Over the past couple of months, European countries are announcing plans to reopen to International Travelers. But even as countries battle second and third waves of COVID-19, vaccine rollouts continue to expand, making a return to normalcy—and for Americans, safe travel to Europe.
The most important thing to do is read up on the destination’s current COVID-19 situation and local travel restrictions, to ensure that any visit you plan is safe, considered, and respectful of those who call the country home. Read on for the current travel restrictions throughout Europe.
The United Kingdom
The U.K. government began lifting restrictions from March 8 as the first phase in a four-step process to reopening the country. The country entered step two on April 12. Outdoor restaurants are now open, with table service only but no food requirement for the purchase of alcoholic drinks, as are outdoor attractions, including theme parks and drive-in movies and concerts. Small outdoor events are also authorized to take place, and there is no longer a curfew. Step three, which will likely open up indoor spaces and relax the rules on indoor gatherings, is scheduled to take effect May 17 at the earliest.
Travel Restrictions remain stringent although more than half the population has received at least one vaccine dose. The arrivals in England have to undergo two covid-19 tests which must be booked in advance in addition to mandatory 10 days quarantine upon arrival. Americans traveling from the U.S. can currently enter England by adhering to these guidelines, though nationals from a handful of countries including Brazil and South Africa are on a “red list,” and will be denied entry—in addition to travelers of any nationality who have passed through red list countries within the past 10 days. Before departing the U.K., all travelers must complete a passenger locator form, and provide proof of a negative coronavirus test.
Ireland
Ireland is slowly easing its strict lockdown rules, with a phased rollback that will occur over the next month and a half. In over four months locals will be able to travel outside their own country starting May 10. Up to 50 people will be allowed to attend events like weddings. On May 17, all non-essential shops will reopen, followed by the reopening of hotels and guesthouses on June 2. Only after that, on June 7, will pubs and restaurants be able to open for outdoor service. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, leader Leo Varadkar said he hopes that life will be ‘relatively normal’ again by August.
Like the U.K., Ireland never implemented travel restrictions, but the government continues to advise against all non-essential foreign travel. All visitors must fill in a passenger locator form, then quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
France
France will be open to vaccinated American travelers by June 9. President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan to ease France’s Lockdown. Museums, movie theatres, and outdoor services at cafes in France will reopen from May 19. The evening curfew will be lifted from June 30. The plan to open to foreign travelers is based on the Forthcoming health pass which will be both digital and on paper.
Until then, travel restrictions remain. Unless qualifying for an exemption including needing to Travel for work Americans are currently not allowed to enter the country. For exempt travelers, a sworn declaration that no COVID-19 symptoms are present is required, as is a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of departure, and two tests upon arrival, one upon arrival and the second test taken after 7 days of mandatory self-isolation.
Germany
Germany is battling the third wave of infections and is under various levels of lockdown. Some areas of the country are reopening due to the gradual lowering of cases. Starting May 10, the state of Bavaria will resume some outdoor dining and local tourism sector to operate again from May 21. The Octoberfest will be canceled for the second this year as well.
American citizens are currently not allowed to enter Germany unless they also hold E.U Citizenship. The completion of the Digital entry registration form and negative test upon arrival is required. Quarantine requirements may vary by region.
Spain
Spain ends the covid state of emergency which was in place since October to fight the pandemic. Spaniards are now allowed to travel between regions for the first time in months.
Regions can still restrict opening hours in bars and restaurants and may also impose capacity restrictions.
The country’s borders remain closed to Americans, though the country’s secretary of state for tourism, Fernando Valdés, has said that Spain will be “ready to receive visitors in June,” according to the Guardian. This is dependent on a digital certificate expected to be piloted this month, which will indicate if travelers have been vaccinated, if they have tested negative, or if they have already recovered from COVID, which will be the criteria for entry.
Italy
The regions of Italy are currently categorized into yellow, orange and red zones that further dictate how businesses can operate.
Museums and other cultural institutions are open on the weekends (with reservations required) in yellow zones, for example, which currently includes Tuscany and Venice, and outdoor dining with table service for a maximum of four households is permitted for lunch and dinner. In red zones, however, which currently includes just the Aosta Valley, a full lockdown is in place with residents asked to leave home only for essential reasons.
Travel into Italy is restricted, though this is set to change in the weeks ahead, as prime minister Mario Draghi announced on May 4 that the country will soon open to travelers, with the creation of a health pass to be released by the middle of May—a month before the expected launch of the E.U. pass. The country has since announced that this pass would be available to travelers from outside of the E.U., likely to include Americans, though no further details on how it would work, or who would be eligible, have been released.
Greece
Tourism-dependent Greece is now open to international travelers from a number of countries, including those from the U.S., making it one of the first European countries to open its borders. Per the current rules, visitors from countries including the U.S. and the E.U. can now enter with proof of vaccination, or with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival, and the completion of a Passenger Location Form that includes information on addresses while in the country and destinations visited prior to arrival in Greece. Note that travelers from the U.S. with stopovers in other countries need to abide by stop-over country requirements, which may be different. Random health checks are taking place at the airport, and compliance is required.
Within the country, bars and restaurants are open for outdoor table service (as of May 3), with social distancing measures in place. Outdoor attractions, including archaeological sites like the Acropolis, have also reopened, and the nightly curfew has been pushed back from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. There are current bans on travel between regions of the country, though prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says these will be lifted on May 15.
Croatia
Croatia is open for visitors with some entry requirements: U.S. citizens must present proof of either full vaccination, previous infection, or a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours of arrival, or are asked to take a COVID-19 test upon landing and quarantine until receiving a negative result. For travelers with none of the above, there is also an option to self-isolate for 10 days.
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