Germany — GF Gone Global

What to Pack for Germany

Spring & Winter

GF Snacks & Essentials

Celiac travel card (German) A printed card explaining celiac disease and cross-contamination in German. English fluency varies more than you'd expect between the bigger cities and smaller towns like Dinslaken, so having it in German helps everywhere.
Nuts & crunchy snacks Protein-dense and shelf-stable for train days and long sightseeing stretches, and close to mandatory around Christmas markets, where GF stalls are rare to nonexistent.
Texas pecans Pistachios Edamame Crunchy corn
Bars & crackers Easy to toss in a daypack for museum visits, train rides, or long walks between meals.
KIND protein bars Simple Mills cheddar crackers
Condiment packets Worth carrying if sushi or other Asian food is on the itinerary — regular soy sauce contains wheat, and it's not always easy to find a GF substitute on the spot, so I carry tamari packets instead. PB packets turn any bread or fruit into a real snack.
Tamari packets PB packets
Backup GF meals Just-add-hot-water options for hotel kitchens on nights when GF dining falls through — especially worth having in Duisburg & Dinslaken, where there are virtually no dedicated GF restaurant options.
Instant GF noodles GF mac & cheese
Hydration & energy Electrolytes for long travel days, plus a caffeine boost for early train departures between cities.
Electrolytes Energy sticks

Travel Essentials

Documents & money Passport, ID, and any visa or entry paperwork Germany requires, plus cards and some cash. Photograph everything on your phone and leave a copy with someone at home, along with emergency contact details.
RFID card wallet Passport holder & organizer
Clothing basics Underwear, everyday socks, sleepwear, and a couple of casual outfits for evenings out, plus a sweater or sweatshirt as a mid-layer option beyond the technical pieces below. For shoes that aren't hiking boots or a rain shoe, something like this works well for everyday wear. My Pick: everyday shoes
Reusable water bottle Tap water is safe to drink throughout Germany, in every city on this page. My Pick
Toiletries Travel-size essentials for hotel bathrooms and shared showers — one less thing to shop for once you land. Round it out with any skincare, makeup, or period products you use daily.
Electric travel toothbrush Travel toothpaste (4-pack) Detangler hairbrush Shampoo & conditioner Body wash Lotion Sunscreen Contact solution Razor Toilet spray Hair ties Claw clip Hand sanitizer Deodorant Floss Lip balm Face wash Travel tissues Wet wipes
Travel medicine cabinet Small over-the-counter basics so a headache, allergy flare-up, or rough travel day doesn't derail the trip. Pack any prescriptions in their original bottles with a few extra days' buffer, plus bandages or blister treatment for the walking-heavy days.
Travel Advil Benadryl Dramamine
Bags & packing organization Keeps everything corralled and easy to pull out at airport security — or find in a shared hotel drawer. A plastic bag works fine for separating dirty laundry, no need to buy anything special there.
Makeup brush holder Hanging makeup bag Compression packing cubes Hardside carry-on 60L travel backpack 50L travel backpack Personal item daybag Luggage tags TSA-approved lock
Technology A portable charger for long days of sightseeing and navigating between train stations. Round out the tech bag with a charging cable, a wall charger for the hotel room, and an AirTag if you want to track your luggage.
Portable charger Multi-device charging cable Wall charger block AirTag
Hair styling tools Universal voltage on both, so they're safe to plug in anywhere — no separate converter needed.
Universal-voltage hair straightener Universal-voltage travel hair dryer

Optional
Travel laundry detergent Sink packets for handwashing essentials if the trip runs long enough to need a rewear. A stain remover pen and a travel-size fabric refresher cover the rest.
Detergent sheets Stain remover pen Febreze fabric refresher

Optional

Germany-Wide Essentials

EU power adapter (Type C/F) Germany uses the standard European two-pin plug nationwide. My Pick
Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Stuttgart all reward walking, but cobblestones in the older districts — especially Frankfurt's and Cologne's Altstadt — can be uneven. Sturdy, waterproof soles beat the everyday pick above. My Pick
Heavy winter coat If your trip falls in the Christmas-market window (roughly late November through December), expect temperatures near or below freezing in most of these cities, with hours spent outdoors. My Pick
Thermal base layers A merino base layer and softshell vest under your coat make a real difference on long market days, or exploring Duisburg's Landschaftspark in winter.
Merino base layer Softshell vest
Warm accessories (hat, gloves, scarf) The wind off the Rhine in Cologne and Düsseldorf, or along the Main in Frankfurt, cuts through fast in open squares and riverside walks — touchscreen gloves mean you're not stuck taking them off for photos.
Ear warmer headband Touchscreen gloves
Waterproof boots Rain, sleet, and occasional snow are all common across a German winter, and cobblestone streets get slick — also the pick for Duisburg & Dinslaken's Landschaftspark, which has uneven industrial terrain that calls for warmth and grip. My Pick
Hand warmers Cheap, disposable, and worth every cent for a long evening browsing outdoor Christmas markets in Cologne or Munich. My Pick
Rain jacket If you're visiting in spring, like a May trip to Berlin, Munich, or Frankfurt — spring showers are common, and a packable rain jacket saves the day. My Pick
Light layers For a spring visit — May weather in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt ranges from cool mornings to warm afternoons, a cardigan you can add or shed through the day covers it. My Pick
Sunglasses May brings long sunny days in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt, useful for outdoor sightseeing and flea markets. My Pick
Crossbody bag Pickpocket awareness in Berlin — keep valuables secure, especially at flea markets and on transit. My Pick
Flashlight or headlamp Duisburg & Dinslaken's Landschaftspark at night is atmospheric but dark in places — a small headlamp helps you navigate the park safely. My Pick

Flight Essentials

Only relevant if you're flying into Germany — skip this section if you're already local or connecting overland.

Sleep & comfort A proper neck pillow, a sleep mask that doubles as headphones, and real noise cancellation make a long flight actually restful.
Trtl neck pillow Sleep mask with headphones Bose noise-cancelling headphones

Optional
Compression socks Helps with circulation and swelling on longer flights, especially if you're connecting through a second airport to get here. My Pick
Optional
In-flight wellness Cabin air is dry and germy — small things that make arriving feel less rough.
Nasal spray Warm eye compress Antimicrobial face spray Hydrating face mask

Optional

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a car in Germany?

No, for most of this route — Deutsche Bahn's ICE network connects Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart directly, and Berlin and Munich are each a few hours further out by the same trains. Inside each city I got around on foot, tram, or U-Bahn/S-Bahn. Duisburg & Dinslaken is the exception: it's a smaller Ruhr Valley pairing with a more limited transit schedule, and I'd lean on a car or taxis there, especially for an evening visit to Landschaftspark.

Is Germany safe for celiacs?

Yes, overall, though it varies a lot by city. Germany scores 7/10 for GF friendliness, and Berlin, Munich, and Düsseldorf each have a dedicated 100% GF bakery and score 7/10 on their own. Frankfurt and Cologne are more moderate at 6/10 and 5/10, where steakhouse chains were my most reliable option. Duisburg & Dinslaken scored just 3/10 in my experience — I found no dedicated GF restaurants there and would pack food rather than count on finding it.

What's the best time to visit Germany?

It depends on what you're after. I visited Berlin in May, which gave long sunny days that worked well for parks and flea markets. I visited the rest of these cities — Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Duisburg & Dinslaken — in December for Christmas markets, and the atmosphere was worth the cold if you dress for it. If easy GF dining matters more to you than market season, I'd lean toward spring or summer, since December pushes a lot of eating outdoors to stalls with little to no GF labeling.

GF Friendliness

What to Pack for Germany

Frequently Asked Questions