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Germany introduces new quarantine and testing rules for travellers from risk zones

On November 8th, Germany officially introduced new quarantine and testing rules for people coming from risk areas.

Published: 9 November 2020 17:22 CET
Germany introduces new quarantine and testing rules for travellers from risk zones
A sign saying: "Returning from high-risk area? Comply with the quarantine" Photo: DPA

The new regulation came into force in Germany on Sunday, although some areas had already introduced the system.

The rules were decided on by the federal government but each state is implementing them. That's why there may be regional variations across the 16 states.

What should I know before entering?

If you have stayed within a non-German risk zone within the last 10 days prior to entering Germany (the Robert Koch Institute provides an updated list here of risk areas), you have to register online prior to entry by filling in information on this site: www.einreiseanmeldung.de.

Once you have provided all the necessary information, you will receive a PDF file as confirmation. Your carrier will check whether you can present a confirmation before you can travel. 

If, in exceptional cases, it is not possible to make a digital entry, you will have to fill in a replacement declaration on paper instead.

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What about quarantine and testing?

Previously, you had to quarantine for 14 days when arriving in Germany form a risk area. However you were able to get a test on arrival, and you'd be released from the quarantine if the test came back negative. If it was positive, you'd continue the quarantine on the orders of health officials.

Now, the new general rules on quarantine are:

  • A stay in a 'risk zone 'means you stayed in the area concerned at any point within 10 days prior to entry to Germany
  • After arriving at your destination in Germany, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days (this is mandatory)
  • You must also report your arrival into Germany immediately to the responsible health authority (Gesundheitsamt)
  • If no other grounds for exception apply (such as if you are an essential worker) you may only be released from the obligation to quarantine at home – no earlier than five days after entering Germany– if you provide proof of a negative test result. So a test can be taken five days into the quarantine at the earliest.
  • Even if the test is negative, some states may order or urgently recommend that you repeat the test after five to seven days due to the potentially long incubation period of the virus

The test is free of charge for people entering the country from risk areas within 10 days after entering, until December 1st, the government says.

You can find out where you can take a test near your home by calling 116 117 or online at www.116117.de. If you would like to be tested by your family doctor, you should call and ask if they are doing the tests beforehand.

It is important to note that you must remain in quarantine until the test result is available.

READ ALSO: Bavaria introduces compulsory Covid-19 testing for commuters

What are the exceptions?

There can be some exceptions to the quarantine rule but check with the state you are travelling to.

Here are some general exceptions (although they could differ from state to state):

  • Anyone who can provide an up-to-date medical certificate confirming they do not have coronavirus
  • Essential workers (such as doctors, nurses, supporting medical staff and 24-hour care staff)
  • People whose stay is due to urgent medical treatment

The regulation also does not apply to people who are travelling through Germany to get to another destination.

However, if you have coronavirus symptoms you are required to report them immediately. For any exceptions, you still have to notify the health authority of your arrival into Germany.

READ ALSO: What are Germany's new quarantine rules after travel?

Remember that during the lockdown, hotels and other overnight accommodation in Germany is not open to tourists.

Here are the coronavirus websites for each state so you can familarise yourself with the rules.

Please keep in mind that this article, as with all of our guides, are to provide assistance only. They are not intended to take the place of official legal advice.

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TRAVEL

Ten unforgettable places to stay in Austria

Talk about a land of contrasts: Between alpine chalets, imposing fortress and, well, sewage pipes, there’s no shortage of unusual and unforgettable plays to stay in Austria.

Published: 22 February 2024 16:46 CET
Ten unforgettable places to stay in Austria

Here are ten of the most spectacular, historic, unique or just plain weird places to stay on an Austrian getaway. 

Steirisch Ursprung Erlebnishotel – Relive the good old days

Eggersdorf by Graz, Styria

Let’s start our list by taking one giant step back… in time. The Erlebnishotel’ Steirisch Ursprung‘ (Styrian Origin Experience Hotel) has been designed to celebrate Styrian culture, folk art and cuisine of the 19th century, with rooms themed those of a typical farmer, as well as a wedding suite…

…and an ‘erotic room’ full of spicy paintings and carvings for those seeking a romantic getaway.

If you fancy a drop, you’re lucky – the hotel has its own brewery and pub, where you can sample the local beer in two-hundred-year-old surroundings. 

Hotel Schafbergspitze – Spectacular views from Austria’s first mountain hotel

St Wolfgang in Salzkammergut, Upper Austria

If you love a good view – and have no fear of heights – the Hotel Schafbergspitze is your destination. 

Austria’s first mountain hotel was opened in 1864, with guests travelling to the hotel by a cog railway that climbs around 1190 metres over almost six kilometres. 

The hotel features 17 rooms and a restaurant serving hearty local cuisine, which you can walk off exploring the Schafbergspitze’s summit, with stunning vistas in every direction. 

Dasparkhotel – Stay in a sewage pipe, anyone?

Ottensheim, Upper Austria

You may not want to gaze across the Alps from your double bed. You may want to stay in a sewer pipe instead. Fortunately, Austria’s dasparkhotel covers you, in the charming market town of Ottensheim, near Linz. 

Three stylishly appointed cabins have been constructed from repurposed sewer pipe, with comfy bedding, electrical outlets and storage space. 

Doesn’t sound very appealing? How about this – staying at dasparkhotel is free, although donations are welcome. 

Hotel Schloss Matzen – Live the high life

Reith im Alpbachtal, Tyrol

The hill on which Hotel Schloss Matzen sits has been desirable real estate since Roman times when it was a fort defending trade routes through the region. Since the castle was built in the 12th century, it’s passed through the hands of some of Austria’s oldest and most renowned families – each who left a mark as stewards of the region. 

Since 2007, it has been home to a gorgeous luxury hotel, where each room evokes past grandeur within the eight-hundred-year-old structure. 

It’s a common location for weddings, with the castle’s beautiful gardens and striking silhouette as a gorgeous backdrop for photos. 

Hotel Burg Bernstein – Red knights, white ladies and stunning vintages

Bernstein, Burgenland

We continue the castle theme with Hotel Burg Bernstein, once a fortress protecting Austria’s eastern borders. Consequently, it has a long and bloody history. 

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the castle has a reputation for being haunted by not one but two resident ghosts: ‘Red Ivan’, a furious 13th-century knight who has a habit of appearing to children, and the ‘White Lady of Bernstein’, a veiled figure who may be a 15th-century murder victim.

If that’s not your thing, be of good cheer: The castle also offers wine courses showcasing the region’s vintages. 

Historical tours are also available that explore the lives of previous tenants, including Lazlo Almasy – the explorer whose exploits helped inspire the novel and film, ‘The English Patient’.  

Hotel Rogner Bad Blumau – Soak in the surroundings

Bad Blumau, Styria

Looking like a technicolour Hobbiton, the Hotel Rogner Bad Blumau was designed by famed Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the nineties to take advantage of the thermal springs discovered on the site twenty years prior. 

When you’re done soaking and admiring the lively design of the place and eating extraordinarily well in the restaurant, there’s a ‘geomantic’ path designed by artist Marko Pogacnik to balance your energy levels. 

Gästehaus Benediktinerstift Göttweig – Simple pleasures in a House of God 

Furth bei Göttweig, Lower Austria

You may want to nourish your soul in more holy surroundings. 

Gottweig Abbey has been looking over the town of Furth bei Göttweig for over a thousand years. 

Reaching a golden age in the 18th century, the abbey is an artistic treasure house, with plenty to explore throughout its buildings and grounds. 

As is the trend with many monasteries, Benediktinerstift Gottweig has opened its doors to visitors seeking a little solace, with simple, but comfortable rooms and a restaurant with regional dishes based on local produce. 

Iglu-Dorf Innsbruck Kühtai

Kühtai, Tyrol

One of four ‘igloo village’ hotels across the DACH region, Iglu-Dorf Kühtai offers several lodgings for couples, families and groups. Cool temperatures and warm blankets make for a great night’s sleep; many of the igloos are far more spacious than you’d think.

Outside the igloos, there’s a bar, winter sports close by and frequent events to keep you entertained during your snowy excursion. 

Hotel Sacher – An Austrian Icon

Vienna

You knew we’d need to mention the Hotel Sacher to get through this list. 

The Vienna icon first opened its doors in 1876 by restauranteur Eduard Sacher. 

While he – and the hotel – are known for the world-famous Sachertorte he created, we can’t forget Anna Sacher, Eduard’s widow, who single-handedly transformed the hotel with her iron will and charisma into the Vienna stalwart it is today.

Today, run by the equally impressive Gürtler family, it’s Vienna’s only privately-owned luxury hotel. While the restaurant is a giant tourist magnet, the luxurious rooms with their belle epoque style are a more exclusive highlight. 

Honey Farm – Bzz Bzz

Himmelberg, Carinthia

We end with simple pleasures – and a little natural sweetness. 

For several years, Arno Kronhofer and his family have opened their farm at Himmelberg in the country’s south to visitors, where guests can watch and experience raising bees, harvesting honey, and enjoy a country vacation!

In tribute, many of the rooms in the renovated barn feature designs inspired by beehives, with wood, linen and honey-coloured accents filling rooms with golden light.

Have any recommendations for unusual or unforgettable hotel stays in Austria? Let us know in the comments! 

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