What you need to know about travelling from Germany to other European countries
Travellers from Germany can freely visit most EU and Schengen Zone countries - but in some cases with restrictions. We take a look at what to expect.
The summer holidays have begun - or are just around the corner. While many travellers in Germany have put their holidays on hold, others are gearing up to travel abroad, especially as travel restrictions around Europe are relaxed.
Germany’s Foreign Office extended its worldwide travel warning at the end of June, but lifted it for most European countries.
If you’re a resident of Germany - but come from a country otherwise not permitted to travel in the EU right now, say the US - there should not be a problem travelling within Europe. But it's recommended that you take extra precautions.
“I would say it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of additional documentation, though usually the residency permit would be enough,” Joseph Giordono-Scholz, a spokesperson for the American Embassy in Berlin, told The Local.
Germany also does not require return travellers from any EU country to quarantine, and recently repealed the requirement for the UK and Sweden.
United Kingdom: The UK on July 10th began lifting its quarantine for travellers from certain countries that it deemed 'safe' – including Germany.
However, although it is no longer necessary to self isolate when travelling to the UK from Germany, passengers do need to fill out the contact locator form before leaving the country.
READ ALSO: Travelling to the UK from Germany? This is the form you need to fill in
A woman donning a face mask at Frankfurt's airport. Photo: DPA
Austria: Currently travellers from Germany can freely enter and move through its southern neighbour.
READ ALSO: New night train takes tourists from German beaches to Austrian ski resorts
Belgium: The Kingdom is again open to tourists from Germany. Quarantine rules do not apply - but in everyday life there are basic hygiene regulations such wearing masks on public transport, in shops, cinemas and museums.
Bulgaria: There are no entry restrictions or quarantine obligations for holidaymakers from most EU countries - including Germany and Austria.
Cyprus: Anyone travelling to holiday hotspot Cyprus must register electronically before arrival. If a person tests positive, they have to stay for 14 days in specially equipped isolated accommodation in hotels.
Croatia: The tourist paradise allows German citizens and residents to enter the country without proof of specific reasons. The relaxation of early June also affects travellers from nine other EU states: Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
In future, travellers from these countries will only have to explain at the border where they will be staying and how to reach them. This should enable them to be found if there are new corona infections in their vicinity.
Czech Republic: Entry is possible again for German citizens and residents since the beginning of June. A quarantine or a negative coronavirus test is not necessary.
READ ALSO: Czech Republic reopens border with Germany
The Czech border on the day it opened with Germany in early June. Photo: DPA
Denmark: After the Danes were one of the first countries in Europe to close their borders to non-essential travel on March 14th, German travellers can now re-enter the country. The only condition is that they must have booked a six night stay.
Exceptions to this rule apply to travellers from Germany who own a Danish summer house, want to visit their partners in the country or are residents of Schleswig-Holstein.
Finland: The country in the far north opened its doors just under a month ago to travellers from the Baltic States and most of Scandinavia, with the exception of Sweden. For several other countries, travel restrictions were lifted on Monday - including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
France: Travellers from Germany can enter France without problems, and a quarantine or special documents are not necessary. In public transport masks are compulsory - with other institutions including stores able to decide for themselves.
Greece: Travellers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as most EU countries can freely enter Greece by air. However, they must register electronically at least 24 hours prior to arrival, stating where they have been and where they will be staying in Greece.
An algorithm then calculates whether and which travellers need to undergo a coronavirus test after their arrival.
Hungary: German holidaymakers can enter Hungary without restrictions. The country was only moderately affected by the pandemic, and the situation is increasingly normalizing.
Italy: Travellers from the EU or the Schengen area may enter Italy without restrictions. Unlike visitors from non-EU countries, they do not have to go into quarantine.
Ireland: The German government currently advises against travel to Ireland for non-essential reasons. Incoming travellers will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine, according to the latest government information.
Iceland: Since mid-June, the island in the North Atlantic, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has been giving holidaymakers the opportunity to have themselves tested for the virus directly on arrival.
The Icelandic government wants to give international tourists an alternative to the 14-day quarantine after arrival, which has been mandatory since April, without coronavirus numbers, which have dropped to almost zero, rising again.
Luxembourg: There are no border controls and no entry restrictions at the borders with Luxembourg. Masks are compulsory on public transport. A minimum distance of two metres must be maintained in shops and public places such as museums.
Netherlands: A holiday to Holland is possible again. "Tourists from countries with comparable low health risks as our country are welcome in the Netherlands this summer," writes the government. And that certainly applies to their German neighbours.
Norway: On Wednesday, the Norwegians lifted their travel restrictions for people from numerous European countries with satisfactory corona figures - including Germany, a key contributor to tourism there.
READ ALSO: German tourists expelled from Norway after breaking tourism ban
Norway is a nature lover's paradise. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Poland: Since July 13th, the country has opened its borders to all EU neighbouring countries. EU residents and Poles entering the country do not have to be quarantined.
Portugal: A two-week lockdown has been in force since July 1st for large parts of the Lisbon area. The centre of the capital, popular with tourists, is not affected. All in all, Portugal is subject to roughly the same regulations as Spain.
On entry, temperature is measured, and if there is any suspicion, the travellers are questioned.
Romania: EU citizens are free to enter Romania. However, they could encounter problems when leaving the country later on, because due to a strong increase in the number of infections, travellers from Romania have to expect obstacles when entering several EU countries.
Switzerland: Entry into Switzerland is possible without any problems from all Schengen countries except Sweden. However, people who have been in countries classified as risky in the previous two weeks - including the US - must enter Switzerland in quarantine.
Slovakia: Germans have been able to enter Slovakia again without restrictions for one month.
Slovenia: The EU country between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea allows travellers from Germany and several other European countries to enter without any restrictions. Those who want to spend their holidays there no longer even have to present a booking confirmation.
Spain: Since June 21st, holidaymakers from the EU and the Schengen states have again been allowed unlimited entry to Spain.
An online form must be filled in before departure, in which the name, passport number, flight details and an e-mail address must be entered. The traveller will then receive a QR code which must be presented at the border on entry.
READ ALSO: 'We're very glad to be here': German tourists fly to Mallorca in post Covid pilot project
Sweden: As of Tuesday July 14th, Sweden has no longer been on the Robert Koch Institute's "risk country" list. Germans can now easily travel to Sweden, and Swedes can travel to Germany without facing a 14-day quarantine as they did previously.
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The summer holidays have begun - or are just around the corner. While many travellers in Germany have put their holidays on hold, others are gearing up to travel abroad, especially as travel restrictions around Europe are relaxed.
Germany’s Foreign Office extended its worldwide travel warning at the end of June, but lifted it for most European countries.
If you’re a resident of Germany - but come from a country otherwise not permitted to travel in the EU right now, say the US - there should not be a problem travelling within Europe. But it's recommended that you take extra precautions.
“I would say it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of additional documentation, though usually the residency permit would be enough,” Joseph Giordono-Scholz, a spokesperson for the American Embassy in Berlin, told The Local.
Germany also does not require return travellers from any EU country to quarantine, and recently repealed the requirement for the UK and Sweden.
United Kingdom: The UK on July 10th began lifting its quarantine for travellers from certain countries that it deemed 'safe' – including Germany.
However, although it is no longer necessary to self isolate when travelling to the UK from Germany, passengers do need to fill out the contact locator form before leaving the country.
READ ALSO: Travelling to the UK from Germany? This is the form you need to fill in
A woman donning a face mask at Frankfurt's airport. Photo: DPA
Austria: Currently travellers from Germany can freely enter and move through its southern neighbour.
READ ALSO: New night train takes tourists from German beaches to Austrian ski resorts
Belgium: The Kingdom is again open to tourists from Germany. Quarantine rules do not apply - but in everyday life there are basic hygiene regulations such wearing masks on public transport, in shops, cinemas and museums.
Bulgaria: There are no entry restrictions or quarantine obligations for holidaymakers from most EU countries - including Germany and Austria.
Cyprus: Anyone travelling to holiday hotspot Cyprus must register electronically before arrival. If a person tests positive, they have to stay for 14 days in specially equipped isolated accommodation in hotels.
Croatia: The tourist paradise allows German citizens and residents to enter the country without proof of specific reasons. The relaxation of early June also affects travellers from nine other EU states: Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
In future, travellers from these countries will only have to explain at the border where they will be staying and how to reach them. This should enable them to be found if there are new corona infections in their vicinity.
Czech Republic: Entry is possible again for German citizens and residents since the beginning of June. A quarantine or a negative coronavirus test is not necessary.
READ ALSO: Czech Republic reopens border with Germany
The Czech border on the day it opened with Germany in early June. Photo: DPA
Denmark: After the Danes were one of the first countries in Europe to close their borders to non-essential travel on March 14th, German travellers can now re-enter the country. The only condition is that they must have booked a six night stay.
Exceptions to this rule apply to travellers from Germany who own a Danish summer house, want to visit their partners in the country or are residents of Schleswig-Holstein.
Finland: The country in the far north opened its doors just under a month ago to travellers from the Baltic States and most of Scandinavia, with the exception of Sweden. For several other countries, travel restrictions were lifted on Monday - including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
France: Travellers from Germany can enter France without problems, and a quarantine or special documents are not necessary. In public transport masks are compulsory - with other institutions including stores able to decide for themselves.
Greece: Travellers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as most EU countries can freely enter Greece by air. However, they must register electronically at least 24 hours prior to arrival, stating where they have been and where they will be staying in Greece.
An algorithm then calculates whether and which travellers need to undergo a coronavirus test after their arrival.
Hungary: German holidaymakers can enter Hungary without restrictions. The country was only moderately affected by the pandemic, and the situation is increasingly normalizing.
Italy: Travellers from the EU or the Schengen area may enter Italy without restrictions. Unlike visitors from non-EU countries, they do not have to go into quarantine.
Ireland: The German government currently advises against travel to Ireland for non-essential reasons. Incoming travellers will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine, according to the latest government information.
Iceland: Since mid-June, the island in the North Atlantic, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has been giving holidaymakers the opportunity to have themselves tested for the virus directly on arrival.
The Icelandic government wants to give international tourists an alternative to the 14-day quarantine after arrival, which has been mandatory since April, without coronavirus numbers, which have dropped to almost zero, rising again.
Luxembourg: There are no border controls and no entry restrictions at the borders with Luxembourg. Masks are compulsory on public transport. A minimum distance of two metres must be maintained in shops and public places such as museums.
Netherlands: A holiday to Holland is possible again. "Tourists from countries with comparable low health risks as our country are welcome in the Netherlands this summer," writes the government. And that certainly applies to their German neighbours.
Norway: On Wednesday, the Norwegians lifted their travel restrictions for people from numerous European countries with satisfactory corona figures - including Germany, a key contributor to tourism there.
READ ALSO: German tourists expelled from Norway after breaking tourism ban
Norway is a nature lover's paradise. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Poland: Since July 13th, the country has opened its borders to all EU neighbouring countries. EU residents and Poles entering the country do not have to be quarantined.
Portugal: A two-week lockdown has been in force since July 1st for large parts of the Lisbon area. The centre of the capital, popular with tourists, is not affected. All in all, Portugal is subject to roughly the same regulations as Spain.
On entry, temperature is measured, and if there is any suspicion, the travellers are questioned.
Romania: EU citizens are free to enter Romania. However, they could encounter problems when leaving the country later on, because due to a strong increase in the number of infections, travellers from Romania have to expect obstacles when entering several EU countries.
Switzerland: Entry into Switzerland is possible without any problems from all Schengen countries except Sweden. However, people who have been in countries classified as risky in the previous two weeks - including the US - must enter Switzerland in quarantine.
Slovakia: Germans have been able to enter Slovakia again without restrictions for one month.
Slovenia: The EU country between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea allows travellers from Germany and several other European countries to enter without any restrictions. Those who want to spend their holidays there no longer even have to present a booking confirmation.
Spain: Since June 21st, holidaymakers from the EU and the Schengen states have again been allowed unlimited entry to Spain.
An online form must be filled in before departure, in which the name, passport number, flight details and an e-mail address must be entered. The traveller will then receive a QR code which must be presented at the border on entry.
READ ALSO: 'We're very glad to be here': German tourists fly to Mallorca in post Covid pilot project
Sweden: As of Tuesday July 14th, Sweden has no longer been on the Robert Koch Institute's "risk country" list. Germans can now easily travel to Sweden, and Swedes can travel to Germany without facing a 14-day quarantine as they did previously.
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