Spices from the bazaar, a bottle from the vineyard, cigarettes from the duty-free shop: almost everyone brings something back from holiday. Usually that is no problem. But there are limits for tobacco, alcohol and pricier purchases, and some souvenirs are banned altogether. What matters is whether you return from an EU country or from outside the EU. The figures below apply when you enter Germany. Austria applies largely the same EU allowances. Switzerland is not in the EU and has its own rules.
Returning from outside the EU
If you come back from Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Switzerland or Thailand, for example, fixed allowances apply. Anything above them has to be declared.
| Goods | Allowance per person |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes (from 17) | 200 |
| Spirits over 22 % (from 17) | 1 litre |
| Or drinks up to 22 % (from 17) | 2 litres |
| Wine (from 17) | 4 litres |
| Beer (from 17) | 16 litres |
| Other goods by plane or ship | €430 |
| Other goods by land | €300 |
| Other goods for children under 15 | €175 |
The value limit is per person. You cannot pool the amounts, for example to bring in an expensive device for the whole family duty-free. Children under 17 have no allowances for tobacco or alcohol.
Travelling within the EU
Within the EU there are no allowances in the strict sense. You may bring goods for your own use without paying duty. For tobacco and alcohol there are guide levels, such as 800 cigarettes, 10 litres of spirits, 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer. If you bring more, you have to make it credible that the goods are not for resale.
Calculator for your purchases
Enter what is in your suitcase. The calculator shows whether everything is duty-free or whether you should declare it.
Banned souvenirs
Some souvenirs may not be brought into Germany at all, even if they are openly sold at your destination.
- Protected animals and plants: coral, certain shells and snails, ivory, tortoiseshell, reptile leather and some types of wood. They are protected species. If you bring them anyway, they will be seized and you risk a fine that can be far higher than what you paid for the souvenir on the beach.
- Meat and dairy products: from countries outside the EU these are usually banned because of the risk of animal diseases, including the sausage from the market.
- Plants, fruit and vegetables: from outside the EU they usually need an official plant health certificate. Exceptions apply to bananas, pineapples and dates, for example.
- Counterfeit branded goods: small amounts for your own use are usually allowed, larger quantities are seized.
At the airport
Nothing to declare? Then walk through the green channel. If you are over the allowances, take the red channel and declare the goods. For flights within the EU use the blue channel. Keep your receipts so that you can prove the value of your purchases. If in doubt, ask. Anyone who does not declare and is checked usually pays a surcharge on top of the duty.
These details are simplified and without guarantee. The rules of German customs are binding. You can read them on the customs website, which also has pages in English.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 9 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
