schengen countries tourism

Travelling around the Schengen Area

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 Transiting
• 3 Requirements for a visa
• 4 Setting an appointment
• 5 On the appointment itself
• 6 After applying
• 7 Interpreting length of stay and number of entries
• 8.1 By plane
• 9.1 By plane
• 10 See also

Europe is a continent that is relatively small but with many independent countries. Under normal circumstances, travelling through multiple countries would mean having to go through visa applications and passport control multiple times. The Schengen zone , however, works somewhat like one country in this respect. As long as you stay in this zone, you can generally cross borders without going through passport control checkpoints again. Similarly, by having a Schengen visa , you do not need to apply for visas to each of the Schengen member countries separately, hence saving time, money and paperwork.

Countries formally part of the Schengen Zone include Austria , Belgium , Croatia , the Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , the Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , and Switzerland .

• Romania and Bulgaria are EU member states that recently joined the Schengen scheme as of March 31, 2024 . Currently air and sea border controls are lifted, although passport checks are still present on land borders.
• Cyprus is a member of the European Union but not inside the Schengen zone, and is unlikely to join until the Northern Cyprus conflict is resolved.
• Vatican City , surrounded by the city of Rome, doesn't have formal border controls. However, you do have to go through a metal detector when entering the Vatican Museums or St. Peter's Square, and entry to other parts of the Vatican requires arrangements in advance.

Understand [ edit ]

The Schengen Area is not the same as the European Union (EU). Not all EU countries are part of the Schengen zone and not all Schengen countries are part of the EU. As such, when you as a non-EU citizen go to an EU member state that does not participate in the Schengen agreement, you will be subject to their completely separate visa, entry requirements and passport control systems. The most notable example of an EU non-Schengen member is Ireland . Newer EU member states Bulgaria , Cyprus and Romania are not yet part of the Schengen zone but are expected to join in the future. Iceland , Norway , Switzerland and Liechtenstein are part of the Schengen Area but not members of the EU. There is provision for Gibraltar to join the Schengen Area, but this hasn't been implemented as of late 2022. For EU citizens, the Schengen Zone is of somewhat less importance, as there is the related but separate concept of free movement inside the EU.

The Schengen Zone only covers immigration controls, whilst the EU is effectively a customs union. Therefore, you do not need to pass through customs when travelling between a Schengen and a non-Schengen EU country, but you will need to pass through immigration controls (e.g., Ireland to Germany or vice versa). The converse is true for travel between EU and non-EU Schengen countries: you must pass through customs, at least if you have goods to declare, but not immigration (e.g., Switzerland to France or vice versa).

A Schengen visa and visa-free travel to the Schengen area (for eligible non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals) are valid for only short stays (those that are 90 days or less within a 180-day period – for all the area). Any non-EEA or Swiss national who wishes to stay for a longer period must apply for an appropriate long stay national visa, which is valid for a particular country only. Moreover, a Schengen visa might not be valid to visit overseas territories of a particular Schengen country (e.g., French overseas territories or Greenland). This article focuses on short stay tourist, family visit and business visit visas as well as visits to the Schengen zone for those purposes.

Visa and non-visa nationals [ edit ]

The nationals of the following countries do not need a visa for entry into the Schengen Area: Albania (1) , Andorra , Antigua and Barbuda , Argentina , Australia , Bahamas , Barbados , Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) , Brazil , Brunei , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Costa Rica , Dominica , El Salvador , Grenada , Guatemala , Honduras , Israel , Japan , Malaysia , Mauritius , Mexico , Moldova (1) , Monaco , Montenegro (1) , New Zealand , Nicaragua , North Macedonia (1) , Palau , Panama , Paraguay , Peru , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , Samoa , San Marino , Serbia (1, 2) , Seychelles , Singapore , South Korea , Taiwan (3) (Republic of China), Timor-Leste , Tonga , Trinidad and Tobago , Ukraine (1) , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , United States , Uruguay , Vanuatu , Vatican City and Venezuela . The same applies to persons holding Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passports and all British nationals.

• The non-EU/EFTA visa-free visitors noted above may not stay more than 90 days in a 180 day period in the Schengen Area as a whole and, in general, may not work during their stay (although some Schengen countries do allow certain nationalities to work – see below). The counting begins once you enter any country in the Schengen Area and is not reset by leaving one Schengen country for another. Exceptions may apply for New Zealand citizens in certain countries.
• Starting in mid-2025 , non-EU/EFTA visa-free visitors are also required to apply for a clearance through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) at least four days prior to their trip (those without ETIAS will not be permitted to board their flights). Similar to the ESTA scheme for the US, the traveller will have to answer a series of questions to assess if they are a security risk to the Schengen area. The fee is €7 for travellers aged 18 to 70 and free for everyone else. Once ETIAS clearance is approved, it is valid for up to three years. If the traveller's passport expires earlier than that, a new clearance is required for the new passport.

If you are a non-EU/EFTA national ( even if you are visa-exempt , unless you are Andorran, Monégasque or San Marinese), make sure that your passport is stamped both when you enter and leave the Schengen Area . Given that passports are not always scanned into the computer databases upon entry and/or exit, without an entry or exit stamp, you may be treated as an overstayer when you try to leave the Schengen Area. Thus, you may be refused entry or face intense questioning the next time you seek to enter the Schengen Area as you may be deemed to have overstayed on your previous visit. If you cannot obtain a passport stamp or the dates indicated there are illegible, make sure that you retain documents such as boarding passes, transport tickets, passport stamps from the next country, currency exchange receipts, credit card charge slips, etc. which may help to convince border inspection staff that you have stayed in the Schengen Area legally.

If your status depends on the United Kingdom's former membership of the EU, Brexit has probably affected your rights.

Non-EEA nationals who normally need a Schengen visa, yet have an existing residence permit/long-stay national visa for one of the Schengen countries generally do not need to apply for another Schengen visa to visit the other Schengen countries while that permit/visa is valid. However, their visit in the other Schengen area countries will still be limited to the standard 90-day per 180-day period. Work or residence rights are also generally not extended outside the country that issued this long-stay visa.

In some cases, certain nationals who do not require a Schengen visa may be able to legally work in a few individual Schengen countries for the duration of their 90-day visa-free period. However, these work rights do not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries. Check the Wikivoyage pages of the individual Schengen countries and the websites of those countries' immigration departments to find out if and for which countries your nationality may qualify for such arrangements.

Transiting [ edit ]

Citizens of 12 countries need a transit visa even for airside transits: Afghanistan , Bangladesh , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Ghana , Iran , Iraq , Nigeria , Pakistan , Somalia and Sri Lanka . And citizens of a number of other countries need a transit visa even for airside transits in some Schengen countries: Algeria , Angola , Armenia , Cameroon , Central African Republic , Chad , Republic of the Congo , Côte d'Ivoire , Cuba , Djibouti , Dominican Republic , Egypt , The Gambia , Guinea , Guinea-Bissau , Haiti , India , Jordan , Lebanon , Liberia , Libya , Mali , Mauritania , Nepal , Niger , Palestine , Philippines , Russia , Senegal , Sierra Leone , South Sudan , Sudan , Syria , Togo , Turkey , and Yemen .

Everyone else is allowed to change planes at an airport in the Schengen area without obtaining a visa. However, if the airport you are transferring to is in the Schengen area as well or you intend to leave the "airside" area of the transit airport, this means you're entering the Schengen area and the normal rules governing Schengen visas and entry for visitors apply. This also applies if you have a flight within the Schengen area as part of an itinerary beginning and ending outside it: For instance, a Moroccan citizen traveling from Rabat to New York with stops in Paris and Amsterdam would need a Schengen visa because the Paris-Amsterdam flight cannot be accessed without entering the Schengen area.

Requirements for a visa [ edit ]

In general, if your nationality needs a Schengen visa for either business, tourism or family visits, you usually will need to procure the following documents (specific requirements vary slightly per embassy and jurisdiction so check with the embassy where you're applying at for the specific and additional requirements):

• Completed application form (the form can be downloaded from the website of the embassy concerned) and some member states may also request you to fill-out an additional form. Parents will need to sign the application form of minors whether they will accompany them or not.
• Passport with at least two blank pages, which must be valid for at least three months from the day you return
• passport-sized ID photograph (please check the website of the embassy you are applying to determine how the photo should look like)
• copies of previous Schengen visas (if previously issued)
• €60 for most applicants
• €35 for children at least 6 years old but younger than 12 years old and nationals of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova
• free for children 5 years old and below, spouses and minor children of EU nationals as well as pupils/students accompanied by teachers on a school trip
• The fees must usually be paid in the local currency equivalent (the exact/actual amount as well as acceptable modes of payment will be specified by the embassy/consulate concerned).
• If the embassy/consulate outsources the administrative aspects of the application to a third party (e.g., to VFS), then a fee may be charged by these third parties in addition to the above fees.
• For those applying in a country where they are not a citizen of but have legal residence: Residence permit which must be valid for at least three months from the day you return.
• Minors who are travelling alone (or with an adult who is not a family member) and in some cases with only one parent may need to secure a permit to travel form or its local equivalent from local authorities in their home or resident country signed by the parents or legal guardian who is not accompanying the minor. This requirement depends on the local laws.
• Employment certificate/letter and recent payslips (if employed), or enrolment certificate/letter from institution (if a student). These may be known as "letters of no contest". As much as possible, they should state the period in which you are allowed to go on a holiday or business trip. In some cases, if you are unemployed or a dependant on someone else financially, you will have to procure an affidavit of support and/or a declaration form.
• Bank statements covering the last 3 months prior to the application. The specific amount required to be in the balance depends on the member state whose embassy you are applying at (typically €40-60 per day per applicant on your party plus enough to cover unpaid ticket costs, accommodations, pre-booked tours). In case you do not have a bank account, traveller’s cheques might be accepted by some embassies. Take note that if you reside outside your country of your citizenship (e.g. a Thai citizen living in the UK) and you have bank accounts in both countries, the embassy may only honour bank accounts in the country you are currently residing in.
• If available or applicable, any other evidence that shows your strong motivation to return to your country of citizenship or legal residence at the end of your trip, e.g. property titles, tax returns, share certificates, certificates showing immediate family in your home country. If you reside outside your country of your citizenship (e.g. a Thai citizen living in the UK) and you own property in both countries, the embassy may only honour property titles, assets, etc in the country you are currently residing in.
• Confirmed transport arrangements .
• For tourists staying at a hotel/hostel, your confirmed bookings.
• If you intend to stay with friends/relatives, they may need to course their invitation through local authorities, fill-in official paperwork and post it to you.
• Official letter/invitation from organisers/sponsors, if you are on a business trip or conference.
• Travel insurance that covers at least the entire Schengen Zone for the duration of your trip and at least €30,000 in emergency treatment and medical repatriation.
• copy of passport of the EU national
• marriage certificate (for spouses)
• birth certificate with the name of the EU national parent (for children)
• other proofs of relationship as may be requested by the consulate

Do not submit original copies of the above-mentioned documents to the application centre as they may not be returned to you (except the passport of course).

The application form may have an option of whether you want a single or multiple entry visa. However, the latter is rarely granted for first-time visitors and not all countries grant it at all unless you can demonstrate that in between two Schengen states, you intend to visit a non-Schengen country.

Read more about Schengen visa requirements:

• Visa Requirements

Setting an appointment [ edit ]

In applying for a Schengen visa, there is no such thing as applying at the embassy/consulate/visa application centre of your choice . The embassy/consulate/application centre at which you must apply will depend on where you plan to actually go, how long you plan to spend in each of the states, what the main purpose of your trip is and your country of residence.

• If you only intend to visit one country, then you must go to the designated application centre for that particular country. Don't visit the visa application centre for Spain if you will only visit Austria; go to the visa application centre servicing Austria. If the country you wish to visit has no embassy/visa centre in your home country, it is possible that the country has outsourced applications to a Schengen country represented in your home country, but this has to be checked.
• For example, if your itinerary says you will spend 2 days in Germany, 4 days in Sweden, 3 days in Poland and 1 day in Belgium all for a holiday, you need to apply for a visa at the Swedish embassy/consulate.
• If you will spend 5 days in France for a holiday but you will do this after attending a 3-day conference in Italy, you must go to the Italian embassy.
• If there is no clear main destination and the purpose of your trip is the same everywhere, that is you will spend almost exactly the same amount of time in each member state then you should lodge your application at the application centre of the member state where you intend to first arrive at. For example you will enter through France and spend 3 days there, then 3 days each in Denmark and finally Switzerland all for a holiday; you must go to the French consulate/embassy for the visa.

Generally speaking, you can only apply at the application centre that has jurisdiction over the country (and possibly city) where you live. If you are a temporary visitor in a third country, you cannot apply for a Schengen visa there. You will need to present proof of residence in a third country in order to apply for a visa there.

Check the relevant embassy's website for more details on how to set an appointment, where you need to go, and what else you need to bring. In rare cases, if a member state has no mission in your home country, the embassy you need to visit is in another country, serving also your area. In some cases, visa processing may be delegated to another Schengen country, accepting and possibly processing applications on behalf of the Schengen country to which you intend to lodge your application. This sometimes applies even if the Schengen country in question has an embassy in your home country. For instance, the Danish embassy in Singapore processes visa applications for Norway, Finland and Iceland even though the former two operate their own embassies in Singapore.

Get all your paperwork in order as early as possible, especially if it takes days to process or needs to be posted to you. Personal appearance is generally required and is usually by appointment only; walk-ins are only allowed in a few cases. Appointment slots run out quickly so book an appointment early. The application may be filed up to six months in advance of your scheduled trip.

On the appointment itself [ edit ]

In general, personal appearance at the application centre is required; that is, an agent cannot lodge the application on your behalf. Make sure you be at the application centre at least 15 minutes before your appointment and that your documents are in order.

The staff at the window will inspect your documents, ask routine questions about your trip, collect the application fee, and normally take biometric fingerprints and digital photographs. If your documents are insufficient or out of order, or you are requested to submit more, then you will usually need to make a new appointment. Your application will not be processed until this is satisfied.

Processing time depends on a variety of factors. They include the applicant's nationality (some nationalities are subject to consultation with other member states), purpose of visit, time of the year, outstanding documentation, referral of application to different government departments, and staffing levels at the embassy. Before the appointment is over, the application centre will advise you on when and how you can claim your passport (either by returning personally or by post).

After applying [ edit ]

If you receive a Schengen visa, make sure you check to see the information is correct. In particular, check that the visa says something to the effect of "valid for the Schengen States" (usually written in the language used by the embassy that issued the visa; for example, États Schengen ). The validity dates must match your original travel dates and not expire earlier. Contact the application centre immediately if you notice any discrepancies (even if you applied for a multiple-entry visa, the consul may still grant a single entry visa).

If your application is unsuccessful, you'll normally be given a notice explaining the reasons for such a decision. The process and grounds for appeal vary between each embassy/consulate but you are strongly advised to refer to the notice and address the issues outlined before returning to the embassy. Unless the refusal notice states that you are ineligible to apply for a certain amount of time, you can lodge a new application at any time (with a corresponding fee), but make sure you address the issues that caused your previous application to fail.

Keep copies of the documents you used in your application and those that will establish your purpose of visit, and be sure to bring them with you as border officers may ask to see them upon your arrival.

If you have been issued a Schengen visa but later you have been notified that the main purpose for your visit no longer exists (e.g. the conference you are scheduled to attend has been cancelled) yet you still want to pursue your trip to the other countries, then you may need to inform the embassy that issued you the visa about the change in circumstance and apply for a new visa with the pertinent embassy.

Interpreting length of stay and number of entries [ edit ]

The maximum of 90 days in a rolling 180-day timeframe refers to those who can enter the Schengen area without the need to apply for a full Schengen visa. If you have been issued a multiple-entry Schengen visa with a long validity period (i.e. more than 6 months) or several single-entry visas, please be aware that you are only allowed a combined maximum stay of 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen area. When you apply for subsequent Schengen visas, you will need to account for your previous trips to the Schengen area to ensure you have not gone over this limit.

Pay particular attention to the validity dates and length of stay: make sure to leave before they expire (whichever comes earlier/first ).

The validity dates simply provide the window in which you can travel to the Schengen area. If you decide to postpone and shorten your trip however, the original expiry date will still stand and you must still exit on or before this date even if the allowed number of days stated in your visa won't be totally used up by this date. The maximum 90 days in 180 is counted in a moving window of 180 days. If you stayed the 90 days at the end of your previous 180 days, you are not allowed to re-enter before 90 days have elapsed. If your previous stay was shorter you are allowed to re-enter immediately, but have to leave before the recent days of your last stay and the days of your current stay add up to 90 (in the past 180 days).

If you were given a multiple-entry visa, the number of days indicated on the visa will refer to the total amount of time you can spend in the Schengen area, regardless of the number of entries you plan to make or are allowed to make, in a six-month period or the period stated in the visa – whichever is shorter . Hence, if you are given a multiple-entry visa valid for three months but the length stay only allows 10 days, the 10 days won't be reset by you leaving the Schengen zone and returning later. In this case, if you stayed for 4 days on your initial visit but wish to come back while the visa is still valid, you can only return for a maximum of 6 days on that visa. Arrival and departure dates are included in the number of days you have stayed in the Schengen zone, regardless of actual arrival and departure time, so plan accordingly to maximize time.

Likewise, if you were only given a single entry visa for 30 days but have decided to cut your trip short by leaving only 20 days into your trip, you can no longer use that same visa any more and the remaining days you have left on that visa are forfeited (though this will not be taken against you when you apply for another visa in the future since you did not overstay). If you wish to visit non-Schengen states (e.g. UK, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria) in between two Schengen states, make it clear in your application that you need to do so (though you may also wish to visit such non-Schengen states only before entry or after visiting the Schengen zone).

Some countries within the Schengen area, such as Spain and Portugal, offer an extension to the Schengen visa (or to the right to stay), valid for that country only. This allows staying longer than the 90 days period in the Schengen area without getting a long term visa. The extension requires a valid reason and the usual paperwork on sufficient funds etc. You might have to leave without entering any other Schengen country, as they probably will count your extended stay as part of the 90 allowed days.

Entering the Schengen Area [ edit ]

Unlike in most other countries, incoming passengers are normally not required to fill-in any additional paperwork to present to passport control officials.

Just like with other visas, a Schengen visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. As such, you must still demonstrate to passport control officers that you are genuinely entitled to the visa you were issued. Even if you possess a valid visa, actual entry may still be denied if you are unable to satisfy the border officer's questions and/or requests to see documents.

At most checkpoints, two sets of lanes are provided: one for EEA/Swiss nationals and another for all other passport holders. In some countries, the main airports may also provide a premium lane for eligible passengers (usually those who travel in first and business class); your airline will hand you a voucher which you will show to the staff upon arrival (ask your airline for more information).

Non-EEA travellers need to provide their biometric fingerprints at the point of entry.

Do not assume that border officers at the Schengen area states have access to the databases of other member states (they generally don't). Make sure to get a stamp put into your passport. If you are a non-EU/EFTA national ( even if you are visa-exempt, unless you are Andorran, Monégasque or San Marinese ), make sure that your passport is clearly stamped both when you enter and leave the Schengen Area with all the pertinent dates visible. Without an entry stamp, you may be treated as an overstayer when you try to leave the Schengen Area; without an exit stamp, you may be refused entry or experience more intense questioning the next time you seek to enter the Schengen Area as you may be deemed to have overstayed on your previous visit. When you need another visa in the future, the application may be refused or you may experience further prolonged processing and scrutiny. If you cannot obtain a passport stamp or the ink is not too visible, make sure that you retain records such as boarding passes, stamps of passports from other countries, transport tickets, financial documents and attendance records at work or school, which may help to convince border inspection staff that you have stayed in the Schengen Area legally.

By plane [ edit ]

When travelling through a Schengen airport, flights are separated into Schengen and non-Schengen flights, similar to domestic and international flights elsewhere. This means if your first flight originates from a non-Schengen country but you are connecting via a Schengen airport to another Schengen country, you must clear passport control at the first airport you travel through within the Schengen area. Similarly, if your first flight is travelling from one Schengen airport to another Schengen airport and you are then connecting to a flight to a non-Schengen country, you must clear passport control at the last airport you travel through within the Schengen area. When a connection is inevitable, always consider the connection times and the potential for queues at passport control when booking your flights. Also consider the particular European culture you are dealing with at the connection airport. For example, a layover of only 75 minutes is more than sufficient to connect between Schengen and non-Schengen flights at Munich, which explains why Lufthansa makes such connections available for booking, but may not be enough in some other parts of the Schengen Area.

Baggage is transferred automatically between Schengen and non-Schengen flights, and vice versa, meaning that you only need to worry about the queues at passport control.

Getting around the Schengen zone [ edit ]

Once you are allowed into the Schengen zone, you can generally travel to any member state without having to go through formal passport control procedures again. Certain uncommon types of visas are exceptions, restricting you to the member state that issued the visa.

Some countries, like France, Italy and the Netherlands require people to declare their presence to relevant local authorities even if they arrived from another Schengen member state. Sometimes this is a requirement for all, sometimes only for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, sometimes there is a formal requirement not followed up in practice. The registration may be taken care of by the accommodation you are staying at upon check-in, but otherwise you will have to visit the relevant authorities yourselves. Consult the Wikivoyage pages of the individual countries as well as the websites of their respective immigration authorities for more information.

The Schengen agreement also has provisions for allowing individual member states to temporarily reinstate border controls in certain circumstances. These have included large sport events, important international meetings, the influx of refugees 2015–2016 and the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, international ferries and flight may carry out their own checks, independent of those by border authorities.

Police and the border guard may check your immigration status also far from the border. Hence, you are strongly advised to carry your passport or some other form of ID that establishes your legal right to be in the Schengen area with you. Whether there is a legal requirement to do so varies between countries. This especially applies for Romania and Bulgaria, which despite being EU member states, are still continuing passport checks on its land borders.

Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, while in the Schengen area, are not in the European Union and, accordingly, customs controls are in effect for all arriving travellers, regardless of point of origin. On some borders the controls are lax and you may have to find a customs official yourself to declare goods needing customs clearance. Åland, while a member of the EU and Schengen as part of Finland, is not a member of the tax union and you should thus declare some imports, even when there is no customs where you happen to pass the border. Similar considerations apply to the Channel Islands and some other areas.

When crossing the border by train, customs officers may enter the train; and when crossing by car, customs officers may stop your vehicle and inspect it. Customs controls can happen far from the border.

Check the following websites for more information on customs declaration requirements:

• Switzerland [dead link]
• Iceland [dead link]

Finally, even within EU-Schengen states where customs checks are not carried out on importing or exporting goods, customs authorities of individual EU-Schengen states may still carry out checks to ensure that prohibited or controlled items (e.g., illegal drugs, firearms) are not transported across the border.

When using a plane to travel between two airports within the Schengen area, it will be as if you are taking a domestic flight. One odd difference from airports in the Americas is that some of the small Schengen area airports do not maintain physically separate baggage claim areas for Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Rather, they have a single baggage claim area, and then have one exit for Schengen flights and one exit through customs for non-Schengen flights. Arriving passengers must pay attention to the signage and walk towards the correct exit. These airports get so few flights that usually only the appropriate exit is actually open. When Schengen and non-Schengen flights arrive at almost the same time, the airports will post staff to check boarding passes to make sure non-Schengen passengers exit through customs.

If transiting through an airport in one of the non-EU Schengen countries from one EU country to another, you may not be required to clear customs in the transiting airport.

See also [ edit ]

• European Union — overlapping the Schengen Area to a considerable extent

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Schengen Area

The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 425 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU).  Free movement  of persons enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in an EU country without special formalities. Schengen underpins this freedom by enabling citizens to move around the Schengen Area without being subject to border checks. 

Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland. Bulgaria and Romania became the newest Member States to join the Schengen area as of 31 March 2024, any person crossing the internal air and sea borders will no longer be subject to checks. Nevertheless, a unanimous decision on the lifting of checks on persons at the internal land borders is still expected to be taken by the Council at a later date. Additionally, the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein also have joined the Schengen Area.

Freedom and security for travellers

The Schengen provisions abolish checks at EU's internal borders, while providing a single set of rules for controls at the external borders applicable to those who enter the Schengen area for a short period of time (up to 90 days). 

The Schengen area relies on common rules covering in particular the following areas:

• crossing the EU external borders, including the types of visa needed,
• harmonisation of the conditions of entry and of the rules on short stay visas (up to 90 days),
• cross-border police cooperation (including rights of cross-border surveillance and hot pursuit),
• stronger judicial cooperation through a faster extradition system and the transfer of enforcement of criminal judgments,
• the  Schengen Information System (SIS) and
• documents needed for travelling in Europe.

Police checks and temporary border controls

Any person, irrespective of their nationality, may cross the internal borders without being subjected to border checks. However, the competent national authorities can carry out  police checks  at internal borders and in border areas, provided that such checks are not equivalent to border checks. The non exhaustive list of criteria allowing to assess if police checks is equivalent to border controls is set out in the  Schengen Borders Code . The Code is complemented by relevant case-law of the Court of Justice. It includes the following elements:

• the police checks do not have border control as an objective,
• are based on general police information and experience,
• are carried out in a manner clearly distinct from systematic border checks on persons at the external borders,
• are carried out on the basis of spot-checks.

The police carry out checks under the national law of the Schengen country. Depending on the exact purpose, they can, for example, include identity checks.

For more information on police checks in internal border areas see cases of the European Court of Justice  C-188/10 (Melki) ,  C-278/12 (Adil)  and  C-444/17 (Arib) .

Temporary reintroduction of border controls

If there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security, a Schengen country may exceptionally  temporarily reintroduce border control  at its internal borders.

If such controls are reintroduced, the Member State concerned has to inform the Council (and thus, other Schengen countries), the European Parliament and the European Commission as well as the public. The Commission provides more information on the current reintroductions of internal border controls on the website: Temporary Reintroduction of Border Control .

Proposal to reform the Schengen Borders Code

The proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code , submitted by the Commission on 14 December 2021, has three main objectives:

• to offer solutions to ensure that internal border checks remain a measure of last resort and to provide flexibility to Member States’ use of alternative and proportionate measures to the challenges they address
• to build on lessons-learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
• to respond to the recent challenges at EU’s external borders

The proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code is both the result of extensive consultations with Member States, as well as a response to the latest developments at EU’s external borders.

Interinstitutional negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission started on 7 November 2023. 

On 30 November 2020 and 17 May 2021 , the Commission organised two Schengen Forums. The aim was to gain better insight into the needs of Schengen States, in particular, regarding the situation at internal borders. The Forums allowed for constructive exchanges towards building a stronger and more resilient Schengen area.

The discussions on both events provided the basis for the Strategy towards a fully functioning and resilient Schengen area , which was presented by the Commission in June 2021. The Schengen Strategy took stock of the progress made on the fundamental pillars of the Schengen area and other key measures sustaining the area of freedom, security and justice. It also announced a proposal for amendment of the Schengen Borders Code.

Criteria for countries to join the Schengen Area

Joining the Schengen Area is not merely a political decision of the joining State. Countries must fulfil a list of pre-conditions:

• apply the common set of Schengen rules (the so-called "Schengen acquis"), e.g. regarding controls of land, sea and air borders (airports), issuing of visas, police cooperation and protection of personal data,
• take responsibility for controlling the external borders on behalf of other Schengen countries and for issuing uniform Schengen visas,
• efficiently cooperate with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries, to maintain a high level of security, once border controls between Schengen countries are abolished,
• connect to and use the  Schengen Information System (SIS)

Countries wishing to join the Schengen area must undergo a series of Schengen evaluations to confirm whether they fulfil the conditions necessary for the application of the Schengen rules.

Once the Schengen Evaluation confirms the readiness of the Member State to join the area without internal border controls, a unanimous approval from all other Member States applying the Schengen acquis in full is required.

Bulgaria and Romania have successfully accomplished the Schengen evaluation process set out in their  Treaties of Accession , taking all the necessary measures to ensure application of all relevant parts of the Schengen acquis. On 30 December 2023, the Council unanimously agreed on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. Thus, as of 31 March 2024, both Member States will start applying Schengen rules. Controls at internal air and sea borders between Bulgaria and Romania and countries of the Schengen area will be lifted as of 31 March 2024. The Council agreed that a further decision should be taken at an appropriate date for the removing checks at internal land borders.

In addition, the Schengen evaluation process to assess the readiness to join the Schengen area is ongoing for Cyprus. The Schengen Information System in Cyprus was put into operation in July 2023 and this process was already verified by a dedicated Schengen evaluation in 2023. 

For more information on the Schengen Evaluation and Monitoring mechanism see  Schengen evaluation and monitoring .

Background: Free movement in Europe

Originally, the concept of free movement was to enable the European working population to freely travel and settle in any EU State, but it fell short of abolishing border controls within the Union. 

A break-through was reached in 1985 in Schengen (a small village in Luxembourg), with the signing of the Agreement on the gradual abolition of checks at common borders, followed by the signing of the Convention implementing that Agreement in 1990. The implementation of the Schengen Agreements started in 1995, initially involving seven EU countries. 

Born as an intergovernmental initiative, the developments brought about by the Schengen Agreements have now been incorporated into the body of rules governing the EU. 

Related documents

• Communication on the full application of the  Schengen acquis in Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia
• Report of the third voluntary fact-finding mission to Bulgaria - latest developments in the application of the Schengen acquis
• Report of the voluntary based fact-finding mission to Romania and Bulgaria  on the application of the Schengen acquis and its development since 2011
• Report of the complementary voluntary fact-finding mission to Romania and Bulgaria on the application of the Schengen acquis and its developments since 2011
• Notifications under Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 laying down rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States and amending the provisions of the Schengen Convention  List of notifications  of bilateral agreements under Article 19 of Local Border Traffic Regulation
• Notifications under Article 14 (5) of Regulation (EC) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 09 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (codification).  Statistics on the number of persons refused entry at the external borders of EU States
• Notifications  under Article 39 of Regulation (EC) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 09 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (codification)
• List of  notifications  under Article 39 (Schengen Borders Code) (codification)
• List of  border crossing points  (consolidated version)
• List of  residence permits  (consolidated version)
• Reference amounts for crossings of the EU’s external borders ( overview and  consolidated version )
• List of  national services  responsible for border control (consolidated version)
• Model cards issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Member States to accredited members of diplomatic missions and consular representations and members of their family (consolidated version  part 1  and  part 2 )
• List of specimen of residence permits (consolidated version  part 1 and 2 )
• Notifications  under Article 42 of Regulation (EC) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 09 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (codification)
• Lists of  notifications  under Article 42 (Schengen Borders Code) (codification)
• Commission Implementing Decision establishing the report of 2019 - 2020 thematic evaluation of Member States` national strategies for integrated border management  and  Annex 1
• Commission report on the functioning of the Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism, First multi-annual evaluation programme (2015-2019)
• Commission report (2015) 675 on the functioning of the Schengen area
• Commission report (2013) 326 on the functioning of the Schengen area
• Commission report (2012) 230 on the functioning of the Schengen area
• Commission report COM (2010) 554 on internal borders

Related links

• Schengen Information System  (SIS)
• Documents needed for travelling in Europe (Your Europe portal)

Schengen evaluation and monitoring

The Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism monitors the implementation of the Schengen acquis – common set of Schengen rules that apply to all EU countries.

Temporary reintroduction of border control

EU countries can temporarily reintroduce border control in the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security.

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• Guides Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guides About the Schengen Visa Requirements & Application Process
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Home > Blog > The 15 Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the Schengen Area

The 15 Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the Schengen Area

Uncategorized on 11 Jan, 2023

The Schengen Area boasts some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

With its layers of history, all the great food, unique architecture, vibrant cities, fairytale castles, and overlapping cultures, the Schengen countries have everything to offer to their visitors.

From luxurious beaches and limestone cliffs to a mix of historical styles such as art nouveau, medieval, and baroque, Europe offers a slew of fabulous places to visit, eat, shop, and stay. 

The options are seemingly endless, which makes picking the best attractions to visit a great challenge. 

That’s why Visas Association has put together a list of the top-rated attractions in the Schengen Area, no matter whether you’re looking to visit an architectural masterpiece like the Palace of Versailles or seek a chance to immerse yourself in nature with a trip to Lake Bled in Slovenia.

Plan an unforgettable trip to the Schengen Area with our list of top attractions that will definitely make for some breathtaking photographs. 

Table of contents: 

• Acropolis of Athens, Greece
• Prague Castle, Czech Republic
• Venice Canals, Italy
• The Matterhorn, Switzerland
• Alhambra Palace, Spain
• Palace of Versailles, France 
• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Portugal
• Lake Bled, Slovenia  
• Orava Castle, Slovakia
• The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
• Black Forest, Germany
• Comino Island, Malta
• The Parliament Building, Hungary 
• Gravensteen, Belgium
• Schönbrunn Palace, Austria

1. Acropolis of Athens, Greece

The Acropolis of Athens is Greece’s most famous ancient archaeological site. 

Located on a rocky outcrop, the main attraction at the Acropolis is the Parthenon , but there are other iconic structures as well.

After passing the side entrance known as the Dionysus Theatre entrance (we do not recommend the main entrance as it is usually very crowded), you will pass the Sanctuary of Asclepius. Then, you will walk through the Stoa of Eumenes before reaching the Odeon of Herodes Atticus , an impressive Stone Roman theatre.

The Acropolis of Athens will simply leave you awestruck. If you travel to Greece, discovering the jaw-dropping ancient grandeur of one of the most famous archaeological sites on Earth is an absolute must. 

2. Prague Castle, Czech Republic

Looking to immerse yourself in stories of nefarious princes and heroic knights? Then you must visit the jaw-dropping, magnificent castle of Prague. 

Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. Here is where Prague’s history is said to have begun in the ninth century. 

Your experience in Prague will never be complete without visiting this castle complex including the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral , Old Royal Palace, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, beautiful gardens, and much more. 

The castle complex is home to a bewildering array of historic buildings, allowing you to enrich your culture and immerse yourself in a surreal, stunning dark atmosphere.  

3. Venice Canals, Italy

We all know that the canals of Venice are among the world’s most romantic places. 

No matter how many photographs of the Floating City you might have seen, riding a gondola in Venice at sunset time is still a fabulous experience.

The city has hundreds of canals that connect the 118 islands that make up the city, the largest of which is the Grand Canal.

More than 170 buildings dating from the 13th to the 18th century line the banks of this waterway about 3,800 meters long. Venice looks like a fish from above, and the Grand Canal splits it into two sides, creating a kind of “letter S” inside the fish-shaped city.

When travelling to the Floating City, all you need to do is hop aboard a gondola and discover the stunning architecture that embraces Venice’s canals! 

4. The Matterhorn, Switzerland

Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, located at the border between Switzerland and Italy and isolated at the head of the Zermatt valley.  

At 4,478 metres, this ruggedly good looking jewel of the Swiss Alps offers a paradise for all nature-lovers looking for inspiration, peace and quiet.

There are several ways to enjoy the most famous peak in Switzerland. Whether you choose to hike the nearby slopes, take a scenic helicopter tour, ride a cable car, or enjoy a scenic train ride, you’ll get some of the best views. 

Especially if you’re a passionate rock climber, the Matterhorn gives you an incredible opportunity to experience the alpine world in every dimension.  

5. Alhambra Palace, Spain

The Alhambra is a jaw-dropping palace and fortress complex located in Granada , Andalusia, Spain.

Considered the best-preserved Muslim Medieval City in the world, visiting Alhambra gives you the unique opportunity to discover impressive palaces, beautifully decorated courtyards, and enchanting gardens.

Originally built as a small fortress in 889 CE, Alhambra is more than just a palace; it is an entire city full of remarkable Islamic art and architecture. 

Located in the heart of Alhambra, the Court of the Lions is probably the most famous place in the entire palace complex. With its twelve lions that throw jets of water, the Court of the Lions is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful pieces of Islamic art ever conceived.

6. Palace of Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most remarkable achievements in French 17th century art. 

This opulent palace containing 60,000 artworks and 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2 is still holding sway in the public imagination thanks to the elaborate grandeur of Baroque art. 

The palace’s beautiful gardens were executed in the French formal garden style, covering nearly 2,000 acres.

Located on the first floor of the palace’s central body, the glittering Hall of Mirrors (containing 357 mirrors) is the most emblematic room of Versailles. The room illustrates the power and grandeur of Louis XIV and is completely revolutionary for something built at the end of the 17th century.

7. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Portugal

Located in Belém, a district of Lisbon known for being home to many of Portugal’s most notable buildings, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is one of many famous monuments included on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

The construction of this highly ornate monastery began on 6 January 1501 by order of King Manuel I to celebrate Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India. 

In fact, the monastery lies in the place where Vasco da Gama is thought to have prayed before taking the voyage that has opened the water-trade route between Europe and India.

A fine example of Late Gothic Manueline architecture, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is a true masterpiece you shouldn’t miss during your trip to Europe.  

8. Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque places to visit in Slovenia.

Located in the Julian Alps and at 35 km from Ljubljana International Airport, this small lake with a church on the island in the middle has all the ingredients for a perfect trip – a stunning view of crystal-clear waters, hiking trails, and the oldest castle in Slovenia dating back to 1011.

If you want to dine with a spectacular view, you can have lunch or dinner in the castle’s restaurant. Or, you can rent a rowboat or paddle boat – especially if you want to visit the lovely church. 

If you plan on visiting Europe and haven’t decided on your travel destination yet, Lake Bed is the perfect spot to spark your wanderlust. 

9. Orava Castle, Slovakia

Built in the Kingdom of Hungary in the 13th century, Orava Castle is located on a high rock above the Orava river in the Zilina Region of northern Slovakia.

This wonderfully-preserved castle sends a chill down the spine. In fact, the castle stood for vampires’ residence many scenes of Murnau’s classic 1922 movie Nosferatu .

Orava Castle has also served as the filming location for the 2020 TV adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula and the 2000 film Dragonheart: A New Beginning .  

Never conquered, this impressive fortification will carry you back into old times. 

The castle also offers a variety of expositions, cultural events, and events for children and adults.

10. The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Located in a lava field, the Blue Lagoon is more than an outdoor spa; it’s a magical place designed for absolute peace of mind and complete relaxation. 

This luxury spa is one of Iceland’s most iconic attractions, and it’s little wonder as to why. If you look at the water’s milky blue shade caused by the high silica content and the black lava field surrounding the spa, you will be totally intrigued.

The water temperature averages 37–39 °C (99–102 °F), meaning you will stay warm and relaxed without overheating your body. 

Thanks to its soothing waters and the exceptional minerals that nourish the skin, the Blue Lagoon is an absolutely unique location you have to put on your bucket list when visiting Europe.  

11. Black Forest, Germany

If you get to the Black Forest in Germany, you will love every second of your adventure. 

Located in Germany’s southwest corner, this area abounding with myths and legends is well known for its deep woodlands, picturesque, half-timbered villages, thermal spas, scenic lakes, and hiking trails.  

A week might not be enough to cover all the wonderful attractions you can visit here. 

Whether you choose to visit Lake Titisee , the Triberg Waterfalls , the Hohenzollern Castle , or haunt for a cuckoo clock in nearly all the shops, the Black Forest is the perfect place if you’re looking for an active and crowd-free holiday in the Schengen Area.   

12. Comino Island, Malta

Comino is a small island located between the islands of Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, measuring 3.5 square kilometres. 

Comino may be a very small island, but it is a great place to go for a day trip or even spend a few days if peace of mind and inner calm are what you are seeking. 

Once a pirates’ hideout, the island is famous for the Blue Lagoon Bay, a paradise for snorkelers and divers.

With a permanent population of four residents, the island also boasts a hotel, a small chapel, and Saint Mary’s Tower , a large watchtower built in 1618 to defend the island from Barbary pirates. 

With its crystal clear turquoise waters and awe-inspiring caves, the unspoilt island of Comino is an absolute can’t miss for anyone travelling to Malta.

13. The Parliament Building, Hungary

The Parliament is Hungary’s most iconic building. Situated in the Pest side of Budapest and  mirrored in the Danube ’s glassy surface, the parliament was built in neo-Gothic style and is a spectacular building both in and out. 

The Hungarian Parliament has 691 rooms filled with stunning art, 10 courtyards, 29 staircases, and 88 statues of Hungarian rulers. It’s said that 40kg of 22-carat gold and approximately 500,000 precious gems were used to decorate this colossal, marvellous construction.

Ranked among TripAdvisor’s top 15 most beautiful landmarks, this real jewel is the third largest Parliament building in the world.

14. Gravensteen, Belgium

A trip to Ghent is simply not complete without a visit to Gravensteen, a jaw-dropping medieval castle that will send a chill down your spine.

Also known as the Castle of the Counts, Gravensteen dates from 1180.  It was used as a courthouse and a prison until the 18th century. The castle boasts a sinister collection of torture equipment used to extract confessions of guilt from people accused of committing crimes.

Outside of the gruesome torture chamber, admiring the panorama atop the tower and the weapons and armour collection is an absolute must when visiting the castle. 

Gravensteen also hosts various cultural activities and events, especially during the Ghent Festivities.

15. Schönbrunn Palace, Austria

This magnificent Rococo palace is one of the most important cultural and historical monuments in Austria and Europe. 

The Schönbrunn Palace has a total of 1,441 rooms, 45 of which are open to visitors. The palace’s park is home to wonderful fountains, statues, and flowers, and you can visit it free of charge. You can also have breakfast or grab a coffee at Café Gloriette , one of Australia’s most glorious coffeehouses. 

If you’re travelling to Austria, you must absolutely squeeze this superb palace into your Vienna travel itinerary. We also encourage you to enjoy a classical concert in the Schönbrunn Orangery – the place where Emperor Joseph II challenged Mozart and Salieri to an opera contest in 1786.  

Conclusion : With so many superb sights and sensational scenery, the Schengen Area is undeniably one of the most charming travel destinations in the world. 

In this area without borders, you can travel freely and enjoy dream destinations, from vibrant cities and fairytale towns to gorgeous beaches, lush vegetation, and fabulous soaring mountains.

If you want to get your Schengen Visa without hassles and make the most out of your lovely trip to Europe, you are in the right place. If you find bureaucracy bothersome or simply cannot afford to spend weeks or even months to figure out what documents to submit, Visas Association’s team of experts will guide you through every step of your application. 

Get your 100% FREE Schengen Visa consultation to save your time and feel confident with your application!     

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