Up to 450 euros for one person – that’s how much the corona test costs on vacation

Strict entry rules apply on land, sea or air routes in Europe. Vaccinated persons need their proof of vaccination, those who have recovered need their positive PCR test, which confirms a completed corona infection. If the illness was more than six months before the planned departure, the document is invalid.

• Example: Katja flies to Mallorca on July 28th. She tested positive for Corona on December 14, 2020 and is unvaccinated. The 32-year-old now has to take the rapid antigen test on the return flight from vacation. Reason? Proof of recovery is invalid for the travel period.

FOCUS Online advises all vacationers: Vaccinated and convalescents at home and abroad should always take all documents with them in paper form in addition to the digital app and ideally also save them digitally. Simply scan the evidence and send the files to your own email address. If you lose the documents or your smartphone, you can call up all important documents via your e-mail inbox.

Who needs a corona test?

To go on vacation

In principle, the corona test applies to all unvaccinated people. When entering the holiday country you need a negative rapid antigen test or PCR test within the European Union. Germany is currently not a “risk area” in any EU country. As a result, the rules for entering a foreign country from Germany are rather uncomplicated. In some cases, no tests or evidence are required. For trips to other EU countries, unvaccinated persons are required to have a fee-based PCR test, which is the case for Russia, for example. For Turkey – similar to within the EU – a rapid antigen test or PCR test.

In Italy, Austria and Portugal there is a compulsory corona test for children from 6 years of age, in Croatia for travelers from 7 years of age. In France, Greece and Spain, again, from 12 years.

To return from vacation

Travelers aged 6 and over traveling to Germany also need a corona test if they are not vaccinated. This applies to safer vacation destinations such as France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. For high-risk areas such as Greece, the Netherlands or Spain, holidaymakers are also required to sign up register on this page.

If unvaccinated people from high-incidence areas (Portugal, Great Britain, Turkey or Russia) return to Germany, they have to go to a ten-day quarantine despite a negative corona test, which can be reduced to five days with a second negative test. Here, too, you need to register in advance on “Einreiseanmeldung.de“.

vacation in Germany

Those who go on vacation in Germany usually need no rapid antigen test or PCR test. The general compulsory test also does not apply to trips by car. Only random tests are carried out at the national borders.

Unvaccinated persons must present a negative antigen rapid test at the hotel when they arrive in Bavaria, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein. This emerges from the current Corona requirements of the federal states.

What does the PCR or rapid test cost – and where do I do it?

In Germany, the corona rapid test (antigen) is available free of charge in every pharmacy, in many citizen rapid test centers or at the doctor. The federal government bears the costs. At the airport, travelers should expect additional costs of 15 to 39 euros (antigen rapid test). The faster you need the result, the more expensive it will be.

Travelers have to pay for the PCR test. It usually costs between 75 euros (at the doctor’s) up to a maximum of 178 euros (PCR express test at Munich Airport).

• Case study: Claudia travels to Croatia with her husband and two children (over 14 years of age). Claudia and her husband are vaccinated, they need a corona test for their two children. A test at the airport costs 30 euros. That makes 60 euros for both children.

On arrival, check where you can get a rapid antigen test for the return journey abroad. The hotel can help the staff find doctors, pharmacies or the competent test centers. Airports are not obliged to offer test stations, they just have to check the documents. Find out about the current prices. Ideally, any pharmacy in the holiday destination can also help.

Also remember that there are many black sheep lurking with exorbitant prices. Sometimes they then charge over 100 euros for a simple rapid antigen test.

This is how much the corona test costs on vacation!

FOCUS Online shows what the Rapid antigen test and the PCR test costs in the holiday area. There may be minor deviations depending on the holiday location:

• Belgium: Corona test for travel around 55 euros, test sites Is there … here.
• Bulgaria: Corona test at the airport between 40 euros (antigen rapid test) and approx. 120 euros (PCR test), in the pharmacy max. 20 euros (antigen rapid test)
• Denmark: Corona test at the airport between 50 euros (rapid antigen test) and approx. 450 euros (PCR test, for example Copenhagen 25 minute PCR test),
• Germany: Corona test at the airport between 15 euros (rapid antigen test) and approx. 180 euros (PCR test),
• Estonia: Corona test at the airport between 49 euros (rapid antigen test) and approx. 75 euros (PCR test) – the test sites are here
• Finland: Corona test at the airport between 130 euros (rapid antigen test) and approx. 158.60 euros (PCR test)
• France: Corona tests for tourists can cost a maximum of 29 euros (antigen rapid test) or a maximum of 49 euros (PCR test)
• Greece: Corona test depending on the pharmacy or doctor between 20 euros (antigen rapid test) and approx. 60 euros (PCR test)
• Ireland: Corona test at the airport between 45 euros (rapid antigen test) and 69 euros (PCR test) – the test sites are here
• Italy: Corona test, depending on the provider and city, between 20 euros (antigen rapid test) and 100 euros (PCR test)
• Croatia: Corona test depending on the private clinic and city between 20 euros (antigen rapid test) and 100 euros (PCR test)
• Latvia: Corona test depending on the provider between 19 euros (antigen rapid test) and 80 euros (PCR test)
• Lithuania: Corona test at the airport between 24 euros (rapid antigen test) and 37 euros (PCR test)
• Luxembourg: Corona test at the airport between 79 euros (rapid antigen test) and 119 euros (PCR test)
• Malta: Corona test at the airport between 35 euros (rapid antigen test) and 130 euros (PCR test)
• Netherlands: free of charge if you register in advance (here), otherwise 55 euros for a rapid antigen test or 75 euros for a PCR test at the airport
• Austria: Rapid antigen tests at pharmacies, doctors and test centers usually free of charge, PCR tests via laboratory up to 69 euros, children pay up to 49 euros.
• Poland: Corona test at the airport between 39 euros (rapid antigen test) and 130 euros (PCR test via laboratory)
• Portugal: Corona test at the airport between 20 euros (rapid antigen test) and 90 euros (PCR test via laboratory)
• Romania: Corona test depending on the provider between 5 euros (antigen rapid test) and 80 euros (PCR test)
• Sweden: Corona tests in the care centers (family doctor, clinic), PCR tests cost 122.05 euros (1,250 Swedish kronor)
• Slovakia: Corona test at the airport between 25 euros (rapid antigen test) and 69 euros (PCR test)
• Slovenia: Corona test, depending on the provider and city, between 20 euros (antigen rapid test) and 95 euros (PCR test)
• Spain: Corona test, depending on the provider and city, between 20 euros (antigen rapid test) and 100 euros (PCR test), on the Balearic Islands there is a maximum limit of 30 euros for antigen rapid test or 75 euros for PCR test.
• Russia: The necessary PCR test is available in many cities for around 40 euros. Cheaper in big cities (Moscow around 30 euros).
• Turkey: The necessary PCR test is available for 30 euros in public test centers, at airports and in tourist facilities. The rapid antigen test costs around 18 euros.
• Czech Republic: Corona test depending on the clinic and provider between 20 euros (rapid antigen test) and 350 euros (PCR test via laboratory), the PCR test is usually available for 150 euros.
• Hungary: Corona test, depending on the provider and city, between 26 euros (antigen rapid test) and 130 euros (PCR test), the test sites can be found here.
• Cyprus: Corona test depending on the pharmacy or doctor between 20 euros (antigen rapid test), at the airport (PCR test) it costs between 30 and 70 euros.

You can find all current travel warnings here on the website of the Foreign Office.

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