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What you need to know about travelling within Germany right now

Feeling confused by the ever-changing travel restrictions in Germany? We've put together the latest rules for all states.

Published: 20 October 2020 14:32 CEST
Updated: 25 October 2020 18:50 CET
What you need to know about travelling within Germany right now
Passengers waiting for a train in Essen. Photo: DPA

It's the autumn break in many states and you might be planning to travel. But can you do that within Germany right now? This is a tricky question. You can, but some states may not allow you to stay overnight in accommodation like hotels or holiday homes.

That's due to a ban on accommodation for people coming from regions where there are more than 50 new infections per 100,000 residents in seven days, which was introduced earlier this month in the majority of German states in a bid to slow down the spread of Covid-10.

However, many states have already overturned the ban after court rulings or because authorities didn't think it was beneficial. Not surprisingly, the ban has caused a lot of confusion. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the state leaders said last week they would look at this ban in more detail after the Herbstferien (autumn holidays) in all states ends on November 8th.

Meanwhile, Merkel has urged people in Germany not to travel to and from risk areas with more than 50 cases per 100,000 residents in the last seven days.

Currently there are more than 100 regions in Germany with more than 50 infections per 100,000 residents in seven days.In these zones, there will likely be tougher measures such as curfews or extended face mask rules.

The situation keeps changing so if you're thinking of travelling, keep an eye on your local government website. We've listed the websites below.

There are also travel restrictions across Europe and the world so be careful if you are thinking of going abroad at the moment.

READ ALSO:

With that in mind here are the latest internal travel rules in the 16 federal states:

BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG: In this south-western state there are no entry bans or quarantine obligations for travellers from risk areas within Germany. The ban on accommodation, which was also controversial in the state government, was overruled by the Administrative Court. There are several places in the state with high Covid-19 numbers including Stuttgart.

BAVARIA: The controversial ban on accommodation for travellers from coronavirus hotspots no longer applies in Bavaria. Many parts of the state do have rising coronavirus figures, including the capital Munich. And a lockdown is in place in the district of Berchtesgadener Land so you cannot go to this Alpine beauty spot.

BERLIN: There are no restrictions on entry. to the capital. The Senate has not yet passed any ban on overnight accommodation. However, the city-state is classed as a hotspot.

BRANDENBURG: The ban on overnight accommodation was challenged in court last Friday, and it was lifted from Tuesday onwards, meaning people from risk zones can stay overnight in the state. The state has no coronavirus hotspots right now.

BREMEN: In Bremen there is no entry ban and no quarantine obligation or an accommodation ban for travellers from inner-German risk areas. The city is classed as a risk zone.

HAMBURG: There is no entry ban for people from domestic risk areas. Overnight guests must confirm in writing that they have not stayed in a risk area in the previous 14 days. If they have, they can stay overnight with a negative coronavirus test result, which must not be older than 48 hours. The city-state is not a hotspot currently.

READ ALSO: 'We weren't allowed to check in': Travellers in Germany report confusion over internal travel restrictions

HESSE: The ban on overnight accommodation for travellers from risk areas within Germany, which has been in force since summer, is no longer in force in Hesse so people from internal risk zones can stay in hotels there.

MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA: From Wednesday (October 21st) onwards, an up-to-date coronavirus test will be enough for holiday trips to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania by people from German risk areas.

Previously, people visiting the state from risk zones had to go into a 14-day quarantine on arrival. Day trips from coronavirus hotspots to the northeast state are still not permitted.


A high speed train travelling in Thuringia. Photo: DPA

LOWER SAXONY: Entry into this state is not restricted and day tourism is possible. There are no quarantine regulations for people from German risk areas. The ban on accommodation for travellers from German coronavirus hotspots was declared illegal and suspended by the Higher Administrative Court of Lower Saxony during summary proceedings.

There are some badly affected areas in Lower Saxony, including Delmenhorst which has an incidence rate of over 200.

NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA: In NRW, the country's most populous state, there are no entry restrictions and for the time being no ban on accommodation for holidaymakers from national risk areas. However, the state has plenty of coronavirus hotspots, including Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund.

RHINELAND-PALATINATE: Officials originally planned for an accommodation ban from October 13th, but this was then stopped. So there are currently no travel restrictions. There are hotspots in this state including Mainz.

SAARLAND: Germany's smallest state has overturned the ban on accommodation for travellers from inner-German corona risk areas, which has been in force since the end of June. Risk zones in this state include St Wendel.

SAXONY: Since Saturday there are no longer any restrictions for travellers from inner-German risk areas. There are currently two hotspots including Erzgebirgskreis and Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.

SAXONY-ANHALT: Entry is permitted into this state. But overnight accommodation for people from risk areas for tourist purposes is prohibited unless the guest can present a certificate stating that there is no evidence of Covid-19. There are no coronavirus hotspots in this state currently.


SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN: People in Germany can visit this state (for example for day trips). However, people from risk zones can only stay overnight in commercial accommodation if they present a negative coronavirus test that's no older than 48 hours.

This rule doesn't apply to second home owners, people travelling for business purposes or those staying with family or friends (ie not a hotel or holiday home, etc).

There are no coronavirus risk zones here currently.

THURINGIA: There are no entry restrictions or a ban on accommodation for people from German risk areas. This state has two risk areas: Eichsfeld and Sömmderda.

Helpful websites for planning:

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HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Published: 20 September 2023 12:05 CEST
Updated: 20 September 2023 22:22 CEST
Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

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