stroll around the many sights of Germany!

I recommend taking two pairs of shorts, 3 to 4 if you’re there for longer, with you.

This gives you a bit of choice and means you won’t always wear the same smelly clothes.

Socks

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02/18/2024 08:46 pm GMT

I’m not the biggest fan of socks, but as you won’t need flip-flops while you’re travelling in Germany, some socks will come in handy.

As I’m obliged to wear socks when I wear a pair of shoes, I like to wear socks that are a little bit out there.

My choice of socks is made by a company called happy socks.

The reason?

Mainly because the socks are funky and they look good! If I have to wear socks, they may as well be a jazzy pair!

Accessories

Air Freshener

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03/07/2024 10:57 pm GMT

An air freshener may seem like an odd item to include on your Germany packing list, but there is a reason.

Let me explain:

Travelling for any length of time can lead to the clothes in your backpack getting smelly. There is nothing worse than having a smelly backpack, as all your items will start to smell.

By keeping an air freshener in your backpack, your clothes will smell fresh and not stink while you’re making your way around Germany!

It’s a simple, yet effective item to take with you!

Bobby Anti-Theft Backpack

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02/19/2024 09:27 pm GMT

The Bobby anti-theft backpack is one of my favourite items.

It’s an ideal daypack to take with you when you travel and has the bonus of keeping your valuables safe!

Instead of the zips being on the outside, which is the case with most backpacks, the zips are on the inside. This means that any thieves will not be able to access the bag while you are walking.

Germany is a safe place to travel and doesn’t have a huge pickpocket problem, but they do operate in big cities.

It’s best not to take any chances and this anti-theft backpack will give you peace of mind while you’re in the country!

40 L Backpack

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02/18/2024 09:40 pm GMT

The Osprey 40 L Farpoint bag is one of the best travel backpacks and one you should use for your visit to Germany.

40 L is a good size to take if you plan on spending considerable time in Germany and the rest of Europe. Osprey is also great eco-friendly luggage so as well as being handy, they’re good for the planet too!

You can fit a lot of clothes inside, without taking too much. This is handy because you don’t want to be carrying too much around with you, otherwise, it will weigh your back down!

One of the best features of the Osprey backpack is that it’s front-loading. This means inside of having a bag where your items go on from the top, you can easily access them through a zip on the front of the bag!

This makes accessing your clothes much easier, instead of rummaging around the back to find what you want!

Hanging Toiletry Bag

A hanging toiletry bag is one of the most useful items to pack for Germany!

A lot of travellers keep their toiletries in one bag, which is not the best way to do things.

By having your toiletries all in one bag, you make it harder to find what you want and risk spillages from all the items being so close to each other.

With a hanging toiletry bag, you can organise your items in different compartments which makes it easier to access and neater.

Getting one of these will make your life so much easier when you are on the road in Germany!

Eco Water Bottle

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03/09/2024 03:10 am GMT

An Eco-water bottle is one of the most important items you can take to Germany.

Plastic pollution is a problem that we need to seriously tackle. If we don’t take action, it’s estimated that there will be more plastic in our oceans than marine life by 2050!

That is an eye-opening and terrifying thought!

By packing an Eco-water bottle, you won’t need to buy bottled water while you travel, which can eat into your budget and result in more plastic being used.

While Germany does have fantastic recycling practices, it’s best to go completely plastic-free to save money and the environment!

Padlocks

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03/07/2024 11:50 pm GMT

If you plan on staying in shared accommodation, one item you need to take with you to Germany is a padlock.

Whether you’re staying in a hostel in Berlin or another part of the country, a padlock is a necessity to keep your valuables safe.

Most travellers are good people, but you can never be sure who you are sharing a room with!

Most hostels provide a locker for you to store your backpack. Keeping your bag safely locked up while you’re out and about, will give you peace of mind.

Even if you don’t plan on staying in hostels, you can still use a padlock to keep your bag secure while you travel!

Polarised Sunglasses

Size: 54x44mm UV Protection: 100% Unisex: Yes
02/18/2024 09:06 pm GMT

A pair of travel sunglasses are essential if you plan on visiting Germany during the warmer months.

Germany can get hot during these months and you must keep yourself protected against UV rays.

Polarised sunglasses offer more protection from these rays than normal sunglasses do.

I have been using a pair of Oakley Frogskins for five years, and they are fantastic!

One feature I like is the hinges which can be clipped on and off. This is handy if you drop the glasses because you can just clip them back on instead of being left with a broken pair of sunglasses!

Portable Charger

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02/18/2024 08:20 pm GMT

A portable charger is a useful item to have while you’re travelling in Germany.

Here’s why:

Distances between cities can be quite large in Germany. This means that if you don’t have access to an outlet, your phone and laptop will run low on battery.

It’s important to keep your phone charged while travelling. You never know when you may need to use it.

Having a portable charger with you ensures that you will be able to charge your phone wherever you are when it gets low on power!

Playing Cards

Bicycle Standard Rider Back Playing Cards
$4.15

Players: 3-6

Game time: 10 minutes

Recommended age: 10 years and up

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02/18/2024 11:56 pm GMT

Taking a pack of playing cards to Germany with you is a great idea when you have a bit of time.

They allow you to play some great travel games such as El Prez or King’s Cup with your friends or people you meet in a hostel!

Even if you are on a train and travelling by yourself, you could still play solitaire to keep yourself occupied!

A pack of cards is an easy item to carry around with you and can result in some great times happening while you’re travelling!

Travel Adapter

If you’re visiting Germany from a country outside the EU, you will need to bring a travel adapter.

The power outlets in Germany use 230 V, with a frequency of 50 Hz. The prongs used are Type F.

If you don’t have a travel adapter with you, you’ll be unable to charge your electrical goods!

When considering what to pack for Germany, a travel adapter is one item you can’t leave at home!

Umbrella

An umbrella is a useful item to take to Germany, especially if you plan on visiting during the winter.

Temperatures in Germany can plummet during these months and it’s highly likely it will rain or snow during this time.

The last thing you want to happen is to get caught in a rainstorm while you’re out and about without an umbrella!

Carrying a small travel umbrella will ensure that if you get caught in the rain you won’t get drenched and won’t have a dampener put on your trip!

Toiletries

After Suncream

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02/18/2024 08:06 pm GMT

If you’re going to Germany during the summer after suncream is one item you will need to take.

It can get warm during the summer months in Germany, which means your skin can get damaged by the sun if you’re not careful.

While after suncream won’t reverse the effects of sunburn, it will help to soothe your skin.

Even if you don’t get sunburnt during the day, applying it afterwards is a good idea to keep your skin fresh and supple!

Bamboo Toothbrush

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03/09/2024 04:57 am GMT

A bamboo toothbrush is a great item to have if you want to reduce your impact on the planet while travelling.

One of the downsides of plastic toothbrushes is that they often end up in landfills or the ocean when we are done with them.

Using a bamboo toothbrush, this is no longer a problem.

Once you have finished using the toothbrush, you simply dispose of it in a compost bin or even put it in a garden.

Bamboo decomposes and poses no threat to the environment.

Not only will you be keeping your teeth, but you’ll be helping the environment too!

Suncream

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02/18/2024 07:51 pm GMT

Suncream should be an item you take wherever you go if you’re travelling during the summer.

Sunburn is one of the leading causes of skin cancer, and if you don’t take care of your skin, you could end up looking like a lobster.

Including suncream on your Germany checklist is a necessity if you want to keep your skin protected.

I would advise taking suncream of factor 30 or above to ensure you’re not exposing yourself to too much risk!

Deodorant Cream

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02/18/2024 08:00 pm GMT

Deodorant cream is one of the items that I regularly take with me no matter where I am travelling.

Conventional deodorant often comes in plastic, which is hard to recycle.

This cream comes in a recyclable tin and is much more friendly towards the environment.

To use the cream, you simply unscrew the top, dab your fingers and then put them under your armpits.

It’s that simple!

The cream will last longer than conventional deodorant, which helps you and the environment at the same time!

Solid shampoo

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03/10/2024 02:31 am GMT

Solid shampoo is one of the best items to pack for Germany if you want to save space in your bag.

Normal shampoo and conditioner bottles take up a lot of space in your backpack.

Not only are they made from plastic, but they can also leak. The last thing you want is shampoo and conditioner all over your clothes!

With solid shampoo, you don’t have this problem. The solid bar means you won’t have any leakages in your bag.

Plus, it works just as well as normal shampoo!

As well as the above, these are a few more items, that you can’t leave off your packing for Germany checklist!

Other

Camera

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03/07/2024 11:20 pm GMT

A camera is one item you shouldn’t leave behind on any trip, not just to Germany!

Smartphones have better and better cameras, but if you want to take top-quality photos you will need an actual camera.

The Nikon D5500 is one of the best in the business. It’s a DLSR camera and the quality of the photos outdoes anything you would get on even the latest models of smartphones.

If you want to take your photography game up a notch and get some fantastic shots of Germany in the process, buying a Nikon is the way to go!

Kindle

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02/18/2024 11:15 pm GMT

I love reading books while I’m travelling, but there is just one problem.

Books take up a lot of space and can weigh you down after a while.

If you’re only taking one book, that’s not an issue. But, when you have more than one, it becomes difficult to fit them in your backpack.

A Kindle is a great investment to make if you like reading. You can store the books in a digital format and save space in your backpack at the same time.

They fit into your bag easily and are slim and portable. They are a lot more convenient to travel with than books!

Laptop

If you need to work and travel at the same time, you will need to take a laptop with you to Germany.

A laptop can also keep you in contact with your family and friends if you plan on being away for a long time.

One of the best laptops for travel is the MacBook. They are lightweight, portable laptops, which fit easily into your bag without taking up too much space.

They may cost a bit more than other laptops, but they last a long time which makes them an ideal investment!

German Phrasebook

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03/07/2024 09:26 pm GMT

While Germany has one of the highest levels of English literacy in the world, this isn’t always the case throughout the country.

You will have no problem finding English speakers in big cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, but if you venture to rural and smaller towns, you may have some difficulty being understood.

Taking a German phrasebook with you is a handy item to have. While it won’t make you fluent in German, you should be able to learn enough to help you get by in most situations.

There are a few similarities between German and English, so once you start speaking, you’ll find yourself becoming more and more comfortable!

Travel Insurance

SafetyWing logo


Travel insurance is one of the most important things you need before any trip.

As a wise man once said, if you can’t afford insurance, you can’t afford to travel!

Germany is a safe country on the whole, but there is always a chance something can wrong no matter where you are!

By having a travel insurance policy, you have peace of mind that doing something goes wrong, you are covered. I use SafetyWing, as they are tailored towards backpackers and more active travellers.

Make sure you have insurance before you leave!

Lonely Planet Guide

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03/07/2024 09:51 pm GMT

If you’re looking for ideas on what you can do in various places around Germany, getting the Lonely Planet guide is a good idea.

The books are full of information about what you can do, where you can go, and where to stay.

You will often discover places in the book that you had never considered visiting before!

Getting the Lonely Planet Guide is a good idea before you embark on your trip, so you can do a little research and find out where you want to go!

What Not to Pack For Germany

One of the worst things you can do when travelling is to pack too much.

It’s easy to forget that your bag goes wherever you go. If it is full of stuff you’re not going to use, it will weigh you down and be a nuisance.

One of the best travel packing tips is to only take what you need. Pack light. If you need anything, you can always buy it when you are in Germany. Although, I doubt you will need to if you’re on a short trip.

Below are a few items I would leave out of your Germany packing list.

  • Flip-flops – Germany isn’t the most tropical country, and there is a scarcity of beaches. Flip-flops are an item you don’t need to pack for Germany. They will just take up space in your bag and they can be uncomfortable if you walk around in them all day.
  • Valuables – While you will need to take your passport and phone with you, I would take as few important items as you can with you. The last thing you want is to lose them while you’re travelling around. If you need to take valuables with you, ensure they are locked away when you go out during the day.
  • Suitcase – The last thing you want to be doing during your trip to Germany is carrying around a big suitcase with you. They are clunky and awkward to travel with. A backpack or daypack is all you need depending on how long you are travelling around Germany.
  • Books – As I mentioned above, books are fantastic, but they take up a lot of space when you’re travelling. I would avoid taking more than one book with you. They will weigh you down and take up space in your backpack that you could need in the future.

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What to pack for Germany

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Ryan Biddulph

Friday 21st of December 2018

Snazzy wear Tom. Definitely need a bit of range to handle mild temperature swings, depending on the time of the year.

Tom

Friday 21st of December 2018

You certainly do Ryan. Temperatures can plummet in Germany during the colder months.

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