🇩🇪 Exchange Student Survival Guide – Part 2: Packing List

It took me a while, but here finally comes Part 2 XD — let’s take a look at what to prepare before departure!

📍 Background & Exchange Overview

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• Exchange Period: March 2025 – September 2025 (early spring to late summer)
• Location: Munich, Germany (capital of Bavaria, Southern Germany)

I went to Munich, Germany for one semester during the 2025 summer term. Although the semester officially started in April, I departed in early March. This period spanned from the cold, damp early spring to the hot summer, meaning I had to pack both heavy winter jackets and short-sleeve summer clothes.

This article is based on my pre-departure preparation and real-life experience after arriving in Germany. I’ve organized a practical packing checklist for exchange students to help you make smarter packing decisions.

What should you definitely bring from Taiwan? What can you buy after arriving in Germany? Most importantly, how do you maximize limited luggage weight and space while bringing what truly matters? I hope this gives you some inspiration.

🧳 My luggage setup:

• 29-inch checked suitcase (25 kg limit)
• One backpack (7 kg carry-on)
• One compact crossbody bag (for passport & valuables, anti-theft)

🧠 Core Packing Principles: Bring vs. Buy in Germany

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Everyone’s situation is different, but after living in Germany, I’ve summarized some key packing principles and real examples to help you decide whether to bring an item or buy it locally.

Bring from Taiwan

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• Essential documents & money: passport, international driver’s license, important documents, euros, credit cards…
• Asian lifestyle essentials: travel-size containers, foldable eco shopping bag, disposable facial towels, sealing clips, stationery, acne patches, pocket tissues, foldable hangers, reusable chopsticks, Taiwanese seasonings, EU adapters…
• Expensive to replace: winter coat, running shoes, Wi-Fi router, memory cards, contact lenses…
• Needed immediately upon arrival: small toiletry kit, toothbrush, towel, winter coat…
• Basic medicines: cold medicine, painkillers…

Buy in Germany

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• Daily consumables: toilet paper, detergent, shampoo, body wash…
• Kitchen & cleaning: cookware, plates, sponges, cleaning cloths, trash bags, mop…
• Supplements: Vitamin B complex, multivitamins (cheap and widely available at dm)…
• Home appliances: hair dryer, electric kettle…
• Some clothing: summer outfits, sportswear…

👉 If you want a relaxed and simple prep, this is probably enough.
👉 If you want detailed lists and specific recommendations → keep reading!

🎒 Detailed Packing List & Practical Advice

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Categories below (click to jump or scroll to 👉 Full Checklist):

• 📄 Essential Documents
• 👕 Clothing
• 🧴 Daily Items & Toiletries
• 💊 Medicine & Health
• 💻 Electronics
• 📦 Others

📄 Essential Documents

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Must-bring items include your passport (with visa), credit cards, debit cards, euros in cash, and copies of important documents, which can include your admission letter, dorm contract, flight confirmation, and military exit permit (if applicable).

You can refer to my 👉 Full Checklist for details.

I also brought photocopies of my passport and visa just in case.

📌 Practical Tips

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• Print all important documents and keep them in a document folder inside your carry-on bag.
• Before receiving your student ID, your admission letter can often serve as temporary proof of student status (e.g., for student tickets).
• Make sure your bank cards are enabled for overseas withdrawal and payments.
• Bring a few passport photos (I used one for the ESN card).
• If you plan to drive, bring both your international driver’s license and Taiwanese license.

👕 Clothing

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Prepare according to season and climate. During the summer semester in Munich, temperatures can range from 0°C in early spring to 30°C in peak summer.

📌 Practical Tips

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• It can feel as cold as a Taiwanese cold wave when you first arrive — bring sufficient warm clothing.
• Asian body sizes may not always fit European cuts well — bring enough long pants.
• Jeans are durable and practical for travel.
• Summer heat usually starts around mid-June; you can buy summer clothes later if needed.
• Sportswear and swimwear can be bought cheaply at Decathlon.
• Uniqlo did not have a store in Munich, and the nearest one was in Stuttgart. If you’re used to wearing Japanese-style thermal wear (e.g., Heattech), it’s recommended to bring them from Taiwan. (Update: Uniqlo opened its first Munich store in November 2025!)
• Functional shoes (waterproof, slip-resistant, insulated) or running shoes — if you plan to hike, do outdoor activities, or run regularly and don’t want to purchase new ones locally, it’s best to bring your own.
• Compression bags are extremely useful, especially for packing bulky items like down jackets and sweaters, as they can significantly save luggage space.

📦 The Actual Quantities I Packed

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• Heavy down jacket ×1
• Long-sleeve sweaters ×2, long-sleeve tops ×2, light jacket ×1
• Jeans ×2, lightweight long pants ×2
• Short-sleeve tops ×3, shorts ×2, sleep shorts ×2
• Sports outfit (top + shorts) ×1
• Thermal long-sleeve base layers ×3, short-sleeve undershirts ×2
• Underwear ×6, socks ×6
• Beanie ×1, scarf ×1
• Casual shoes ×1, functional shoes ×1, running shoes ×1
• Slippers ×1

🧴 Daily Items & Toiletries

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There are quite a lot of miscellaneous items in this section, and I’ve included quite a few practical suggestions. For full details, please refer to 👉 Full Checklist.

Most of these items can also be purchased in Germany, so you can decide whether to bring them from home or buy them locally. Some are more convenient to bring in advance, while others aren’t really necessary.

📌 Practical Tips

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• Bring essential toiletries for the first few days (toothbrush, toothpaste, bath towel, face towel). Although you can buy them in Germany, you may need them immediately upon arrival. It’s a good idea to pack a small tube of toothpaste and a travel toiletry kit.
• Bring a travel toiletry bag and small refill bottles from Taiwan. They’re very convenient for short trips when carrying shampoo or body wash. Remember that liquids in carry-on luggage must be under 100ml. Large bottles are generally unnecessary unless you have a specific brand preference — you can easily buy them in Germany and save luggage space. German drugstores like dm carry a wide variety of shampoo, body wash, conditioner, facial cleanser, lotion, lip balm, toothpaste, skincare products, sunscreen, and cosmetics.
• Bring laundry bags (one large and one small) and foldable hangers. They’re practical for drying towels when traveling. Regular hangers and drying racks can be purchased locally.
• Cleaning cloths, trash bags, and sponges can all be purchased at local dm stores — no need to bring them from Taiwan.
• Strongly recommend bringing a reusable shopping bag, preferably a foldable one. It’s very convenient for supermarket runs.
• A large-capacity duffel bag is optional depending on your needs. Later on, I got used to traveling with just one backpack — much lighter and easier. After seeing how budget airlines sometimes charge more for carry-on luggage than the ticket itself, you’ll quickly adapt to packing light. I used the large bag at the beginning for transporting bulky household and kitchen items.
• Food clips and rubber bands are highly recommended — you’ll use them often to seal food packages.
• Bring reusable chopsticks (super convenient for instant noodles). Other utensils like knives, forks, spoons, plates, and bowls can be purchased in Germany.
• A neck pillow was only useful for long-haul flights to and from Germany. For bus travel, I found it bulky and inconvenient, and it ended up sitting unused in my dorm room.
• If you wear contact lenses, bring enough supply. You can buy them here, but it’s better to bring the brand you’re used to. I personally wear them while traveling and regretted bringing only a 30-day supply — daily lens users should bring extra. If you use orthokeratology lenses, make sure to bring all necessary cleaning supplies.
• Bring a lock (combination padlock recommended). You’ll need it for hostel lockers. Choose one with a slightly larger shackle to ensure it fits.
• Pack extra pocket tissues. They’re available in Germany, but you may not like the type or find convenient pocket-sized packs easily.
• Disposable facial cleansing towels are compact and very useful if you need to stay overnight at the airport.

📎 Stationery – Recommended to Bring

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You can find stationery in Germany if you look carefully, but it’s usually more expensive and not always as convenient or high quality.

• Black / blue / red pens, mechanical pencil + extra lead
• Correction tape + refills, utility knife, scissors, tape, ruler
• Folders, paper clips, binder clips
• Scientific calculator (if required for exams)
• Blank A4 paper (some exams allow you to bring a cheat sheet)

Personally, I rarely used stationery since most things are digital nowadays — mainly just during final exams. However, there were moments when I felt very relieved that I had brought certain items (like folders, scissors, tape, and blank A4 paper) with me 😆

💊 Medicine & Health

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Getting sick abroad is the worst — especially during a 6-month stay.

📌 Practical Tips

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• Be sure to bring your personal prescription medications. As for basic over-the-counter medicines, it’s recommended to visit a pharmacy in Taiwan before departure and ask, “What medicines and quantities would you suggest for a six-month stay abroad?” Prepare everything at once. No one wants to get sick in an unfamiliar place and have to read German instructions or rush to a pharmacy at the last minute.
• Supplements such as vitamin B complex and multivitamins are affordable and widely available in Germany. You can bring a small supply from Taiwan to use at the beginning, and then restock at dm or Rossmann locally.
• You don’t need to bring too many face masks. I used fewer than ten over six months, mainly for flights or when I caught a cold.
• Bring your own acne patches. I didn’t specifically look for them in Germany, but they don’t seem easy to find.

🩹 Recommended Basic Medicine

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Cold medicine, stomach medicine, painkillers, altitude sickness pills, motion sickness pills, wound ointment, cotton swabs, band-aids, etc.

💻 Electronics

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Items in this category tend to be relatively expensive, so in most cases it’s recommended to bring them from Taiwan. One important thing to pay attention to is the issue of voltage and plug compatibility. For household appliances, it’s actually better to purchase them locally (👉 Should you bring a hair dryer?). I’ll explain this in more detail below.

📌 Practical Tips

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• Note that power banks and lithium batteries cannot be checked in and must be placed in your carry-on luggage.
• If you plan to take photos, it is recommended to bring your own memory cards from Taiwan, as they are more expensive in Europe.
• If you will be staying in hostels, some beds only provide USB-A ports, so it’s a good idea to prepare a USB-A cable as a backup.
• A Wi-Fi router depends on the dormitory’s network setup. Some rooms only provide an Ethernet port; if you prefer not to buy one locally, you may bring your own.
• A crossbody bag can hold a small charger and cables, making it convenient to use when there are power outlets available at airports or on trains.

🔌 Plugs & Voltage

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Europe uses 220–240V / 50Hz, which is different from Taiwan’s 110V / 60Hz. Most EU countries use two round-pin sockets (Type C, E, F).

• The United Kingdom and Ireland use the British three-rectangular-pin plug (Type G). If you plan to travel to those countries, it is recommended to prepare an additional UK adapter or a universal travel adapter.
• European sockets are recessed, so it is recommended to buy adapters with “long enough pins,” especially since some bulky universal adapters are poorly designed.
• German sockets have a pin diameter of 4.8 mm, while standard European sockets use 4.0 mm. When purchasing an adapter, pay attention to the specifications. It is recommended to choose 4.0 mm pins (European Type C) for better compatibility, to avoid being unable to plug into sockets in other countries due to thicker pins.
• It is recommended to bring 2–4 adapters — some for dorm use and some for travel, adjusting based on the number of electronic devices you have.

⚠️ Always check whether your device supports 100–240V input before plugging in. Most phone/laptop chargers do — you only need a plug adapter.

⚠️ High-wattage appliances such as hair dryers and electric kettles should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, and should not be connected to an extension cord.

📦 Others

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In addition to daily necessities, you can also bring a small amount of snacks or items that carry a taste of Taiwan. Not only can they help ease homesickness while abroad, but they are also great for sharing with new friends and building connections.

📌 Practical Tips

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• Taiwanese snacks, such as I-Mei Puff Corn Snacks, Prince Noodles, and Want Want Senbei rice crackers, are great for making friends or exchanging and sharing.
• Taiwanese seasonings: Although most cities in Germany have Asian supermarkets (where you can even find Wei Lih Zhajiang Noodles XD), prices are usually higher and the selection may not be complete. If you have preferred brands of seasonings (such as Tomax), it’s recommended to bring your own as long as they are not too bulky.
• Small souvenirs, such as postcards, small pins, or keychains with Taiwanese characteristics, are suitable for giving to roommates or new friends you meet at exchange events.

🔥 Full Checklist 🔥

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I’ve marked the items I consider essential in bold. The rest may not be necessary depending on your situation — you can either bring them yourself or purchase them locally.

🔗 Reference Links

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• 🧭 Exchange Student Pre-Departure Briefing — Packing List 🧳 What to Bring When Going Abroad! 🌍
• [Germany Exchange Student] What Should You Bring for an Exchange in Europe? | 2023 Half-Year Packing List | 23kg + 7kg Packing Guide | Includes Complete Packing Checklist Download!
• Germany Exchange: Pre-Departure Preparation 5 [Winter Packing Guide] – April Yang