What should I pack for Berlin?

Shoes matter more in Berlin than in most European capitals. The cobblestones in Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg are uneven basalt sets from the 1800s, and a full day between Museum Island and Kreuzberg covers 18-22 km on foot. Thin-soled sneakers will leave your feet throbbing by Alexanderplatz. Bring shoes with thick soles and real cushioning, the kind rated for 20+ km days. The walk from Brandenburg Gate to the East Side Gallery alone is 5.5 km, and the gravel-and-stone paths through Tiergarten's 210 hectares add up fast. Berlin is not a heels city. Even at restaurants along Kantstraße in Charlottenburg, you'll see people in clean trainers and a decent jacket. Pack two pairs if you can. One comfortable walking shoe for the 15,000-step museum days, one slightly dressier flat for dinner in Mitte.

Berlin's continental climate means the temperature swings catch people off guard. A June morning at Mauerpark flea market might start at 12°C with damp air rising off the Landwehr Canal, and by 3 PM near Potsdamer Platz it's 26°C and dry. Even in summer, pack a light fleece or merino layer for evenings along the Spree, where the wind off the water drops the feel by 4-5°C. Rain shows up about 170 days a year in Berlin, often without much warning. A packable rain shell weighs under 200g, takes less space than an umbrella, and works better when you're cycling, which you likely will be. Berlin has over 620 km of bike lanes, and rental bikes from Nextbike currently cost around €1 to unlock plus €1 per 15 minutes. Nextbike stations sit every 300-400 meters across Friedrichshain and Mitte.

Cash is the single most underestimated Berlin packing item. This is not Amsterdam or London. Many restaurants in Kreuzberg and Neukölln, including popular spots like Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap on Mehringdamm, still have "Nur Bargeld" (cash only) signs on the door. Carry €50-100 per person per day, or locate the Sparkasse ATMs beforehand, which charge around €3.95 per foreign-card withdrawal. Your phone adapter needs to be a European Type F round-pin plug for Germany's 230V/50Hz outlets. One adapter covers you across the continent. A portable charger is worth the bag space since Google Maps navigation through Berlin's S-Bahn and U-Bahn transfers drains most phones by mid-afternoon. Free Wi-Fi in stations is limited to Deutsche Bahn's 30-minute sessions at major hubs like Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

Skip packing toiletries, sunscreen, and over-the-counter medications. DM and Rossmann drugstores appear on nearly every commercial block in Berlin, and German drugstore prices run 30-50% below US equivalents on most items. A 200ml bottle of Nivea sunscreen costs about €5.50 at DM compared to $12-15 for the same size stateside. Ibuprofen (400mg, 20 tablets) runs about €2.50 at any Apotheke. Umbrellas cost €4-6 at any Späti, Berlin's corner shops that stay open late and appear every 2-3 blocks in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Mind you, one thing you will not find cheaply here is American-style solid-stick deodorant. German pharmacies stock mostly roll-ons and sprays, so bring your preferred brand from home. If you plan to visit clubs like Tresor on Köpenicker Straße, pack dark, minimal clothing. Berghain's door staff at Warschauer Straße have been turning away visitors in bright outfits since 2004.