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Visiting Berlin in the spring or fall is a great way to see the city with fewer crowds. But it also means dealing with more variation in weather, which can pose a packing challenge. Spring and fall in Berlin can be warm and sunny or cold and rainy, so it’s best to come prepared. And you can almost always count on wind in spring or fall.
Berlin is a city of all types of people from businessmen in suits to hipsters in ironic t-shirts and people covered in tattoos sporting green hair. Because of this, I don’t feel like you need to dress in a certain style to fit in. In fact, one of the reasons I like Berlin so much is that I can simply be myself. So if you like wearing dresses, wear dresses, but if you’re a jeans and t-shirt girl, that’s fine too.
Clothing
Dress in a way that makes you comfortable, and keep in mind what types of activities you want to do. Bring something appropriate for a club if you want to check out the nightlife, or pack a few nicer outfits if you want to explore the more posh side of town.
Always check the weather as it gets close to your departure date. If your trip to Berlin is in March or November, there’s always a chance it could end up snowing. Early spring and late fall can often feel like winter, especially if you’re used to warmer climates.
If you prefer dresses, pack one or two and consider reducing the number of t-shirts. In this case, I’d also pack a cardigan for layering and tights.
- 1-2 pairs of jeans
- 5 t-shirts
- 2 long-sleeved shirts
- 1 light-weight jacket, bonus points if it doubles as a rain jacket
- 1 warm scarf – depends on the exact time of your visit, but if it’s 45F and windy, you’ll be glad to have it
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 3-4 pairs of socks
- 2 bras
Layers are key here since the weather can be all over the place in spring and fall.
Shoes
I can’t stress this enough. Just be yourself. This isn’t one of the European cities where you’ll be shunned for wearing sneakers. I wear sneakers everyday. If you want to walk around in 4 inch heels, just be aware of the cobblestones. You could probably walk around in fuzzy bunny slippers and no one would blink.
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
- 1 pair of cute shoes like ballet flats or heels if your wardrobe requires them
- 1 pair of flip flops if you’re staying in a hostel
Toiletries
There really isn’t anything out of the ordinary here. Pack your normal toiletries and you should be fine. If you need something while you’re there, you can find it at almost any drug or grocery store.
- Shampoo, conditioner, soap/shower gel
- Make-up
- Moisturizer
- Lip balm
- Lotion
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Solid perfume
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hair brush and hair ties
- Prescription medications
Accessories
Accessories are an easy way to dress up an outfit without adding much to your luggage. What you bring will depend on how you like to dress.
- Jewelry – nothing expensive
- A fun scarf
- Sunglasses – just in case you get lucky and visit on a sunny day
- Umbrella – because really, it’s much more likely to rain
- Day pack or purse
Electronics
- Camera
- Smartphone
- E-reader
- European plug adapter
- Chargers, cords, and batteries
I also suggest downloading the VBB app on your phone (free and works in English) or use the BVG website to can easily check transport routes. If you don’t have a data plan that works in Germany, plan your route while you’re on WiFi. The transport system is really extensive in Berlin.
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This is great! I’m an italian girl and i’m going to Berlin with my girlfriend for a 1-week trip in the middle of november, this is the first time we’ll travel together and we’re so excited we’re already thinking about what to pack 😀 we both decided we want to travel light with just two small carry on suitcases (leaving plenty of space for things we’d like to buy there), this is probably easier for her as she always wears jeans and t-shirts and not even a hint of make-up while i’m your typical girly-girl who likes dresses, heels and lipstick. I’m really trying hard not to bring things i don’t use on a daily basis and accessorizing a little bit in order to dress-up the very few comfortable clothes i’m bringing with me for walking around museums and monuments, since i do not want to carry fancy dresses and heels which i’ll probably just use once or twice (or maybe not at all!!)
Right now, my list is something like this (i won’t wash my clothes while travelling):
4-5 long sleeved shirts
1 pair of comfortable skinny jeans
1 flared skirt
1 zipped sweater
1 denim shirt
1 warm long sleeved dress
1 pair of warm leggings
1 lightweight warm scarf
1 hat
1 pair of ankle boots (very comfortable for walking but still cute enough for evening)
1 pair of flip flops (to use in the apartment)
1 pajama
1 long fluffy super-warm coat (kinda heavy but i’ll probably use it everyday and wear it on flight to save space&weight)
8 pair of underwear
2 bras
6 pairs of socks
Everything is in the same color palette (grey, black and white with an hint of crimson and berry)
Do you think I’m overpacking? I really don’t want to go overweight but i still want to look nice and have a few options!
I forgot to say i do not own any rain jacket since i do not like them, so i’m just bringing an umbrella in my purse along with my sunglasses 🙂 (sorry if i made some mistakes, i’m pratically self-taught when it comes to english!)
Hi Francesca, sorry for the late reply! I think your list looks good, especially if you don’t want to do laundry while you’re there. The comfortable shoes are definitely important. Berlin’s transport system is great, but you will still end up doing a lot of walking, and in some places the roads or sidewalks are cobbles, so heels would be miserable. I would personally pack just a few items less, but then I’m also a jeans and t-shirt girl and I never wear skirts, so that’s just my preference. Layers are key, especially in November when it is likely to be cold. As long as you can fit all of this comfortably into your bag, you should be fine. Enjoy the city!
I am going to The Bahamas until the end of March 2016, then I fly directly to Berlin. I have not bought a round trip ticket therefore plan to stay at least six months. I have a very casual job when I arrive.
I am really stressing how to pack. I am very small and weigh under 100 lbs. so I can not carry a very large suitcase.
I am thinking of sending a box to Germany. Any comments??
I have traveled a lot over the years. I always had my husband to help with the heavy suitcases. I lost my husband last yr. so I am on my own. I always seem to overpack.
Any advise anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Karen, I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I think mailing a box to Germany could work as long as you have an address to send it to. Don’t pack anything in there that still has tags on it or is still in the wrapper or has an invoice with it or anything like that. Since packages will go through customs, anything that appears “new” will be taxed. But if you’re mailing your own clothing, shoes, etc. you’ll be fine. When you send the box, you’ll have to fill out a form and one of the questions is usually about the value of what you’re sending, so put a low number on it.
Another thing to remember is that you can buy anything you need in Germany, especially in a big city like Berlin. There are plenty of malls for buying clothes and stores where you can buy a hair dryer, toiletries or whatever else you need. Even for 6 months, you don’t need as much as you think you do, and there’s certainly no reason to pack everything you would need for that long.
I hope this helps!
Thanks! This is really extensive and helpful 🙂