Berlin's wind, especially around open squares like Alexanderplatz and the Lustgarten, will turn most umbrellas inside out within minutes. A hooded waterproof jacket keeps your hands free and works even when you are walking briskly between stops.

The cobblestones around Museum Island, Nikolaiviertel, and Hackescher Markt get glossy and slick when wet. The streetcar tracks near Hackescher Markt are especially treacherous. Smooth-soled boots and unsealed sneakers are the two most common reasons tourists slip in central Berlin.

A tote bag in Berlin rain soaks through within minutes, strains your shoulder, and ties up one hand you need for balance on wet cobblestones. A small backpack keeps your gear dry, your weight balanced, and both hands free for your phone, jacket zipper, and museum tickets.

When rain starts in Berlin, the temperature can drop several degrees in minutes. A single layer leaves you either too hot inside museums or freezing outside on the Liebknecht Bridge. Layering — a base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a waterproof shell — lets you adjust on the move without going back to the hotel.

Rain plus slippery cobblestones plus a phone in your hand is one slipped grip away from a screen repair. An inner jacket pocket or a zippered chest pocket keeps your phone dry, secure, and out of pickpocket reach in busier areas like Hackescher Markt and Alexanderplatz.