This weekend Portugal, Greece and Italy kicked off the tourist season.
Last weekend (May 14-16) was the starting signal for the tourist season in some of the main European destinations. Portugal, Greece or Italy have eliminated quarantine and allow the visit of tourists from the EU and other states with the simple presentation of a negative PCR test. Spain was already one of the least demanding countries in terms of entry requirements since November 2020, although there is still work to be done with key markets such as the UK.
Portugal
- Opening: From May 17.
- From which countries can you enter? It has opened its borders to leisure travelers from the 27 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and the UK.
- Additional requirement: Cumulative Incidence less than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days – currently Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden do not meet this requirement.
- What evidence is required? Everyone over two years of age must submit a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old.
Greece
- Opening: From May 14.
- From which countries can you enter? It has opened its borders to leisure travelers from the 27 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Also from the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, Russia, North Macedonia, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.
- Additional requirement: You can be randomly subjected to rapid antigen testing upon arrival in Greece.
- What tests need to be submitted? There are several options:
Certificate of vaccination obtained 14 days after receiving the full guideline.
Certificate that the disease has been overcome (valid from two to nine months after cure).
Those over five years of age must present a negative PCR test performed 72 hours prior to travel.
Italy
- Opening: From May 16.
- From which countries can you enter? It has opened its borders to leisure travelers from the 27 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, as well as the UK and Israel.
- Other countries: It will soon open its borders to travelers from the United States, Canada and Japan who have been vaccinated.
- What proof is required? Everyone over two years of age must present a negative PCR test no more than 48 hours old.
What about Spain?
- Opening: From November 2020.
- From which countries can you enter? It has opened its borders to leisure travelers from the 27 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Also Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and China.
- What proof is required? Those over 6 years of age coming from countries at risk (500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days) must present a PCR test with negative result performed within 72 hours prior to arrival.
France
Perhaps the destination that received the most tourists before the outbreak of the pandemic is missing from the list: France. France keeps its borders open to EU citizens, Schengen associated countries and citizens from South Korea, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Singapore; however, it requires both a negative PCR test performed a maximum of 72 hours prior to embarkation and a 7-day quarantine upon arrival in the country.
This situation may change as of June 9.
