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Germany set to open borders to vaccinated non-EU nationals

Germany will reopen its borders later this month to non-EU nationals who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, the government announced Thursday.

Published: 18 June 2021 09:21 CEST
Updated: 18 June 2021 19:23 CEST
Germany set to open borders to vaccinated non-EU nationals
Travellers ta Frankfurt Airport in early June. Photo: dpa | Boris Roessler

Beginning on June 25, non-EU nationals may enter Germany for whatever reason, such as tourism or studying in a university, the interior ministry said.

Currently, only those with exceptional reasons are allowed into the country.

But travellers will have to have been completely vaccinated at least 14 days prior to their arrival with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency.

Non-EU nationals travelling from countries on the government’s white list do not need to have a vaccine to enter the country. There are currently seven states on the list including Australia, Japan and Israel. As of June 20th a further eight countries will be added to the list – most prominently the US.

Travellers from countries listed by the Robert Koch Institute as virus variant areas will not be able to enjoy the new rules though.

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“The provisions of the Coronavirus Entry Regulations, including the ban on travel from virus variant areas, continue to apply without restriction,” the interior ministry states.

Countries including the Brazil, the UK and India are currently on the list of virus variant areas. Travellers entering from those countries must go into quarantine for 14 days and cannot end their self-isolation early via a negative test.

For a full list of countries listed as areas of variant concern see HERE

Germany has seen a sharp drop in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.

Member comments

  1. When I read the BMI’s website, the USA has been added to the list for “unrestricted” access to Germany, which means they don’t have to be vaccinated, but need to show a test if not, or proof of recovery effective June 20. The June 25 condition was for other non-EU countries not on the “safe list” and they were required to be vaccinated. It is a little confusing no doubt and I hope Germany clarifies it with the media and the airlines.

    1. The title/headline is misleading, because people that are not vaccinated, but can present a negative test result if they’re not coming a risk area outside of the EU will also be allowed to travel to Germany. The USA is good example of this, as it is going to be put on the “white list” of countries, meaning not a risk country.

  2. Ha, the article has been updated since I read it last, yes, my comment is from the older version…sorry.

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TRAVEL

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Catch the very tail-end of the wine season and autumn foliage in one of the lesser-explored corners of the Austrian capital: Mauer.

Published: 12 November 2021 17:03 CET
Updated: 24 September 2023 08:20 CEST
Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts
Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.


The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.


The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns. 

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.


Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

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