Germany
Pack light trousers or shorts, along with t-shirts and light long-sleeve shirts for summer. Long-sleeve shirts offer Sun protection during the day and warmth for cooler evenings or at higher elevations. A Packable waterproof jacket is necessary for sudden thunderstorms.
Sauerland has no strict dress codes for general tourism. Modest casual wear works for most settings. When visiting churches or other religious sites, cover your shoulders and knees.
Comfortable Walking shoes or Sneakers for exploring towns, museums, and easy trails. You will walk a lot, so comfort matters.
For marked trails, waterproof Hiking shoes or boots are highly recommended. These provide ankle support, grip on uneven surfaces, and protection from wet conditions. Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoes offer good support and waterproofing.
Insulated, waterproof winter boots with good grip are necessary for snow and ice. They keep your feet warm and dry while preventing slips. Sandals or Water shoes protect your feet around lakeside areas and for swimming.
Carry both physical and digital copies of your most important papers. Missing documents lead to denied entry. Prepare all required documents carefully.
Germany uses Type F (Schuko) and Type C plugs. The standard voltage is 230V at 50Hz. A Universal travel adapter with surge protection is highly recommended to charge your devices safely.
A mirrorless or DSLR camera captures Sauerland's landscapes and historical sites with high quality. For convenience, a Compact travel camera or even your Smartphone camera can suffice. Bring extra batteries and sufficient memory cards.
Utilize cloud storage services (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud) for backing up photos and important documents.
Download offline maps for navigation in areas with limited connectivity.
Consider VPN services (NordVPN, ExpressVPN) for secure internet access.
A prepared health kit manages minor ailments. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription medications for your entire trip, plus a few extra days' worth in case of delays.
Sauerland's elevations are moderate, so altitude sickness is not typically an issue. Motion sickness remedies might be useful if you are prone to it on winding roads.
Waterproof hiking boots (see Section 3.1). Hiking poles are useful for stability and reducing strain on knees.
A Cycling helmet (mandatory for children, recommended for adults), cycling shorts for comfort on longer rides, and Cycling gloves.
If visiting Winterberg in winter, prepare for snow sports.
These items improve your comfort, security, and general preparedness.
Embrace sustainability by bringing reusable items.
Reduces waste from single-use cups.
For meals on the go, avoiding plastic.
Less plastic, liquid restrictions friendly.
For groceries and souvenirs.
Pack smart by rolling clothes to save space and reduce wrinkles. Use packing cubes for organization and compression.
Keep essential items (medications, documents, a change of clothes) in your carry-on luggage in case checked luggage is delayed.
