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Q&A on the EU Digital Covid Certificate  

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The European Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on an EU Digital Covid Certificate to facilitate travel within the EU without discrimination from 1 July.

EU member states have introduced travel restrictions in order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Commission drafted a proposal to create an EU Digital Covid Certificate (initially called “Digital Green Certificate”) to facilitate travel within Europe through a commonly agreed document with a standard format, stating that a person has been vaccinated, has tested negative or has recovered from COVID-19. These three types of certification would be secure and accepted throughout the EU.

MEPs voted on the European Parliament’s position on 29 April and swiftly started negotiations with the Council on 3 May. An informal agreement was reached on 20 May. The Parliament as a whole and the member states now need to formally approve the regulation for it to come into use as of 1 July.

Why do we need such a certificate?

The EU Digital Covid Certificate is designed to restore free movement within the EU and is one of the key preconditions for the economic recovery. A single certificate format will help the tourism sector and transport providers, such as airlines, trains, coaches and ferries across all member states. It will be issued by member states and carry information in the relevant language and English.

What is a vaccination certificate?

The EU Digital Covid Certificate for vaccination will record that a vaccination has been administered in a secure and reliable digital format with a QR code. It will be easy to prove that you have received a jab. It could be issued after each dose and will state if the course of vaccination is completed, depending on the type of vaccine you have received.

What is a test certificate?

The EU Digital Covid Certificate for tests can be issued for PCR or Rapid Antigen Tests. It records this medical information in a secure and reliable digital format with a QR code. It will be easy to prove that you have a negative result if required by a member state upon entry. A separate certificate will be issued for each test and will not contain any data from previous certificates.

What is a recovery certificate?

The EU Digital Covid Certificate of recovery confirms that the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection following a positive test. It should be issued no earlier than 11 days after the first positive test. A QR code will access the results in a secure and reliable way. Currently antibody tests — which detect if a person developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 — cannot be used to obtain a recovery certificate.

Will this certificate be obligatory to travel?

No. No one will be obliged to use the EU Digital Covid Certificate. However, only the EU Digital Covid Certificate will guarantee that you can cross internal EU borders without additional requirements, as it will be accepted by all member states.

Is the certificate a “vaccine passport”?

No. The EU Digital Covid certificate will not be a travel document nor a precondition for travel. However, such a certificate will help you to easily prove in all EU member states that you have been vaccinated, had a recent negative test or have recently recovered from COVID-19.

Could I still face restrictions when I arrive in a country even if I have a valid EU Digital Covid certificate?

Before travelling, you should check if any emergency public health measures and restrictions apply at your destination. Member states may apply non-discriminatory additional measures only when the public health situation has seriously deteriorated, and after having duly informed the European Commission.

I am an EU citizen but have been vaccinated outside the EU, can I get a certificate?

Member states may issue vaccination certificates upon request to persons, in particular EU citizens and family members, who have been vaccinated in a third country and can provide reliable proof of vaccination. Member states will not be required to issue certificates if the vaccine is not authorised for use on its territory.

Will I face discrimination if I am not vaccinated?

No. Persons who are not vaccinated should not be discriminated against and vaccination should not be a precondition to exercise free movement rights or to use transport services such as airlines, trains, coaches or ferries or any other means of cross-border transport.

How much do I have to pay for the certificate?

Nothing. The certificate will be free of charge.

Which vaccines will be recognised?

Member states must accept vaccination certificates issued in other member states for persons inoculated with a vaccine authorised for use in the EU by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It will be up to the member states to decide whether they also accept vaccination certificates that have been authorised by other Member States following national authorisation procedures or for vaccines listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use.

How long will this certificate exist?

The legislation will be in place for 12 months, starting 1 July 2021. Member states will need to be ready to accept certificates from this date. There will be a phase-in period of six weeks for member states to develop the capacity to issue their own EU Digital Covid certificates if they cannot already do so.

I was vaccinated before the entry into force of the EU Digital Covid certificate regulation, is my certificate valid?

Persons vaccinated before the certificate came into use should have the right to obtain the EU Digital Covid Certificate subject to presenting proof of vaccination. Certificates issued before 1 July 2021 will be accepted for the first six weeks of application of the regulation if they contain all the necessary information.

Could the EU Digital Covid certificate be extended?

This would require a new legislative proposal to be presented by the European Commission and decided upon by the European Parliament and the Council. Prior to any such proposal, the Commission must thoroughly assess whether the certificate has facilitated free movement, travel and tourism, and its impact on fundamental rights and non-discrimination.

What if I don’t have a smartphone?

The certificate would be available in digital and paper format. Holders may choose in which format they want to receive it.

Will my data be stored?

There will be no central EU database containing medical data. Everyone’s rights over their data will be protected in line with the EU’s strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Will COVID-19 tests become cheaper across the EU?

MEPs insisted on making tests widely available at affordable prices, if not free of charge. Through the Emergency Support Instrument, the EU Commission will provide funding of €100 million to offer testing in particular for persons who cross borders daily or frequently to go to work or school, visit close relatives, or to seek medical care. To make rapid antigen tests available at affordable prices to member states, the EU launched a joint purchase of 500 million tests.

Disclaimer : This is not official information and should be checked against the final text adopted and published in the Official Journal, as well as national rules.

Contacts:  

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• Phone number: (+32) 2 28 40731 (BXL)  
• Mobile number: (+32) 470 884 282  
• E-mail: [email protected]  
• E-mail: [email protected]  
• Twitter account: @EP_Justice  

Further information  

• Procedure file : Digital Green Certificate - Union citizens  
• Procedure file : Digital Green Certificate - third-country nationals  
• Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs  

Coronavirus related restrictions for travel into the EU

Webpages in this section are no longer being updated. The content may be out-of-date and should be consulted for past reference only.

Following the adoption of Council Recommendation (EU) 2022/2548 of 13 December 2022, no restrictions should be imposed on travels into the EU from another country. 

What if the epidemiological situation worsens?

In case of severe worsening of the epidemiological situation in EU or non-EU countries, Member States should decide in a coordinated manner to reintroduce appropriate requirements for travellers prior to their departure.  

What happens if a new variant is detected?

An urgent, temporary restriction on all travel into the EU from a third country or region can be adopted by Member States

where a variant of concern or interest is detected 

if the epidemiological situation in that country has rapidly deteriorated 

This emergency brake applies to non-EU nationals who have stayed in that non-EU country or region at any time during the 14 days before departure towards the EU. 

Such a restriction should expire after 21 days unless Member States decide to shorten it or extend it for an additional period. If the emergency brake is triggered, EU countries should discuss possible coordinated measures in the Council, in cooperation with the European Commission. 

Restrictions on travel to the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic

As a first response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the EU, a coordinated temporary restriction of non-essential travel to the EU applied from 17 March 2020 until 30 June 2020. In June 2020, following a proposal from the Commission, the Council adopted a recommendation on temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restrictions. This recommendation was updated several times and eventually replaced in December 2022 by Council Recommendation (EU) 2022/Council Recommendation (EU) 2022/2548 .  

During the period where travel restrictions to the EU were in place, some exemptions were put in place to ensure free movement of citizens, goods and services – with full respect of health and safety measures. 

The following categories of people were exempt from the temporary travel restriction to the EU+ area from third countries

• EU citizens and nationals of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as their respective family members 
• third-country nationals who are long-term residents under the Long-term Residence Directive, or deriving their right to reside from other EU Directives or national law, or who hold national long-term visas, as well as their respective family members 

The temporary travel restrictions did also not apply to people with an essential function or need, including 

• healthcare professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals
• frontier workers 
• seasonal workers in agriculture 
• transport personnel 
• diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions 
• passengers in transit 
• passengers travelling for imperative family reasons 
• persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons 
• third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of study 
• highly qualified third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad.

Disclaimer. The page was last updated in September 2023

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With A New Digital Certificate, People Can Travel Within Europe Without Quarantining

Esme Nicholson

Beginning Thursday, most people traveling between European countries can skip COVID-19 testing and quarantine if they've obtained the new EU digital travel certificate.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Beginning today, most people traveling between European countries can skip COVID testing in quarantine if they have the new EU COVID digital certificate. That's an official document that says the holder has been fully vaccinated. Implementing a uniform travel scheme across more than two dozen nations is not simple, as Esme Nicholson reports from Berlin.

ESME NICHOLSON, BYLINE: After multiple lockdowns and a difficult third wave, Europeans are keen to travel. One of them is the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who recently showed off her new digital vaccine certificate.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN: And here is mine. I am planning now to start my tour through 27 member states, and I'm very curious to test and to see how this certificate will work.

NICHOLSON: And she's not the only one who's curious.

(SOUNDBITE OF AIRPORT AMBIENCE)

NICHOLSON: At Berlin's airport, Jan Laskowski is just as eager to know how and, above all, if the EU's new digital proof of vaccination works. The 26-year-old web developer and his girlfriend are waiting to check in for a flight to the Greek island of Corfu. They were supposed to fly yesterday but were refused boarding because they'd failed to register their trip with Greek authorities. Laskowski says his airline emailed him about this requirement just hours before he was due to fly.

JAN LASKOWSKI: Even on the government page, when you see - what do you need? Oh, you just need a test, like a PCR test. And then I get, you know, this email. I'm waking up in the morning, you know, and like, nice; goodbye, flight.

NICHOLSON: Laskowski clutches his smartphone, which has an image of his EU travel certificate. It proves that a passenger is either fully vaccinated, has tested negative or has recovered from COVID-19. Valid from today, it's supposed to do away with additional paperwork, but Laskowski says he still had to register with Greek authorities.

LASKOWSKI: The airlines don't inform you. But, I mean, now I learned and know that I have to inform myself always.

NICHOLSON: But Europe's major aviation associations actually share Laskowski's grievance and are warning of major operational issues if member states don't iron out inconsistencies in how they approve travel. Fifty-two-year-old Beate Borg says she and her husband have come prepared for such teething problems.

BEATE BORG: (Through interpreter) We thought we'd play it safe, so we brought our paper vaccine document just in case the digital one doesn't work.

NICHOLSON: The Borgs are flying to Reykjavik in Iceland, one of the non-EU members signed up to Europe's digital certificate scheme. Borg says she's a little nervous because they've taken a gamble on the additional coronavirus test requirement.

BORG: (Through interpreter) Being fully vaccinated, we no longer have to provide a negative test result for travel to Iceland. That's a new rule from this morning, so we don't have test results on us. Fingers crossed we've understood it right and that Iceland lets us in.

NICHOLSON: Borg says the only way to travel even with the new digital vaccine certificate is to keep checking the travel regulations of every single government, as they plan to do before they head home.

BORG: (Through interpreter) Right now we don't have to test or quarantine to reenter Germany from Iceland, unlike if you're coming from other European countries, such as Portugal. But who knows how many times the government could change its travel policies in the two weeks we're away?

NICHOLSON: While the digital certificate is supposed to eliminate the need for additional testing and quarantine for double-vaxed (ph) travelers, rising case numbers in Europe and the increasing dominance of the Delta variant could compromise the project. Member states are entitled to reimpose restrictions if the situation warrants it. Beate Borg says it's frustrating, but she'd rather be safe than sorry.

For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

Copyright © 2021 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

European Countries Agree on New COVID-19 Travel Guidelines

A color-coded map system will indicate where coronavirus cases are surging and how countries should respond..

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Until the new rules go into effect, travelers coming to Italy from EU countries must either fill out a health form, procure a negative COVID test, or quarantine, depending on their country of origin.

Photo by Shutterstock

As residents of many countries—including the United States— remain banned from traveling to much of Europe, travel within Europe has not proven to be much easier throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

As of early October, travelers coming from the United Kingdom could enter France without restrictions, but those going in the opposite direction were required to quarantine for 14 days. Those heading to Germany from certain European countries and regions had to quarantine until they provided negative COVID-19 test results. Travelers to Italy coming from EU countries had to fill out a health form, unless they were coming from Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, or Spain (then they had to provide proof of a negative test). It went on and on.

But the dizzying patchwork of rules and regulations for travel within Europe should soon be a thing of the past. European Union countries this week approved a series of guidelines aimed at facilitating a more unified approach to travel within Europe during the pandemic.

The European Commission established a set of criteria that countries should follow to determine how and whether to restrict arrivals. They include:

• Coronavirus cases —Member states should not restrict travel from other countries with fewer than 50 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over the last 14 days.
• Test positivity rates —Member states should not restrict travel from other countries with a COVID-19 test positivity rate of less than 3 percent provided that the weekly testing rate exceeds 250 tests per 100,000 people.
• Reporting —Member states should supply the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) with their coronavirus case and testing data on a weekly basis to create a common database.

As countries furnish their coronavirus data, the ECDC will be able to produce a color-coded map (which will be published regularly on the European Commission’s Re-open EU site ) that will allow for more informed and consistent decisions about travel restrictions across Europe.

A color-coded map of Europe with COVID-19 travel data will indicate:

• Green —if the new case rate is less than 25 per 100,000 and the test positivity rate is less than 3 percent
• Orange —if the new case rate is less than 50 per 100,000 but the test positivity rate is 3 percent or greater, or if the new case rate ranges from 25 to 150 per 100,000 but the test positivity rate is less than 3 percent
• Red —if the new case rate is 50 or more per 100,000 and the test positivity rate is 3 percent or more
• Gray —if there is not sufficient data or testing available

Each week, the ECDC will publish an updated version of the map. Countries will then be able to implement either a quarantine or a mandatory COVID-19 test for travelers coming from countries coded as red or gray. Under the criteria adopted Tuesday, most EU regions would currently be either red or orange because Europe is currently experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases.

The European Commission’s proposal: fewer quarantines, more tests

During their October 13 meeting in Luxembourg, envoys for the 27 member states of the European Commission agreed on the common approach to travel restrictions. But because it’s not a binding agreement, independent countries can continue to implement either quarantine or testing measures (or even outright bans) as they see fit. The hope, however, is that some greater uniformity will emerge.

The European Commission is pushing for testing as a coronavirus control method over quarantines.

“Wherever possible, the possibility to undergo tests for COVID-19 infection instead of quarantine should be the preferred option,” the European Commission stated.

In a statement following the October 13 agreement, the European Commission said that European countries “learned our lessons: we will not surmount the crisis by unilaterally closing borders.”

The Commission said that member countries had agreed to recognize the use of tests and will continue to work together to create a standard for testing and quarantine requirements.

What intra-Europe travel looks like now

Until European countries unilaterally implement the new measures, the existing situation for intra-European travel is a bit of an ever-evolving puzzle. Here is a brief summary of how some countries are approaching it as of October 14:

• United Kingdom: The United Kingdom continues to update its list of countries and territories that are exempted from its otherwise required 14-day quarantine. European countries that are notably absent from the list as of October 14 include Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. Travelers from any of those countries must quarantine until the country is added to the “safe list”—or until the United Kingdom formally adopts a new system.
• France: Those who enter France from the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom can do so without any COVID-19-related restrictions or paperwork, according to the French government . Travelers who are not from the exempted countries may not enter unless they are French citizens or permanent residents or fall into a number of categories of exceptions (such as those in transit and traveling for business).
• Germany: Germany maintains a list of countries—and even specific counties and regions within countries—that it deems as “international risk areas.” Travelers from these risk areas must quarantine until they produce a negative coronavirus test result. In the October 7 incarnation of the list, counties and provinces within the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Lithuania had been added to the list, along with the entire country of Romania.
• Italy: As of October 7, travelers coming to Italy from EU countries must simply fill out a health form, unless they are coming from Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, or Spain—then they must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Those arriving from Romania must quarantine.
• Ireland: Ireland is one of the few countries in Europe that is actually following the European Commission’s guidance. It has identified a list of countries deemed lower risk based on data provided by the ECDC, and travelers from those countries do not need to quarantine (all other arrivals do). Effective October 12, no countries in Europe made the list.
• Greece: Residents of European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein, and Iceland can enter Greece , but those coming from Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Belgium, Spain, Albania, North Macedonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test procured within 72 hours prior to travel.

This is far from an exhaustive list, but it serves as an example of just how different all the rules and regulations have been within Europe. It remains vital that travelers crossing borders within Europe are up to date on the latest coronavirus-related travel restrictions because they are constantly changing. It is not yet clear exactly when the new system will go into effect.

This story was originally published on September 21, 2020. It has been updated on October 14, 2020, to include current information. The Associated Press contributed reporting.

>> Next: Europe Extends Its Travel Ban—and Americans Are Still Not Allowed In

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6 Things You Should Know About Traveling to Europe This Summer

Shifting flight schedules, varying hotel flexibility and new tech: A lot has changed since the last time you packed that passport.

By Sarah Firshein

After the recommendation on June 18 by the European Union that restrictions against nonessential travel be removed in its member states for visitors from the United States, both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans could possibly travel to Europe this summer , making the masterpieces of the Louvre and the beaches of Sicily once again feel within reach. Here are six things to know if you’re planning a trip.

Flight schedules will be in flux for months to come

Because the United States continues to be closed off to international leisure travelers from most of Europe, making the travel between the two continents one-sided for now, aviation-industry experts say there won’t be a massive surge in Europe-bound flights from the United States this summer.

“Airlines require traffic from both ends of the route to operate sustainable services,” said John Grant, a senior aviation analyst at OAG, a travel data and insight provider.

Until the U.S. borders reopen to European tourists, Mr. Grant added, “the situation remains broadly unchanged for the airlines.”

On May 10, according to OAG data, airline schedules showed fewer than 2.5 million seats on flights heading from the United States to Western Europe in July. By contrast, more than 4.5 million flight seats went from the United States to Europe in July 2019.

Still, airlines are introducing new routes and resuming paused service. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have resumed direct flights to Greece , while American has added a new summer route from New York City to Athens. Delta and United will launch nonstop service from New York City to Dubrovnik, Croatia, in early July. Delta restarted service to Iceland in mid-May, and United will begin flying from Chicago to Reykjavik on July 1.

Additionally, United plans to resume flights to Spain and Portugal in July, Air France has tentatively scheduled the launch of its Denver-Paris route for July 2 and JetBlue will start its first-ever trans-Atlantic route, from New York City to London, on August 11.

Flight schedules are almost certain to change as summer rolls on. According to Transportation Department rules, if an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight, passengers are entitled to cash refunds.

A good bet, Mr. Grant said, is to “look first at travel to those cities with a high frequency of service, perhaps at least twice daily, since those destinations with just one daily flight or less than daily services are likely to be the more vulnerable services for short notice cancellations.”

For those who decide to proactively bow out of a trip, most airlines, including American, United, Delta and Air France, are continuing to waive most change fees for classes above Basic Economy, although the fare difference would apply.

Onboard, you’ll brush elbows with strangers, but you won’t go hungry

In recent months, daily passenger numbers have been generally inching upward, according to the latest Transportation Security Administration stats , and long gone are the days of empty planes and blocked middle seats. Delta, the final holdout, stopped the practice in early May.

Serving food and drinks, which most airlines paused or scaled back in some way last year, is also back, and many other elements of flying will feel similar to how it did before the pandemic. Yes, Air France is still serving fresh bread, wine and cheese, but there are also zeitgeist-y new flourishes to look forward to on other airlines, including spiked seltzers from Truly offered on American and White Claw on United.

Certain pandemic-era changes designed to minimize touch-points persist. To keep the aisles and galleys clear, many airlines are now asking passengers to wait for the “vacant” light before walking to the restrooms. In Delta One business class, pre-meal drinks have been eliminated, and beverages will come with meals. Delta has also introduced tap-to-pay technology for onboard extras. But even on planes where contactless payments are not available, keep a credit card within reach: Many airlines don’t accept cash.

Finally, although mask mandates are loosening across the United States, passengers ages 2 and up are still required by law to wear masks on planes and in airports.

Hotel flexibility will vary, so read the fine print

Most of the large American-run chains have reverted to their pre-Covid cancellation policies for reservations made before a certain date (that has come and gone), and for travel through a certain date (that has come and gone). But some companies are still being flexible: Hilton has always had generous cancellation policies, and Four Seasons has been consistently easy about changes and cancellations during the pandemic.

Travel-industry insiders also have noticed flexibility among independent hoteliers.

“We’ve felt that small, family-run luxury properties are actually more nimble than some of the big hotel chains,” said Louisa Gehring, the owner of Gehring Travel , an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso luxury travel agency. “Rather than lay off all their employees or point to an overarching corporate cancellation policy, they’ve had flexibility to keep the teams on, work with clients on a case-by-case basis and really step up to the plate.”

Policies vary by property, she added, but even some of the more rigid ones now include exceptions for Covid.

One thing to watch for is the credits-versus-refunds flash point: Even in cases when a hotel won’t swallow a deposit or prepayment outright, will you get a cash refund or will you be asked to rebook? Last year, Greece and Italy both passed laws allowing hotels and other travel companies to issue credits, rather than cash refunds, for canceled bookings. Although vaccines, the eagerness to travel and pandemic fatigue may make the idea of a credit less odious than it seemed last spring, always ask about policy specifics, including blackout and expiration dates.

Realize that Paris won’t look exactly like the Paris you remember

The Louvre and the Palace of Versailles are open , and nightclubs will open in July . But many of the go-to tourist destinations in Paris and elsewhere in Europe are or will operate with restrictions in place, including restricted occupancy levels and required mask-wearing. And the E.U. member states, not the bloc, ultimately decide what travel regulations , including testing and quarantines, to impose on visitors (The Netherlands, for example, continues to remain closed to nonessential travel.)

“Clearly, we will not come back to ‘normal’ straight away, and travelers will have to be conscious of health measures and respect rules at the destination,” said Eduardo Santander, the executive director of the European Travel Commission, a Brussels-based nonprofit that represents the national tourism boards across the continent. “We all — destinations, businesses and guests — cannot let the guard down too soon both for our own health and for the safety of people around.”

In short, any trip to Europe this summer will come down to managing expectations.

“Save the ‘must check all the boxes’ trip to Europe for a bit later, once all new protocol kinks have smoothed out,” Ms. Gehring said. But you may still have an unforgettable experience regardless.

“Travel is not a right; it’s a privilege, as we’ve all learned,” Ms. Gehring said. “Speaking Spanish with a local or eating homemade pizza in Naples — even if under new rules and restrictions — may elicit stronger feelings of joy and appreciation than expected.”

Prepare to schedule and commit, rather than wing it

Much like in the United States, most major European museums and attractions now require timed tickets in an effort to honor capacity limits and space out crowds.

That’s good news for anyone who hates waiting in line. But snapping a selfie with “The Mona Lisa” means planning. Timed tickets are usually nonrefundable and rain-or-shine.

Popular restaurants may also require advance reservations, especially for those committed to dining outside. Resy, which is owned by American Express, has expanded its international footprint over the past year; travelers can use the app or website to book top restaurants in the United Kingdom and around mainland Europe.

In previous years, Europe’s excellent rail system and inexpensive regional airlines made it easy to wake up in one country and decide, a few hours later, to visit another. Though that spontaneity might still seem appealing, there are also advantages to staying put.

“Instead of a breakneck itinerary that may include three days in London, three in Paris and five nights between Rome and Tuscany, a true deep-dive into one country allows for greater flexibility and less room for disappointment,” Ms. Gehring said. “Having four nights in Florence instead of two gives you twice as many chances to get that timed ticket at The Uffizi .”

Update your tech and tap into tech updates

Researching restaurant reservations and booking timed tickets could require either a good data plan, Wi-Fi or both. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken your phone overseas, research your wireless provider’s options so you are not slapped with expensive roaming charges. Several companies, including Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, have per-diem travel passes that include unlimited data and texting, and certain calling benefits, in Europe. Or, just stick to free Wi-Fi. And be sure to bring a portable charger — many tickets and entry passes are digital.

Also take stock of the technology that has adapted alongside the pandemic, and how it can make traveling easier — and perhaps even a bit more enjoyable.

Uber Reserve, which launched in November and has recently expanded to London, Paris and elsewhere in Europe, allows users to schedule rides up to 30 days in advance. Uber Rent, also available in Europe, allows users to book rental cars from companies like Avis.

There are also several new travel-friendly bells and whistles from Google Maps. Updates set to be rolled out to Live View, the app’s augmented-reality mode, include overlaid street signs at difficult-to-navigate intersections. The app has also recently introduced more tailored maps that “know” when a user is at home or traveling: A London vacationer who fires up the app at noon, for instance, will see nearby lunch options as well as local tourist attractions.

Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based writer. She is also our Tripped Up columnist . If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

THE WORLD IS REOPENING. LET’S GO, SAFELY. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter : Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article oversstated the extent of the travel restrictions that the United States is imposing on in-bound international leisure travel. The United States is prohibiting international travel from much of the world, including most of Europe, but not all of it.   

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What Summer Travel to Europe Will Look Like This Year

By Arati Menon

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

With additional reporting by Sarah Allard

When travel journalist Jenn Rice decided to spend July and August in Italy and Croatia last year, she wasn’t expecting to be spending most of her time indoors. “It was very very hot, so I booked museum tickets during peak days or just lounged around in my room with a spritz and a book until the sun set.” In Dubrovnik she tried escaping to the sea for a cool dip, but everyone else had the same idea—resulting in sweaty, overcrowded beaches. “In Rome , gelato melted faster than the speed of light,” she says.

Come summer, major attractions like the Spanish Steps in Rome are thronged by international tourists and vacationing Europeans.

Rome and Dubrovnik weren’t the only European destinations overcome with heat. To travel in Europe in the summer of 2023 was to experience first-hand a single season of contrasting extremes. Temperatures swung from hot and dry to cold and wet, and heatwaves broke out across several of the most heavily touristed destinations, with temperatures reaching upwards of 100°F. In Northern Greece, wildfires broke out —the worst experienced there in 20 years —destroying homes, forests, and vineyards.

Yet in the midst of it all, the continent also saw record-breaking tourist numbers —the highest since pre-pandemic levels—even as hotel prices swelled and airfares hit peaks. From scenic escapes like Bellagio in Como and Taormina in Sicily (where the White Lotus effect was on full display) to bucket-list cities like Paris and Madrid , much of touristed Europe was completely overwhelmed.

“We had people calling us from Athens and Rome asking us to get them out [to somewhere cooler in Europe], because it was too hot and too crowded,” recalls Jan Sortland , founder of Scandinavia specialists Norwegian Adventures.

International tourists weren’t the only ones thronging these spots. According to the European Travel Commission , most Europeans took their vacations before the peak month of August, with Italy and France being their top destinations. This resulted in packed crowds at all the major attractions. For John Canning, an LA-based executive who traveled to Paris in July, the crowds were eye-opening. “We didn’t anticipate that everything we would want to see was sold out. We only got Musée d’Orsay tickets through our concierge at a substantial premium and could not get into the Louvre full stop,” he says.

Rice says the summer taught her to plan her travel differently this year—and beyond: “I’m going to try and do coastal Italy early in May, and if I decide to travel in Europe this summer it will be either Asturias in Northern Spain or the Julian Alps in Slovenia to keep cool."

She’s not alone—according to the travel specialists we spoke with, there’s an increased interest in lesser-known destinations offering a more laid back (and cooler) holiday. “Our guests are asking after places where they can be outdoors, yet have access to wine & foodie experiences and culture. Slovenia is a great example of where you can have all that without being overwhelmed with the heat; the Dolomites in Italy is another,” says Rachael Mendizabal, Europe travel specialist at Scott Dunn . Richard Hyde, COO at Small Luxury Hotels of the World , is seeing similar trends across their European portfolio: “Guests seem to be gravitating towards alternative destinations—Milos instead of Mykonos and Slovenia instead of Spain.”

Norway is a popular destination this summer, offering cooler weather and a myriad ways to be active outside, exploring the islands and fjords.

A big part of that shift will play into Sortland’s area of expertise: Northern Europe. With the Med getting too hot to handle, experts predict that tourism will shift northwards. “We’re seeing a lot of interest in Copenhagen and Stockholm for the cultural experience, and then onward to Norway for the nature. Currently, the fjords are still a favorite but Norway is a large country and there’s so much more to see—the Helgeland coast for example with its beautiful coastline and mountainous islands,” he says. The draw is a more moderate temperature and unique outdoor experiences. “ Iceland is a big favorite right now with the Northern lights being the most active this year from September through March,” says Mendizabal.

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In turn, for many, the more standard city breaks will fall later in the year. “Athens and Rome will always be desirable destinations, but we’ve seen an uptick in many people preferring to go there in May and October to swerve crowds,” says Carolyn Addison, head of product at Black Tomato , noting the weather in fall has been stable lately and enticing to travelers not tied to school holidays.

With this increased flexibility, shoulder season will become tricker to define, according to Mendizabal. Thanks to hotels extending their season as demand shifts to almost year-round and the high-season pricing window getting longer, the days of “scooping a deal in September are likely over.” At Jumeirah Palace in Capri , the season now runs from March to the end of December. “Thanks to the good weather, guests are staying longer than in the past,” says Ermanno Zanini, regional vice president at Jumeirah Group, Southern Europe and United Kingdom.

Castello di Vicarello in Tuscany 's Maremma countryside has traditionally stayed open in March and November. “We're pushing the low season as much as possible because we truly believe it is a wonderful time to discover Tuscany. There is so much for guests to enjoy from hiking to mountain biking, truffle hunting, and wine tastings,” says owner Neri Baccheschi Berti.

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Crucially, traveling in the shoulder and off seasons isn't just about avoiding the crowds; it’s knowing that seasonal destinations are multi-dimensional, with year-round appeal. “One of my favorite things to do in cooler weather is to hike to the peak of Mount Solaro, with its beautiful views of the town of Capri and the bay of Marina Piccola with the Faraglioni, as well as Anacapri. You also see plenty of wintering birds on the island,” says Zanini.

Zanini adds that they are in talks with the island's municipality to consider what it would take to stay open in February and March, traditionally strictly closed off. “It's not as straightforward as you think. There’s a lot of infrastructure that needs to be geared towards the low season: restaurants need to stay open, as do shops, and guides need to be available; it can’t just be the hotel,” he adds.

However, with staying open longer, there’s a real opportunity to engage local communities year-round, not to mention stabilize the hiring pool—and improve work culture. “We’ve already seen the positive impact of a longer season for our partners on the ground and locals in the hospitality and tourism sector,” says Addison, who adds that shifts in travel seasons are far from a fleeting trend. “This pattern for more year-round travel will continue to pick up pace in 2025—and beyond," she says.

Travel specialists are quick to point out that even with some of this rebalancing, summer this year and next will continue to see high demand for travel to—and within—Europe. According to Hayley Berg, chief economist at Hopper, while airfare remains higher than at this time in 2019, 40% of all searches for international trips this summer are to Europe, in line with last year and slightly higher than in 2019.

“Sure, we think that traveler numbers on the Côte d'Azur will smooth out through the year, but summer will certainly remain the festive season—only it will be longer,” says Lucie Weill, owner of wellness retreat Lily of the Valley near St. Tropez , which sees its faire share of packed streets and crowded beaches come summer. Weill adds that the hotel has seen success in extending its season.

For travel specialist Cari Gray of Gray & Co . late requests and a lack of flexibility could mean getting turned away because of a lack of availability. “Whether it’s a visit to the Vatican or dogsledding in Alaska , access is going to be very difficult. And there are only that many high-end lodges in Lapland ,” she says. Addison offers the example of Lake Como , where the best properties can often get booked up a year or two in advance during the busiest summer months. “Knowing that the top hotels and guides are getting booked up and that weather disruptions are increasingly unpredictable, clients who want to commit to the most popular summer hotspots in Europe, like the Greek islands and Sardinia are securing their bookings a year out.”

The Balearic island of Menorca is a charming escape with its rocky coves, white-sand beaches, and green rolling hills.

Ultimately, it’s not about giving up on all the places you love: just about pivoting, even if within the same country. “Why not Menorca instead of Mallorca, with its explosion of fantastic hotels and its great beach front, or Epirus in Northern Greece on the Albanian border with its Stone villages, old-growth forests, and truffle hunts instead of the islands," says Gray.

"In Italy we’re always pushing to discover new areas, even in regions that we’ve been exploring for decades like Tuscany and Umbria because new hotels are opening up regularly,” says Courtney Mundy , a travel specialist at experiential travel experts Butterfield & Robinson.

And, a word of caution for the rising favorites: “Smaller destinations in Iceland & Norway will really need to consider how to manage the higher number of visitors than ever before,” says Addison. “Parts of Iceland are overtouristed,” agrees Sortland, “so, it’s not unreasonable to think that smaller communities in Norway could eventually be at risk, too.” Whether it's through new tourist tax regimens or limits on cruise ship day-trippers to reduce crowding, a shifting tide will need more alert local governments—and as we’re swapping beaches for the mountains or Rome for Stockholm, more responsible travel habits that leave fewer traces behind.

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