Coronavirus travel advice

Destination – Where to travel based on coronavirus restrictions in Portugal?

Public spaces and services

Social distancing measures and other safety precautions should continue to be observed at all times.

Many municipal and regional authorities have introduced other types of measures such as limiting the opening hours and capacity of bars and restaurants, and in some places these remain closed until further notice. You should refer to local authorities for any additional measures where you are as this may vary from one region to the next.

Key common measures across Spain include:

• social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 6 people.
• social distancing of 1.5-metres.
• obligatory use of face masks in public spaces (see ‘Use of facemasks’).
• abiding by any safety measures put in place by establishments such as hotels, bars, shops and restaurants to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
• track and trace – all shops, businesses and transport companies are obliged to keep customers’ contact information (where provided) for up to 4 weeks for tracking and tracing purposes.
• capacity restrictions in place at beaches or other public areas such as the delineation of plots and the use of booking systems. You should refer to local authorities for information on the measures in place.
• if visitors test positive or develop symptoms during their stay in Spain, they may be moved to specific designated accommodation to prevent further spread.
• wash your hands frequently and thoroughly and use hand sanitizer gel where soap and water is not available.

Use of face masks

The use of face coverings is mandatory for anyone over the age of 6 years old on all forms of public transport in Spain and in many other indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Most regions in Spain have now made the use of face masks obligatory in both indoor and outdoor public spaces, even when social distancing of 1.5 metres is observed. Penalties may be imposed if you do not comply.

You should carry a face mask with you and be prepared to wear it during your stay. Face masks must cover the nose and mouth.

There are some exceptions to the use of face masks such as when practising sport, eating or drinking, or at the beach, however rules may vary from one region to the next. You should refer to local authorities for specific information on face-covering requirements and any exceptions where you are.

Those with respiratory problems or those unable to wear a mask due to other health conditions or disabilities are exempt from this rule. More details are available from the Ministry for Health (in Spanish).

While not mandatory, the use of face masks on children between 3 and 5 years of age is recommended.

COVID vaccine news UK

On 2 December, the long-awaited news broke that the UK will be the first western country to start rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine has been authorised for emergency use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and the first 800,000 doses will become available this week, first to to older people, those in care homes and their staff.

The UK bought an initial 40 million doses of the COVID vaccine, which has shown 95% efficacy in extensive trials. Specialist vaccination centres are being set up, and a network of hospitals are rolling out the vaccine to deliver the first jabs to vulnerable people. The first jabs were delivered during the week of 7 December.

The coronavirus vaccine should have been made available to all by Easter 2021, meaning that a more normal summer next year (and perhaps post-coronavirus travel plans) looks increasingly likely. According to our research, the news of a COVID vaccine in the UK has resulted in 41% of the population feeling increased confidence in the prospect of travelling abroad within the next six months.*

Read the announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care.

*The survey for Skyscanner was carried out among 2,152 adults by AudienceNet between 27 and 29 November 2020.  

Greece

Public spaces and services

The wearing of masks is mandatory at all times outside the home throughout Turkey. This includes, but is not limited to, all public places, including streets, side streets, parks, gardens, picnic areas, markets, sea side and public transportation including Metro, buses, taxis and ferries. Masks are also mandatory in all shops, restaurants, hairdressers and barber shops.

Smoking in open areas (streets, avenues and other open public areas) is banned.

Shopping centres, markets, restaurants and hairdressers will be open from 10am to 8pm throughout the week, with restaurants only providing takeaway services.

From 1 December, Turkish citizens and residents will need HES codes (see the ‘Travel in Turkey’ section) to enter shopping centres.

Those who do not abide by COVID-19 restrictions may be issued with a fine of 900 TL (approximately £100). Follow Turkish announcements and local media for up to date information.

Government travel advice

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the WHO, the FCDO and UK government response are offering coronavirus travel advice for people overseas.

Since 10 July, people arriving in the UK from low-risk countries no longer need to quarantine. Countries with high infection rates are not included on the , meaning quarantine measures are in place. On 19 December, Namibia, Uruguay and US Virgin Islands were the latest to be added to this list, meaning that you no longer need to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival in England or Wales from there. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules in place.

The FCDO still advises British nationals against all but essential international travel to all countries not included on the travel corridors list, which is under constant review. To see the countries where you can currently travel to from the UK, you can visit our map with the latest travel restrictions. Remember that travel for holidays is not permitted from tiers 3 or 4 in England.

Some ‘travel bubbles’ are being considered. These would allow reciprocal open borders between certain countries. For example, there’s a proposed Trans-Tasman bubble between Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and the Pacific Island.

I have been issued a working holiday visa. Can I enter Denmark?

Foreign nationals who have already obtained a residence permit under the working holiday scheme will still be able to enter Denmark. 
The Minister for Immigration and Integration has decided to temporarily suspend all working holiday agreements. This means that the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) will stop issuing new residence permits for working holiday until further notice.Read more about the suspension here.
If you have already submitted an application for a Working Holiday visa and the application has been sent to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), please note that it is not possible to get a refund of the fee of DKK 1,455 paid to the embassy.
 

What should I do when returning home to Denmark

Healthcare in Turkey

You should ensure that you are prepared for any unplanned or extended stays due to changes in COVID-related restrictions or your travel arrangements. If you take regular medication, make sure you have at least 14 days of supplies to cover you in case you are required to quarantine as a result of a positive COVID test.

British-issued prescriptions are not accepted in pharmacies in Turkey, although some medicines may be available over the counter.

If your medical supplies do run out whilst in Turkey it may be possible, in some cases, to liaise with Turkish hospitals and your GP to arrange for a Turkish prescription for the equivalent medicine.

For contact details for English speaking doctors visit our list of healthcare providers.

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health

View Health for further details on healthcare in Turkey.

See also the guidance on healthcare if you’re waiting to return to the UK.

Italy

Things to consider before booking or travelling to Portugal in 2020

The first thing to consider is are you allowed to enter the country, keep an eye on the rules of countries who can enter Portugal, and also the Schengen zone, using your local countries travel advisories, EU and destination countries pages – information can change very quickl – I’ll be honest that the communication and finding the right information for this is a bit of a mess for those outside the EU, and the information in Portugal can often take a while to be translated.

Are you prepared to adapt? This one certainly isn’t limited to Portugal, as we will see many countries change and adapt their rules over the coming months as the situation changes. Booking last minute will help, being prepared with free cancellations if needed, and perhaps having to change the region you stay in. No one fully knows what the future holds, so any decision has to be one you feel comfortable with.

Also, keep in mind some airlines are still continuing to cancel flights to countries, even when they have reopened for tourism.

You’ll also want to consider where to go based on case numbers, how to get around, where to stay based on what you feel comfortable with and so on, I’ll cover these in the trip report below.

Also, if you don’t want to play by the rules here, such as wearing masks, and intend on being difficult, argumentative, and cause problems – then don’t come. I’ve seen the rare visitor from countries where masks aren’t required arguing about them, please don’t be this person and just respect the local rules.

Can I extend my short stay-visa in Denmark?

It is currently not possible to apply for an extension of a short-stay visa in Denmark because the Danish Immigration Service’s Citizen Service is closed for visitors. If you have not been able to leave Denmark in time due to coronavirus (COVID-19), you will get a letter stating that your departure date for leaving Denmark has been postponed for 60 days, counted from the date when the letter is issued. You will receive the letter from the Police at the airport when you leave Denmark. Please visit New to Denmark’s website for more information.
It is still possible to contact the Danish Immigration Service as well as the Agency of International Recruitment and Integration.
With regard to extensions of residence permits handled by the Danish Immigration Service (cases of family reunification, residence permit as religious worker, and residence permit based on previous Danish citizenship, Danish heritage or affiliation with Danish minority), please visit New to Denmark’s website.
Concerning extensions of residence permits handled by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (cases of work permits, working holiday and residence under the EU regulations etc.), please visit New to Denmark’s website.

When can the Danish travel advice to non-EU/Schengen countries and UK be expected to change?

France

Finland

Current Portugal Coronavirus Situation in numbers

Our initial lockdown in Portugal was never as strict as some of our neighbours, we never had 100% home confinement like Spain, and could always go outside for walks and exercise even at the height of the Portugal coronavirus restrictions. Sadly, this second wave is bringing many more cases and deaths than we initially saw, so while restrictions aren’t as strict this time around, potentially they will be. 

As of today, and these figures are updated daily on https://covid19.min-saude.pt/, we have had 204,000 cases in Portugal since the start of records and 3250 deaths – there are quite striking differenced between the regions, with the islands, Alentejo and Azores recording much fewer cases, so it’s worth taking a look at that link as it might help you decide where to travel to. 

The current active case number in mainland Portugal is around 85,000.

For the island regions, numbers are very low, but creeping up. Madeira has less than 200 active cases, while in the Azores active cases are 156 active cases and both have testing rules for arrivals which is how they are trying to ensure these numbers remain low – daily updates can be found on https://covid19.azores.gov.pt/ and https://covidmadeira.pt/

Other resources / links / official websites to keep an eye on…

Here are the places I’m mainly taking my information from, and the news I follow locally. Of course, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, and I will reply, and update them into the post.

List of each municipality and the current restrictions (updated every two weeks): https://covid19estamoson.gov.pt/

Clean and Safe website hub: https://portugalcleanandsafe.com/

A handy website with various languages which offers translations of latest rules and decrees:https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/

Current Mainland Portugal coronavirus restrictions for tourists: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/node/421175

Madeira: http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/useful-info/corona-virus-(covid-19)/information-to-visitors-(covid-19)

Azores: https://covid19.azores.gov.pt/?page_id=5532

Portugal coronavirus airport information:https://www.ana.pt/en/passenger-guide/what-you-need-to-know/covid-19

Bus coronavirus informationhttps://www.rede-expressos.pt/en/information

Is there travel advice for Greenland?

Travel in Turkey

Cyprus

Can I still apply for a visa to Denmark?

The Netherlands

Tourism attractions – are they open?

Most main tourism attractions are now open again, with the usual social distancing and mask-wearing – however the hours are reduced and defined by curfews etc.

Some of the religious attractions, particularly convents which have residents living in them are closed, I found on my recent trip.

Smaller regional attractions were also closed in the Alentejo when I drove through, as were some in central Portugal in my most recent trip last week. Some attractions are also free currently, to limit human interaction and the exchange of cash, as card payments are now preferred, but in Portugal aren’t always accepted.

Travellers within Canada

Who can currently enter Portugal for tourism?

What should I do if the travel advice changes risk level to ‘orange’ during my holiday?

Clean and Safe Portugal Initiative

Healthcare in Spain

Coronavirus travel bans and restrictions by country

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many countries have placed entry restrictions on travellers or closed their borders entirely. If you’re travelling during this period, it’s important to be updated on entry requirements so you won’t run into customs issues at the airport. 

At the moment, borders in some 40 countries are closed to UK travellers. Some require proof of a negative COVID test on arrival. Travellers from many popular holiday destinations including Belgium, Croatia, France, Spain and the Netherlands must quarantine for 10 days on arrival back in the UK, or opt for the test to release scheme and reduce their quarantine to five days.

Since 12 December, the Canary Islands is the latest destination to be removed from the exempt list. This means that you need to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival back from the Canaries.

Can I travel within the UK?

After the second lockdown lifted on 2 December, England returned to a tier-based system, and added a most-restrictive, fourth tier on 20 December. Those living in tier 3 and 4 aren’t allowed to travel abroad, or within the UK unless for ‘essential’ reasons. But hotels and self-catering stays in tiers 1 and 2 are allowed to reopen to guests also in those tiers. UK holidays are not allowed, including camping, road trips and hotel stays.

On 2 November a tier system was implemented across Scotland, with areas placed into one of five tiers depending on their number of coronavirus cases. There’s a strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK since 20 December, to limit the spread of the new coronavirus variant.

Under Scottish regulations, hotel stays, hospitality venues and non-essential shops will only be open in levels 0-2, while levels 3 and 4 see restrictions on these businesses.

Check the latest government advice and restrictions for the area you’re planning to visit to see which tier it’s in, before booking travel.

From Wales, travel is not allowed to and from England without a ‘reasonable excuse’. People in Wales can travel within Wales provided they adhere to regulations, but it’s a good idea to check the latest rules before booking your trip.

Northern Ireland advises against all but essential travel to the rest of the UK.

How does the COVID-19 outbreak impact travel within Europe and to the rest of the world? Check out our global map page to find out the latest travel restrictions from the UK to the rest of the world:

What precautions should I take if I travel abroad?

If you travel to a ‘yellow’ country or region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises you to be alert and stay updated on the travel advice for the country or region in question, as this can change depending on both new local travel restrictions and changes in the number of weekly infections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also refers to its general travel advice during the COVID-19 pandemic, which you can access here: MFA’s advice for travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic (Danish only).
Should you choose to travel to areas not recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you must be aware of the risks involved. Your destination may be hard to reach, and local authorities may impose restrictions at very short notice. These restrictions may include border closures, forced quarantines, cancellation of flights, etc. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot guarantee against sudden changes in the approach taken by individual countries, including the cancellation of flights. 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises you to contact your insurance provider before potential departure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recommends that you consider your personal safety and that you stay up to date on developments via local authorities, news media, and your travel agency.
You can find up-to-date information on travel destinations at the websites of the Danish embassies (Danish only). 
As previously mentioned, it is your own decision whether you choose to travel. You should carefully examine whether you have sufficient insurance coverage. If you have any doubts regarding your coverage, you should contact your insurance company. 
 
If you are returning from non-essential travel to countries that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against due to COVID-19, you are strongly advised to follow the Danish Health Authority’s guidelines on self-isolation for 10 days after returning home. The isolation can be broken by a negative test result obtained at the earliest on the fourth day after entry into Denmark. The guidelines have been translated into several languages. This advice applies to both Danes and foreigners entering Denmark.

Montenegro

Can I enter Denmark, if I already have a valid Schengen visa?

Beaches – socially distanced sun-bathing?

The beach season has ended now, so there are no life guards or monitoring in place. Below are the restrictions from last summer, I’ll leave them here incase they are the same next year and this f*!&ing thing is still going on.

The general rules and systems in place are as follows:

– An app, which shows occupancy rates for participating beaches in advance so you can see the best beach near you to visit (search Info Praia app) – This is dictated by a traffic light system, green, yellow and red – and in some case, as you’ll see below, even physical traffic lights! – Guarded beaches with lifeguards will see the life guars monitoring and enforcing social distancing – The social distancing of 1.5metres between beachgoers, more on parasols – Sports of more than two people are banned, excluding water sports – Parking is prohibited on roads to beaches outside of the car park; they have quite quickly started putting down new double yellows too. – More rules are on an infographic here: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/node/421175

Getting around – what are the public transport Coronavirus restrictions?

Travel in Spain

Coronavirus tests and travel

Spain

Norway

The Norwegian government introduced on November 5. Anyone arriving in the country must quarantine for 10 days unless they come from a specified European country with sufficiently low virus transmission.

As of November 10 the vast majority of European countries are designated as red areas, meaning visitors must present a recent negative virus test upon arrival and self-isolate.

Some parts of Finland are classed as yellow, meaning visitors do not need to quarantine.

Norway remains closed to arrivals from beyond Europe, with some exceptions for students and business travel, and routes are limited. The authorities advise against all non-essential international travel in recommendations valid until mid-January.

Russia

Portugal coronavirus entry requirements, rules, and airport procedures

Curfews

Nationwide curfews are in place as follows:

• On weekdays, the curfew lasts from 9pm until 5am the following morning; and
• On weekends the curfew lasts from 9pm on Friday evening until 5am on Monday morning.

There will be a lockdown from 9pm on 31 December until 5am on 4 January.

There remains an ongoing curfew for those who have a chronic medical condition. If you are a Residence Permit holder aged over 65 you are only allowed to go outside between 10am and 1pm unless you are going out to work. If you are a Residence Permit holder born after 1 January 2001 you are only allowed to go outside between 1pm and 4pm unless you are going out to work. Those aged over 65 and under 20 are not allowed to take public transport.

These restrictions do not apply to those visiting for tourism.

See if you fall into one of these categories and need to travel.

Denmark

Denmark’s borders have been closing again to many European countries, but this is subject to change based on a set of health measures and analysis. The list of countries declared open or high-risk is updated weekly.

Among European countries, the map applicable until November 20 shows Finland to be open.

But many parts of Sweden and much of Norway are on the high-risk list, as are most EU nations and the UK. In order to enter, travellers must have a valid reason as well as a certificate proving a negative test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.

Countries in the rest of the world declared open are as follows: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay.

FAQs

While this is a fast-developing situation, here are four Coronavirus travel need-to-knows:

What precautions should I take while travelling during the coronavirus disease outbreak?

There are a lot of practical steps you can take. Regularly wash your hands (with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel), avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth and stay at least two metres away from someone who is coughing or sneezing. Airlines that are in operation are enforcing social distancing, and mask-wearing is usually mandatory. Read more.

I want to cancel my travel plans due to the coronavirus. How do I do this and can I get a refund?
My flight has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. How do I get a refund?

Call the airline or online travel agent. With so many travel plans changed, it may take longer than usual to speak to someone who can help but keep trying. If the airline or online travel agent tells you that a refund isn’t available or they’ve stopped trading, it might be worth getting in touch with your credit card company if that’s how you booked. If you have travel insurance, get in touch with your provider as well.

Will my travel insurance cover coronavirus-related flight cancellations?

It depends on your policy. Check their website or give them a call to find out more.

For more answers to commonly asked questions on coronavirus (COVID-19), click here. We have also responded to the top questions from our traveller community in a Q&A which is available here.

This page was last updated on 22 December 2020. To our knowledge, the information on this page was correct at the time of publication. However, given the nature of the COVID-19 crisis, information will vary by location and change at short notice and over time. We will do our best to keep this page up-to-date, however this cannot be guaranteed.

This page has been created for general guidance only and has not been designed for you or any specific circumstances relevant to you. It is highly recommended that you check your government’s latest travel advice before travelling or making any decisions to travel.

Is there travel advice for the Faroe Islands?

UK

England requires people arriving from abroad to quarantine for 14 days on arrival, but in July created a system of «travel corridors» for countries deemed low-risk. The list which is regularly modified is available on the UK government website.

Arrivals from countries which are not on the travel corridor list will have to self-isolate for 14 days. This covers visitors from most EU nations, though the list of exemptions updated on November 14 included a handful of European countries including Estonia, Finland, Gibraltar, Ireland and Norway.

Travellers from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are also exempt, as are workers in some professions.

Coronavirus travel restrictions and bans