Your phone is almost flat, but the socket in the hotel has a completely different shape. Many travellers know this problem. There are more than a dozen plug types worldwide, plus different voltages. With the right adapter in your luggage it is no problem at all. Here you can see which one fits where.
Which plug fits where
In Germany we use type F, also called the Schuko plug, and the flat type C, the Europlug. With these plugs you manage without an adapter in most of Europe. If you have brought appliances from the UK, Ireland or North America, you already need an adapter in Germany, and the table works the other way round for you.
| Country or region | Plug type | Voltage | Adapter needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almost all of the EU, Turkey, Egypt | C, F | 230 V | No |
| Italy | C, F, L | 230 V | Sometimes for Schuko plugs |
| Switzerland | C, J | 230 V | Yes for Schuko plugs |
| UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus | G | 230 V | Yes |
| United Arab Emirates | G, some C | 230 V | Usually yes |
| USA, Canada, Mexico | A, B | 120 V | Yes |
| Dominican Republic | A, B | 110 to 120 V | Yes |
| Thailand | Mixed, often A, B, C | 220 V | Type C often fits |
| Maldives | Mixed, often G, D | 230 V | Yes |
| Sri Lanka, India | D, G, M | 230 V | Yes |
| Japan | A, B | 100 V | Yes |
| Australia, New Zealand | I | 230 V | Yes |
| South Africa | M, N | 230 V | Yes |
This applies to most sockets. Older buildings and hotels are sometimes different.
Voltage: what your devices can handle
In Europe the mains voltage is 230 volts. In the USA, Canada, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean it is 110 to 120 volts, in Japan 100 volts. Whether your device can handle it is printed on the power supply or the rating plate.
Most chargers for phones, tablets, laptops and cameras are designed for 100 to 240 volts. They work worldwide, and you only need a suitable plug adapter. Devices with a heating element, such as hairdryers, straighteners or kettles, are different. They are often built for 230 volts only. In countries with 120 volts they run too weakly or not at all. Travel hairdryers with switchable voltage solve this, but many hotels have a hairdryer in the room anyway.
The right adapter
For one particular country, a simple country adapter from an electronics shop is enough and cheap. If you often travel to different countries, take a universal adapter that fits almost every socket in the world. Many also have several USB ports, so you can charge your phone and headphones at the same time.
Pay attention to quality. Cheap adapters often sit loosely or get warm. A safety mark and a sturdy casing matter, especially if you charge several devices overnight.
Tips for the road
- Pack an extension lead: a small multi-socket extension with German sockets needs only one adapter for all your devices.
- Use a USB charger with several ports: it saves sockets and space in your suitcase.
- Keep the adapter in your hand luggage: then you can charge your phone at the airport or during a delay.
- Take a power bank: it always goes in your hand luggage, as it is banned in the suitcase.
- Ask before you buy: some hotels lend adapters at reception, and asking costs nothing.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 10 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
