This is some great news! The EU has lifted travel restrictions for this summer, one year after the ban on travel to Europe.
The European Commission announced in mid-March the creation of the Digital Green Certificate. This travel pass allows those who have had their vaccinations, received negative results from tests, or are recovering from COVID-19, to travel with the EU freely without the need to be quarantined.
Please check the restrictions and regulations in the countries you plan to visit this summer if you’re planning to travel to Europe. We have provided updates for all of our clients to address any site disruptions that could affect our tours.
Note: Keep in mind that the situation changes constantly and the information provided here is not complete. It is strongly recommended that you keep abreast of all regulations and guidelines issued by the relevant authorities, whether they are local, state or national.
Italy
COVID-tested flights by American Airlines (AA), and Delta will allow anyone to fly to Italy, regardless of whether they are traveling for business or pleasure, starting Sunday, May 16. Travelers can skip quarantine if they have a negative PCR test less than 48 hours prior to boarding. They will then be tested again upon arrival.
Updated:
Delta stated on their website “Flights to Italy won’t require multiple COVID test prior boarding and upon arrival into Italy” provided that passengers have one of these documents : a certificate or vaccination, a negative antigen, PCR or Molecular COVID-19 result from a test performed within 48 hours after arrival in Italy or a Certificate for Recovery from COVID-19.
- AA offers non-quarantine flights between NY and Milan and Rome. These flights will also be available from DFW to Rome.
- Delta offers quarantine-free flights between NY and Milan (daily), NY and Rome (3 times per week, increasing to daily July 1).
- Alitalia offers a daily 5pm flight that is free of quarantine from New York JFK and Rome FCO.
It is no longer necessary to quarantine travelers from the EU, United Kingdom and Israel who have been vaccinated. You can find all details (in English), on the Italian Ministry of Health Website.
Italy announced a green pass but no details have been provided. The Local Italy reported that the Tourism Minister said that “all you need is a piece of paper certifying your compliance with the rules” and that “you’re vaccinated or you’re immune due to having the disease or you have had a positive test.” Without providing further details.
The government will announce further relaxations of restrictions later in the week.
Masks and social distancing are required in all open spaces (except when exercising). There is still a nationwide curfew that runs from 11pm to 5am on May 19. Based on health data, the curfew may be relaxed to midnight starting June 7 and lifted completely beginning June 21.
What’s open in Italy?
Italy’s regions are still divided into four areas – yellow, orange, yellow, and white – which correspond to three risk scenarios for which restrictions are in place.
All areas are within the yellow zone. This means that museums, archaeological sites, take-out and outdoor restaurants can reopen and that travel between regions is allowed. Dining indoors will become permissible starting June 1. Discos will remain closed until further updates.
Many hotels have welcomed guests for years. Below is a list of cultural sites by city that are currently open to the public.
We are excited to announce that we offer tours in Rome and Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Venice, Pompeii and the Amalfi coast, with our local guides.
Museums and Attractions in Rome
Vatican MuseumsOpened May 3 with the following hours
Monday through Thursday, 8.30am-6.30pm. Last entry is at 4.30pm. Exit from museums and exhibitions at 6pm.
Friday and Saturday, 8.30am-8.00pm. Last entry at 6.00pm. Exit from museums and exhibitions at 7.30pm.
Social distancing and masks are mandatory. Full details of the rules in place to provide safe conditions for visitors are available here.
Colosseum :Opened every day starting April 26th, from 10:30am to 7 :15pm
Civic Museums System Rome :Opened starting April 26, inclusive weekends and holidays
Pantheon Open every day between 9.00 and 7.00pm (last entry 6.30pm)
Museums and Attractions in Florence
Florence Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore.Opened April 26th with the following hours: Monday through Saturday, 10.15am – 5.00pm
Brunelleschi’s Dome:Opened Monday through Friday, 12.45-7.00pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12.45-5.30pm.
Giotto’s Bell Tower:Reopens May 16. Daily, 12.45-7.00pm
Opera del Duomo museum:Reopens on Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays between 10.15am and 5.00pm
The Baptistery isClosed to restore
UffiziReopened May 4. Hours of operation: 8.15am – 6.30pm
Accademia Reopened May 6. The hours are from 9.00am to 6.45pm on Thursday through Sunday, with the last entry at 6.15pm. Visits on Saturday and Sunday require bookings. Closed on Mondays, January 1, and December 25,
Venice Attractions and Museums
April 26th, the Civic Museums of Venice, including Doge’s Palace, reopened.
Doge’s Palace: Open daily from 10.00am – 6.00pm, with the last entry at 5.00pm
St. St.
St. St.
France
France will reopen for international travel on June 9th, France.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced recently that visitors from the United States and several other non-European Union travelers will be allowed to enter France starting June 9, 2021. This is subject to a health passport (or “sanitary pass”) that shows proof of either their full vaccination against COVID-19, or a negative PCR test.
Although it is not clear at the moment which French health passport(s), or what documentation, they will accept as proof of vaccination, our team will continue to monitor the situation and provide any clarification that is needed.
France will begin to loosen its internal restrictions on May 19. This includes outdoor dining (with six guests maximum per table), museums like the Louvre, Paris, and cinemas, theatres, and concert halls (with indoor capacity limits of 800 and outdoor venue capacities of 1,000). The Eiffel Tower will remain closed until further notice. Last Updated: The List of Museums That Have Reopened.
The curfew, which will be enforced nightly with some adjustments starting May 19, will remain in effect. It will begin at 9:00 PM local time. Check the Paris Official website for the Convention and Visitors Bureau to see the most recent government measures.
Additional restrictions will be lifted on June 9. This will allow cafes and restaurants to resume regular service and authorize events for up to 5,000 people. The curfew will apply at 11:00 pm local time every night.
The curfew restriction on June 30th will be lifted. However, nightclubs will remain closed.
All French cultural sites, museums, and attractions are closed from May 18 to May 18.
UK
As per the BBC – restrictions will be eased across large parts of the UK starting May 17th.
- Indoors will be permitted for restaurants, bars, cafes, cafés, and other establishments.
- Indoor entertainment, such as museums and cinemas, can be opened.
- All theatres, concert halls and conference centers can be reopened.
- Steam rooms and saunas could reopen
- Reopening hotels, hostels, and B&Bs is possible
The UK intends to remove all lockdown restrictions by June 21. The four-step plan to relax restrictions is detailed here.
Spain
On May 9, the Spanish national emergency was lifted and Madrid’s curfew has been lifted at 11 pm. A face mask is still required to be worn in public places, indoors and outdoors.
The Madrid official tourism website
- Bars and restaurants may be open between 6am and 12 midnight. However, they are not permitted to serve customers after 11pm.
- Many museums and cultural institutions in the city have been reopened with all the safety and social distancing required.
- Maximum capacity is 50% for most enclosed spaces (such a hotels, restaurants and bars, places of worship, and sports facilities), and 75% for cultural venues (such as museums, monuments theatres and cinemas), outside cafes and restaurants, shopping centres, and outdoor cafes.
- Groups at bars and restaurants can only hold 4 persons indoors and 6 outside .
- Many late-night venues and nightclubs remain closed.
Here are the details for Barcelona’s measures that were in place up to May 24, according to Barcelona City Council.
