After the wave of infections slowly subsided in Europe, many countries want to open up to holidaymakers again. While there are already exact dates for some destinations, the timing of others is still very uncertain. A check of 22 popular holiday countries inside and outside Europe shows which borders will open soon – and which requirements exist.
Finally feel warm sand under your feet and bathe in the sea: Freedom of travel within the European Union should soon be possible again, according to the wishes of most member states. The federal government is currently preparing to end the worldwide travel warning for tourists, which will continue until June 14th – if the pandemic allows.
Then the warning is to be replaced by individual travel advice for 31 states, which show risks for each individual country. In addition to Germany's 26 partner countries in the European Union, these include Great Britain, which has left the EU and the four countries of the Schengen area that are not subject to border control, which are not members of the EU: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Whether the summer vacation takes place, however, should also depend on the regulations of the countries themselves. Here is an overview of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany:
Reading tip: You can read all the new developments on the outbreak of the corona virus in the FOCUS Online news ticker.
Austria: From June 15th vacation with the neighbors possible
If you travel to Austria on June 15th, you should be able to see a lot of the well-known holiday experience of previous years. Gastronomy has already made a fresh start, even if some of the innkeepers are not yet satisfied with the sales. The hotel industry now follows on Friday. In addition, all leisure facilities are allowed to open again and cultural events are allowed again with a little caution.
A full theater does not initially await holidaymakers in Austria, but the guest limit will steadily increase until August. That is why the Salzburg Festival has decided to show in the anniversary year – albeit significantly less than originally planned. The restrictions are small in the hotels, no safety distance is required within a group of guests, buffets and a visit to the hotel's wellness area should also be possible.
Italy: Entry for EU citizens allowed from June 3rd – without quarantine
The Italian government and regional politicians are currently heavily campaigning for German vacationers as they make up a large proportion of the visitors. From 3 June, entry into the EU should be possible again without having to go into quarantine. South Tyrol is already vigorously courting holidaymakers, especially from Bavaria. Governor Arno Kompscher even wants to offer tourists free corona tests.
The regions of Veneto and Sardinia advertise that they are "covid-free" – meaning that the situation is under control, although of course there were also infections there. The number of cases has been falling in Italy for a long time. Lombardy has by far the most cases.
For German vacationers it will be decisive whether they have to be quarantined after a holiday in Italy or when the travel warning is lifted. Italy is currently hoping for June 15th. Austria has already confirmed that German tourists who are in transit to Italy can drive through the Alpine Republic.
Also read: Dolce Vita despite corona crisis? What rules apply to a vacation in Italy
Switzerland: From June 15th vacation with the Confederates again
Innkeepers and hoteliers have rolled up their sleeves to greet guests from Germany and elsewhere from June 15th – all with hygiene and safety concepts. Hiking and wellness yes, festivals and concerts no: major events in Switzerland such as the Festival of Classical Music in Lucerne and the Jazz Festival in Montreux have been canceled this summer.
Customers on cable cars, buses and trains are requested to get tickets online if possible to avoid queues at the counter. Wearing mouth and nose protection is recommended where things can get tight. There is no compulsion. The tables are spaced apart in restaurants. Hotels may offer wellness, but the following applies in swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms: one person per four square meters.
France: No border controls from June 16 – holidaymakers are not yet allowed to enter
France continues to abolish border controls on June 15. This means that German vacationers can only travel to France from this date.
In large parts of the country, tourist accommodations such as campsites or holiday homes can reopen on June 2 – in Paris at the end of June. The restaurants will also open across the country at the beginning of next week. Because Paris was hit very hard by the virus, you can only drink and eat there on the terraces.
Leisure activities should now also be increasingly possible. As of June 2, theaters should open almost all over the country and all beaches should be accessible again. Large museums and monuments can also welcome visitors again. Cinemas follow a little later.
Spain: Vacation without quarantine from July 1st
After a long period of uncertainty, friends of Spain can finally start planning their summer vacation in Mallorca, on the Costa del Sol or on the Costa Blanca. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced at the weekend that his country would open its borders to foreign tourists in July.
In addition, the two-week forced quarantine for all travelers will be lifted on July 1st. Despite the fairly successful fight against the virus, "safety first" still applies in the (former) Corona hotspot. Since May 21, there has been a general mask requirement in all public places inside and outside closed rooms.
"We will guarantee that the tourists will not take any risks and that they will not pose any risks to us," said Sanchez. According to the media, Madrid is negotiating with countries such as Germany, France, Great Britain and Portugal to set up so-called "security corridors".
Also read: Summer won't slow down virus – researchers find explanation for pandemic course
Portugal: German vacationers may already be welcome in June
Unlike Spain and France, Portugal has come through the corona pandemic relatively well with just under 31,000 infected and around 1,300 deaths. That is why the country wants to welcome German tourists again if the Federal Foreign Office cancels the worldwide travel warning, which is currently valid until June 14. At least that is what the director of Turismo de Portugal in Berlin, Inês Almeida Garrett, told the fvw. "We are proud that we have mastered the crisis so well," she said. For example, there were no deaths in Madeira.
The AHP hotel association recently announced that most hotels could be open again in mid-July. The tourism authority also wants to build trust with a new hygiene seal under the motto "Clean & Safe". Tourist institutions can apply for it free of charge.
Portugal is heavily dependent on tourism, which accounts for around 15 percent of its economic output. In 2019, the holiday areas booked 27 million guests.
The country has gradually introduced easing measures since the beginning of May. Shops, restaurants and cultural institutions have been open again since May 18, but with capacity and time restrictions. Everywhere in public spaces the distance rule of two meters to non-household people applies. Masks are also required in shops and public transport. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to EUR 350.
While there is currently no quarantine requirement for mainland Portugal on entry, Madeira and the Azores still stipulate a 14-day hotel quarantine.
Read:Scientific studies: Border closures are only effective at the beginning of a pandemic
Great Britain: Entry from June with a quarantine requirement
There are currently no entry restrictions for German citizens. Nevertheless, entry controls, health checks and temperature measurements and, in individual cases, entry bans can also be expected.
According to information from the British government, travelers will have to go into 14-day quarantine (home isolation) from 8 June. Fines of over £ 1,000 are imposed for violations.
Entrants must complete an online form before or at the latest when they enter the country. Violations are subject to a fine of £ 100.
The former EU member is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, with over 266,000 registered infections and over 37,000 deaths to date.
Greece: Entry from June without a quarantine requirement
Athens has announced that travelers from 29 countries can travel to Greece without quarantine from June 15, including Germany. The situation in other countries is to be examined again on July 1; then further states could be added. Initially, there should only be flights from abroad to Athens. From July 1st, all regional airports are also to be opened for flights from abroad. A corona check will be carried out randomly at the Greek airports after landing from abroad, Athens said.
Currently, no entries are permitted for tourist purposes. Anyone who enters for other reasons must undergo a test and go to a two-week quarantine. In addition, safety and distance rules as well as a mask requirement in public transport and hospitals apply in public spaces.
The beaches in the country are already open, and distance rules apply here as well: No more than 40 people are allowed to occupy 1,000 square meters. The parasols must be four meters apart – only two loungers are allowed per parasol.
Netherlands: Borders were always open, but only opened for tourism in June
No border controls were carried out between Germany and the Netherlands during the Corona high phase. Nevertheless, tourist businesses in many regions were closed and holidaymakers were also not wanted.
That should change gradually: bungalow parks are already opening their gates and holiday apartments are being rented out again. From July 1st, all campsites and holiday parks are to start operating again.
So far, this was only limited. For example, showers and toilets on campsites had to remain closed. The sanitary facilities will also reopen on July 1st on beaches and in nature parks.
Museums can again receive visitors from June 1st – provided they register online beforehand. Restaurants, cafes, beach pavilions and pubs can each serve a maximum of 30 guests. From July up to 100 guests are allowed.
In the country there is also a minimum distance of 1.50 meters as well as a mask requirement on public transport. Sports with direct physical contact such as football should only be allowed from September 1st. Golf, swimming or tennis should be allowed again from June. Museums are also allowed to reopen on June 1st, but registration must be made online beforehand.
Attention: Air travelers from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg must carry a so-called health certificate with them, which must be filled in before the start of the journey, until further notice. Based on this information – even if it is just a question that is answered with "yes" – the authorities can refuse entry.
Belgium: Border controls until at least June 8th
The Belgian authorities have been checking their borders since 20 March. According to the Federal Foreign Office, border crossings that are not absolutely necessary and entry for tourist purposes are still prohibited – also for people with second homes in Belgium. The border controls are to continue until at least June 8th.
There is great displeasure about this, especially in East Belgium. The provisions should only be relaxed in consultation with the neighboring country and when the virus situation on both sides of the border is comparable.
The North Sea beaches in the north of the Kingdom, the Belgian capital Brussels with the EU institutions and Wallonia with the Ardennes are popular with tourists.
Lufthansa and ICE operate between Germany and Belgium, but at a significantly lower frequency. Brussels Airlines has canceled all regular flights up to and including June 6th.
Denmark: Entry possible from June
Denmark will reopen its borders, closed in the Corona crisis, from June 15 to tourists from Germany, Norway, Iceland and Scandinavia. This was announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen on Friday.
Denmark was one of the first countries in Europe to close its borders in the struggle against Corona on March 14th. Since then, tourists and other foreigners without a specific reason for entry have not been able to enter the country. This not only upset the travel plans of German spring vacationers, but also the finances of the Danish holiday home operators, most of whose guests come from Germany.
Anyone who owns a summer house in Denmark as a German or wants to visit his partner or grandson in the country has been allowed to return since May 25th.
Sweden: Entry permitted but controls possible
Sweden has taken a different path when it comes to corona and has never carried out a complete shutdown. Large events were canceled, but restaurants, for example, remained open under conditions such as hygiene and clearance rules.
Therefore, entry to Sweden is generally permitted for EU citizens (all other countries are prohibited from entering the country until June 15), but controls and limited travel must be expected.
Anyone who has a permanent residence in Germany has been allowed to travel through Denmark by car since May 25 to travel to Sweden for a vacation.
An alternative can be the arrival by ferry from Kiel, Rostock or Travemünde, the routes are still used. There are currently hardly any flights from Germany to Stockholm or Gothenburg and if so, only from Frankfurt.
To date, over 34,000 Covid-19 cases have been registered in Sweden, including more than 4,000 deaths.
Differences explained: This means travel advice, safety information and travel warning
Norway: borders will probably remain closed until August 20
With a summer vacation in the Norwegian fjords it should be difficult at the present time. The Norwegian borders have been tight for foreigners for no specific reason for over two months. Norwegians are allowed to return to their home country, but must first be quarantined for ten days.
It was only in mid-May that the government announced that holidaymakers in Norway could expect the entry ban to continue until August 20. Until July 20th, Oslo wants to see whether the borders can be opened to travelers from "individual other nearby European countries". The status for German vacationers is therefore: wait and see.
Iceland: Entry possible from June 15th – but with conditions
The heavily tourism-dependent island in the North Atlantic plans to loosen its restrictions for international travelers by June 15. So far, everyone who comes to Iceland has been quarantined for two weeks. However, the Icelandic government will soon offer an alternative to this: In future, Icelandic holidaymakers should also be given the option of being tested for the corona virus instead of quarantine on arrival.
A decision should be made at the end of May. It is also planned that tourists will have to download and use a tracing app that can be used to better track infection chains.
Turkey: Entry maybe from mid-June – with corona tests
Turkey is again hoping for tourists from mid-June and is preparing airports, beaches and hotels accordingly. There is no official date yet. International flights of the semi-governmental company Turkish Airlines should be available again from June 10, domestic flights from June 4.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ankara has issued a catalog of "hygiene instructions", which, for example, provides for minimum distances between pool chairs or individually packed towels for hotels.
The state news agency Anadolu showed pictures of the well-known Konyaalti beach in Antalya, on which couch areas for visitors are demarcated with ropes. According to Anadolu, hotels will also use thermal imaging cameras to determine whether guests or employees have a fever.
Corona tests are carried out at airports. A government certification program for hotels, restaurants and other businesses is also underway. Media had reported that TÜV Süd would be involved. A spokeswoman initially confirmed that "we are currently in talks with the Turkish Ministry of Tourism".
Cyprus: Island vacations for Germans from June 20th possible – without quarantine
Tourists and travelers from 19 countries will be able to fly to the tourist island of Cyprus without quarantine from June 20. "We are restarting our tourism," said the Vice Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios on Wednesday on state television (RIK).
Vacationers from 13 of these countries can fly to Cyprus without corona tests. These are travelers from Germany, Austria, Malta, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark and Hungary.
Holidaymakers from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Croatia and Estonia, on the other hand, have to submit a corona virus test to take a holiday in Cyprus. "We will change this list again and again, depending on the situation in these and other countries," added the tourism vice minister.
This also affects the two main countries from which tourists travel to Cyprus: Great Britain and Russia. Travel from these countries is initially not allowed, Perdios said. More than 25 percent of the economy in Cyprus is related to tourism.
Croatia: Entry possible without quarantine and corona test – but not for everyone
The country heavily dependent on tourism on the Adriatic Sea with its long, bay-rich coast and the many islands can hardly wait for the European borders to finally open up. It is proceeding with its own example: Already since May 9, foreigners who can show an accommodation booking have been allowed to enter without a corona test and without quarantine requirements.
The same applies to foreigners who are on business, traveling to a funeral or owning property or a boat in Croatia. The authorities are also working on new rules to prevent large crowds of people on the beaches.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, controls, health checks, temperature measurements and entry bans must still be expected. In addition, there is currently no reliable information on which criteria the Croatian border police use to determine the entry requirements.
Slovenia: Open to EU citizens since May 26
The EU country between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea has allowed EU citizens to enter with a booking confirmation without corona tests and quarantine requirements since May 26th. Business travelers and property owners from the EU are also welcome. In addition, citizens from the EU and third countries can travel through the small country in transit.
This benefits those German vacationers who want to drive their own car to Croatia and have to travel through Slovenia. The country itself has a 46-kilometer section on the Adriatic with a well-developed tourist infrastructure.
Hotels with fewer than 30 rooms have reopened on May 18. There is still no decision in this regard for larger castles. There are still restrictions for the beach operation: You can swim and surf, but not lie in the sun on the beach.
Czech Republic: Perhaps the borders will open in mid-June
There is still no set roadmap for reviving the tourism business, but intensive negotiations are ongoing with neighboring countries. Prime Minister Andrej Babis has made a U-turn and now says it would be great if the borders to Germany and Austria could open in mid-June.
Germans traditionally make up the largest group of foreign tourists – in 2019, more than two million overnight guests from the Federal Republic were counted. The old town of Prague, usually a magnet for people from all over the world, is currently almost deserted.
In some hostels and hotels in the Moldovan metropolis, the homeless find temporary accommodation. When the borders open again, travelers come across a country that has been largely spared by the corona virus.
Bulgaria: Holidays possible from July 1st at the latest
The holiday country on the Black Sea is gearing up for a summer season under corona requirements. Bulgaria is one of the countries that are relatively unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. "Bulgaria and our Black Sea coast will be among the (Corona) safest places in Europe," stressed the senior health inspector and member of the Sofia Crisis Unit, Angel Kunchev, regarding the upcoming opening of the summer season for foreign tourists.
It should start in June or at the latest on July 1st. On the long bathing beaches, the deck chairs are already spaced apart. Dosing dispensers with disinfectants should be standard. The hotels are already accepting domestic tourists. But Bulgaria's tourism is heavily dependent on international flights, about which there is still no clarity.
Poland: Possible opening of borders in mid-June
The country will hold on to border controls with other EU countries until June 12. Foreigners are not allowed in. All other coronavirus restrictions could then be lifted on July 1st. Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recently appealed to Poland to open the borders again soon because the Federal Government wants to restore freedom of travel throughout the Schengen area from June 15.
So far there are exceptions for people with permanent residence permits, for truck drivers and diplomats. Hotels and shopping centers have reopened on May 4th. Restaurants and cafés are also allowed to open again.
Egypt: No foreigners have been allowed into the country yet
The northeast African country of Egypt is also a popular travel destination for Europeans. However, no foreign nationals are currently allowed to enter Egypt. Throughout the country there is a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
It is unclear when normality will return to resorts such as Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh. Hotels are now allowed to reopen for local vacationers with 25 percent occupancy and from June 1st with 50 percent occupancy.
Among other things, the operators must provide disinfectants at the entrance and disinfect guests' luggage on arrival and departure. Experts check these conditions and issue a certificate for which around 170 hotels have so far applied.
At the airport in Cairo, new thermal imaging cameras are also to check whether travelers have a fever. The borders are still tight for holidaymakers from abroad.
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