# What you need to travel to Germany: a checklist

> Before you set off for Germany, make sure you have everything. Here is the essential checklist.

Before you set off for Germany, make sure you have everything. Here is the essential checklist.

## Checklist

- Valid passport/ID (Schengen for most of the EU)
- An eSIM-compatible phone + MerrSIM eSIM
- A bank card (little cash needed)
- Flight/hotel bookings on your phone
- Travel insurance (optional but advised)

## Get online at the airport

Install a MerrSIM eSIM for Germany (from €1.99, 10 GB €8.99) before departure and you’re online the moment you land at Frankfurt Airport — no WiFi hunt, no roaming.

[MerrSIM — eSIM Germany](https://merrsim.com/destinations/esim-plans-for-germany)

## Coverage and 5G speed in Germany

The eSIM connects to the main local operators, so you get the same coverage as a local, including 4G/LTE and 5G where available. In the cities and tourist areas of Germany the signal is strong and stable; in very remote villages or mountains it can weaken, as with any operator. Hotspot is included, so you can share the connection with your laptop or a travel companion at no extra cost.

## Common mistakes to avoid

Three mistakes often spoil the start of a trip. First: buying the eSIM at the last minute at the airport, when you have no WiFi to install it — do it at home. Second: forgetting to switch on data roaming for the eSIM line, which makes it look like it is not working. Third: leaving mobile data on your home SIM, which racks up roaming charges. Check these three and your connection in Germany will be trouble-free.

## eSIM versus roaming

Roaming with your home carrier can be expensive outside bundles — sometimes several euros per gigabyte, with bills that land after the trip. A local eSIM turns that into a fixed price you know up front: you pay in advance, you know exactly how many GB you have, and there are no hidden fees. For a trip to Germany, that means peace of mind and often a real saving compared with leaving roaming switched on unchecked.

## Tips to save data

A few small habits make your gigabytes last in Germany. Download Google Maps offline before you head out, set video quality to “Auto” or 480p, and turn off background app refresh. Use hotel WiFi for big updates and high-resolution photo uploads. With these steps, even a modest plan covers the whole trip, and your hotspot stays free for the moments you really need it.

## Activation in a few minutes

Do the install before departure, while on WiFi. Open your phone settings, choose to add an eSIM and scan the QR code you received by email. Label the profile “Germany” so it is easy to spot. When you land, set the eSIM as your data line and switch on data roaming for it — that is normal for travel eSIMs and adds no fees, because the plan is prepaid. Within seconds you are online, with no need to hunt for public WiFi.

## FAQ

### How do I get online as soon as I arrive in Germany?
Activate a MerrSIM eSIM for Germany (from €1.99, 10 GB €8.99) by QR before departure; you connect automatically at the airport.


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Author: Etnik Beqiri  
Published: 2026-05-28  
Source: https://merrsim.com/en/blog/cfare-te-duhet-germany-en