A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. Passport holders from over 150 countries will need to obtain a Schengen Visa before arriving in their European destination of choice. ETIAS is not a traditional visa in the traditional sense; it only requires a quick online application, with approval delivered via email. Once it launches, some countries may allow you to buy a visa on entry, but others may require an advance application. The fees will also vary from one country to another.
For U.S. citizens planning a trip to Europe, they don’t need a visa, but they will need a few important documents: a U.S. passport, ETIAS Authorization, purpose of visit documents, and financial proof. The Schengen Visa is valid in 26 member countries across the European continent and has great benefits for Indian nationals. Starting in May 2025, nationals from countries with a visa can enter Europe visa-free for a maximum of 90 days.
In the first half of 2025, 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorization to enter most European countries. Non-EU nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area for a visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Canadians require visas for most of East Europe, which usually take 2-3 weeks. A Schengen visa is an official document mandatory for some non-Europeans to travel to all 27 countries that are part of the Schengen area.
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How do I know if I need an etias?
In order to ascertain whether a particular country may be visited, it is first necessary to determine whether the travel document in question was issued in that country and whether the individual is exempt from visa requirements. In the event that the answer is in the affirmative, it is necessary to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit that country.
What countries are visa free?
The Visa Waiver Program, a program for citizens from countries like Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, uses the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to screen passengers before they enter the United States. Eligible citizens or nationals must obtain approval through ESTA before traveling to the United States. Travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they plan a trip to the United States. For more information, visit the ESTA webpage or the CBP’s FAQ page.
Are visas required for Eastern Europe?
Countries like Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia do not require visas for visitors, while visas are required for all visitors entering Russia. The Russian embassy or consulate in your home country issues visas for entry to Russia. For children under 14, both parents/legal guardians must consent to the passport application, either in writing or in person.
Parents with sole custody must present documentation of their status when applying for a child’s passport, including a court order listing the parent as sole custodian and a court document granting permission to travel with the child, a death certificate for the absent parent, and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate listing only the parent applying for the child’s passport.
For Australian residents, applying for a passport requires ample time, with processing usually taking 3 weeks but can take longer during busy periods. Rushing may result in higher processing fees. For more information, visit the State Department’s Single Parent Travel Forum or the government website at passports. gov. au.
Is Eastern Europe cheap to travel?
Eastern Europe offers better value for money compared to Western and Northern Europe due to its less touristic nature. Countries like Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary, and Greece are some of the cheapest to visit in Eastern Europe. Greece and Croatia are more touristy but generally cheaper than Western Europe. The most expensive countries in Europe are France, England, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany, all in Western or Northern Europe.
Scandinavia is one of the most expensive regions, and spending more time in this region will require more money. Mid-range countries include Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Spain, Latvia, and more.
Which Schengen country is visa-free?
Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden are visa-free countries. Diplomatic and official passport holders of Annex II countries do not need a visa for a short 90-day stay, except for Bulgaria, Australia, United States, Cyprus, France, Greece, Romania, Spain, and the United States.
Can I enter Belarus with a Schengen visa?
Since the Ukraine conflict, Poland has banned the entry of foreigners entering Poland via the land/road border from Belarus, Russia, and the Kaliningrad region for transit purposes. Entry is only granted to citizens of Poland, the EU, Schengen area, foreign diplomats, or regular stayers in Poland or one of the EU or Schengen countries. Other foreigners are granted entry in exceptional cases, and the final decision is made by the competent duty chief of the border police. Citizens of Serbia who wish to return to Serbia via Poland are advised to contact the Embassies of the Republic of Serbia in Warsaw.
Transit of Serbian citizens via Poland to Belarus is not prohibited and is proceeding normally. The entry of foreign citizens into Belarus from Russia and vice versa is realized exclusively by air, impacting the registration of entry/exit in both countries. Foreign citizens entering Belarus from third countries and continuing their journey to Russia must obtain a migration card, as they will not be issued in Russia or registered when entering Russia. Those traveling from third countries via Russia to Belarus should obtain a Russian transit visa.
Is Switzerland a free visa?
The cost of a visa for an adult is EUR 90, while a child’s visa (for individuals between the ages of 6 and 12) costs EUR 45. No fee is required for children under the age of 6.
What documents do I need to travel to Europe?
ETIAS is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to 30 European countries, linked to a traveler’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires. If a new passport is obtained, a new ETIAS travel authorization is required. With a valid ETIAS, individuals can enter European countries for short-term stays, typically up to 90 days in 180-day periods. However, entry is not guaranteed, and a border guard will verify that the individual meets the entry conditions upon arrival. The map provided is for illustration purposes only, with exceptions applicable.
Is it safe to travel to Eastern Europe in 2024?
Eastern Europe offers a great bargain compared to Western Europe, with three countries being more affordable than previously thought. The war in Ukraine has impacted the region, but it’s safe to visit as long as you avoid Ukraine and nearby cities. These countries are rich in history and delicious food, offering a unique challenge for travelers. Poland, the Balkans, and the Baltic states also offer amazing value.
Moldova and Belarus are not recommended due to time constraints, but prices are on par with the rest of the area. The author plans to save these countries for another trip, as they may not be as interesting or challenging as Western Europe.
Which European country does not require a Schengen visa?
The Schengen Area permits the free movement of both EU and non-EU nationals within its borders, with border checks occurring exclusively at the external border. It should be noted that EU states such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom are not included in the Schengen area.
Can I travel to Europe without a visa?
It should be noted that individuals intending to visit European countries that require ETIAS may still be required to obtain a visa. It is advisable to consult with the relevant consulates in order to ascertain the necessary requirements. Individuals exercising mobility rights under Directive 2014/66/EU or Directive (EU) 2016/801, including intra-corporate transferees, students, researchers, and crew members, may require an ETIAS travel authorization.
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Hey everyone, so excited to be back with my first article of 2023! Let me know in the comments if any of you are planning a Europe trip this year! In any case, I hope this article is helpful for all your trip (whether for this year or sometime in the future).. and for more info, you can check out the written version of this guide here: happytowander.com/how-to-plan-a-europe-trip-step-by-step/
Related to 13:58, when weighing train vs. plane travel, consider the time spent getting to and waiting at the airport. For flights the standard advice is to arrive 2 hours before takeoff, but for trains 30 minutes is plenty and 15 is doable. For shorter trips between well-connected places, say Frankfurt-Berlin or London-Lyon, you may not save much time at all. Also bear in mind that small regional airlines like EasyJet and AirLingus usually operate smaller planes. That often means smaller luggage allowances, and if your carryon bag becomes a checked bag, that’s another fee.
Hi! In this, you started straight to the point which increases engagement in your article. Your first step, as you explained is, one of the most important in regards to how long you can stay and how often your ap’s sport will be needed. You move on to the second most important step which is how long you plan to stay. This order of presentation makes the viewers follow an organized way of planning their trip. You also provide nice websites for the audience to use. You included your own experience, showing credibility to the viewers.
This is super helpful information! We filmed a series in Europe last year where we compared our experiences in cities based on whether we planned them, or just let it happen naturally. We’ve definitely learned over years of travelling that planning for basics is so helpful, but leaving plenty of room to let the location come to you is also key to enjoying it! 🙂
People tend to forget when comparing efficiency between flying and taking trains is the amount of time to get into that flight (ie checking in, airport queues, waiting in boarding gates). If the travel time between the two is only 2 hours or less, you might end up needing almost the same time to get to your destination. Not to mention the possible scenic views you get to enjoy during a train ride.
This is wonderful. I’ve been to EU a couple of times but I still learn a lot of cool stuff from you. You’re so organized and covered a lot in 18min, concise and no fuzz. You speak fast but clear enough for someone like me – whose English is not my first lang. Thank you Christina! Keep up the great work! 🙂
The suggestion about pre-booking trains a week or more in advance is so worth it last July I was in London. I woke up one morning and I decided I am going to go to Paris for a few days and so I went toPancras station and I bought a ticket and it was $300 Canadian each way so spontaneous travel can be pricey.
We have taken sever trips to Europe, China, Africa, South America and we use a travel company (Gate1) after sever trips on our own to these places we discovered Gate1 and even including air we could travel with them for less money than we could on our own dime. This might work for every one but staying in fine hotels, eating well and having guides and ease of travel worked for us.
I’ve just discovered your website while I was doing research for independent travel and I must say you’re so awesome!!! 🎉 I’ve literally spent hours getting caught up on your website reading the Europe planning checklists to the 40+ one week itineraries! Thank you so much for the informative and interactive guides! They help so much!
This is one of the best YouTube article I’ve watched about ‘what you need to know when traveling overseas’. Super helpful and very informative. The only issue I have is that you are speaking so fast. I had to do a couple of rewinds to fully grasp the information. I’m sure not many viewers have this issue. But for some of us older folks do. I hope you will take this into consideration.
Your article just popped up, liked and subscribed right away. We just returned couple of days ago from our three week Europe trip (Covered Vienna, Salzburg including Hallstatt and finally Munich) though we initially thought of two months multi country Europe trip (of course rather unplanned without any itinerary). But contrary to our expectations it became too time consuming and challenging planning next destination, train tickets and hotel bookings, then had no choice but had to end our trip rather abruptly disappointed and dejected. But after perusal your article realized we can not really travel so many places in one shot, may be one or two countries at the most. From Munich we tried every where nearby though the train accommodation available within Germany, but out of Germany for example we tried for Marseille France, there were a minimum of 4 train transfers from Munich and first two trains were ok as seat reservation not mandatory (especially in German trains) but once we get into TGV trains, no seat reservation available, we purchased the Global multi country Euro Rail pass, but had to cancel and loose $200 (15 % cancellation fee luckily did not activate the pass). One thing realized from your article even travel experts like you always plan the itinerary well ahead, I did research and never did make too many bookings in advance purposefully as I thought it will lock you down to number of days in each destination, I wanted to be flexible on our stay. Now realized you can not plan dynamically and can not have a flex itinerary especially in Europe that too in the peak summer.
Wondeful article with lots of great advice!! One other point to go along with the differentiation between EU countries, Schengen Zone etc, is that not all countries in Europe use the Euro. Many use their own currency. Much of Europe is relatively ‘cashless’, but it is likely that you will still need a little local currency for small purchases and restrooms.
I found that when you’re traveling inside of the “Schengen zone” to countries in Eastern Europe (such as Poland) “do not assume” that they’re open if travelling by car. German border patrol agents will randomly search vehicles and will check passports!! Really enjoy your articles and thanks for all the information!!!
Thank you for simplifying the process of planning a trip to Europe in such a comprehensive and informative manner! Your step-by-step guide, from understanding the Schengen Zone to visa requirements and travel tips, is incredibly helpful for first-time travelers like myself. I appreciate the clear explanations and practical advice you’ve shared. Can’t wait to implement these tips for my dream trip to Europe. Keep up the excellent work! #EuropeTravel #TravelTips”
I have been dreaming of going to Europe have been to Italy, Greece,Israel and Jordan all with a group I’m a introvert so it was a little awkward for me but I was to afraid to go alone. I have so many countries I want to explore like Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Paris, London and many more will have to go alone I actually prefer to just very nervous about language barriers,getting lost and just afraid trying to work up the nerve to just go great tips always helpful.
Fellow Canadian here. I’ve just discovered your website and I’ve been binging your articles ever since. You do a fantastic job! I’m looking for a long travel itinerary for a couple of retired Gen X’ers. I’m thinking Montreal to Ireland. One month in Ireland and then I don’t know what our best bet is to travel Europe from there. Portugal? If you have any advice or if you’ve made a article already on long travel that I haven’t found yet, please let me know. Keep it up 😊, your articles are great!
I’m traveling 5 days to London, 12 days on Mediterranean cruise (Spain, Italy) 5 days in Rome. What do you recommend for currency to buys things, restaurants, markets, etc. ( use credit cards or obtain pounds and euros back home). Do use Local ATMs to get Euros & pounds? Where do you do laundry in London and Rome?
Hi Christina, This was perfect timing. My husband and I are going to Europe for a month this summer. My dilemma right now is booking our flight. I get more reward points if I book through my credit card’s travel portal, but…I can’t choose different class fares for the inbound and outbound flights, business class isn’t an option through the portal and I can’t pick our seats. I was told if I booked through the portal, I could use my confirmation number to contact the airline directly to pick our seats and check on upgrading to business for the flight over and choosing more economical seats for the flight back. I’m not sure the extra points are worth it. I really want to see a seat map and pick our seats. Any advise would be much appreciated. I’m going to check out some of your other articles. 😊😊 Happy Travels!
HI Christina. Your article is great. Very informative and easy to understand. My friend is going to Europe in May, and he got Eurail global flex pass(7 day), and we are looking for detailed information on this to get him ready for train travel). Can I ask you question? Can he just activate the pass in app before using it, and with no planning or reserving a ticket or trip, just go to station and chose a raid and just jump in to train and travel like this?
Just discovered you and so happy that I have. Will you or have you talked about the pros and cons of your travel card? Specifically the amex platinum. I’m anticipating applying for it for extensive international travel in about six months, but I haven’t found any women talking about the benefits of using travel cards, specifically the amex plantinum. I want to have access to the lounges and gain reward points since i will be using it alot. Thank you. 🙏🏽