Which countries are open for summer travel? Here’s the list

Many of the world’s greatest travel destinations are reopening to international travelers this summer.

But not all openings are created equal. A handful of countries are letting in everyone, while others are inviting only a select few.

Here is a definitive guide to the countries that are now welcoming travelers — or have indicated they will before August.

Do consider:

• We are excluding countries that require a 14-day quarantine upon entering; we assume even those staying at the poshest of places want to occasionally leave their rooms.
• Importantly, this is a list of where you can go — not whether you can ease back into your home country. Americans who have always dreamed of seeing the Maldives can likely do so only if they’ve got the vacation time for a 14-day quarantine upon returning home.
• Nearly all countries have special requirements to enter; some are noted.
• We will update this list as new information is made public.

Some of the Caribbean’s most famous islands are already open, including Antigua, the U.S. Virgin Islands (which includes St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John), Puerto Rico and St. Lucia. Note: visitors to the latter must present a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of boarding a flight.

Next up? Jamaica is opening to all international travelers on June 15. On the same day, the Bahamas welcomes yachts and private flights; everyone else can join from July 1. Aruba will also open its borders to residents of Canada, Europe and other Caribbean islands (excluding the Dominican Republic and Haiti) on July 1; Americans are welcome as of July 10. Travelers to Turks and Caicos will need to wait a little longer; it opens July 22.

Other islands are more commitment-phobic. Keith Mitchell, the prime minister of Grenada, posted on Facebook that the country is considering June 30 as a “possible date for reopening.” The French isle of Saint Martin indicated visitors could come as early as July 1, but nothing official has been announced. 

After a patchwork of internal border announcements in May, the EU announced Wednesday that non-Europeans would be allowed to enter from July 1.

The travel ban will be lifted “gradually and partially,” said European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell. It is expected travelers from low-risk countries will be allowed to visit first; Americans aren’t expected to make the first cut.

Italy and Bulgaria have already reopened their borders to residents of most European countries. Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia have also loosened regulations, albeit to a more restricted list of countries.

Next week, the continent will take a giant leap forward in reopening for summer travel. On June 15, Germany is lifting a travel ban to 31 European countries, Greece to 29 countries (including Australia) and the Netherlands to 12 EU countries.

Iceland, Belgium and Switzerland are opening their borders to all EU and Schengen Area travelers. France has indicated, but not formally announced, it will follow suit. The date also marks when citizens of Norway and Denmark can travel between their two countries.

Spain is scheduled to reopen its borders to the EU and Schengen Area nations in July. The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries that includes non-EU countries like Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and the U.K.

A few considerations:

• Until June 30, travelers to Greece arriving from areas of high infection rates (regardless of nationality) must take a Covid-19 test on arrival, stay overnight at a designated hotel and undergo quarantine (seven days for negative tests and 14 for positive results). Thereafter, passengers are subject to random testing.
• Certain parts of southern Italy, including Puglia and Sardinia, require travelers to send health and registration forms before arriving.
• Travelers who are allowed into Iceland can avoid a 14-day quarantine by testing negative for Covid-19 upon arrival at Keflavik International Airport.

Asia is largely closed to foreign holidaymakers for the time being. Japan, Vietnam and Singapore have not announced dates when they will open, though the Indonesian island of Bali is said to be reopening in October.

Rumors that Thailand was opening to international travelers on July 1 were squashed last month when Yuthasak Supasorn, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said tourists may return in the fourth quarter of the year “at the earliest.”

So where can you explore in Asia? Private jets and yachts are already welcome in the Maldives, and commercial airlines are scheduled to resume from July 1. After announcing testing and visa protocols, the country appears to be backing off those requirements for now.

Turkey has indicated it will be welcoming tourists in July, as has the Caucasus nation of Georgia (though who exactly can enter Georgia is unclear).

Sri Lanka is preparing to reopen its borders to all nationalities on Aug. 1, if individuals can produce proof of medical insurance, plan to stay at least five nights, and can show a negative Covid-19 test taken less than 72 hours before departure. Travelers to the “teardrop island” will also undergo a second test upon arrival.

French Polynesia announced tourists from all countries can arrive from July 15.

The country, which includes Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora, is requiring travelers to have either a negative Covid-19 test (administered 72 hours before departure) or an “immunity certificate” that proves you’ve recovered from a previous infection. Travelers may be retested during their stay.

Travel to the U.S. is prohibited for some nationalities; all others may be subject to state-mandated quarantines, such as Hawaii’s 14-day quarantine requirement that was extended this week to July 31.

Canada has two-week quarantine requirements too. The border between the U.S. and Canada is closed to nonessential travel until June 21, though it’s reported some Americans are entering via a “loophole” that allows travelers to transit through Canada in order to drive to Alaska.

Mexico is opening state by state, and Quintana Roo — home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum — opened this week. Los Cabos is scheduled to open in either late-June or July. Business is hindered by a joint agreement between Mexico and the U.S. that restricts nonessential travel until June 22. The country has also been named one of seven coronavirus “international hot spots” — a list that also includes the United States.

From Israel to Qatar, much of the Middle East is not open for travel yet.

A trip to Dubai may be possible in the latter half of the summer. It’s reported to be opening sometime between July to September.

Popular African tourist destinations, such as Morocco and South Africa, have not announced plans to loosen border restrictions yet.

After widespread reports that South Africa wouldn’t open until 2021, the country’s tourism officials clarified this week that this was a “worst-case scenario” and that it hopes to welcome travelers by September.

Last week, the Seychelles opened to tourists who arrive on a private jet, chartered flight or yacht. Plans to resume commercial flights are set for July.

Tunisia is opening land, air and sea borders to residents from Algeria and select European nations, including Germany and the UK, from June 27.

Tanzania unconditionally welcomed tourists from all nations in May, one of the earliest countries to do so. The country has been criticized for a lack of transparency regarding infection rates, as well as statements by President John Magufuli that the coronavirus could be cured by drinking ginger and lemonade. He also said the virus had been removed from Tanzania “by the powers of God” despite evidence to the contrary.

Much of South America — including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Peru — remains off limits to international travelers for the time being.

Colombia banned all passenger flights until at least Aug. 31. Argentina has a similar flight ban through Sept.1, though there is talk of bringing this date forward to July.