The latest travel traffic light announcement took place on Wednesday 4th August and has seen the addition of 7 new countries on the Green List which is exciting news for those looking to get away!
The latest updates are:
Moving from Amber to Green: Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway
Moving from Red to Amber: India, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE
Moving from Amber-Plus to Amber: France
Moving from Amber to Red: Georgia, Mexico, La Reunion and Mayotte
What are the current entry requirements for the new Green and Amber destinations?
Green
Austria – no entry from UK
Germany – entry only if fully vaccinated or under 12 negative Covid test
Latvia – Negative PCR test within 72 hours, or antigen test within 48 hours before arrival into Latvia
Norway – have to quarantine on arrival
Romania – have to quarantine on arrival
Slovakia – must be fully vaccinated unless under 12
Slovenia – PCR test within 72 hours, or Antigen with 48 hours, or fully vaccinated (under 15s exempt as long as with a family member with proof of the vaccine or test) before arrival into Latvia
Amber
Bahrain – need to quarantine
India – PCR tests within 72 hours and again on arrival
Qatar – no entry to non-residence
UAE – Negative PCR test within 72 hours of travel and again when you land – you must self-isolate pending result of the PCR test on arrival
Information correct as of 12:00 Thursday 5th August 2021.
The new additions to the Green List may not seem like a typical 'holiday destination' but how much do you know about them?
Check out the top things to do in these countries below:
Germany
A huge beach, nostalgic industrial heritage and a massive crater from prehistoric times: come with us on a trip beyond the tourist hotspots in Germany. This is Germany’s off-the-beaten-track highlights.
Europe's Largest Beach; Let's head to the mudflats of Germany, the island of Amrum, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mudflat hikes in themselves are exciting enough, but then you've got Kniepsand; Europe's largest sandy beach where there's always a secluded sandy spot to place your towel, even in the height of summer!
Dark Sky Reserve; Gülpe in Westhavelland Nature Park near the Elbe river is a sparsely populated area, making it perfect for stargazing. There is hardly any street lamps or artificial light to tarnish the view of the night sky making it the darkest place in Germany. Whether you want to spot shooting stars or the lunar eclipse, there is no better place to gaze at the sky than the Dark Sky Reserve in Westhavelland.
Free Climbing; The Alps are always an impressive sight. And an insider tip from the tourist board is that the German Central Uplands are even more so. Here, you can hike without seeing another soul. Full of mountains, gorges, rivers and forests, they just so happen to be the alleged birthplace of free climbing. With more than 1,000 free-standing sandstones to scale. You can even book in lessons at a climbing school.
Slovakia
Home to nine national parks and the smallest high mountain range in the world, Slovakia is a special country. Even in such a small area, you’ll find everything from natural treasures and historical monuments to rich folk culture and modern entertainment in the busy city streets. Enjoy the beauty and unique atmosphere that Slovakia has to offer. Explore its splendid natural scenery, rich history, culture, and traditions. Simply discover Slovakia.
Latvia
Although rather small country (almost 2 million inhabitants) Latvia has welcoming people, gorgeous nature and pagan festivities…
Riga’s Central Market is one of Europe’s biggest markets. It is famed for its pavilions housed in giant zeppelin hangars left behind by the German army after World War I.
With almost 500 km of coast, Latvia has tons of beaches. There’s space for everyone, whether you want fun in the sun or miles of sand to yourself, and best of all its all open to the public.
Over half its territory is covered by forest, so Latvia is a very green place. Locals love to pick mushrooms and berries!
With over 800 Art Nouveau buildings, Riga has one of the world’s greatest galleries of this joyful style. Alberta iela is a street almost entirely created by Art Nouveau genius Mikhail Eisenstein, and his son film director Sergei Eisenstein was one of the founders of modern cinema.
Dubai (UAE)
A city that needs to be seen to be believed, Dubai is a playground for those from young, to young at heart. It’s full of record-breaking architecture, shopping malls with a whole world inside them, and adrenaline-fuelled days out.
Some of the top picks are:
- Sky diving
- Dubai Fountain
- Ski (yes, really!)
- Palm Jumeirah
- Burj Khalifa
For lesser-known activities in Dubai, check out the blog below.
