Just this week, the European Commission confirmed that Americans might want to apply for a brand new journey allow to journey to 29 European international locations beginning in 2026 (you possibly can see the complete checklist right here).
Called the ETIAS, this new doc is what we name a web based journey authorization, and it basically capabilities as an e-visa: as soon as applied, until you maintain a legitimate allow, you’ll not be allowed to board flights to a lot of Europe.
Be that as it might, there are 7 European international locations that won’t be slapping comparable necessities on Americans sooner or later, both resulting from having opted out of this controversial coverage, or the truth that they don’t have to comply with directives from Brussels.
Starting with a long-time favourite for U.S. vacationers throughout the pond:
Ireland
A massively standard vacation spot for Americans, notably those that declare Irish ancestry, the Emerald Isle is one in all a handful of European locations which have refused to stick to the brand new ETIAS.
Ireland has all the time had some attention-grabbing opt-outs within the grand scheme of issues, that’s, the European Union, from not being a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which has basically eliminated borders throughout collaborating states, to having its personal border agreements with the U.Okay..
Now, they’re selecting to not tighten journey guidelines for American guests.
From 2026, Americans can proceed flying unimpeded to Ireland with out making use of for permits upfront, so long as they bring about a legitimate passport, with an expiry date set for not less than 6 months following the date of entry, they usually’re not staying longer than 90 consecutive days.
That being mentioned, completely different guidelines apply when visiting Northern Ireland, because it is part of the United Kingdom, which has not too long ago introduced in its personal ETA.
Albania
A former hidden gem and arguably one of many fastest-rising locations within the Old Continent, Albania is wooing a rising variety of vacationers due to breathtaking nature, comprising alpine peaks and a turquoise coast, and cultural enchantment.
Its quirky capital, Tirana is without doubt one of the most vibrant metropolis breaks in Europe, and probably the one place the place yow will discover a concrete pyramid, an imposing Ottoman-style mosque, and communist-era bunkers all inside a 3-mile radius.
The laid-back coastal settlement of Ksamil has been dubbed ‘Maldives of Europe‘ resulting from its white sands and teal waters, and for the historical past buffs on the market, there’s a charming Gjirokaster, a UNESCO-listed medieval city constructed completely out of stone.
You might actually spend a complete 12 months in Albania and nonetheless not see all that it has to supply, and fortunate for you, you truly can keep a complete twelve months right here with no visa as a U.S. passport holder—and should we add, Albania has no plans to roll out an ETA anytime quickly.
Serbia
A much-overlooked landlocked nation in Southeastern Europe, Serbia is greatest recognized for its sprawling capital Belgrade, a riverside metropolis on the banks of the Danube combining medieval heritage and modernist sights.
In case you were not conscious, you possibly can even fly nonstop to Belgrade from 2 U.S. cities, New York and Chicago, however hey, do not simply keep domestically.
The Serbian countryside is totally lovely and price exploring, from the fairytale fortress at Golubac, to the Tara Mountains, with its steep cliffs, high-elevation meadows and alpine lakes—similar to Switzerland, besides Serbia has rakija.
Opa!
We suppose it is a good time to say Serbia, too, is not too eager on pushing Americans away with stricter entry necessities: from 2026, you possibly can hold flying to this offbeat but superb nation on a legitimate passport alone, so long as you are not staying longer than 90 days at a time.
Kosovo
Kosovo is Europe’s youngest nation-state, having declared its independence unilaterally from Serbia lower than twenty years in the past. Despite its latest battle and tiny dimension (it is solely roughly 4 instances bigger than Rhode Island), it has boundless Old World appeal.
Pristina is a youthful mid-size capital full of locally-run cafes serving Turkish-style espresso and Albanian byrek for beneath $3, and Prizren is your typical cobble-paved city straddling a crystalline river, plagued by medieval fortifications and Ottoman mosques.
If you are a nature fanatic, be sure to do not miss out on the Sharr Mountains, a nationwide park crisscrossed with mountaineering trails that result in sweeping panoramas of the Kosovo plains, or the dramatic Rugova Canyon close to Peja, with its footpath flanked by towering cliffs.
Traveling to Kosovo in 2026, your primary concern continues to be being delicate to the new child nation’s sophisticated previous and relationship to Serbia (discover out why you can be barred from Serbia for visiting Kosovo right here), as there aren’t any ETAs in sight.
North Macedonia
One of Europe’s most mysterious international locations, in addition to one of many least-visited, although we will not fathom why, North Macedonia is greatest represented by its statue-littered capital, Skopje, and the peaceable, lakefront Ohrid:
Called Jerusalem of the Balkans, it has a whopping 365 church buildings, one for every day of the 12 months, and a few of these are extremely historic, together with the Ninth-century Church of Saint John at Kaneo, overlooking the lake.
Fortunately for Macedonia-bound Americans, they don’t want to fret about making use of for digital permits on-line earlier than flying or crossing the land border:
Local authorities haven’t introduced any plans as of but to imitate the European Union’s ETIAS system, and as North Macedonia lies exterior the EU, they don’t seem to be sure to impose the digital allow rule on Americans, not less than till they be a part of the bloc.
Based on how sluggish accession talks have been going, this standing ought to be maintained for a looong time.
Montenegro
We’re certain you have heard of Croatia, however do you know when you hold driving south previous the fortified city of Dubrovnik, to the very finish of the Dalmatian heartland, you may hit the lesser-known, equally-beautiful nation of Montenegro?
An extension of its most well-known sister in some ways, Montenegro speaks an analogous language (to not say the identical language with dialectal variations), and its seashore cities are additionally constructed of stone, with teal seas crashing in opposition to medieval partitions.
Kotor is a mini Dubrovnik with smaller crowds, and a picture-perfect cobbled maze the place slim alleys result in cafe-bordered plazas and Romanesque church buildings, and when you’re hoping for a soothing time by the coast, look no additional than the resort hotspots of Budva and Tivat.
In spring, this 4-star resort within the coronary heart of Budva, inside strolling distance of the primary pebbly seashore and the historic heart, will set you again by solely $35.50 per evening per grownup.
Oh, and guess what?
In 2026, and till Montenegro formally joins the European Union, a course of that ought to take many extra years, you will not be required to acquire any further permits to journey to the Balkan nation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
A hidden gem of the Western Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina is an interesting multi-ethnic state residence to Muslim Bosniaks, Orthodox Serbs, and Catholic Croats, and with a various cultural panorama that displays that.
You might discover Ottoman-era mosques, monumental Orthodox basilicas, and Neo-Gothic basilicas multi functional metropolis (whats up, Sarajevo), and when you’ve ever puzzled the place precisely in Europe that quaint riverside city with an historic bridge spanning an aqua-colored stream is situated, that might be Mostar:
A historically-significant metropolis on the banks of the fast-flowing Neretva, it’s plagued by medieval sights, and it’s the distinctive postcard of Bosnia.
Underrated as it’s, Bosnia’s affordability ought to be yet one more large draw for Americans going to Europe, with grilled meat, or ćevapi costing as low cost as $5 in some eating places, and a complete jug of native beer priced at a nearly-negligible $3.
Last however definitely not least, U.S. residents aren’t being focused with harder visa guidelines touring to Bosnia in 2026:
As the nation just isn’t a collaborating member of the European Union, nor the Schengen Zone, you get a complete 90 days there with out an ETIAS.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the put up.