Packing List for the Rhine Valley in Germany for Carry On Travelers
Are you wondering what to pack for the Rhine Valley in Germany? Between the two of us, we’ve been to this gorgeous region of Germany several times, so I’ve put together this Germany Rhine Valley packing list for carry on travelers to help you out. Whether you’re renting a car or taking trains, packing carry on only to visit the Rhine region is definitely doable. I even have tips for what to wear on a Rhine River cruise. The weather changes from season to season, so your packing list for the Rhine Valley will need to be adjusted for different times of the year.
The Rhine Valley is located in the western part of Germany, so it experiences all four seasons. My Rhine Valley packing list is mostly aimed at people visiting in late spring, summer, or early autumn. You certainly can visit in the winter, but some of the castles are closed in the winter, and there aren’t as many options for sightseeing cruises on the river.
Let’s take a look at what to pack for the Rhine Valley, especially for carry on travelers.
Rhine Valley Packing List: Essentials for Carry-On
The Rhine Valley is beautiful, and you’re likely to be spending at least some time outdoors here, even if it’s simply sitting on a boat or walking up a hill to a castle. It’s also a place where you probably don’t need to get dressed up. My carry on Rhine Valley packing list is based on these things to help you pack efficiently.
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Clothing
Plan your clothing choices for the Rhine Valley so that your pieces are practical and coordinate. Comfort is key when you’re hiking or even just hoofing it up a hill to see a castle. And even if you’re mostly interested in wine tasting, this is a pretty casual region, so there aren’t many places that will expect you to be dressed up.
If you’re visiting the Rhine Valley in spring or autumn, keep in mind that the weather can easily change from sunny to rainy and back again, even in the same day. It can rain in the summer, but it isn’t quite as frequent as in spring and fall.
I’m very open to re-wearing shirts, leggings, and jeans. In general, I don’t think one day is enough to get something so dirty that I can’t wear it another day, unless I’m doing serious hiking and getting really sweaty. This is one easy way to travel carry on only. It’s also reasonable to find a laundromat to do laundry or wash a couple of things in the sink if necessary.
Short sleeved shirts: Pack one for each day of your trip, plus or minus, depending on how open you are to re-wearing a shirt. Try these from Bluffworks: women’s crew neck | cute women’s cowl neck | men’s crew neck
Long sleeved shirt or hoodie: Since it does sometimes get a little chilly, it’s good to have one long sleeved shirt to wear over a short sleeved shirt. Most recently we were in the Rhine in April, and I was happy to have my hoodie most days.
Pants: 2-3 pairs of leggings or other casual light weight pants. I had one pair of jeans that I changed into to go to dinner in the evening.
Shorts: Spring and autumn are generally not warm enough to need shorts, but if you’re traveling in summer, it might get warm enough for shorts. Check the forecast right before you leave home in case there is a heatwave.
Light waterproof jacket: Spring and fall can be rainy in the Rhine Valley, and even if the day starts out sunny, don’t leave your hotel without your jacket.
Underwear: Pack one pair of underwear and one pair of socks for each day of your trip. Ladies, pack 2 or 3 bras for a one week trip. I love ExOfficio because they’re quick dry, which is great for travel.
Sleepwear: Pajamas, t-shirt and shorts, leggings…you know what you’re comfortable sleeping in.
Shoes: Pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, plus one other pair of shoes depending on your itinerary. Sandals or other casual shoes will work. Leave the high heels at home, they won’t do you any good on cobblestones and hills.
What to wear on a Rhine River Cruise
One of the popular ways of experiencing the Rhine Valley in Germany is by taking a Rhine River Cruise. Some people take a fully organized cruise that takes several days or even a week or so to explore this region. But you can also travel around on your own and do day cruises on the Rhine River.
Even on a Rhine River cruise, you’ll still want to pack comfortable, casual clothing for excursions to see the castles. But you’ll want to check with the river cruise company to see what their dress code is for dinners on the boat. Some don’t have a dress code, while others will require you to wear nicer clothing.
If this is the case with your cruise company, pack a couple of items that can be dressed up with accessories and things you can wear multiple times. No one will notice if you rotate the same two or three outfits for dinners each night of your cruise. Since you only have to wear these clothes for a couple of hours sitting at dinner, you can wear them several times before needing to wash them. Don’t let this stop you from traveling carry on only to the Rhine Valley.
How to Pack for a Week in a Carry On
How to Pack for 2 Weeks in a Carry On
Toiletries
Everyone has specific toiletries they like to use, but here’s my list of toiletries that help me pack carry on only.
Shampoo and conditioner: I love using solid shampoo and solid conditioner for travel and at home. But if you’re not ready to ditch your liquid versions, stay under the liquids limit by using these GoToob refillable bottles. | Read my reviews of Ethique solid shampoo for travel and Ethique solid conditioner for travel.
Shower gel or bar soap: Bar soap won’t count against the liquids limit.
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss: Keep those teeth clean! Did you know you can get solid toothpaste tabs like these to save even more space in your liquids bag? | Read my review of Hello Solid Toothpaste Tabs for Travel.
Contact solution and case: If you wear contacts, I also recommend bringing glasses as a backup.
Lotion: It can get windy in the Rhine Valley, which can dry your skin.
Deodorant: Everyone appreciates it when you don’t stink. I love this deodorant from Ethique. | Read my review of Ethique solid deodorant for travel.
Razor: If you have shaving needs, add a razor to your Rhine Valley travel packing list. | Learn more about bringing a razor on a plane.
Nail clippers and nail file: Leave the nail scissors at home since some security agents might confiscate them.
Brush and hair elastics: I usually prefer to have my hair up when I’m in windy places like the Rhine Valley.
Makeup: Pack your must-have makeup items, but you don’t need much. | Read more about bringing makeup on a plane.
Sunscreen: Important if you’re spending lots of time outside hiking or taking a day cruise on the Rhine River. Did you know you can get solid sunscreen? I love this one.
Laundry soap: If you plan on packing carry on only for the Rhine Valley, you might need to wash a few things along the way. I travel with this laundry soap, or if my liquids bag is really tight on space, I’ll use these laundry detergent sheets.
First aid items
Of course the towns in the Rhine Valley region have pharmacies and other stores where you can buy basic first aid items. But it’s always easier if you have a few things with you, plus if you’re visiting a remote castle, you might be a bit far from a store.
- Headache/Pain meds
- Bandaids and wound cream
- Immodium (hopefully you won’t need this)
- Allergy meds
- Prescription medications (always worth packing a few days extra)
- Bug repellent depending on when you’re traveling to the Rhine Valley (try this solid one)
If you do need a pharmacy while you’re in Germany, the word in German is Apotheke. The Tylenol equivalent is paracetamol, and the Advil equivalent is ibuprofen.
Electronics
Hopefully you can leave the laptop at home and relax while visiting Germany’s Rhine Valley region. Enjoy nature, go for a hike, sip some local wine, and take lots of photos.
Camera and accessories: These days I mostly use my iPhone to take pictures, but I’m so glad I took my Canon Rebel DSLR and zoom lens to the Rhine Valley. There are so many gorgeous landscapes to photograph, and I feel like my iPhone isn’t the best for distances, especially when it’s cloudy or overcast.
Kindle: Great for bringing as many books as you want to read on the flight to Germany.
Smart phone: This works well for photos if you don’t want to bring a camera.
European SIM card: Rather than deal with the hassles of trying to buy a local sim card when you arrive, get one ahead of time. Orange SIM cards work throughout the EU, including Germany. Choose between a normal SIM or an eSIM.
Chargers, cords, batteries: Make sure you pack any chargers, cords, and batteries you need for your electronics.
Plug adapters: Most of mainland Europe, including Germany, uses a two pronged electrical outlet. You’ll need a plug adapter like this one to make your devices fit.
Most electronics do not need a voltage converter unless you’re traveling to the Rhine Valley with a hair dryer, curling iron, or hair straightener. Even then, I highly recommend buying a dual voltage hair appliance before your trip because it’ll work better.
Can you bring a hair dryer on a plane?
Can you bring a curling iron on a plane?
Can you take a hair straightener on a plane?
Documents
Passport: US citizens do not need a tourist visa to visit Germany, but if you carry a passport from somewhere else, please check the embassy website for requirements.
It’s always a good idea to scan a copy of your passport and email it to yourself and to your emergency contact at home. Print a copy to have with you in case there’s an internet issue and you can’t access your scanned copy. Hopefully you’ll never need these backups, but you’ll be grateful to have them if your passport gets lots or stolen. It’s also worth getting a passport holder to protect your passport from bending, water damage, etc.
Credit and debit cards: Despite being a very modern country, Germany still loves its cash. It’s getting easier to pay by credit card, but there’s still a high chance of finding places that only accept cash. If a credit card machine or ATM asks if you want to use their exchange rate or let your bank choose it, or if it asks if you want to be charged in euros or your home currency, ALWAYS let your bank choose the exchange rate, and ALWAYS choose to pay in euros.
Driver’s license: If you plan on renting a car to explore the Rhine Valley, make sure you have your driver’s license. There are trains, so you can do a lot without a car, but having a car certainly gives you more flexibility. Get a quote for a rental car here, or check train schedules, routes, and prices on Deutsche Bahn here.
Other essential items to add to your Rhine packing list
Umbrella: In the Rhine region, especially during spring or autumn, it’s good to have a light weight travel umbrella in case of rain. But if it’s windy, a rain jacket will be even more useful.
Sunglasses: When the sun comes out, especially in the summer, you’ll be happy to have your sunglasses.
Water bottle: The tap water in Germany is safe to drink, so bring your own water bottle to refill to save money, and it’s good for the environment. Get a collapsible one like this that will take up less space in your bag.
Tissues: I always travel with a few packs of tissues.
Sleep mask and ear plugs: If you’re a light sleeper or you’re staying in hostels, a sleep mask and ear plugs will come in handy. Also keep in mind, in the summer in Germany, the sun comes up rather early.
Snacks: Knowing I’d be out all day exploring castles and other parts of the Rhine Valley, I brought a handful of granola bars with me to snack on. I’m a bit of an anxious person, so knowing I have a snack helps if lunch ends up being later than I’d like.
Rhine River Hotels and Transportation
What better place to splurge on a castle hotel than the Rhine Valley? Here are a few we’ve stayed at that I would recommend for your trip:
- Lieser Castle Hotel: Technically on the Moselle River but still in the same region, Andy and I recently stayed at this castle hotel, and it was a fantastic experience.
- Rheinfels Castle Hotel: This castle hotel is in St Goar on the Rhine River and right next to castle ruins. We also stayed here recently, and it was lovely.
And in case you’re traveling with a dog, both of these hotels allowed us to bring our dog, with a fee.
Germany’s Rhine Valley region is a great place for a road trip. Some of the castles are difficult to reach without your own wheels, and having a car will certainly give you more freedom and flexibility overall. If you’re thinking of renting a car, grab a quote for a rental car here.
But if you’d prefer not to drive, you can still do a lot using the trains. Check train schedules, routes, and prices on Deutsche Bahn here.
Hopefully my Rhine Valley Germany packing list is helpful for your trip to explore castles and wine in this region, especially if you’re interested in traveling with only carry on bags.
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