Germany Packing List

The short version

Rain gear you will actually carry, shoes that survive cobbles, layers rather than one warm thing, and more coins than you think. Germany is a walking country with excellent public transport, which in practice means you will cover more ground on foot than you planned to.

Rain, in any month

There is no dry season here. Pack a hooded waterproof shell rather than an umbrella if you are choosing one, because German weather in the north and west arrives with wind. A shell that packs into its own pocket gets carried; a good coat left at the hotel does not.

If your trip includes the uplands or the Alps in summer, assume a thunderstorm is possible on any afternoon and pack so that being caught in one is uncomfortable rather than serious.

Shoes, and why this is the entry that matters

German old towns are cobbled, the stations are long, and the distances inside a single museum complex are longer than they look. One pair of broken in walking shoes with a real sole will do more for the trip than anything else in the bag. If you are going into the mountains, that is a second pair of shoes rather than the same ones.

Layers, because altitude changes the day

A valley morning and a ridge afternoon are two different climates, and Germany lets you do both before dinner. Three thin layers beat one thick one, because you can take them off on a train. A warm hat and light gloves are worth their space from autumn to late spring even if the cities are mild.

⚠ Cash, coins and the small stuff

Germany runs on more cash than most visitors expect, so carry some, and specifically carry coins. Public toilets, luggage lockers, parking machines and some market stalls want them, and a card is no help at any of those. The money detail is on our currency and money guide; the packing consequence is a small zipped pocket you can reach without opening the whole bag.

A reusable water bottle is worth carrying: tap water is fine and you will be walking.

Documents, and what to carry rather than leave

It is not a legal requirement to carry identification in Germany. What the advisory records is the consequence of not having it: if you cannot show identification when asked, the police can escort you to get your passport. So the practical answer is to carry the passport and to keep a photograph of the data page on your phone and a paper copy in a different bag.

That habit also covers you on the rest of a European trip, where the rule is different. Austria requires by law that you have your passport within quick reach, and the Netherlands requires identification from the age of fourteen. Our travel safety guide sets out the difference.

Carry your travel insurance details rather than only the policy number, and if your trip includes skiing, climbing or paragliding, check before you pack that the policy names mountain rescue, helicopter costs and repatriation.

Medication

Bring what you need in its original labeled packaging with a copy of the prescription. The legal status and regulation of some medicines differs between countries, so a drug that is routine at home may not be here, and that is a question to settle before you fly rather than at a pharmacy counter.

Adapters and power

Germany uses the round two pin European plug and 230 volts. Most phone and laptop chargers handle that range, and the label on the charger will tell you: if it says it accepts a range that includes 230 volts, you need a plug adapter and not a converter. Check the label rather than guessing.

What not to pack

• Meat and milk products. You cannot bring them into European Union countries. That includes the sandwich you made for the flight.
• Anything that needs declaring that you would rather not declare. The rules on goods are strict and the airports enforce them.
• A separate smart outfit for every evening. Germany is less formal than visitors expect and one set of clothes that works in a good restaurant is enough.

Verify Before You Travel

• The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Germany entry requirements page, for what you may and may not bring in.
• The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Germany health page, for traveling with medicines.
• Your insurer, for whether the policy covers what you intend to do.

Sources

• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Germany travel advice: no advisory against travel to any part of the country. Accessed 16 September 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Germany safety and security: the terrorism assessment, the counterfeit currency warning, the personal identification rule and the winter sports advice. Accessed 16 September 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Germany health: the emergency medical number, the eight week vaccination window and the altitude warning. Accessed 16 September 2026.