Getting ready for your European vacation? These Germany outfits are inspired by my own summer visits! I’ll be covering what I love to wear, what I wish I packed, and what you should completely skip. Hopefully, my Germany outfit guide will give you some insight and fun ideas for your own packing list.
Planning a Trip to Germany
Obviously, your own Germany packing list will change slightly based on the time of year you’re visiting. These Germany outfit ideas are mostly for the summer, but could definitely be used in the spring and fall as well.
If you’re planning a trip during the winter season, then be sure to check out our favorite Germany Christmas Market outfits!
☀️ Summer is an underrated time of year to visit. Yes, it will be busy. From our experience though, the crowds aren’t as crazy as you will find in other European countries. This is especially true of popular destinations such as Lake Como or Santorini Greece in the summer months.
🏔 You will most likely start in one of the major German cities if traveling from abroad. Berlin and Frankfurt are nice, but we much prefer Hamburg, Dusseldorf, or Munich if possible! Also, look into the smaller towns along the Romantic Road and Alpine Road before your visit.
🚂 We usually opt for the high speed trains (check routes) over flights to get around the country. The train system is amazing in Germany and makes many of the beautiful small villages accessible.
🚙 Check out this company for the best prices if you’re planning to rent a car. We recommend avoiding the autobahn highway and taking a slower drive on the back country roads if you can.
♥️ Always have travel insurance for your trip abroad. We personally use SafetyWing and they have been there whenever we need them.
Colors That Work With Germany Outfits
Compared to other places in Europe, your Germany outfits don’t need to be flashy and loud. I’m not saying don’t wear it if that’s your normal style, but it won’t be what you typically see outside of the bohemian neighborhoods of Berlin.
Solid colors are very common that are somewhat muted. Think forest green, camel, black, soft red, grey, white, and navy.
When picking shirts or dresses for your Germany packing list, go with patterns along the same lines. Honestly, Germany doesn’t do anything over the top when it comes to style.
You will see people dressed very nicely in well-fitted clothing, but they stay subtle and comfortable. Remember that cities can be slightly different than in the smaller towns, which we will get into soon!
6 Germany Outfits For Your Packing List
1. Big City Exploring
As we mentioned, most of our adventures start in the major cities of Germany. Think about practical comfort when packing for your days here. A nice pair of shorts and solid top always looks good.
One thing that you might not expect is that wearing sneakers outside of fitness isn’t common. You can opt for some street shoes or even leather ones if you want to fit in.
I tend to go for a cross body bag (like this) or something that I can easily keep my valuables for days in the city. Jake normally has a small backpack when we plan to be out for the whole day to keep random essentials like water, and things we might buy.
While Germany is generally considered a very safe country, it’s still important to be aware of petty theft like you would anywhere else.
→ 17 Amazing Things to do in Cologne Germany
2. Germany Outfit Ideas for Travel Days
We definitely opt for trains in Germany over flights. The longest route we did on our last visit was taking the 4 hour high speed train from Hamburg to Frankfurt.
You WILL still want to be comfortable even for short train rides. Something like a loose shorts and casual shirt will work.
However, I often wear very loose linen pants and have a sweater that I can easily grab. Trains, flights, and long distance buses are almost always air conditioned when it’s warm out. This is just something to keep in mind for your Germany summer outfits!
It’s also important to know where your luggage goes on the train. If you have small travel bags (these are our favorite), then those can normally go above.
Yet, for larger suitcases you’ll have to stack them in the designated zones near the doorways. Always have a lock for your bags! Something simple like this will be perfect to protect your Germany outfits and valuables.
3. Active Germany Summer Outfits
One of the reasons we love visiting Germany is for the great outdoors. So after a day or two in the big cities, we head for the smaller and more rural towns.
One year we spent a month in the Moselle Valley, and it was hands down one of the our favorite summers ever! Check out towns like Zell, Traben-Trarbach, Reil, Beilstein, and Bernkastel-Kues for a mix of wineries and stunning hikes. Taking a cycling trip with a company like Boat Bike Tours is also a fun way to see the area.
It’s smart to pack Germany outfits for bike riding and hiking that you can work up a sweat in. I still stick to more natural colors, such as navy or black shorts, and a comfortable cotton shirt.
→ 8 Magical Small Towns on the Moselle River Germany
4. Strolling Through the Small Towns
I’ve spoken a lot about simple and natural colors already in this Germany outfit guide. Nevertheless, I love going for something a little more bold and fun, too!
Long flowing dresses look beautiful with the unique architecture you’ll come across. You’ll obviously want to wear something pretty on Queen Mary’s Bridge with the famous Neuschwanstein Castle behind you!
With that said, many of the best lookouts and viewpoints do require a steep hike to get to. That’s why you’ll want to consider activewear vs extravagant dresses depending on where you’re going in Germany.
5. Swimwear for Thermal Parks
If you didn’t know already, Germany is one of the best places in the world for thermal spas. No trip of ours is complete without visiting at least one! There are even entire towns like Baden-Baden that our renowned for this.
Spring, fall, and of course winter are the ideal times to soak in the thermal waters. These spas are massive complexes that also have cafes and restaurants attached. You can even go in the summertime during the morning or night before it gets too hot.
Remember to add a bathing suit, flip flops, and towel to your Germany packing list. Some places may require a swim cap as well for certain spa pools.
Also, don’t forget about the beautiful lakes when packing your Germany summer outfits. The clear and pristine Bavarian waters of Eibsee and Königssee are so amazing to experience!
6. Germany Outfits For Casual Nights Out
Another great thing about summer in Germany is that the sun doesn’t set until almost 9:30 at night. We recommend having a thin layer with you when you plan to be out late.
You could bring something thicker if you are going to be up in the mountains. I normally pack a thin sweater to put on, or a long-sleeve overshirt.
Once again, going out at night is similar to the day time. It’s not common to change into any flashy or glamarous ballgowns. Keep your Germany outfits simple and practical from day to night.
Have any questions about this article or want to share more fun Germany outfit ideas? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Pin for Later ↓
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
