15+ Things We Take on Every Germany Trip

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer policy.

We recently took stock of the most useful items we always bring on our trips to Germany (and beyond) and compiled them in the list below. We highly recommend each and every item on this list!

Quick Answer

Here are the top items we use every single day while traveling in Germany and beyond. Keep reading for more info about each item.

✅ For our phones:
Our favorite power bank
Our favorite European plug adapter (works in multiple countries)
Cate uses this phone wrist strap and Aaron uses this phone case + wrist strap

✅ For our toiletries:
These are our favorite flat-pack refillable pouches for shampoo, conditioner, etc
We’ve used this TSA approved liquids bag for years
These mesh bags are so handy for keeping things like toiletries, meds, cords organized

✅ Luggage & day bags:
Cate uses this cross-body bag and Aaron this backpack as our day bags
We just got this travel backpack for Cate and this one for Aaron. We’ll update on how we like them after our next research trip!
These clips are perfect for adding a little extra security to your travel purse, day bag or backpack

✅ Other essentials:
We always carry this travel umbrella
We use these insoles and these insoles to make walking all day more comfortable
We store these foldable and reusable shopping bags in our day bags for groceries, laundry, etc.
This small cutting board and foldable kitchen knife come in so handy when we want fresh veggies, fruit, etc

1. Phone Must-Haves

To Keep Your Phone Charged All Day (Power Bank)

If you take photos or videos with your phone, a power bank is a must because your phone WILL run out of battery halfway through the day. We have this one and use it every single day to keep both of our phones (and my Air Pods) charged on the go. It’s powerful enough to charge both of our phones yet it’s small and light enough that we don’t mind carrying it with us each day. And it takes both USB-C and USB-A. Can’t recommend it enough!

→ See the phone power bank we use every day.

To Charge Your Tech in Germany (European Plug Adapter)

Germany uses different voltage and outlet plugs, so if you’re taking any electronic items with you, you’ll need an outlet adapter. We use this European plug adapter because it’s compact and lightweight, comes with adapters for multiple countries that you can slide on and off the base, and we can charge all of our tech with just this one adapter. We love it!

→ Check out our favorite European plug adapter.

To Prevent Phone Loss & Theft (Phone Wrist Strap)

Do you ever worry about dropping your phone, setting it down and forgetting it in a bathroom or restaurant or having it snatched out of your hand – and then losing everything on your phone forever? We do – and that’s why we started using wrist straps to keep our phones more secure. We now won’t travel without one! Aaron uses this wrist strap that attaches to this phone case, and I use this one that attaches to my existing phone case.

→ Check out the phone wrist strap and this phone case + wrist strap we use every day.

Make Using Your Phone Easier (Pop Socket)

If you take photos or videos with your phone, get a Pop Socket! It’ll make it easier to grip your phone, keep it steady when shooting video, and you’ll be less likely to drop it. We both have one on our phones.

→ Check the price on Pop Sockets.

Present Losing Your Photos (Portable Hard Drive)

We back up our photos and videos to this lightweight portable solid state hard drive every evening while we’re traveling. We found backing up our photos and videos to the cloud while we were on hotel and Airbnb wifi too slow but it’s quick and easy with this portable hard drive. We have a 2 TB hard drive and a 4 TB hard drive, as well as this carrying case to keep it safe.

→ Check out the 2 TB hard drive, 4 TB hard drive, and carrying case we use to back up travel photos and videos.

2. Toiletries & Packing Liquids

TSA Bag For Toiletries

I’ve been using this carry-on liquids bag for several years and got Aaron one a couple years ago. It’s perfect for any 3oz liquids you need to take on the plane because it’s TSA approved (and durable). You actually get a set of 3 bags and the other 2 are handy for organizing smaller items. We use one bag for our travel first aid kit, for example. These pouches come in several designs and colors.

→ Check out our favorite TSA approved liquids bag.

Refillable Pouches for Shampoo and More

I was a loyal GoToob user for years until I stumbled across these refillable pouches a few years ago – and now they’re my favorite. Easy to (re)fill, you can label each pouch so there’s no mixing up your shampoo and conditioner, and because they’re flat, it’s easy to pack in our TSA-approved liquids bag. We’ve used them for 12 months of travel and they’ve never leaked.

→ Check out our favorite refillable shampoo pouches.

Mesh Toiletry Bags

I bought a set of these multicolored mesh toiletry bags last summer and use them to keep my make-up, personal items, cords, and lots of other little things organized. They’re lightweight, have held up well, and I love that it’s easy to see exactly what’s in each of them.

→ Check out this set of mesh toiletry and organization bags.

Mesh Laundry Bags

We do laundry when traveling so I always bring 1 or 2 of these mesh laundry bags so our socks don’t go missing!

Sunscreen

Aaron did a lot of research to find the best sunscreen and we’ve been using this one on our trips. Works great!

3. For Your Feet

Insoles

We typically walk 20,000+ steps a day when we travel and our feet were much happier when we started adding high quality insoles to our walking shoes! We each have sets of these insoles and these insoles.

Merino Wool Socks

Aaron started wearing these no show merino wool socks and these no show compression socks and he’s been very happy with them. He convinced me to try them, since I’ve been so disappointed with the no show Smartwool socks I’ve bought in the past few years (one pair didn’t even last 3 months). I’m now a fan of these merino wool socksI I’ve also been happy with these Smartwool knee socks – my secret weapon for staying warm in the winter (and these have held up much better than the no shows).

4. Clothes & Accessories

Merino Wool Cami

I wear this cami nearly every day when I’m traveling. It’s merino wool so it’ll keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter — and it doesn’t absorb oder like other fabrics. I’ve found the quality to be quite good and often wear this type of merino wool camis for a couple years before needing to replace them. I usually bring 2 when I travel. They’re great for extra warmth in the cooler months and they double as a tank top when it’s hot.

→ Check out this merino wool cami.

Merino Wool Shirts

Aaron ordered a couple new merino wool shirts before we left for Germany and he’s been super happy with them. Here’s what he liked:

• Short-sleeved t-shirt from Smartwool
• This short-sleved t-shirt from Meriwool
• This polo shirt from Meriwool
• This long-sleeved 1/4 zip pullover from Smartwool

Lightweight Scarf

I’ve used this lightweight scarf in the spring/summer as a light wrap, and in the fall/winter as a cozy scarf with my jacket or coat. It packs very small so it’s easy to carry (I keep mine in a small Ziplock bag so it doesn’t get snagged on anything) and it works well as an accessory and to stay warm in cooler weather. It comes in several colors.

→ Check the price on this lightweight scarf

Travel Umbrella

You never know when it’s going to rain in Germany so we’ve gotten a lot of use out of this travel umbrella. It’s lightweight enough that I don’t mind carrying it with me and it dries quickly.

→ Check the price on our favorite umbrella

4. Luggage and Day Bags

Our Travel Backpacks

We each just got a new backpack after sooooo much research and trying out various packs. Aaron got this pack in black and I got this one in teal. Aaron used his pack on a trip a few months ago and loves it. I haven’t gotten to use my new pack yet but I’m 99% sure I’m going to be very happy with it!

→ Check the price on Cate’s backpack
→ Check the price on Aaron’s backpack

Aaron’s Day Pack

Aaron started out using this day pack and while he loved it, after using it for 5+ months of continuous wear he discovered that it didn’t quite fit his tall frame. Now he uses this day pack he’s been very happy with it. He’s used it for several months of travel and it still looks good as new!

→ Check the price on this day pack

Cate’s Crossbody Day Bag

After months of looking for the perfect day bag to replace the one I’ve used for several years, I decided on this one. It’s definitely more practical than cute (sigh) but it’s also definitely comfortable to carry (both when there’s very little and a lot in it), has awesome pockets to keep me organized and my phone safe , and I like the neutral color. I also attach a couple of these clips to the zipper in case I want a little extra security.

I also use this little wallet because it has an o-ring I can attach to the key leash in my purse. Because my wallet is attached to the inside of my purse, I don’t worry about dropping it or having it snatched out of my bag.

→ Check the price on this crossbody purse
→ Check the price on these clips for extra security
→ Check the price on this wallet with an o-ring

Foldable Reusable Shopping Bags

We bring 2 reusable shopping bags every time we travel and use them for groceries, laundry, and much more. They pack down small and come in handy all the time. We use an older version of this brand.

→ Check the price on these reusable shopping bags

5. Other Useful Items

• We’ve started carrying a small cutting board and a foldable kitchen knife (must go in checked luggage on flights). Both have come in handy so many times to cut up fruit and veggies in our hotel room or Airbnb (some don’t come with a cutting board!!).
• Collapsible coffee dripper – we often use a collapsible coffee dripper to make coffee in hotels and Airbnbs (we buy fresh coffee to use with the dripper in Germany).
• Aaron always carries a few packets of this instant coffee for coffee emergencies. 🙂