travel to europe 2024

Welcome to the official ETIAS website

ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications are collected at this point.

The rules of travel to Europe have changed. Starting in the first half of 2025, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorisation to enter most European countries.

Find out which European countries require an ETIAS travel authorisation, who needs to apply and who is exempt.

Learn about when to request an ETIAS travel authorisation with limited validity and what implications it has for your travel.

Find out what travel documents can be used to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation. Learn about what information needs to be included in the application form and how much it costs to apply.

Learn how to authorise someone to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation on your behalf and what to be careful about.

Find out how to appeal against a decision related to your ETIAS travel authorisation or data protection rights.

Be aware of possible abusive and fraudulent practices by commercial intermediaries and learn how to report them.

Find answers to the most common questions about ETIAS including how to apply, how much it costs and how long it will be valid for.

Find the latest updates and facts about ETIAS.

Share this page

New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025

Visitors who now travel visa-free will need to get approval prior to departure.

Americans eyed upcoming travel to European destinations slightly differently due to news of a requirement that was set to start in 2024 for U.S. passport holders. But now, EU officials have postponed the European Travel Information and Authorisation System ( ETIAS ) launch until spring of 2025.

SchengenVisaInfo.com, a website dedicated to the world's largest visa-free zone where 27 European countries abolished their internal borders known as the Schengen Area, first reported that an EU official confirmed ETIAS won't go live until May 2025, "due to continued delays with the introduction of the related Entry-Exit System (EES), which needs to be operational before ETIAS can be implemented."

An official for the European Union did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

What to know about ETIAS for US travelers

If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization through the ETIAS , before visiting.

PHOTO: Tourists with umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun at Colosseo area (Colosseum), during the ongoing heat wave with temperatures reaching 40 degrees, on July 19, 2023, in Rome.

Today, American travelers have visa-free access to 184 global destinations, according to the Henley Passport Index . And while the U.S. passport is currently ranked eighth-most powerful passport to own, that could be set to shift when the European Union adds its new documentation requirements for U.S. visitors.

The application form, which will be available on the official ETIAS website as well as a mobile application, has a fee of 7 euros or $7.79 U.S. dollars. All communication is done by email.

Once you are approved for travel, the authorization entitles visitors to stay in European countries that require ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period and travelers must be in possession of a valid ETIAS during their entire stay.

MORE: New warning issued for rebooking air travel after delays, cancellations

According to ETIAS, most applications should be processed within minutes, but in case an application takes longer, decisions will be sent within four days or up to 14 days if the applicant is asked to provide additional documentation.

The European Union encourages travelers to apply for an ETIAS authorization "well in advance of your planned journey."

Confirmation of application submission will be sent on email with a unique number that is needed for future reference.

PHOTO: In this undated file photo, a tourist visa is stamped on a passport.

Upon receiving ETIAS travel authorization, travelers are to ensure that their name, passport number and other information is correct because any mistake will prevent them from crossing the border.

If an application is refused, the email will include the reasons for the decision along with information about how to appeal.

ETIAS travel authorization is valid for three years, according to the EU, or until the travel document you used in your application expires, whichever comes first.

MORE: European heat wave breaking records with little relief in sight

The ETIAS authorization is linked to a person's travel document -- such as a U.S. passport -- and both documents will be needed to board a flight, bus or ship to enter any of the European countries that require ETIAS.

Similar to international border requirements with a passport, the ETIAS authorization doesn't guarantee automatic right of entry. "Border guards will verify that you meet the entry conditions" and anyone who does not meet the conditions "will be refused entry," according to the EU.

Click here to learn more about the process from the European Union.

An earlier version of this story was originally published on July 21, 2023.

4 big takeaways from Day 10 of Trump's hush money trial

May 2, 5:50 PM

Houston area faces 'life-threatening' flood conditions as severe weather hits Texas

2 hours ago

'Violent protest is not protected,' Biden says of college campus unrest

May 2, 3:04 PM

College protests updates: Nearly half of Columbia and CCNY arrests were not students

3 hours ago

Justice Stephen Breyer's blunt message to Supreme Court conservatives: 'Slow down'

May 1, 5:03 AM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

What You Need to Travel to Europe in 2024

The rules are changing for what Americans need to travel to Europe.

Newsletter sign up Newsletter

A European Union flag flies on a shore with mountains in the background and a plane flying overhead in the sunlight.

The rules are changing around what you need to travel to Europe, including to some of the cheapest countries to visit , with a moving target on a planned update.

Starting in "the first half of 2025," Americans will need one more document to enter countries in the European Union . To visit, you'll have to apply for approval under the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) . You will apply online, and the authorization, which will be linked to your passport, will account for short-term stays, including up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

This had been planned to be in effect till 2024, but in fall 2023, the European Union updated its page on ETIAS to indicate it won't happen till the middle of 2025, confirming rumors of a delay. European Commission spokesperson for home affairs Anitta Hipper had told Kiplinger in late September, "The Commission remains committed to make ETIAS operational as soon as possible."

Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hwgJ7osrMtUWhk5koeVme7-200-80.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

How Europe's ETIAS system will work

To fill in the application , you'll need some basic information. This includes your name, address, passport information, current occupation, as well as information about past travel to conflict zones and criminal convictions. You will also have to share information about your travel plans, as well as answer questions about if you have relatives who are citizens in Europe. The application will not require any health information or biometric data, like fingerprints.

The ETIAS website says that "most" applications are processed in minutes, but it could extend to within four days of an application. Additionally, some requestors may be asked for more information or to do an interview, which would extend the process by up to 14 days, for more documentation, or 30 days, for an interview. So if you're planning travel, remember to apply well before you have to go.

The good news is that once you're approved, the authorization lasts for three years. But if your passport expires within those three years, you'll need to apply again.

Email is important to this process. You apply online, and then receive an email confirming your application. That email "will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference," the ETIAS website says. You will get another email once your application is processed.

If your application gets rejected, the email will have the reasons for it. You will have the option to appeal a rejection.

What Americans should look out for with ETIAS

A middle-aged couple happily looks at a phone near a body of water.

In addition to adding some hassle, this requirement will make a family vacation slightly more expensive. Applications will cost 7 euros, which right now is close to $8. However, applications for people under 18 or over 70 years old are free. There are also some exemptions for those who have EU citizen family members and "non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union."

One more thing to look out for: ETIAS warned last spring that many unofficial ETIAS websites have sprung up. ETIAS says these sites have incorrect information and some "already collect travellers’ personal data, which is concerning." Protect your identity by only using the official ETIAS website.

The bottom line on what you need to travel to Europe

This is a big change for Americans since there hasn't been a visa requirement to visit EU countries before. Keep this in mind before your big trip to Greece, Italy, France, or any of the other 30 Euro nations in 2025.

But, Cameron Hewitt, content and editorial director at Rick Steves' Europe, told the Washington Post : "It certainly shouldn’t cause anyone to rethink a trip to Europe. From what we know, ETIAS looks like it’ll simply be a manageable bit of red tape." Then, your biggest concern will be avoiding the crowds on Santorini .

For now, though, the old rules are in place, and you do not need a visa to travel to Europe for trips under 90 days as an American in 2024. But you should check your passport's expiration date, as it needs to be valid for at least six months after arrival in the European Schengen area, and be aware of how long it takes to renew your passport .

Wait, do you need a visa to go to Europe now? The new ETIAS requirements, explained

Emily Olson

St. Mark's basilica in Venice is one place U.S. passport holders may not be able to get to without approval under the new ETIAS requirements Andrea Pattaro/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

St. Mark's basilica in Venice is one place U.S. passport holders may not be able to get to without approval under the new ETIAS requirements

Already thinking about next summer's vacation plans? If Europe is on your short list, there could be one extra step to take before boarding that plane.

Starting in 2024, American passport holders traveling to 30 European countries will need authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

Though it may sound complicated, the ETIAS and the reasoning behind it are quite similar to existing travel requirements and reflect increasing fear of terrorism in the U.S., Europe and around the world.

Here's what you need to know.

What is ETIAS? Is it a visa?

While some media outlets are taking a cue from the European Union's travel site and calling this a visa, in truth, ETIAS is more like a travel authorization form.

Summer air travel could be expensive and chaotic. Here's how to avoid trouble

"It's definitely not a visa," said Dan Hamilton, a senior non-resident fellow for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. "It's an electronic entry-point, an authorization for countries that are currently visa-free."

Even the European Commission has said as much (and in bold letters) , writing this is "not a visa" but rather an "automated IT system" in a press release on the discussions around it back in 2018.

Whatever you want to call it, the ETIAS form is not what you'd seek if you're trying to work or live in Europe, but rather what you'll need for short-term trips — up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Why is it being implemented?

These new requirements have been years in the making, stemming back to a rise in terrorism fears following 9/11. It's very similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — or ESTA — program that the U.S. implemented in 2008 .

At the heart of ETIAS is an electronic database system to better track who's coming and going. According to the EU's latest report on terrorism data , EU law enforcement authorities arrested about 388 suspects for terror-related offenses in 2021, more than half of whom were accused of being associated with Jihadist groups based abroad.

The European Commission says ETIAS may have the added impact of cutting down on "irregular migration" (i.e. illegal immigration), but one thing the form is definitely not aimed to do is deter tourism in general.

'Revenge travel' is surging. Here's what you need to know

Crowded cities, inflated airfare and extreme heat disasters may all be making headlines this summer, but many of these European countries are still depending on tourism revenue to help them bounce back from pandemic slumps, Hamilton said.

And the pandemic is another one of the many reasons this new requirement has been delayed by decades — there was no need for ETIAS when countries closed their borders to all travel amid fears of spreading COVID-19.

"Another part of it is simply the pace of the way this parliament and European commission works," Hamilton explained in an interview with NPR. "They're ending their term and pushing through a lot of these directives because parliamentary elections happen next June."

"And getting 30 countries to agree on anything takes a long time," he added.

When does it take effect?

The European Union's website says the new authorization will start in 2024 but hasn't clarified a specific date. A press spokesperson for the union's travel arm did not respond to NPR's request for information.

And, similarly, a spokesperson for the State Department told NPR that the U.S. government website for international travel (travel.state.gov) would be updated "once the regulation goes into effect," but didn't specify when that would be.

"Frankly, I'd be surprised if this starts on time," Hamilton said. The rollout of ETIAS has already been delayed at least once.

But it couldn't hurt to plan ahead for any 2024 travel just to be safe.

Who needs to apply for ETIAS approval?

Basically, all passport holders from 60 countries who can currently travel to most European destinations without a visa — and that includes American passport holders — will now need to get ETIAS authorization for the same trip. That's about 1.4 billion people, by the European Union's estimation.

There are 30 European countries in total on the impacted destination list , including those in the "Schengen Area" — 27 European countries, many that are part of the European Union, that agreed to ease border restrictions to facilitate the movement of people within Europe.

Planning a trip? Here's how to pack like a pro

Those Schengen countries include top vacation spots like France, Italy and Spain.

The other three countries on the list are Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which are all trying to become a part of the Schengen Area soon.

You can check the full list of both impacted passport holders and affected European destinations here.

How can you apply for ETIAS approval (and does it cost money)?

The application isn't open yet, but the European Union says that when it is, all necessary forms can be filled out via a web portal or mobile phone application.

You'll be asked to share personal information such as your date of birth, parents' names and details about your current occupation and previous criminal convictions. You'll also need to share a passport that is not set to expire in less than three months.

Oh, and you'll have to pay a fee of 7 euros (about $8).

When is the right time to apply?

If you want to play it safe, apply well in advance of your trip — no later than a month out.

ETIAS says most applications "are processed within minutes" and decisions are delivered within four days. But that wait could take up to 14 days if you are requested to supply additional information and up to 30 days if you're invited to interview.

It's Been a Minute

Presenting 'life kit': making the most of travel and your time off.

Those denied an application can appeal, but that process could be even lengthier.

The European Union says ETIAS approval will stay valid for three years or until the passport you used in your application expires.

Naturally, you'll also need to follow the ETIAS rules to stay in good standing.

Those with ETIAS approval can stay in the European countries on the list for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. So you can leave and come back, but you can't stay in the confines of the countries on the list for 91 days or more non-stop.

What happens if I don't apply for this and try to travel to Europe?

Your ETIAS approval will be linked to your passport. So without it, airport security (or cruise, bus or train line staff) won't let you board.

In other words, you can kiss that dream vacation goodbye.

European Union
Europe travel
European Commission

Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.

Americans Will Need to Apply Online to Enter Europe Starting in 2024

The ETIAS and EES systems are both scheduled to begin in 2024 for European travel.

For years, non-E.U. travelers have been told that Europe is changing its entry rules. Well, now it seems to finally be happening.

When the implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) was first announced in 2019, many panicked and incorrectly misinterpreted “travel authorization” as a visa —but it’s not. And it’s nothing to worry about. Basically, all it means is that travelers from visa-exempt countries, which includes the United States, only need a travel authorization to enter 30 European countries. And you can easily get the authorization online for a minimal fee.

This change was scheduled to begin in 2021, then 2022, then November 2023–and now it has been pushed back to 2024.

Meanwhile, another border control scheme, the Entry/Exit System (EES), is also coming into effect next year in Europe, where travelers will be asked to share their biometrics when entering or exiting European countries.

So, what does all of this mean for you?

Related: Moving to Europe Is Going to Get Way More Expensive

What Is ETIAS?

More than one billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries—including the U.S. and the U.K.—traveling to Europe will need to apply for ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System. The authorization is valid for up to three years for multiple entries up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland are among the 30 E.U. nations this applies to.

Top Picks for You

Recommended Fodor’s Video

To get an ETIAS authorization, you need to fill an application either on the website or the app. It costs 7 euros (around $7.80) and most applications will be processed in minutes. Some may take up to 30 days if additional documentation is required, so travelers are advised to apply in advance—before booking flights and tickets. If your passport expires, you’ll need to get it again because it corresponds to your passport details.

There are some exceptions–for example, people under 18 and over 70 don’t need this travel authorization. But this authorization doesn’t guarantee entry into the bloc—you will still go through border control. You can get more details here .

The U.S. has a similar system called ESTA . There are 40 countries that are under its visa-waiver program and citizens of these countries can fill an online application and pay the fee of $21 for ESTA approval. Once approved, it is valid for two years for multiple entries and stays up to 90 days.

What is EES?

EES stands for Entry/Exit System. It’s an automated system for non-E.U. travelers traveling for a short stay to one of the participating 29 countries. Travelers with a short-stay visa or those who don’t need a visa will be required to give their biometrics.

Your name, date of birth, passport details, date and place of entry and exit, your facial image and fingerprints entry will be recorded. Any refusals of entry will also be kept in the database. The website explains that the EES replaces passport stamping and it automates border control procedures.

“The EES also makes it easier to identify travelers who have no right to enter or who have stayed in European countries using the EES for too long. It makes it easier to detect travelers using fake identities or passports. Finally, the EES helps to prevent, detect and investigate terrorist offences or other serious criminal offences.”

The data will be shared among European countries, and those who overstay in the region may be fined, deported, or banned from re-entering. You can learn more about EES here .

EES is not in effect right now and it’s possibly going to be postponed until after the Paris Olympics 2024 conclude in August. France fears that this proposed change at the borders will lead to delays at airports since the process needs new infrastructure. It is also digital-dependent, so glitches at first are expected.

The two border control schemes were supposed to be introduced together, but it is likely that ETIAS will come into effect before EES.

Related: Lawyers Warn: You Can Be Deported if You Do This on a Tourist Visa

The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2024

By CNT Editors

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.

This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024 —find more travel inspiration here .

In considering the best places to go in Europe in 2024, we asked our expert contributors to nominate the destinations that are on the up—either because of a flock of hotel openings, perhaps, murmurings of Michelin arrivals, shiny new museums, or a concerted conservation effort taking root. Across the continent, we heard about a first-time sports events in Italy ; astonishing nature and new glampsites in Scandinavia ; and an unexpected surf scene in France with heightening buzz. There are also classic Greek escapes, which are easier to reach than ever before, and Hungarian cities evolving wholesale in time for major anniversaries.

What follows is an edit of Europe's countries, regions, cities, and neighborhoods that are worthy of your time and attention in 2024—all thoughtfully selected by our editors at Condé Nast Traveller UK and Spain . It's just a fraction of what Europe has on deck in the year ahead, but it's, we feel, the best place to start. Happy travels.

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Places to Go in Europe

Antwerp, belgium.

Go for: intriguing new architecture and a clutch of sharp hotel openings

Enjoy the cocktails at August in Antwerp; then head next door for dinner at the new Untitled, which offers rustic dishes from a renowned team.

August, and sister property Hotel Julien, showcase the effortless cool that characterizes Belgium's most underrated city.

So often overlooked in favor of its Dutch neighbor Amsterdam —or mistakenly written off as being as staid as Brussels— Antwerp is easily Belgium's most underrated city. In fact, the diamond capital of the world is somewhat of an undiscovered gem, with plenty of cool and culture for a weekend romp. There’s an impressive concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants to rival major European capitals. Perhaps best known is two-star The Jane , which was ranked number 39 in this year's World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024. If the exquisite 14-course tasting menu htere is out of budget, the restaurant’s sleek new bar, Untitled , which opened earlier this year, offers rustic dishes at a more accessible price point, all lovingly plated before your eyes by chef Joeri Timmermans. After dinner, roll yourself next door to bag a bed at August (a former Augustinian convent turned supremely serene sanctuary), or for a sleepover in the heart of town, sister property Hotel Julien is a design-led favorite. Once you’ve eaten your way through the city’s culinary offerings, walk it all off Zuidpark, an ambitious development set for completion by spring 2024. Pinned to be one of Antwerp’s leafiest havens, the seven-hectare park will have 30,000 plants and several smart water features—all part of the city’s continual effort to be greener. — Gina Jackson

Asturias, Spain

Go for: eco-focused tourism that doesn't scrimp on luxury

Sink into Asturias's mountainous landscapes at Ecoboutique's Solo Palacio, in the Picos de Europa mountain range, where smart interiors beg travelers to stay a while.

In this lesser-trammeled slice of Spain, rural hotels provide a place to rest your head between days spent hiking and visiting Michelin star restaurants. Talk about balance.

While the pandemic generated a new type of traveler—increasingly nature-loving and environmentally conscious—Asturias did not have to reinvent itself to attract them. The tagline “Asturias, natural paradise,” created almost 40 years ago, represents everything we look for in a getaway. Perhaps that is why this autonomous community is the most dynamic destination in northern Spain; it welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors last year, with more international travelers than ever. The climate also helps: heatwaves are barely noticeable. This is the year to discover its natural spaces, many of them UNESCO Biosphere Reserves , via rejuvenated routes such as the Camino Primitivo, a calmer branch of the popular Camino de Santiago , through some of the country’s least-known regions. Spain’s first rural hotel, La Rectoral de Taramundi , opened here, and other noteworthy addresses include PuebloAstur Eco-Resort in the Picos de Europa mountain range, Ecoboutique’s Solo Palacio and Las Caldas Villa Termal . Alternatively, book into new arrivals Palacio de Figueras from the Vestige Collection or CoolRooms’ Palacio de Luces . The food scene also makes Asturias unmissable. Its “landscape cuisine” rivals that of the Basque Country . There are 11 Michelin stars peppered around the region as well as an emerging culinary movement in the Caudal and Nalón valleys, while chefs such as Natalia Menéndez (Casa Chuchu), Diego García (El Pintu), Paula Lamas and Jairo Rodríguez (Roble), and Xune Andrade (Mont) are on the rise. Regional capital Oviedo is aiming to be the country's Gastronomic Capital for 2024, bringing together more than 200 chefs at the Euro-Toques conference in April. — Clara Laguna

Biarritz, France

Go for: a sweet surf scene in a lesser-known stretch of the Basque Country

Sun-soaked Biarritz has built on its Belle Époque heritage with hotels like Villa Magnan (unsurprisingly, you may fine local interior designers sitting beside you at its restaurant).

Breathe in the salty air atop the roof terrace at Regina Biarritz, a new opening from the Parisian-born Experimental Group—and added proof that the surf town is having a comeback.

Just over the border from San Sebastián , the French resort town of Biarritz is prepped to step out of the shade of its Michelin-star-studded Spanish Basque counterpart and welcome a new generation of sophisticate. These travelers are booking into its artfully resuscitated Belle Époque hotels, including Experimental’s brand new Regina Biarritz , Unbound’s Hôtel du Palais , and enigmatic indie Villa Magnan (book a table at De Puta Madre and dine with local interior designers and filmmakers). The late 20th century was not kind to this beautiful town on France’s southwestern coast , its dwindling fortunes and faded grandeur standing in stark contrast to its late-19th-century and early-20th-century heyday, when Emperor Napoleon III had his summer palace here, and his Spanish wife Eugénie promoted Biarritz as a health resort. Happily, in-the-know Spanish and French urbanites have rediscovered this delight, lapping up a hip surf scene (Biarritz is one of Europe’s oldest surf destinations, thanks to a bunch of Americans who visited in the 1950s) and fueling a youthful Basque culinary scene, from the thrilling Les Halles covered market to neo-bistro Epoq and Michelin-starred favorites such as L’Impertinent . — Anna Hart

Bodø, Norway

Go for: stargazing, spectacular nature, and can't-miss cultural events

The aurora borealis are one of the biggest draws for those visiting Bodø in winter, but cultural events in 2024 will means days equally full of colorful entertainment.

Bodø’s position on the pristine shores of northern Norway affords it endless days in the glow of the midnight summer sun and shocks of fluorescent light come winter, when the aurora borealis erupt onto the night sky. This small Arctic fishing town is a European Capital of Culture for 2024, which will result in the area’s largest-ever arts program, including about 1,000 events and an influx of people interested in creativity in all its forms. The region’s unique Sámi heritage is championed here, while striking modern expansion is seen in buildings such as the world-class, harbor-fronting Stormen Concert Hall , which can hold 900 people and will form a crucial centerpoint for the celebrations.

Beyond its cultural accolades, Bodø is also the gateway to the ethereal Lofoten Islands . The dramatic landscape of fjords and jagged peaks makes it a perfect playground for adventurers and photographers alike, offering unforgettable, dramatic views. Adding to Bodø’s appeal is its burgeoning food and drinks scene (try Lystpå for dinner and Brødrene Berbusmel Bakery for breakfast) as well as exciting new places to stay. The Wood Hotel will open in 2024, offering the town’s most luxurious lodgings yet, with pared-back Scandi design and floor-to-ceiling windows. For something a little more in tune with nature, try GlampNord .— Rosie Conroy

Budapest, Hungary

Go for: a fresh take on the 150 year-old city

As the city of Budapest turns 150, an overwhelming sense of old-meets-new is inspired by historic attractions living alongside just-opened hotels (such as the art deco-inspired W, above) and futuristic buildings (like the House of Music Hungary).

Renowned for its architecture, the Hungarian capital is home to everything from art nouveau and neoclassical to gothic and baroque, with the Blue Danube connecting it all like a ribbon. And then there are the mineral-rich thermal baths, featuring ornate design flourishes. The city also buzzes with creativity, which spills over into the vibrant nightlife; the ruin bars district is a tangible example of crafting opportunity from the ashes of adversity following the brutality of Communist rule. November 2023 marks 150 years since the previously divided cities of Buda, Pest, and Obuda were unified, as well as a series of cultural events. The Chain Bridge—the city’s oldest and a “symbol of togetherness,” according to Mayor Gergely Karácsony—has fully reopened after a two-year restoration, granting excellent views of Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building. New builds such as the spectacular House of Music Hungary and the National Athletics Centre (the central stadium for 2023’s World Athletics Championships) are testament to a city with optimism for its next 150 years. The art deco W Budapest —formerly a palace and on a UNESCO World Heritage-listed street—opened in July 2023 opposite the Hungarian State Opera. Also in the Marriott portfolio is the Dorothea Hotel , with its 216 rooms and glamorous rooftop restaurant. In keeping with the musical events celebrating the 150th anniversary, the 2022 opening of the Hard Rock Hotel—Eastern Europe’s first—combines musical memorabilia (Prince’s faux-fur coat in a shade of, unsurprisingly, purple) with an in-thick-of-it location on Nagymező Street, Budapest ’s legendary louche entertainment strip. — Sarah Rodrigues

Carlsberg City District in Denmark

Go for: new-new-wave eateries in the city's district of the moment

Petit fours are served at Studio, a new restaurant from acclaimed chef Christoffer Sørensen. It joins a select set of eateries in the Carlsberg District.

From Studio's food, to fashion ateliers and design houses, Carlsberg is an intentional hub of creative newness in the beloved Danish city.

For 161 years, Copenhagen ’s sprawling Carlsberg brewery held its secrets behind closed gates. When Carlsberg moved away in 2008, a plan was hatched to transform the old site, with its patinaed spires and life-size elephant statues, into a showcase neighborhood. What attracts residents to the emergent Carlsberg District also charms visitors: copious green space, easy public transit, and an evocative mash-up of contemporary and repurposed architecture, anchored by cherry-picked restaurants and shops. At the light-flooded Coffee Collective , they like to serve two roasts at once to contrast the beans’ terroirs. Aamanns , the pioneer of modernized smørrebrød, is also here, along with Neopolitan pizzeria Surt ; Kona , a destination izakaya from former Noma chef Philipp Inrieter, and Studio , by Christoffer Sørensen, a Michelin Best Young Chef. Home designers Carl Hansen and Søn , by Adelborg and PP Møbler have arrived. Fashion’s Henrik Vibskov has also moved in, packing his atelier with kaleidoscopic garments, in contrast with the classic suits of Deerest nearby. In December 2023, the Carlsberg brewery itself springs back to life, with a state-of-the-art, interactive visitors’ center and the revival of its 1847 bar-room. Also to come are Friday summer parties in the courtyard and the unveiling of namesake Carl Jacobsen’s lavish gardens, open to the public for the first time since their 1890 groundbreaking. Afterwards, retire to the windowseat of your room at Hotel Ottilia overlooking the construction cranes. In a city that believes in livable density, you’re witnessing smart urban planning unfold. — Betsy Andrews

Costa de Prata, Portugal

Go for : boho openings in an unsung corner of the country

Drive north of Lisbon to the quiet Costa de Prata, where Areias de Seixo is one of several new hotels attracting an effortlessly cool crowd.

After bedding down at Areias de Seixo, hit the world-class waves lining the coast—like those Portugal's World Surfing Reserve in Ericeira.

Not as show-offy as Comporta , much less known than the Algarve and with more surfer vibes than the Costa Vicentina, Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is the strip of Portugal ’s Atlantic seaboard that we are most excited about right now. Start a south-to-north road trip in Ericeira, where Aethos Hotels opened an outpost in which smart design is combined with laid-back coastal cool at the end of 2022. It was hot on the heels of Immerso , a hotel full of local crafts and the same truly Portuguese personality as new restaurant and beach club Balagan. Heading north, Areias do Seixo continues to be a benchmark for luxury stays on the Costa de Prata, while in Nazaré, where German surfer Sebastian Steudtner rode a world record wave of 86 feet, Ohai Nazaré has family-friendly glamping. A visit to Obidos , one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal , is the perfect excuse to stay at the bohemian Literary Man or, if golf is more your thing, check in at Marriott’s Praia D’El Rey . Along the coast, surfing hub Peniche has standout beaches, including Consolação, and is a great jumping-off point for the Berlengas islands, an increasingly less secret paradise. The road trip ends in Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal, where MS Collection Palacete de Valdemouro has just opened under the Small Luxury Hotels banner. There’s no doubt that the Costa de Prata is on track to take gold. — David Moralejo

Cyclades, Greece

Go for: salty-air island-hopping made easier than ever

Stylish boutique hotel Kalesma Mykonos is opening a spa in 2024, marking a hotel boom throughout the cluster of islands known as the Cyclades.

It will be easy to hop between Kalesma and islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Milos, and Ios, thanks to new flights to and throughout the dazzling blue archipelago.

Is there anywhere more popular than the Greek islands right now? This past summer, the Cyclades—an island group that includes Mykonos , Santorini , Paros, Milos, and Ios—dominated social-media feeds with beautiful blue and white backdrops, thrilling beach clubs and nightclubs, and unparalleled shopping. With more smart stays being unveiled in 2024, as well as new flights, next summer is the time to make a Cyclades trip happen. Etihad , British Airways , and Saudia added new routes to various Greek islands in 2023, plus the 2022 launch of Cycladic , the first inter-island airline, means it’s easier than ever to get there. Hotel business is booming. Santo Pure in Oia on Santorini has just added 20 new suites, and next year it will be joined by sister hotel Santo Mine, a 37-suite luxury resort. Slick boutique hotel Kalesma on Mykonos will launch its spa for the 2024 season, including a hammam and cryotherapy area. Five-star, 80-acre Gundari Resort will open on Folegandros next May, while a new One&Only property will come to Kea in April. Such plush hotels are rare on these islands, expanding the options for luxury stays in the Cyclades. — Ali Wunderman

Go for: new hiking and biking trails, pristine countryside views

Kosovo's untouched valleys offer the perfect canvas for multi-day hiking and biking trips—like the Trans Dinarica cycling route, opening in 2024, which will wind its way past rivers, markets, and via ferrata setups.

Tiny Kosovo lacks the stunning beaches of Albania and luxury resorts of Montenegro, but Europe’s newest country has sky-scraping peaks, pastoral countryside and heart-warming hospitality, a combination ideal for multi-day hiking and biking trips. 2024 will mark the 25th anniversary since the end of the Kosovo war, and there's much to discover in the region now. Following in the footsteps of cross-border adventure trails such as the Peaks of the Balkans and High Scardus, the Trans Dinarica cycling route opens in 2024, making its way past the minarets framing Prizren’s eponymous river, through the Ottoman market town of Gjakova, and on to Peja. Perched on the edge of the Rugova Gorge, Peja serves as base camp for the country’s many outdoor adventures, including via ferratas and spelunking. A new paved path will soon connect the Lumbardhi River Promenade with the popular Health Trail—the beginning of the south-to-west route through the inaptly named Accursed Mountains. Two additional forthcoming routes connect trails in the Rugova Mountains to the gushing White Drin waterfall and Radac cave. Steps from the waterfall, the sleek, modern Ujëvara e Drinit Resort specializes in rooms with a view and fresh trout dinners. Through-hikers can rest weary bones and fill hungry bellies further from town at rural guesthouses such as Ariu , where traditional Kosovar dishes include flija, made with dairy produced on-site. — Naomi Tomky

Mallorca, Spain

Go for: an outpouring of exciting new hotels across the island

Whether you're looking for poolside cocktails or art installations, beloved Mallorca has more where that came from in 2024.

The pool and gardens at Ikos Porto Petro, a sleek resort that opened in 2023 in Mallorca, add to the region's hearty roster of luxury stays.

The grande dame of the Mediterranean remains unrivaled thanks to its pitch-perfect brand of low-key luxury, exceptional service, and focus on sustainability. But in recent months, the Balearic island has added even more jewels to its crown; among them is Son Bunyola , Richard Branson’s latest hotel, in the Tramuntana Mountains. Not far from there, in the town of Puigpunyent, the team behind Andalucia’s stellar Finca Cortesin has opened Grand Hotel Son Net in a 17th-century manor house. Also adding to the excitement for 2024 is the slick styling of Ikos Porto Petro , farm-turned-boutique stay The Lodge , and Zel Mallorca —the first Zel hotel is a collaboration between Rafael Nadal and another homegrown big hitter, Meliá. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also the Four Seasons , which takes over the much-loved Hotel Formentor; Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra; beachfront Aethos ; and Marugal, which has unveiled its second project on the island after Cap Rocat. Meanwhile, S’Arracer del Dimoni hotel will open in Santa Margalida, and Belmond La Residencia will continue its artists-in-residence program and the third edition of art installation Mitico, in collaboration with Galleria Continua. — María Casbas

Northern Italy

Go for: next-level cycling, need-for-speed motorsports, and a slow travel on a new train line

No longer second-fiddle to France, cycling holidays in Italy are taking off—and the north of the country is where all the action is unfolding in 2024.

For the first time ever, the first three stages of the Tour de France will take place in Italy in 2024, a historic moment for the country, the sport, and the prestigious race. Competitors will saddle up in Florence , head east towards Rimini on the Adriatic Coast , follow the Apennines north through Emilia-Romagna , and complete stage three in Turin . With their truffles and terroirs, Italy’s northern regions are best known for their gastronomic heritage, but two-wheeled pursuits have long been part of the landscape. The 1998 Tour de France champion Marco Pantani was born here, while professional racer Davide Cassani was instrumental in developing the Via Romagna, a nearly 300-mile network of cycling routes throughout the region. Now, tour operators have upped their game in time for the event: Tourissimo’s week-long cycle holiday is designed to provide guests with live-action access to the tour itself, plus the chance to conquer the hills and thrills of Emilia-Romagna. Ride International Tours and Ride Holidays have released new routes to reflect growing interest in the region, while the looping, leisurely route between Parma and Modena by Inn Travel leaves more time for sampling local delicacies along the way. Those more comfortable on four wheels will find the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and the annual Motor Valley Fest , both in May, irresistible—this is the birthplace of Maserati, Ferrari, and Lamborghini after all—while those who prefer life in the slow lane can board new railway routes between Turin and Canelli with Fondazione FS ’s 1930s carriages or take Nightjet ’s overnighter from Verona to Liguria (via Milan and Genoa ). Make a final pit stop in Pesaro to find out why it’s been crowned the Italian Capital of Culture for 2024. — Anna Prendergast

Yorkshire, UK

Go for: star chefs leading a foodie revolution

The Abbey Inn is the latest Yorkshire opening from local foodie hero Tommy Banks—and with three luxurious bedrooms launched in summer 2023, you won't have to travel far after indulging at one of the many Michelin-star restaurants in the area.

For a bewitching break in 2024, go north. Yorkshire-born sculptor Henry Moore once said: “The observation of nature is part of an artist’s life.” And Yorkshire has some of the most seductive nature: sweeping landscapes like living oil paintings; undulating dales and peaks; deep-forested moors with big skies; heady lavender fields; lofty woodlands filled with birdsong; and golden sandy sweeps skirting the peppermint-blue sea. The Brontës’ romanticism is not lost. In 2024, go stargazing in Yorkshire’s national parks at the magical Dark Skies Festival . The Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta will return to its new home at Castle Howard in 2024, with rainbow-bright, early-morning mass balloon flights and night glows. There were plenty of Michelin mentions for the county in 2023, with keen eyes on the 2024 list, so restaurants with rooms are ramping up. Just up the road from The Black Swan in Oldstead, Michelin-lauded chef Tommy Banks’ latest outpost, The Abbey Inn , opened in May and its three luxurious bedrooms, care of Tommy’s mother, were launched in July. For the ultimate culinary sleepover, stay two nights and eat at both restaurants. Newbie Mýse , helmed by chef-and-sommelier couple Joshua and Victoria Overington, is a petite restaurant with rooms set among caramel-colored cottages in the sleepy village of Hovingham. Book in for its creative tasting menu, then retire upstairs to one of the cosy-cool rooms. In June, Middleton Lodge , a sustainable luxury retreat bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park, launched the Forest Spa in the heart of a serenely wooded estate. Don’t pass by honeycomb-hued Helmsley, with its emerging culinary scene and the recent opening of Pignut —a restaurant with a sustainable focus and impressive casual and tasting-menu options. Expect plenty more magic in 2024. — Rachel Everett

Recommended

Nolinski Venezia

100 Princes Street: First In

Europe Travel Guide

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

New travel system for Europe delayed again, to 2025

A person looks at a flight call board at the Munich International Airport

Americans who are planning to visit Europe in 2024 don’t have to worry about applying to the European Union’s new travel authorization system yet.

For almost a decade now, European Union authorities have been working on a visa-like system called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System . It’s for travelers from “visa-exempt” countries like the U.S., and the U.S. has a similar system.

After several years of delays, ETIAS was expected to go online in 2024, but it has now been pushed back to mid-2025 because its entry/exit database isn’t ready.

The system is not handling applications yet, so American travelers can hold off a bit longer on their paperwork.

Eventually, travelers from visa-exempt countries who want to go to most EU nations, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, will have to register online. Most people will have to pay an application fee of 7 euros ($7.70). All of those travelers, including small children, will have to apply.

Travelers from Canada, Mexico, Australia and most South American countries will have to apply through ETIAS as well.

The EU says most applications will be processed within minutes, but some will take days or weeks and require additional information, so it advises people to apply well in advance of their trips.

Assuming authorization is granted, it will be good for three years, or until the user’s passport expires, whichever is first. That authorization will allow travelers to enter those European countries as often as they want for short stays, which are typically 90 days in any 180-day period — assuming border security approves.

Marley Jay is a business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe—Here’s When and What to Know

The launch of europe’s new etias travel authorization program has been delayed yet again. here’s what travelers need to know for when it finally goes into effect..

Copy Link copied

View of a river winding among colorful, historic, half-timbered buildings in Strasbourg, France

France is among the more than two dozen Schengen countries in Europe that will (eventually) have new entry rules.

Photo by Chan Lee/Unsplash

Europe is the most visited region in the world and has always been a very popular destination for U.S. travelers. After pandemic travel restrictions were dropped across Europe in 2022 and now that U.S. citizens are plotting future journeys to the continent once again, they should be aware that the rules for entry into the European Schengen Zone will soon change.

Initially meant to come into effect on January 1, 2021 and then delayed (again and again) until 2024, the European Travel Information and Authorization System ( ETIAS ) is now slated to launch sometime in 2025 (more on the actual launch date below). At that point, all U.S. citizens who want to travel to the 27 member countries of Europe’s Schengen Zone will need to register with ETIAS or risk being turned away at the border.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new ETIAS process.

Why are the requirements for entering Europe changing?

The European Union decided to implement this new travel authorization program to protect and strengthen its borders amid mounting terror threats in Europe. By requiring visitors to register, the hope is that the EU will be able to identify any possible threats or risks associated with travelers coming into the participating countries before they arrive.

Which European nations will require ETIAS authorization to visit?

The new travel authorization applies to those entering any member country of Europe’s Schengen Zone. Currently, that includes 23 countries that are also members of the European Union, four non-EU countries, plus three European micro-states. That means that you’ll need to register to enter:

Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Switzerland
Vatican City

While Romania and Bulgaria aren’t currently Schengen countries, they are in the process of joining and will be subject to the same requirements once they do.

However, there are still many European nations that aren’t part of the Schengen Zone, mostly in Eastern Europe. That means you’ll be able to travel to Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine without an ETIAS registration.

Who will need to obtain ETIAS authorization?

American citizens, as well as travelers from 60 other countries, will require an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to any of the Schengen-zone countries for short stays once the ETIAS program goes into effect. The list of ETIAS-eligible countries includes Canada, Mexico, Australia, and many more. All travelers, regardless of their age, will need their own ETIAS approval in order to travel to Europe’s Schengen Zone countries.

How will travelers apply for ETIAS?

Once the ETIAS application is available online, it should only take about 10 minutes to fill out, according to ETIAS.com, the landing page for news and information regarding the new travel authorization process. To apply, you’ll need a valid passport , an email address, and a debit or credit card to pay the nonrefundable 7-euro application fee, which applies to individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. Those under the age of 18 or over 70 still need to have an ETIAS but will not be charged.

How much will it cost to enter Europe?

To obtain an ETIAS registration, there will be a required, nonrefundable application fee of 7 euros (US$7.43, based on conversion rates at time of publication). Only travelers who are younger than 18 years old or older than 70 years old will be exempt from the fee (though the will still need to have ETIAS approval). There are no other fees associated with the program.

How long will the authorization process take?

After you fill out your application online with the personal information on your passport and answer a series of security and health-related questions, your ETIAS application will be processed immediately, and you will receive an email confirming that your ETIAS has been approved within 96 hours.

“A small percentage of applications may take up to four weeks to process if additional documentation is required from the applicant. If your ETIAS has not yet been approved and you do not have any other travel authorization, you will not be able to enter a country within the European Union,” according to the ETIAS website .

Will you have to reapply for each trip to Europe?

No, you will not need to reapply after each trip to Europe. After you apply for the first time, your ETIAS authorization will be valid for three years—or until your passport expires , whichever comes first. Because the ETIAS is valid for short-term stays of up to 90 days for both leisure and business travelers, you’ll be able to re-enter Europe multiple times within that three-year period without renewing it, as long as your stay doesn’t exceed 90 days within a 180-day period. Those who want to study or work in Europe will need to apply for a proper work or study visa.

Does this mean I will need a visa to travel to Europe?

ETIAS is not a visa; it’s a travel authorization requirement for visa-free visitors , similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) .

The new entry requirement “is more accurately referred to as a visa-waiver. The ETIAS, like the ESTA, is a travel authorization for travelers not requiring a visa to visit Europe. Under the ETIAS, these visitors will undergo additional security checks prior to being permitted to enter the EU. The ETIAS will be mandatory for citizens of such countries as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada,” states ETIAS.com .

In other words, ETIAS will only pre-screen travelers who do not need a Schengen visa.

“An ETIAS travel authorization does not reintroduce visa-like obligations,” according to a fact sheet provided by the European Commission . “There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure.”

Why was the launch of ETIAS delayed?

Initially meant to come into effect on January 1, 2021, the ETIAS was first delayed until January 1, 2023, and then again (a few more times) until 2024. It is now slated to enter into operation in 2025, due to delays in the anticipated adoption of the ETIAS regulation plus the fact that ETIAS is being developed closely with the Entry/Exit System (EES). The EES was scheduled to launch in May 2023, but it has been pushed back until 2024. The EES is an electronic system that will keep track of visitors as they cross borders, and its installation is a precondition for ETIAS to enter into operation.

When exactly will ETIAS go into effect?

In October 2023, the European Commission presented an updated timeline for the launch of Europe’s new tech-driven Entry/Exit System (EES), which will keep track of visitors as they cross borders, and for Europe’s ETIAS travel authorization program. The new ETIAS travel entry requirement is now scheduled to launch in mid-2025 , following the establishment of Europe’s new tech-driven EES that is slated to go into effect in the fall of 2024, according to the Commission.

Once ETIAS goes into effect in 2025, a transitional period of six months will follow. During that time frame, the countries requiring the travel authorization will have to inform travelers of the new regulations. They will still be allowed to cross borders during that six-month period without the ETIAS. The six-month transitional period will be followed by a grace period, the length of which has not yet been determined. During the grace period, the ETIAS requirement will apply unless it’s a traveler’s first time entering Europe since the end of the transitional period.

This article was originally published in 2019. It was most recently updated on November 2, 2023, to include current information.

A view of stone walls and lakes over Sky Road in Galway County

Search Please fill out this field.
Manage Your Subscription
Give a Gift Subscription
Newsletters
Sweepstakes

Europe Will Roll Out an Entry Fee and Visa Requirement Next Year — How Much It Will Cost, How to Apply, and More

Everything you need to know about ETIAS.

Mehroz Kapadia/Travel + Leisure

Traveling to Europe is often as easy as simply booking a plane ticket but starting next year, a fee and a visa will be required to visit.

The European Commission will require travelers from dozens of visa-exempt countries — including the United States — to apply to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (or ETIAS). The new fee is expected to go into effect next year for travelers who are 18 to 70 years old.

Here's everything travelers need to know about ETIAS ahead of its implementation.

When will ETIAS go into effect?

The ETIAS fee is expected to go into effect in 2024.

The fee was initially supposed to be operational in 2021 but was first delayed until November 2023 and then delayed again to the start of 2024 .

How much will it cost?

When it goes into effect, travelers will be required to pay €7 ($7.70). The authorization is then valid for three years or until the expiration date of someone's travel document.

Where will it be required?

The ETIAS authorization will be required to enter 30 European countries , including popular vacation spots like France, Germany, Iceland, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, and more.

Who will be required to pay the fee?

Travelers 18 to 70 years old will be required to pay. Family members of EU citizens are also exempt from paying.

How do you apply?

When it goes into effect, travelers will be able to apply through an official website or app before their trip. Travelers must apply as individuals (since the authorization is linked to each person’s travel document), but people can authorize others to submit an application for them.

Most applications will be processed within minutes. Others may take up to 96 hours. And some may require additional information or documentation or even an interview and may take up to 30 more days.

When the system is operational, the European Commission advises travelers to apply before they book a flight or hotel.

What information will be required for an application?

To apply, travelers will need to provide personal information like their name, address, passport details, and current occupation as well as any travel history to “conflict zones” or if they have any criminal convictions. Travelers will also need to detail their travel plans while in Europe.

Travelers will not be required to provide any information related to their health or vaccination status, or provide any biometric data like fingerprints.

What happens if you are denied?

Travelers may be denied an authorization for several reasons, including if they are “considered to pose a security, illegal immigration or high epidemic risk.” If someone is denied, they will be notified of the reason why.

Travelers who are denied have the right to appeal that decision. Future applications will also not be automatically refused because of a previous denial.

What about visiting the United Kingdom?

The UK is no longer part of the European Union so ETIAS will not apply to traveling there. However, the UK is working to implement its own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system in an effort to fully digitize its borders by 2025. That system , which will cost £10 ($12.83) per applicant, will require all non-visa foreign visitors, including those from the U.S., to apply online in advance of coming.

Does the U.S. have anything similar?

Yes. In the U.S., visitors must also apply for a similar authorization before coming called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (or ESTA), which is available to travelers from countries granted a Visa Waiver Program. Last year, the fee for ESTA increased from $14 to $21.

Americans Will Soon Need More Paperwork When Traveling to Europe

Here’s what you need to know about the new requirements, which are scheduled to launch in 2024

Teresa Nowakowski

Daily Correspondent

This summer, tourists have swarmed Europe in record numbers . Many of these vacationers are enjoying the visa-free travel to Europe afforded by a United States passport—the eighth most powerful passport in the world this year, according to the Henley Passport Index —or one of the more than 60 other passports that offer visa-free entry to the European Union.

However, travelers from those countries will soon face an extra administrative step before they can enjoy Europe’s coasts, castles and more. As long as they’re staying for less than 90 days, visitors still don’t have to go through the complicated visa process—but they will need to register with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

To register, travelers must fill out a short application and pay a 7 euro (about $8) fee, though those under 18 or over 70 can register for free.

“It won’t be complicated, it’s just an annoyance,” Peter Greenberg, a travel editor for CBS News, tells Brandon Truitt of CBS Boston News . “Most Americans, in fact, all Americans, are not used to doing this to go to Europe so there’s going to be lots of surprises at boarding gates with people being denied boarding over the first couple of weeks, if this goes into effect.”

The application will take approximately ten minutes to complete, AFAR ’s Lyndsey Matthews and Michelle Baran report. Applicants will have to enter personal information, travel document details and intended travel plans, as well as details about criminal convictions and travel to war or conflict zones, according to the European Union .

Gaining approval should be relatively straightforward: Officials expect 95 percent of applications to receive decisions within minutes of submission, per ETIAS . In some cases, however, if additional documentation is required, the approval process may take as long as four weeks. For applications that are rejected, travelers will need to initiate an appeals process, according to the Washington Post ’s Sofia Andrade.

Once approved, ETIAS authorization lasts for three years, unless the applicant’s passport expires before that time. A successful ETIAS authorization is “linked to a person’s travel document—such as a U.S. passport—and both documents will be needed to board a flight, bus or ship to enter any of the European countries that require ETIAS,” reports Kelly McCarthy of “ Good Morning America .”

The program was originally scheduled to launch at the beginning of 2021, and was then pushed to 2023; now, it’s set to go into effect in 2024, per AFAR . When it does, travelers should expect initial hiccups.

“Especially at first, I could imagine it might cause slower passport processing and longer delays,” Cameron Hewitt, content and editorial director at Rick Steves’ Europe, tells the Washington Post . “In 2024, I’ll be careful not to cut it too close on those layovers, until it’s clear whether this is an issue.”

Even so, “it certainly shouldn’t cause anyone to rethink a trip to Europe,” he adds. “From what we know, ETIAS looks like it’ll simply be a manageable bit of red tape.”

Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Teresa Nowakowski | | READ MORE

Teresa Nowakowski is a print and multimedia journalist based in Chicago. They cover history, arts and culture, science, travel, food and other topics.

UK holidaymakers will need an ‘e-visa’ to visit the EU from 2024

British travellers will need a visa-waiver to visit most EU countries from 2024, including Spain, France and Portugal.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (Etias) was due to be introduced in November 2023, but has been postponed. When it launches, UK passport-holders will need a visa-waiver to visit any countries in Europe’s passport-free zone, the Schengen Area.

Holidaymakers will need to apply online and pay a fee of €7 (around £6) before travelling. The authorisation is expected to be valid for three years, or until your passport expires.

Similar to America’s Esta system, Etias will allow citizens from 63 visa-exempt countries to visit the Schengen Zone with an electronic authorisation rather than a full visa. This includes the UK, which is considered a third country since Brexit.

The scheme was originally due to start in 2021, but the European authorities have so far postponed the scheme’s launch date four times - most recently to 2024.

Brussels is also introducing photo and fingerprint checks. Its new borders initiative - the entry-exit system (EES) - will require non-EU citizens, including British travellers, to provide biometric data whenever they enter or leave the Schengen Zone. Children under 12 will be exempt.

The entry-exit system will replace passport-stamping and is expected to cause delays at busy airports and ports such as Dover, where French officials conduct checks on British soil.

The exact launch dates of both the entry-exit system and Etias have yet to be confirmed. It’s expected that the EES will also be introduced in 2024 and be implemented first.

Is your passport valid for travel to Europe? We unpack the post-Brexit rules

Where do I apply for the Etias visa waiver?

It's not currently possible to register for an Etias travel authorisation. Confusingly, there are already a number of non-official websites sharing information about Etias. They may look similar to official government websites, and may offer you the opportunity to sign up for a notification when the scheme begins. But it's always best to get your information straight from the European Union website .

Be wary of third-party sites offering to do the leg-work for you, and remember that the expected fee should be €7.

When does Etias start?

The European Commission expects the scheme to start in 2024. The launch date has yet to be confirmed.

How much will an Etias visa-waiver cost?

It’s expected to cost €7 (around £6) for all travellers between the ages of 18 and 70. Children's travel authorisations will be free.

How will travellers apply for an Etias visa-waiver?

UK passport-holders will have to fill in an online application form via Etias’s official website or app and upload a photo of their passport. The European Commission has promised that the vast majority of travellers will receive their visa waiver within minutes. If further checks are needed, it could take up to 30 days.

How long will it be valid for?

An Etias travel authorisation will be valid for three years, or until the expiry date of your passport. British passport-holders can stay in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You still need a visa for longer stays.

What is the difference between an Etias travel authorisation and a visa?

An Etias travel authorisation is not officially a visa. Its purpose is to allow the EU to keep track of visa-exempt visitors from third countries, which includes UK passport-holders since Brexit. Travellers will not need to go to a consulate to make an application, and no biometric data will be collected.

When the EU's entry-exit system is introduced, what will travellers need to do?

Non-EU travellers, including British passport-holders, will have to provide a facial biometric and be fingerprinted when they enter and leave the Schengen Area. Children under the age of 12 are exempt. The EES is expected to launch in late 2024.

Where will I need an Etias authorisation to travel to?

You'll need the Etias visa-waiver to travel to all Schengen Zone states, plus non-Schengen microstates such as Andorra and Monaco. You'll also need one to visit Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, which are EU member states.

The Schengen Area is a travel zone where you don’t need to show your passport to cross borders. The full list is:

Luxembourg
Netherlands
San Marino
Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
Switzerland
Vatican City

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Passports, travel and living abroad
Travel abroad

Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

studying a short course
getting medical treatment
travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to EU countries that are not in the Schengen area

Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in each of these countries without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in these countries.

When you may need a visa

You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

More From Forbes

Ranked: the 18 best hidden gems in europe, according to a new report.

Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
Share to Linkedin

Looking for the best places to travel in Europe? So is the rest of the world.

As the summer season kicks into high gear across Europe, popular destinations are grappling with an influx of visitors. From Venice (which just started a controversial tourist tax ) to Spain’s Canary Islands (where the locals are planning mass protests against overtourism), iconic landmarks and locations are straining under the weight of record-breaking crowds.

So the new list of 2024’s Best Hidden Gems in Europe from European Best Destinations couldn’t come at a better moment.

A view of Primosten, Croatia, one of 18 hidden European gems revealed in a new report.

This new ranking shines a spotlight on 18 under-the-radar destinations that will whisk travelers away from the tourist throngs and into the heart of authentic European culture. The list is based on votes by more than one million travelers from 172 countries.

From secluded villages tucked away in the mountains to lovely untouched beach towns, these 18 hidden gems offer a glimpse into a world rarely seen by the average traveler.

View of Villajoyosa, Spain from above.

Your Best Look Yet At The New iPhone 16

The richest person in every state 2024, trump media stock djt at risk of a new short selling plunge, 1. villajoyosa, spain.

Experience a kaleidoscope of colors in Villajoyosa (which means “the jewellish town” in the Castilian language). Here, jewel-toned houses line the shores in a nod to the town’s seafaring heritage, overlooking crystal-clear Mediterranean waters.

Ares del Maestre, a hidden gem in Castellon, Spain.

2. Ares del Maestre, Spain

Perched atop a rocky hill, Ares del Maestre—built in the 1300s in the province of Castellon—offers panoramic views and centuries of Spanish history. Wander through narrow cobblestone streets and explore ancient castles.

Sand beach in front of old town of Primosten in Croatia.

3. Primosten, Croatia

In Primosten—set along Croatia’s Dalmation coast—you’ll find pristine beaches and azure waters. You can indulge in fresh seafood, stroll along waterfront promenades and discover why this coastal paradise is still Croatia’s best-kept secret.

Floating village Bokodi in Hungary at sunset.

4. Lake Bokodi, Hungary

On Lake Bokodi, an hour drive from Budapest, there’s a village of floating chalets that’s an Instagrammer’s dream. Some of the chalets are private (many belong to local fishermen), but others are open to visitors. Explore the winding waterways and unwind in the serenity of this hidden Hungarian gem.

View from the sea to park at Moomin world on a sunny summer day in Naantali, Finland.

5. Naantali, Finland

In Naantali, a little town in southwestern Finland, you can experience the whimsical, colorful world of the Moomins—quirky characters created by a Finnish author in 1945. This enchanting seaside town even has a theme park dedicated to the Moomins called Muumimaailma.

Bour village in the Faroe islands.

6. Bour, Faroe Islands

Discover the rustic charm of Bour, a tiny village on Vagar Island in the Faroe Islands (a remote Danish archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean). Wander through verdant landscapes, marvel at panoramic ocean views and immerse yourself in this area’s timeless beauty.

Lighthouse and bunker in the sand dunes on the beach of Blavand, Denmark.

7. Blavand, Denmark

Blavand is a seaside Danish gem where wartime bunkers have been transformed into sculpted symbols of peace. Here, you can ride horseback along the wide, windswept beaches and explore coastal dunes.

View of the city of Ulm, a hidden gem in Germany.

8. Ulm, Germany

In Ulm—a small city on the banks of Germany’s Danube River—historic landmarks and modern amenities coexist in perfect harmony. Marvel at Gothic cathedrals, stroll along cobblestone streets and grab a bite to eat in the Fishermen’s Quarter, where restaurants and cafes are set in half-timbered houses. Just across the Danube is Neu-Ulm, which is part of Bavaria.

Boardwalks leading to a viewing platform on the beach of Bordeira in southwest Alentejo, Portugal.

9. Aljezur, Portugal

With its rugged Algarve coastlines and golden beaches, Portugal’s Aljezur has a laid-back vibe and a tranquil beauty. Don’t miss the local wines.

The view of Dartlo Village in Tusheti, a remote region of Georgia.

10. Dartlo, Georgia

Dartlo—a remote Georgian village—is the crown jewel in the untamed mountainous Caucasus landscape. It’s home to pristine wilderness and ancient stone towers.

Jumping into the water in Castro Urdiales, Spain.

11. Castro Urdiales, Spain

Castro Urdiales is a medieval port town steeped in maritime tradition in the Cantabria region of Spain. Wander through cobblestone streets, check out the ancient fortresses and soak up the sun on sandy beaches.

Ljotipollur crater lake in Landmannalaugar, Iceland.

12. Landmannalaugar, Iceland

In Iceland, Landmannalaugar is recognized for its otherworldly beauty, full of rhyolite mountains and steaming hot springs. It’s also a haven for outdoors lovers, thanks to its volcanic landscapes.

First folk architecture reserve in the world in Cicmany, Slovakia.

13. Cicmany, Slovakia

The Slvoakian town of Cicmany is like a fairytale, where narrow streets are lined with hand-painted houses and ancient traditions like folk art are being preserved.

Road to Mount Pico in the Azores.

14. Pico Island, Azores

In the volcanic paradise of Pico Island in the Azzores, you’ll find dramatic landscapes, lava caves and vineyard-covered hillsides with world-class wines.

The village of Pont-en-Royans, France.

15. Pont-en-Royans, France

In France, Pont-en-Royans is a pretty cliffside village where you can swim in the crystal-clear river and soak up panoramic views of the countryside.

Schwebebahn Train crossing a street in Wuppertal, Germany.

16. Wuppertal, Germany

Wuppertal is an industrial German city with a unique attraction: the iconic Schwebebahn, a suspended monorail built in 1901 that offers breathtaking views of the urban landscape. Fun fact: This is the oldest electric elevated railway with hanging cars in the world.

Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe chapel sitting on a rock in Le Puy en Velay, France.

17. Le Puy-en-Velay, France

In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France, Le Puy-en-Velay is a place that’s steeped in history: It’s the gateway to the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route. One of the highlights is St-Michel d’Aiguilhe, a 10th century chapel perched on a volcanic rock.

Staithes, a seaside village in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England.

18. Staithes, England

A former fishing center on North Yorkshire’s dramatic coastline, Staithes now attracts modern-day travelers, who come for the charming village, fresh seafood and natural beauty. Don’t miss the North York Moors National Park, where you can hunt for fossils and explore coastal trails.

Search Smartraveller

Visas and entry requirements in europe and the schengen area.

This page is for Australians travelling to Europe.

Read this page to learn about:

the Schengen Area
entry and exit to the Schengen Area
other European countries with visa waivers
non-Schengen European countries

The Australian Government doesn't issue visas for other countries. We can't provide final information on border rules. Ask your destination's high commission, embassy or consulate for details before you travel.

The Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is made up of 27 European countries with common border rules. It lets travellers move freely between member countries without

going through border controls
getting a visa for each country.

The members of the Schengen Area are:

Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
The Netherlands
Switzerland

Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March. Border checks should have ceased for air or sea travel between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen Area countries. Checks are still undertaken for land-based travel. Stays in Bulgaria and Romania now count towards your total visa-free stay in the Schengen Area (see below).

Entry and exit in the Schengen Area

Australians can travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Your travel must be for:

business purposes
visiting friends and family
tourism and holidays
cultural and sports events
official visit
medical reasons
short-term study

Apply at the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country where you'll stay the longest. If you're staying for the same length of time in each country, apply at the embassy of the country you'll visit first.

You'll need to apply for a visa if:

you're planning to stay for more than 90 days
your reason for travel changes, and you no longer qualify for visa-free travel.

You'll need to apply outside the country you want a visa for.

Calculating your 90/180 days

Calculating your visa-free days can be complicated. The European Commission provides a calculator to help you track your visa-free days .

The 180 days isn't fixed in time. It's calculated backwards from today.
Your 90 days are calculated from your first day in the Schengen Area within the 180 days.
If you leave and return within 180 days, your last stay will count towards the 90-day maximum.
If you use up your visa-free days, you must leave until you accumulate more or apply for a visa.
You may be fined or banned from the Schengen Area if you overstay your 90 days.

Example You arrive in Spain on 18 March. You fly to the UK on 21 April and stay there until the 29th. On 30 April, you travel to Greece and stay until 23 June. Your trip was 97 days, but only 90 were in the Schengen Area. You can't re-enter the Area until at least 14 September, when the Spanish leg of your trip falls outside your 180 days. If you re-enter on 14 September, you can only stay another 35 days as your time in Greece still counts towards your current 90 days. If you re-enter on 22 September, you can stay another 90 days, as you haven't been in the Area in the past 180 days .

Entering and exiting the Schengen Area

You must show a valid passport when entering the Schengen Area.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave.

Make sure you get a clear entry stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen Area for the first time. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained.

Some countries need you to register within 3 days of arrival.

See our destination-specific travel advice for entry and exit details for each country. Check the European Commission for information on temporary border controls .

These visa rules only apply when travelling on your Australian passport . If you're a dual national travelling on your other passport, check the rules for that nationality.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an electronic security system. It will do a security check before you can enter participating European countries . ETIAS is expected to start in mid-2025 if the new system is working.

You won't need an ETIAS for EU countries who aren't taking part in the program.

Other European countries with visa waivers

There are other European countries where you can travel visa-free. Travel to these countries does not count towards your 90 days for Schengen Area travel.

Countries can change their border rules at short notice. Before you travel, ask your destination's nearest embassy or consulate for the latest rules.

Visa waiver agreements with Australia

Australia has visa waiver agreements with several countries in the Schengen Area. These agreements may allow you to spend 60 to 90 days in the country for tourism.

Visa waiver agreement countries include:

Using visa waiver agreements with Schengen visa-free arrangements is complex. Each country operates the visa waiver in its own way.

Most countries need you to use the visa waiver at the end of your Schengen Area travel.

Visa-free tourism programs in non-Schengen countries

Some European countries outside the Schengen Area allow you to enter visa-free for tourism. Most let you stay up to 90 days. Some are for longer. See our country advisories for details on border rules.

Bosnia & Herzegovina
North Macedonia (Republic of North Macedonia)
United Kingdom

Non-Schengen European countries

Many European countries are not part of the Schengen Area. Non-Schengen countries have their own border rules. These countries include:

Ask these countries' high commission, embassy or consulate for visa information.

General advice on visas .
Before you go, get the right travel insurance .
Read about Australia's 11 reciprocal health care agreements .
The Schengen Area explained

The Rick Steves guide to life

Travel mogul. Philanthropist. Legal weed champion. The real Rick Steves is so much more complex than who you see on TV.

EDMONDS, Wash. — At first glance, it is hard to tell that Rick Steves is protesting.

In the center of his hometown, America’s favorite travel host is perched on the edge of a fountain roundabout engaging in some friendly civil disobedience. As cars circle the intersection, Steves smiles and waves, looking more like an Elf on a Shelf than an angry picketer. This is his way of reminding people he wishes they’d stop driving here.

Steves’s family moved to Edmonds when he was 12, and the 68-year-old is still happy to call it home. Rather than relocate to his beloved Europe, he dreams of bringing some European sensibilities to the edge of the Puget Sound, less than 20 miles north of Seattle.

When he’s not traveling around Europe, writing about Europe or running his multimillion-dollar European tour company, the prolific TV host and author likes to squeeze in some local activism. The roundabout routine is his push to block off Edmonds’s very American Main Street for pedestrians. If you squint at it, you can see what Steves sees: This would be the perfect place for a lively town square.

“I like a lot of things about Europe, but I love the urban energy of Europe. I love the piazza,” Steves said in a wistful tone you might recognize from PBS. “We don’t have a piazza.”

Unfortunately for Steves, the voting majority of the city does not love the idea of parking their SUVs farther away to shop. So despite his Boy Scout enthusiasm, the most famous man in Edmonds must keep up the perch-and-wave. This is not his only crusade.

Spend any amount of time with Steves, and you’ll encounter a total ham who loves a zany bit. But if you ask him about serious issues such as car-free zones, he’ll bring up other causes that are dear to him: affordable housing, supporting the arts, creating senior centers for the elderly to age with dignity.

He’s anti-Trump and pro-cannabis. He does not care if that is bad for business.

The average Rick Steves fan has probably missed this side of him. On TV, they see an always-sunny history lover who makes going abroad feel approachable for the average American. That’s an incomplete picture, like thinking you know Paris because you’ve seen the Eiffel Tower on YouTube.

Meet him in Edmonds, and he’ll fill in the rest.

It may look like a lot of gallivanting, but being Rick Steves takes a lot of work.

He spends three months of the year overseas, researching, writing, recording, refining tours, updating guidebooks. If he’s not planning or producing content, he’s often doing promotional events across the United States. This year, Steves is celebrating the 40th edition of his first book, “Europe Through the Back Door.” Over the course of his career, he has built a privately held company that generates $120 million in revenue a year, published 110 books, filmed 12 seasons of “Rick Steves’ Europe” and produced more than 750 podcast episodes.

“It’s just like coordinating a three-ring circus,” Steves said.

That is: really fun, sort of exhilarating and extremely complicated. To pull this off, Steves does not observe the French 35-hour workweek. He’s a workhorse with a reputation for keeping a frenetic pace year-round.

“It’s more of an American work culture,” Amy Duncan, Steves’s communications director, told me. “He’s an unapologetic capitalist, but he is also a socialist.”

He makes enough money to fly first class, but he sits in only economy, claiming that he doesn’t mind being cramped.

“It never occurred to me that I’m suffering,” he said. “As long as I’ve got an aisle and a seat that reclines, I’m happy.”

Actually, Steves believes airlines should have only one class. It’s part of his egalitarian worldview. He’s also anti-points and anti-miles, refusing to sign up for airline loyalty programs because he believes that they bully us into complicating our lives.

Steves also enforces a self-imposed “ carbon tax ” on his tour company, which takes more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. For every customer, Steves invests $30 to atone for emissions created by their flights between the United States and Europe. Last year, that added up to $1 million donated to a portfolio of organizations, Steves said.

“I don’t need to be a slave to the quarterly profit statement. I want to be around and profitable in 10 years from now in a world that you can travel in that’s stable,” Steves said. “This is a smart investment, and it’s an ethical expense that I should pay for.”

Rick Steves will tell you he’s motivated by making money; the more he can earn, the more good he can do with it.

“Vicarious consumption, that’s one of my things,” Steves said.

After amassing a windfall from the 2001 George W. Bush tax cuts for high earners, Steves donated $1 million to support the local symphony and performing arts center. In 2005, he used retirement savings to buy a 24-unit apartment complex for the local YWCA’s use as transitional housing for women and children. He figured he’d eventually sell the complex and live on the earnings. About a decade later, he changed his mind and donated the complex valued at $4 million.

He also gave more than $4 million to help build the Edmonds Waterfront Center, a vibrant gathering place for seniors where his daughter had her wedding in 2021. And he gave another $2 million for a similar center in the nearby city of Lynnwood, which broke ground in mid-April .

“Rick puts his money where his mouth is,” said Nancy Leson, a former Seattle Times food critic who used to let Steves’s daughter babysit her son. She has appreciated his regular presence in the community, which has entailed hosting events for local politics at his house and shopping at the farmers market .

“He changed travel,” local resident Karen Howe said on her way into the Waterfront Center with a friend. She has used Steves’s guidebooks for years. “He’s introduced us to places that most of us would never think of going.”

Steves hasn’t won his piazza battle, but he has brought European touches to Edmonds. At the Rick Steves’ Europe headquarters, there’s an E.U. flag hanging from the mocha brick facade. And gargoyles that drain rainwater, just like at the Notre Dame cathedral.

“Gargoyles scare away evil spirits,” Steves points out, unable to suppress his inner tour guide.

Here Steves employs more than 100 people: editors, audio producers, tour specialists and cartographers such as Dave Hoerlein, his first employee. That’s excluding the fleet of guides and drivers he contracts across the pond to shepherd tour customers.

Inside, he bounds through a maze of cubicles, his neck craned forward, always at an eager pace. His 6-foot frame appears leaner than in previous seasons of his life, but his signature look is familiar. No, not khakis and a button-down. That’s vintage Rick. These days, he wears dark jeans and a button-down, plus a thin scarf and leather sneakers.

During a day of meetings, Steves’s fjord-blue eyes lit up at the minutia of the business. He went over new maps with Hoerlein. He and longtime co-author Cameron Hewitt addressed problems such as finding a “less glitzy” stop on the Amalfi Coast that’s not Sorrento. They discussed whether a place is worth visiting after it’s gotten too popular, and Steves indulged in some gallows humor.

“It’s going to be like holding the corpse of a loved one who just died,” he said.

His critics argue that the “Rick Steves Effect” can turn a charming village, restaurant or museum into a tourist magnet. Matthew Kepnes, the travel writer behind the blog Nomadic Matt , points to the Swiss town Zermatt, which he says Steves put on the map, and has since dealt with overtourism . You’re bound to bump into groups with Rick Steves guidebooks in Italy’s increasingly crowded Cinque Terre.

Whether Steves is actually to blame for changing a place is up for debate. There are plenty of destinations he’s covered that haven’t been inundated with swarms of Americans (see also: Gdańsk).

Steves says he assesses whether a place wants tourism, if it can handle it gracefully. If it doesn’t or can’t, he may mention it but not promote it.

He has faith — maybe too much — that his clients share his values.

“Does [my work] change the personality of a town? It can. Am I a dramatic impact on Europe? No,” he said.

“There’s a handful of places I really promote aggressively that I’ve had a serious impact on, but otherwise ... my travelers are the kind of people that take only pictures and leave only footprints. ... They’re good travelers.”

You don’t have to spend much time in Edmonds to see why Steves never considered leaving.

The city — population roughly 42,000 — sits on a majestic inlet. You can get to a major international airport in about an hour. The community is so courteous, it has an “umbrella share” program in case people forget their own on a rainy day. As Steves walks around town, he greets people by name. He lives within walking distance to both his favorite diner and a pétanque court, the French answer to Italian bocce. He plays bongos at his church on Sundays.

In 1967, Richard “Dick” Steves moved the family here because he was worried about Rick Junior.

“I was hanging out with dangerous kids and going down the wrong trail,” Steves said. Seriously.

His dad, an Army veteran, got by in the upscale suburb as a piano technician and importer. When Steves was 14, his parents dragged him on a work trip to Europe to visit piano factories; it was a radical experience that sparked his lifelong passion for travel.

Back in Edmonds, Steves started teaching piano, eventually turning his savings into trips abroad of his own — not only to Europe, but also to Turkey, Nepal, Afghanistan. He went to college nearby, earning degrees in European history and business from the University of Washington, where he played in the Husky Marching Band.

After graduating, Steves figured he could keep up his routine: give piano lessons during the school year, then travel during the summer. He started teaching travel classes in the same recital hall where his piano students performed. This was back when there was no internet and there were few guidebooks to consult for trip planning.

The classes were a hit. At 25, Steves turned his lecture materials into a 180-page book, and self-published “Europe Through the Back Door,” in 1980.

Four years later, he hosted his first European minibus tour group, serving as both bus driver and guide.

His businesses have evolved; his bus tours now take up to 28 travelers, a number Steves says is a sweet spot between making the tour more affordable yet enjoyable for customers and profitable for the company. But his mission has remained the same: to be the best resource for European travel and help Americans travel better.

“I just focus on that and I love it,” he said. “It takes my life out of balance — which is not good — but it lets me do a lot of stuff that I believe in and that’s good.”

Steves has been open about the challenges of being a travel mogul. As he built his empire, he was also raising a family. Being “married” to both took a toll. In 2010, Steves and his wife, Anne, divorced after 25 years of marriage.

Up the hill from his junior high, Rick Steves’s modest beige home offers a window into his many lives. There are family photos on the walls, from older relatives to his baby grandson, Atlas. He hosts political fundraisers on the sprawling deck. A painting of Kerala, India, nods to one of his favorite countries. (People forget that Steves did four editions of “Asia Through the Back Door.”)

Next to his grand piano, there’s a stuffed creature that Steves calls his “Silver Fox” baring its teeth and wearing novelty sunglasses with cannabis leaves on the lenses — a nod to two of his interests: taxidermy and marijuana activism.

“It’s the civil liberties. … It’s the racism. … Everything about it is wrong,” he said of keeping weed illegal.

As for the toothy fox, Steves doesn’t do typical souvenirs anymore, but he makes an exception for stuffed animals.

“The wooden shoes and the pewter Viking ships are so obvious,” he said. “I like to do something a little more organic and a little more striking, and it takes me back there — I like it.”

He’s a very good piano player. He can also play the sousaphone and the trumpet — which he did regularly during the pandemic, performing taps for his neighbors at sunset.

The coronavirus was a nightmare for the travel business, but a miracle for Steves’s love life.

After running in the same social circles for years, he and Shelley Bryan Wee, a prominent local bishop, started dating at the end of 2019. They had a lot in common. Both are progressive Lutherans. Both are divorced with adult children. But neither worked a typical 9-to-5, and one of them spent three months of the year in Europe.

Then shutdowns happened. Steves, who couldn’t remember whether he’d ever had dinner in the same place 10 nights in a row, spent 100 nights at the same table with Wee. It solidified their relationship.

“Shelley is a constant,” Steves said. He still struggles with the balancing act between work and love.

When the stars align and they’re both in Edmonds, Wee cooks, and Steves plays sous-chef. They walk Jackson, Wee’s labradoodle, creating their own version of the passeggiata, Italy’s traditional evening stroll. They play table tennis before dinner.

When the world reopened, they started traveling together. They’ve made time for a few big vacations: a trip to Morocco, where they were caught in a windstorm that blew the windows out of their car; a luxury barge cruise through Burgundy, France, “that was embarrassingly expensive,” Steves confessed, followed by a week hiking in the Swiss Alps; and another hiking trip between remote lodges on Mont Blanc.

Before their first trip, Steves edited the contents of Wee’s suitcase, because packing light is part of his philosophy.

“What do you say?” she asked. “You’re talking to Rick Steves.”

Editing by Gabe Hiatt. Additional editing by Amanda Finnegan. Design editing by Christine Ashack. Photo editing by Lauren Bulbin. Videos by Monica Rodman. Senior video producer: Nicki DeMarco. Design by Katty Huertas. Copy editing by Jamie Zega.

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

You can still find affordable flights to Europe this summer April 18, 2024 You can still find affordable flights to Europe this summer April 18, 2024
See how jamón gets made in the heartland of Spanish pork April 16, 2024 See how jamón gets made in the heartland of Spanish pork April 16, 2024
What to know about Schengen zone, Europe’s ‘border-free’ travel system April 3, 2024 What to know about Schengen zone, Europe’s ‘border-free’ travel system April 3, 2024

U.S. issues travel warning for major European country over fears of terrorist activity

Updated: May. 02, 2024, 5:41 p.m. |
Published: May. 02, 2024, 3:54 p.m.

The U.S. State Department warns that travelers to Germany should exercise extreme caution on their visit. The travel advisory issued Wednesday was issue over concerns about terrorist activity. Seen here is the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, an iconic sight in the central European nation.

Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

WASHINGTON – A new advisory from the U.S. State Department warns European travelers to exercise increased caution if they visit Germany for fear of terrorist activity.

The warnings were contained in an advisory issued Wednesday that said terrorist groups continue to plan attacks in Germany and may strike with little or no warning.

“They target tourist locations and transportation hubs,” the advisory states. “They also target markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. They target hotels, clubs, and restaurants. They also attack places of worship, parks, and major sporting and cultural events. They target schools, airports, and other public areas.”

The advisory is a Level Two warning that calls for exercising increased caution. Level Three (Reconsider Travel) and Level Four (Do Not Travel) advisories are the two more serious levels.

But the Level Two advisory for Germany is unusual. It is a large nation in central Europe with a thriving economy and a population second only to Russia.

The only more serious warnings issued in the last year for European travel were for countries impacted by the war in Ukraine. Do-not-travel warnings were issued for Ukraine (May 2023), Belarus (July 2023) and Russia (September 2023) in connection with the fighting.

The State Department cautions that U.S. citizens traveling to Germany should take the following measures:

Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
Follow instructions of local authorities.
Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust plans based on new information.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Review the State Department’s Country Security Report for Germany.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online to learn the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the State Department’s Traveler’s Checklist .

Travelers may also want to follow the State Department on  Facebook  and  Twitter for any updates, the advisory states.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025

VIDEO: 3 expert travel tips to save money on your summer vacation with friends

An official for the European Union did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

What to know about ETIAS for US travelers

If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization through the ETIAS , before visiting.

The application form, which will be available on the official ETIAS website as well as a mobile application, has a fee of 7 euros or $7.79 U.S. dollars. All communication is done by email.

MORE: New warning issued for rebooking air travel after delays, cancellations

The European Union encourages travelers to apply for an ETIAS authorization "well in advance of your planned journey."

Confirmation of application submission will be sent on email with a unique number that is needed for future reference.

Upon receiving ETIAS travel authorization, travelers are to ensure that their name, passport number and other information is correct because any mistake will prevent them from crossing the border.

If an application is refused, the email will include the reasons for the decision along with information about how to appeal.

ETIAS travel authorization is valid for three years, according to the EU, or until the travel document you used in your application expires, whichever comes first.

MORE: European heat wave breaking records with little relief in sight

Click here to learn more about the process from the European Union.

An earlier version of this story was originally published on July 21, 2023.

Airbnb launches stays at 'Up' house, 'Inside Out' headquarters and more 'Icons'

Tips to travel Iceland on a budget, plus travel expert-approved gear

It's not too late to book summer travel deals, these expert tips make it easier

Southwest Airlines CEO says airline may reevaluate open seating after financial loss

Shop editors picks, sponsored content by taboola.

Privacy Policy —
Your US State Privacy Rights —
Children's Online Privacy Policy —
Interest-Based Ads —
Terms of Use —
Do Not Sell My Info —
Contact Us —

Kyrgyzstan tells citizens to temporarily avoid travel to Russia

Medium Text

Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

United Kingdom's former Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Sao Paulo's Governor

British police arrested 45 people on Thursday during a protest in London against the transfer of asylum seekers staying in a hotel to a barge off southern England.

World Chevron

Paris' Sciences Po university was closed for the day on Friday after a debate between the institute's leadership and students on the war in Gaza failed to ease tensions, prompting protesters to occupy it overnight.

Hungarian PM Orban holds an annual international media briefing, in Budapest

Is Russia Safe to Visit in 2024? | Safety Concerns

Written by: Author Andrew Helling | Reviewed by: Sandy Mitchell

Andrew Helling is a licensed pilot, travel enthusiast, and the founder of Travellers Worldwide whose travel expertise has been quoted in countless publications across the web. Armed with a laptop and a Wi-Fi connection, he loves exploring the world with his wife and son and is always on the hunt for cheap flights and new adventures... Learn More

Sandy Mitchell is a travel expert and the content reviewer/fact checker at Travellers Worldwide. Using the experience she gained working in the travel industry for more than 20 years, as a travel agent, travel marketing executive, and cruise school administrator, Sandy fact-checks and reviews each of our guides to ensure they're as accurate and helpful as possible... Learn More

Posted on Last updated: October 27, 2023 - Travellers Worldwide is reader-supported. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Is Russia Safe to Visit in 2024? | Safety Concerns

Russia is an exotic destination that copies the imagination of many. The country receives an average of 24 million foreign visitors each year, people who are excited to discover the hidden gems up north.

The primary tourist draws in Russia are big cities with centuries of history, from the cathedrals of Moscow to the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg.

Most of Russia is covered by acres of untouched nature, perfect for the adventurous tourist, whether you travel through it on the famous railways or go on adventures closer to the outdoors. However, many people hesitate before planning their trip to Russia due to safety concerns.

Safety concerns about visiting Russia have increased particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is affecting security in the bigger country even though there’s been little fighting directly on its territory.

So, is Russia safe to visit or not? Fortunately for you, our travel experts put together this extensive travel guide to help you figure out if you should visit right now or not.

Is Russia Safe to Visit in 2024?

Russian battle tank moving along a muddy field to illustrate that Russia is not safe to visit now

RoProy/Shutterstock

No. Right now, Russia is not safe to travel to due to the war in Ukraine. Although most of the fighting is on the territory of Ukraine, there have been raids across the Russian border.

The war is also leading to a crackdown in the political situation, which targets foreign citizens often, and an increase in crime. The safety of your visit to Russia might depend on your citizenship, which is reflected in the different travel alert levels issued by different countries.

Countries in the West, such as those in North America, Oceania, and Europe, generally advise citizens not to travel to Russia right now.

For example, Ireland advises its citizens not to travel to Russia until further notice. Countries from other parts of the world are more measured in their advice.

For example, Singapore tells its citizens to avoid certain Russian regions that border Ukraine but that they can travel freely in the rest of the country. The citizens of countries that maintained friendlier relationships with Russia despite the ongoing war are safer when they visit.

There have been situations where Russia arbitrarily detains foreign citizens that come from countries that have unfriendly diplomatic relationships with Russia at the moment.

For example, it detained the American basketball player Brittney Griner on trumped-up drug charges and more recently, the American journalist of Russian descent Evan Gershkovich .

You may think that you are following all the local laws, but if you have an “unfriendly” citizenship, the Russian government could easily find an excuse to detain you as part of a larger diplomatic game.

The U.S. State Department even warns about the possibility of detention in its travel advisory, where it tells citizens to avoid all travel to Russia. For a long time, Russia has been a country with limited freedom, but the situation has gotten worse ever since the invasion of Ukraine.

Even though most of the fighting is taking place on Ukrainian territory, countries such as the United Kingdom are still advising their citizens not to travel to Russia due to the war.

The war has affected Russia, even though it is the invading country, in many ways. Due to the war and sanctions, the Russian economy is increasingly volatile, leading to unrest.

There have been explosions and incidents on the Russian side of the border with Ukraine, and regions along the border are on medium alert.

There is also increased civil unrest due to the unpopular conscription measures as well as more and more people fleeing Russia. The Russian government responds to protests with heavy-handed repression , affecting locals and foreigners alike.

Russia does also have problems with crime, including:

Pickpocketing
Armed robbery
Organized crime

Crime is definitely a problem, but the biggest issue currently is the war.

Crime in Russia

People making their way down the street in Moscow on a cold winter day to answer the question Is Russia Safe to Visit

MOSCOW – SEPTEMBER 27: Walk people along Old Arbat Street on September 27, 2010 in Moscow, Russia/Aarrows/Shutterstock

Whenever you travel somewhere, crime is probably one of your primary concerns. According to pre-war data, Russia had low to moderate rates of crime. In 2021, the country reported 1,371.3 incidents per 100,000 people.

The site Numbeo, which gauges the criminality index of a country based on public responses, ranks Russia at 38.86 out of 100 , which is a low score on the crime index.

However, people report moderate concerns about the increase in crime, certain crimes such as drug abuse and petty theft, and high levels of concerns about corruption. Although the overall crime rate is low, Russia does have a high rate of violent crime.

According to data sourced from the World Bank, Russia’s homicide rate in 2020 was 7.33 incidents per 100,000 people , which is a high homicide rate and above the global average.

Despite the high homicide rate, most people report feeling safe in Russia. That’s because most homicides and violent crime incidents in Russia are targeted rather than random acts of violence.

Russia has a very high organized crime presence, with the highest criminality score in Europe according to the Global Organized Crime Index . Russia’s organized crime groups are behind crimes such as human trafficking, the world’s second largest illegal weapons trade, heroin trafficking, racketeering, and more.

Levels of violence have gone down since the worst of the 1990s, but there are still cases of violent shootouts between members of rival gangs — and civilians getting caught in the crossfire.

While the likelihood of getting caught up in organized crime during your visit in Russia is low, you should still stay alert to the possibility just in case.

You should also be aware of the risk of terrorism when you visit Russia. Many countries, such as New Zealand , warn about the risk of terrorism in their official travel advisories.

There have been terrorist attacks in Moscow and St. Petersburg before, although not a major one in the past few years, so you should be on the alert.

The North Caucasus region is the primary hotbed of Islamic terrorism in Russia, in part due to ongoing resistance to Russian rule over the region, and there have been cases of bombings in the region as well as targeted kidnappings and murders of foreign citizens.

Finally, no discussion of crime in Russia is important without a caveat. Most of the statistics we have for crime in the country come from before the war, and nobody knows with accuracy what the situation is like post-invasion of Ukraine.

Initial studies show that violent crime involving weapons rose by 30% in Russia following the invasion, and doubled in certain border regions.

The war and mass conscription made it easier for people to get their hands on weapons and increased dissatisfaction that might push someone into a life of crime.

Petty Theft

Despite the scary news of terrorism, organized crime, and other high-profile crimes, the type of crime the average tourist is most likely to encounter in Russia is far more mundane.

Like most places around the world, Russia experiences petty theft. Petty theft such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is most common around popular tourist destinations.

The Australian government has a list of locations that are popular hotspots for thieves, such as Red Square and Izmailovsky Market in Moscow and popular tourist destinations in St. Petersburg such as around Petrodvorets Palace and Nevsky Prospect.

Besides around popular tourist destinations, be careful on public transportation. The Moscow and St. Petersburg metros, metro stations, and underpasses are popular destinations for pickpockets, as are intercity buses and trains.

Luckily, a few basic precautions should be enough to deter the average Russian pickpocket.

Try not to flash your valuables such as expensive smartphones, cameras, or jewelry as especially now that Russia is under sanctions, as that might be a tempting payday.

Store your valuables securely in a zipped bag held close to your body and never leave them unattended, even in a hotel lobby or restaurant. When traveling by train, lock your compartment and always keep a close eye on your valuables.

While most crimes that affect tourists in Russia are petty and non-violent in nature, there have been situations of foreigners being attacked and assaulted.

The Canadian government warns about the prevalence of assault, especially against people of Asian or African descent.

Unfortunately, racist hate crimes are commonplace in Russia, and some have even been fatal. Racially motivated assaults are not the only type of assault foreigners are at risk of in Russia.

Be careful when going out in clubs as drink spiking is common, especially in the big cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Criminals target foreigners and then rob or sexually assault them.

Never leave your drink unattended and research bars and clubs ahead of time, avoiding places known to be mafia-run. Some assaults occur in tandem with armed robberies.

Avoid dangerous areas of the place you are staying in, particularly at night. If you are robbed, comply immediately and don’t fight back as many Russian criminals are armed due to the ease of obtaining an illegal weapon in the country.

Avoiding Bad Areas

High-rise brick buildings in North Ossetia with various structures built along a river for a piece on whether or not Russia is safe to visit

Nina Alizada/Shutterstock

There are certain regions of Russia that you should avoid for your own safety. Avoid border regions with Ukraine as there have been clashes on the Russian side of the border.

The Rostov region is already under a state of emergency. Other regions where you should be careful include Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and the Krasnodar Territory.

Avoid the regions of North Caucasus, including the Republics of Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia, due to high risks of civil unrest and terrorism.

Avoid regions bordering Georgia, including the Mount Elbrus region and North Ossetia, due to increased unrest and high militarization.

Things to Consider

Here are some other things to keep in mind if you decide to risk it and go to Russia anyway:

Many countries have closed their embassies or had their diplomats expelled from Russia, so assistance will be difficult to find.
Avoid illegal drugs as the penalties are very severe. Just look at what happened to Brittney Garner when she illegally tried to bring a vape with traces of hash oil into the country.
Discrimination and harassment of LGBT travelers is common, especially as Russian law strictly restricts freedom of expression of LGBT individuals.
Internet scams are common, so beware of a new acquaintance or romantic interest from Russia asking for money or inviting you to come visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

To illustrate whether or not Russia is safe to visit, Grand Cascade pictured with a giant fountain in Pertergof, St. Petersburg

Anikin Denis/Shutterstock

Here are some other questions you might have about visiting Russia:

Is it safe to travel to Russia nowadays?

Since early 2022, it is unsafe to travel to Russia. The ongoing invasion of Ukraine had repercussions for safety in Russia as well and foreign citizens are at risk of crime as well as arbitrary detention.

Is it safe to go to Russia at night?

Whether or not it is safe to walk around at night depends on where you are in Russia. In bigger cities such as Moscow, as long as you stick to busy, well-lit streets, you should be fine at night.

Is Russia safe for UK tourists?

While there haven’t been many examples of UK nationals being targeted in Russia, you should still avoid traveling there for now. The UK government warns citizens that they may be arbitrarily detained due to strained relations between the UK and Russia.

Is Russia safe for female tourists?

For the most part, Russia is safe for female tourists. However, female visitors are often targeted for drink spiking and assault in nightclubs and late-night taxis. You will have to be more careful about your movements than a male traveler.

What should you not do when in Russia?

When you’re in Russia, avoid political discussions as you don’t want to endanger yourself or any locals that you interact with. Avoid bringing up sensitive topics such as the invasion of Ukraine or sexual orientation. Don’t break any local laws, including with drug offenses.

So, Is Russia Safe to Visit?

Your trip to Russia will probably have to wait, especially if you are from a country that has stopped diplomatic relationships with Russia.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has repercussions for the invading country’s security as well, with problems such as increased crime, increased government repression, and diplomatic tensions causing arbitrary detentions of foreigners.

We don’t suggest visiting Russia until the war is over. But fortunately for you, the world is a big place, and there are countless other locations to explore.

Tourists say this popular European destination has the worst pickpocketing

Pickpocketing may only be considered a petty theft , but it has the potential to ruin any traveler’s vacation.

While travelers could just lose some extra cash, thieves can also take more important items like passports or expensive jewelry.

By now, most people are aware of pickpocketing – 87% of tourists feel like they need to take steps to safeguard their valuables while traveling, according to a March 2024 survey by U.K.-based travel insurance company Quotezone .

Unfortunately, staying vigilant isn’t always easy when visiting popular – and crowded – tourist destinations and getting caught up in the excitement of travel.

“European cities are famously popular tourist destinations for sightseeing, with the recent surge in vacationers expected to continue throughout 2024, unfortunately this also makes them some of the danger zones for pickpocketing,” said Tiffany Mealiff, travel insurance expert at Quotezone, in a statement.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Ready to book that summer trip? Here's what travelers should expect this summer

As people gear up for their big summer trips , Quotezone revealed the European destinations with the worst pickpocketing in its recently released European Pickpocketing Index. Researchers analyzed the number of mentions of “pickpocketing” or “stolen” on traveler review websites for Europe’s top destinations against the number of visitors to that country. They also looked at the most popular tourist hotspots in that destination, like the Pantheon and Colosseum Duomo di Milano in Italy, to identify the worst areas for pickpocketing.

Mealiff recommends travelers invest in anti-theft accessories like money belts or cross-body bags. Items of value, like electronics, expensive jewelry and important documents, should be left in the hotel safe when someone is out and about. If a traveler does experience pickpocketing, head straight to the police station to file a police report.

Read below to see the European countries with the most mentions of pickpocketing per million visitors as of April 2024, and the tourist hotspots with the most pickpocketing mentions.

10. Ireland - 7 mentions, worst area: Guinness Storehouse

9. Poland - 18 mentions, worst area: Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square

8. Greece - 19 mentions, worst area: Acropolis Museum

7. Turkey - 21 mentions, worst area: Sultanahmet District

6. Portugal - 58 mentions, worst area: Alfama

5. Netherlands - 100 mentions, worst area: Red Light District

4. Germany - 111 mentions, worst area: Brandenburg Gate

3. Spain - 111 mentions, worst area: Las Ramblas

2. France - 251 mentions, worst area: Eiffel Tower

1. Italy - 478 mentions, worst area: Trevi Fountain

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

Share full article

Supported by

Let’s Meet Up and Network at TBEX Europe 2024!

Travelpayouts is gearing up for an exciting adventure at TBEX Europe this May 28-31 in the stunning city of San Sebastian, Spain. We’re looking forward to seeing you there! We believe that every chat with a travel blogger opens up new avenues for innovation. That’s why TBEX Europe is so important to us. It’s not just an event; it’s where we get to listen, learn, and find new ways to help you make money while doing what you love – traveling!

Every time we talk to a travel blogger, we walk away with something priceless – insights. Your experiences, challenges, and needs help us fine-tune our technology. They inspire us to create solutions that not only make your life easier but also boost your earnings. Simply put, you help us to help you.

TBEX Europe: A Hub of Opportunity

TBEX Europe is the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers; it’s a melting pot of ideas, stories, and passion for exploration. Taking place in the beautiful Basque Country, it’s the perfect backdrop for inspiration and creativity. And as the only Emerald sponsor this year, we’ve got some cool activities lined up just for you.

Let’s Network at TBEX!

Finding us at TBEX Europe is easy – just look for the Travelpayouts booth and banners. Our team will be there, eager to chat, answer your questions, and share insights. We’re all about building connections and fostering growth in the travel blogging community.

TBEX Europe is an incredible opportunity to connect, and we can’t wait to meet you and explore how we can grow together. See you in San Sebastian!

Norwegian cruise mogul’s success secrets: Focus on the wealthy and absolutely no kids allowed

Viking cruise at the French Mediterannean port of Marseille.

Torstein Hagen founded his cruise line with a few simple principles in mind. Among them: focus on the wealthy and intellectually curious; no nickel-and-diming; and no kids.

Almost three decades on, his Viking Holdings Ltd. is among the world’s biggest luxury cruise operators, and Hagen’s fortune will surpass $5 billion as the company completes its initial public offering in New York.

Viking raised $1.54 billion from the oversubscribed share sale, showing that investors are willing to pour money into a sector that was decimated by the Covid pandemic and now is rebounding.

The shares priced near the top of the marketed range, according to a regulatory filing , valuing the company at around $10.4 billion. Hagen controls roughly half of the shares, making him the second-richest person in the industry after Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The listing also marks the pinnacle of an endeavor that, in Hagen’s words , began with “two guys with two mobile phones and four river ships” seeking to woo customers who sought “more than just a vacation.” As the 81-year-old chief executive officer has often told journalists: Viking cruises are for the thinking person, not the drinking person.

Viking representatives didn’t respond to requests for comment on Bloomberg’s calculation of Hagen’s fortune.

Physics Degree

Born near Oslo, Hagen earned a degree in physics from the Norwegian Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard University. After a stint in management consulting, he entered the cruise industry in the 1970s. Around two decades later, following multiple failed attempts to help buy or otherwise take control over cruise lines with different investor groups, Hagen led the purchase of the four river ships and formed Viking.

The company initially focused on cruises along rivers up and down Europe before expanding into ocean travel and special expeditions to places like Antarctica and the US Great Lakes. Based in Bermuda, Viking today operates 92 vessels and employs more than 10,000 people.

Its target customers: affluent English speakers aged 55 or older, with time and money to explore the world. Last year, 90% of its clients came from North America, according to the company’s registration statement. In the US, the 55-plus cohort holds around three-quarters of the country’s household wealth, Federal Reserve data show.

In recent years, Viking has sold stakes to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and alternative-asset manager TPG Inc. Both offloaded more shares in the offering than initially anticipated, according to a filing .

Read More: TPG, CPPIB Are Said to Weigh Offering More Shares in Viking IPO

Hagen didn’t sell stock. His daughter, Karine, who has been working for Viking since it was founded and is now executive vice president, will control a small stake of less than 1%.

Viking said proceeds from the offering will be used to “increase our capitalization and financial flexibility” given its “substantial indebtedness.” It had $5.4 billion of debt at the end of 2023.

In a letter to shareholders included in the registration statement, Hagen noted the company sees big growth potential among consumers in China and elsewhere around Asia. That would go beyond “China Outbound,” the cruise offering in Europe with full crews of Mandarin speakers that Viking launched in 2016. The firm is also exploring safaris and land tours.

“We view Viking as the premier provider of travel experiences for thinking people,” the billionaire wrote in the letter. “We do not try to be all things to all people.”

Latest in Finance

Vincent Bollore, billionaire and chairman of the Bollore Group

To compete with Asia’s rising dominance, French billionaire Bollore wants to build an EV battery plant in eastern France which will cost $2.1 billion

An aerial view of Gamla Stan district after snowfall in downtown of Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish companies are going bust at a ‘remarkable’ rate, with bankruptcies up 72% since last year

Europe’s sliding foreign investments are a ‘wake-up call,’ EY expert says

Meet the Norwegian-owned cruise challenger to Carnival and Royal Caribbean that just raised $1.54 billion

A general view of an Aston Martin DB9 leather interior inside a new Aston Martin convertible ca

Aston Martin’s first quarter earnings drop 34% as it awaits fourth CEO in four years

Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen Interview

Novo Nordisk’s market value of $570 billion is now bigger than the entire Danish economy—creating a ‘Nokia risk’ for Denmark

Furious Mexican farmers are ripping out water pumps for avocado orchards and berry fields, risking cartel reprisal

Move over, American dream: The goal of many Gen Z and millennial women is now to be a DINK—with dual income and no kids

Peloton, the fallen fitness unicorn, faces a harsh truth despite its shiny new deal with Hyatt hotels: ‘I don’t think they thought [about] what was going to happen post-pandemic’

Starbucks flags unusual phenomenon for ‘disappointing’ sales: It’s too popular with morning commuters

U.S. fishermen poised to harvest billions of baby eels worth $2,000 a pound as authorities battle illegal sales

Tesla slashes its summer internship program to cut costs, as Elon Musk fights to save his $45 billion pay plan

IMAGES

49 Best Places To Visit On A Europe Road Trip
Printable Map Of Europe 2024
Europe Map with Famous Sightseeing. Travel Guide. Vector illustration
Europe Tour
How To Plan a Trip to Europe: Sample Travel Itineraries
Countries of the European Union (2024)

COMMENTS

ETIAS
Learn about ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries from mid-2025. Find out who needs to apply, what documents to use, how much it costs and how to appeal.
New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025
Jenny Kane/AP, FILE. Americans eyed upcoming travel to European destinations slightly differently due to news of a requirement that was set to start in 2024 for U.S. passport holders. But now, EU ...
What You Need to Travel to Europe in 2024
For now, though, the old rules are in place, and you do not need a visa to travel to Europe for trips under 90 days as an American in 2024. But you should check your passport's expiration date, as ...
How do you get the Europe 'visa'? What to know about the ETIAS ...
Starting in 2024, American passport holders traveling to 30 European countries will need to receive authorization to travel via the ETIAS, a long-awaited measure designed to prevent terrorism.
Europe is Changing Entry Rules From 2024. Here ...
Beginning in 2024, Americans will need to comply with ETIAS and EES for European travel. This will mean a bit more planning, as well as filling out applications, and paying fees.
The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2024
The Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta will return to its new home at Castle Howard in 2024, with rainbow-bright, early-morning mass balloon flights and night glows. There were plenty of Michelin mentions ...
Do you need a visa to travel to Europe? New ETIAS rule set for 2024
Americans who are planning to visit Europe in 2024 don't have to worry about applying to the European Union's new travel authorization system yet. For almost a decade now, European Union ...
What to know about ETIAS, the E.U. travel requirement starting in 2024
Starting in 2024, an $8 ETIAS application will be required for U.S. travelers to enter E.U. countries. Starting in 2024, some travelers to countries in the European Union will have a new hoop to ...
What is ETIAS? Europe's New Travel Requirements, Explained
Initially meant to come into effect on January 1, 2021 and then delayed (again and again) until 2024, the European Travel Information and Authorization System is now slated to launch sometime in 2025 (more on the actual launch date below). At that point, all U.S. citizens who want to travel to the 27 member countries of Europe's Schengen Zone ...
A Guide to Europe's Planned ETIAS Fee and Visa Requirement
How much will it cost? When it goes into effect, travelers will be required to pay €7 ($7.70). The authorization is then valid for three years or until the expiration date of someone's travel ...
Americans Will Need This New Document For 2025 European Travel
Once the program starts, some 1.4 billion people from the U.S. and dozens of other countries will need ETIAS to enter 30 European countries. The document will cost €7, or about $7.50; however ...
Europe will start charging for entry in 2024
Europe delays visa waiver scheme till 2024 The long-anticipated ETIAS visa waiver scheme, which will require all non-EU passport holders to get pre-trip permission to enter the bloc, was supposed ...
Americans Will Soon Need More Paperwork When Traveling to Europe
Daily Correspondent. July 26, 2023. Americans looking to travel to Europe next year will need to add a new registration to their pre-travel checklist. Spencer Davis via Pexels. This summer ...
UK holidaymakers will need an 'e-visa' to visit the EU from 2024
The launch of the £6 visa-waiver has been pushed back until next year. British travellers will need a visa-waiver to visit most EU countries from 2024, including Spain, France and Portugal. The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (Etias) was due to be introduced in November 2023, but has been postponed.
Travelling to the EU and Schengen area
Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period.
Ranked: The 18 Best Hidden Gems In Europe, According To A New ...
Forbes 13 Exciting Places Where You Can Live For $1,500 A Month-Or Less By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes 15 Affordable Places To Travel In 2024, Ranked In A New Report By Laura Begley Bloom Follow me ...
Visas and entry requirements in Europe
your reason for travel changes, and you no longer qualify for visa-free travel. You'll need to apply outside the country you want a visa for. Calculating your 90/180 days. Calculating your visa-free days can be complicated. The European Commission provides a calculator to help you track your visa-free days. The 180 days isn't fixed in time.
Meet the real Rick Steves, beyond Europe to his home and passions
April 29, 2024 at 5:00 a.m. EDT. 13 min. 1284. EDMONDS, Wash. — At first glance, it is hard to tell that Rick Steves is protesting. In the center of his hometown, America's favorite travel ...
Europe: Russia extends flight restrictions at 10 southwestern airports
The volume of Russian gas shipped to Europe via Ukraine has subsequently dropped by around one-third. Advice. Confirm flight status with carriers; do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Avoid nonessential travel to affected border regions.
U.S. issues travel warning for major European country over fears of
The only more serious warnings issued in the last year for European travel were for countries impacted by the war in Ukraine. Do-not-travel warnings were issued for Ukraine (May 2023), Belarus ...
New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025
October 02, 2023, 6:29 am. Americans eyed upcoming travel to European destinations slightly differently due to news of a requirement that was set to start in 2024 for U.S. passport holders. But now, EU officials have postponed the European Travel Information and Authorisation System ( ETIAS) launch until spring of 2025.
Kyrgyzstan tells citizens to temporarily avoid travel to Russia
Europe category EU, US urge Georgia to halt 'foreign agents' bill as protests continue May 2, 2024 article with gallery United Kingdom category Britain's Cameron, in Kyiv, promises Ukraine aid ...
Is Russia Safe to Visit in 2024?
Although the overall crime rate is low, Russia does have a high rate of violent crime. According to data sourced from the World Bank, Russia's homicide rate in 2020 was 7.33 incidents per 100,000 people, which is a high homicide rate and above the global average. Despite the high homicide rate, most people report feeling safe in Russia.
Which popular European destination has the worst pickpocketing?
"European cities are famously popular tourist destinations for sightseeing, with the recent surge in vacationers expected to continue throughout 2024, unfortunately this also makes them some of ...
Ireland Threatens to Return Asylum Seekers to U.K., Sparking Diplomatic
British officials, however, countered on Monday that they would not accept any asylum seekers from Ireland, a European Union member, unless they had a broader agreement with the E.U. to return ...
Let's Meet Up And Network At TBEX Europe 2024!
News. May 2, 2024. Reading time: < 1 min. 0. 0. Travelpayouts is gearing up for an exciting adventure at TBEX Europe this May 28-31 in the stunning city of San Sebastian, Spain. We're looking forward to seeing you there! We believe that every chat with a travel blogger opens up new avenues for innovation. That's why TBEX Europe is so ...
Russian oil refineries and military airfield targeted in drone attack
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy inspects new fortifications for Ukrainian servicemen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Russian border in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, April 9, 2024.
Norwegian cruise mogul's success secrets: Focus on the ...
December 2023/January 2024; October/November 2023; ... The company initially focused on cruises along rivers up and down Europe before expanding into ocean travel and special expeditions to places ...

Welcome to the official ETIAS website

New requirements for Americans traveling to Europe postponed until 2025

What to know about ETIAS for US travelers

MORE: New warning issued for rebooking air travel after delays, cancellations

MORE: European heat wave breaking records with little relief in sight

Related Topics

4 big takeaways from Day 10 of Trump's hush money trial

Houston area faces 'life-threatening' flood conditions as severe weather hits Texas

'Violent protest is not protected,' Biden says of college campus unrest

College protests updates: Nearly half of Columbia and CCNY arrests were not students

Justice Stephen Breyer's blunt message to Supreme Court conservatives: 'Slow down'

ABC News Live

What You Need to Travel to Europe in 2024

Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters

How Europe's ETIAS system will work

What Americans should look out for with ETIAS

The bottom line on what you need to travel to Europe

Related Content

Wait, do you need a visa to go to Europe now? The new ETIAS requirements, explained

What is ETIAS? Is it a visa?

Summer air travel could be expensive and chaotic. Here's how to avoid trouble

Why is it being implemented?

'Revenge travel' is surging. Here's what you need to know

When does it take effect?

Who needs to apply for ETIAS approval?

Planning a trip? Here's how to pack like a pro

How can you apply for ETIAS approval (and does it cost money)?

When is the right time to apply?

It's Been a Minute

What happens if I don't apply for this and try to travel to Europe?

Americans Will Need to Apply Online to Enter Europe Starting in 2024

What Is ETIAS?

Top Picks for You

Recommended Fodor’s Video

What is EES?

The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2024

The Best Places to Go in Europe

Asturias, Spain

Biarritz, France

Bodø, Norway

Budapest, Hungary

Carlsberg City District in Denmark

Costa de Prata, Portugal

Cyclades, Greece

Mallorca, Spain

Northern Italy

Yorkshire, UK

Nolinski Venezia

100 Princes Street: First In

Europe Travel Guide

New travel system for Europe delayed again, to 2025

U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe—Here’s When and What to Know

Why are the requirements for entering Europe changing?

Which European nations will require ETIAS authorization to visit?

Who will need to obtain ETIAS authorization?

How will travelers apply for ETIAS?

How much will it cost to enter Europe?

How long will the authorization process take?

Will you have to reapply for each trip to Europe?

Does this mean I will need a visa to travel to Europe?

Why was the launch of ETIAS delayed?

When exactly will ETIAS go into effect?

Europe Will Roll Out an Entry Fee and Visa Requirement Next Year — How Much It Will Cost, How to Apply, and More

When will ETIAS go into effect?

How much will it cost?

Where will it be required?

Who will be required to pay the fee?

How do you apply?

What information will be required for an application?

What happens if you are denied?

What about visiting the United Kingdom?

Does the U.S. have anything similar?

Related Articles

Americans Will Soon Need More Paperwork When Traveling to Europe

UK holidaymakers will need an ‘e-visa’ to visit the EU from 2024

Where do I apply for the Etias visa waiver?

When does Etias start?

How much will an Etias visa-waiver cost?

How will travellers apply for an Etias visa-waiver?