Traveling around Spain and Europe after Covid-19

Hi guys, finally lockdown is almost over in Spain, and soon we will be free to start traveling again, always following all the hygiene instructions of the place we're visiting, being careful and taking care of one another.

If you’re not from Spain, first thing you should know is that in here the government set some phases to assure things are going great and little by little for us to go back to normality. Right now Barcelona is on phase 2, and that means we can meet with maximum 15 friends and family members, we can go for dinner and lunch in restaurants, go to the beach, there’s no more strict hours to go out on street (on phase 1 kids, adults and elderly people could go out on different times of the day, to avoid risks), but at least until 20th of June, Barcelona residents can’t travel to differentes provinces, probably from 21st we’ll be allowed to travel a bit, the measure is not seen as an absolute certainty, but as an almost certain possibility as we should probably pass to phase 3 on Monday 22st.

July is almost there and we will be allowed to travel again and help tourism to get back on track. Until March of this year, Spain received 83.7 million foreign visitors in 2019, second only to France being the second world tourist power. So tourism for this country is very important since its impact on the economy is real, since it represents 12% of Spain's GDP and employs 2.6 million people.

Every country has its rules and time planned to reopen to tourists. Even with everything changing quickly, I prepared this post so you can have some info about when country will be opening their borders this summer.

Here is some short info about decisions made until by EU countries until today...

Austria

There will be no restrictions with most EU countries.People arriving in Austria from EU countries must show a negative COVID-19 test. That cannot be more than four days' old. Entry is prohibited to citizens coming from countries outside the Schengen Area.

Belgium

Belgium's borders are closed and the country has banned non-essential travel abroad.reopen the border to citizens from the few EU countries from June 15. For the hospitality and culture industries, remain in place until July 1.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The border is only currently open to citizens of neighbouring nations - other foreign arrivals are not permitted. There are some exceptions to this, such as for freight driver, residents and diplomats.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria has opened borders on June 1 to EU, UK, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican, Serbia and North Macedonia citizens, as well as to medical workers and family members of Bulgarian citizens. Besides that borders will probably open on June 15.

Croatia

Croatia has now opened its borders to nationals from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Germany and Slovakia.

On 11 May Croatia reopened its borders to visitors from the EU/EEA, and the UK, provided they held an accommodation reservation in the country.

Cyprus

A first reopening is scheduled for June 9 to passengers coming from Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania, but they will have to obtain a health certificate proving they are virus-free three days prior their departure.

On June 20, passengers from Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia and the Czech Republic will be allowed in too. From June 20, passengers from the first group of countries won’t need health certificates, but those from the second group will still be required to obtain them.

US, France, Spain, and Italy remain excluded too until further notice.

Czech Republic

Originally the border was to open up again on June 15th. Residents of EU member states able to enter to perform economic activities, to visit relatives or to study at a university. Everyone will have to prove themselves with a negative test for COVID-19 upon entry.

On June 15th, the government in Prague will introduce a “traffic light model” for other countries, which will divide them into risk groups. While citizens from Germany and Switzerland are "green" countries they will have a go-ahead for unrestricted travel, travellers from France, Italy and Spain will have to present a negative laboratory test for the coronavirus on entry.

Denmark

From May 25 people with a permanent residence in one of the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) or Germany can re-enter if they are in a relationship with someone in Denmark, have grandparents there, or if they have a business trip.

From June 15, Copenhagen will open its borders to tourists from Germany, Iceland and Norway.

As of June 8, other EU nationals, as well as UK nationals, are not allowed to enter Denmark until the end of summer.

Estonia

Opened borders to Baltic neighbours on May 15 and to EU and UK travellers on June 1st, but with a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Finland

The government has plans to allow travelers from Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from June 15 and don't recommend unnecessary travels to other countries. Travel for work purposes is possible from EU countries as well as for residents or family purposes. Borders with non-EU countries will remain closed until at least July 14.

France

Government plans to reopen France's border to EU and UK on June 15, as others EU countries. But it will be restricted only to essential travel allowed for those who don't live in the country. Travellers coming from the Spain or UK will be subject to quarantine. Visitors coming from outside the EU or UK will still not be able to travel to France except for in limited circumstances, while EU countries are still to decide when they will reopen external borders.

Germany

Right now, Germany permits travelers from Denmark, France, Austria and Switzerland, but they are still doing some unexpected checks.

EU citizens and citizens of the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, and the family members of these citizens, are permitted to return to their home country or to their place of normal residence in Germany or another country.

On June 15, Germany is expected to lift border restrictions for travelers coming from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and the United Kingdom.

Germany, however, decided to extend until August 31 its warnings on travelling outside the EU.

Greece

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry Greece has a plan with three different phases to reopen their borders.

Phase 1 – Until 15 June

''International flights are allowed only into Athens airport.

All visitors are tested upon arrival and are required to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If the test is negative, then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days.''

Phase 2 – Bridge phase- 15 June to 30 June

International flights are allowed into Athens and Thessaloniki airports.

If your travel originated from an airport not in the EASA affected area list, then you are only subject to random tests upon arrival.

If you originate from an airport on the EASA affected area list, then you will be tested upon arrival. An overnight stay at a designated hotel is required. If the test is negative then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days.

Phase 3 – 1 July onwards

International flights are allowed into all airports in Greece.

Visitors are subject to random tests upon arrival.

Additional restrictions regarding certain countries will be announced at a later date.

More info here.

Hungary

Hungary has opened its border with Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia and from June 12 will allow people to enter from Croatia without the need for going into quarantine.

No information was found on their official page about other countries.

Ireland

Irish health authorities currently require anyone coming into Ireland, except from Northern Ireland, to self-isolate for 14 days, upon arrival, including Irish residents.

Arrivals have to complete a passenger locator form, although exemptions are in place for providers of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.

Italy

The country opened its borders on June 3 to EU, UK, Schengen area, Andorra and Monaco citizens, following the nationwide lockdown which came into force on March 9. Borders also opened with Vatican City and San Marino on this date.

Travellers coming from the above countries won't have to undergo quarantine unless they have been in any other country in the 14 days before reaching Italy.

Latvia

Opened its borders to Baltic neighbours (Estonia and Lithuania) on May 15. Since June 1, there's no border checks with Lithuania. But it remains closed to others countries.

Lithuania

Opened its borders to Baltic neighbours Estonia and Latvia on May 15. Since June 1, there's no border checks with Latvia. Lithuania is also allowing entry to citizens of Poland for business and studies.

But as Latvia, it remains closed to others countries.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg border with Germany reopened on May 15. The borders will probably open to the rest of EU on June 15.

Malta

They will reopen for tourism travel on July 1.

Borders will reopen to travellers from Germany, Austria, Cyprus, Switzerland, the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Iceland, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Israel, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic.

Other countries "will be announced in due course, once clearance from the health authorities is received." said the Tourism Ministry.

The Netherlands

The EU proposal of an entry ban for non-essential travel is extended until 15 June 2020.

More info here.

Norway

The country advises against all international travel that is not strictly necessary until August 20th.

From June 15, people from Denmark will be able to enter. By July 20, exemptions for some nearby European countries will be considered.

Norway currently has a 10-day quarantine for those returning from international travel.

Poland

Poland has closed its borders with several countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany.

The borders will possibly open to other countries on June 12.

Portugal

Workers and supplies are being allowed across Portugal's land border with Spain, but it is closed to tourists until at least June 15.

Border controls have been in place since March 16. There is currently no requirement for arrivals to go into quarantine, except in The Azores.

Romania

Romania has reopened its border with Hungary. But it remains closed to other countries.

Serbia

The borders are open.

Slovenia

Slovenia reopened borders to EU citizens on May 15. Anyone suspected to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days.

Slovakia

On June 10 Slovakia opened its borders to Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland and it was already opened to Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Since yesterday (June 10) people no longer need to wear face masks outside.

Spain

Spain will open its borders to international visitors on July 1.

Currently, people who enter the national territory from abroad must stay in quarantine for 14 days after their arrival, but this will end on July 1.

Sweden

Sweden has introduced border restrictions but it only applies to non-essential travel from countries outside the EU/EEA, except the UK and Switzerland. The borders will probably open on June 15.

Switzerland

Switzerland reopen borders to all EU countries, the UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on June 15. Foreign travelers who tries to enter in the country without a valid residence or work permit will be refused entry.

Air passengers from abroad are currently only able to enter the country through the airports at Zurich, Geneva and Basel.

United Kingdom

Borders are currently open. Since June 8, visitors from abroad will be required to quarantine for 14 days. Those exempt from these measures include people travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

As in other countries, certain professions are exempt from these rules, such as healthcare workers travelling to deliver healthcare in the country. Upon arrival, those who are required to self-isolate need to provide their journey and contact details.

The government says these measures will be reviewed every three weeks.