New entry and visa waiver systems for travellers to Europe and the UK

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visitors to the UK

From 8 January 2025 an ETA will be required for entry into the UK from some countries, and from 2 April 2025 for another group of countries. Travellers who are not British citizens or do not have a visa or the right to live in the UK will need to apply before travelling.

Please check here to find whether you will need to apply for an ETA, and for the relevant timescales.

Entry/Exit System (EES) for visitors to EU/Schengen countries

UPDATE: On 10 October 2024 it was announced that introduction of the EES is to be delayed yet again, and will not come into force on the planned date of 10 November 2024. We will update this page with any further news as soon as it is available.

A new digital system for recording entry and exit by non-EU citizens is being developed by the European Union. This will replace the manual addition of passport stamps.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will apply to anyone entering an EU or Schengen country who is not an EU or Schengen citizen/permanent resident, or who does not have a valid visa. The On Foot Holidays routes to which this currently applies are in Czechia (aka Czech Republic), France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

On the first entry to these countries after implementation of the scheme, biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) will be collected at border control, plus registration of ‘travel document data’ and the time and place of entry. It is not currently possible to register in advance of travelling. It is also likely that more information will be required than currently when booking airline tickets into the relevant countries.

This is expected to cause delays at ports and airports. If travelling from the UK by train from London St Pancras or Folkestone, or by ferry from Dover, registration will happen at border control in the UK before boarding.

Please see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en for details, and check carefully whether EES will apply to you. You may need to allow extra time for passing through border controls on your first visit after the scheme is implemented.

ETIAS visa waiver for visitors to EU/Schengen countries

A separate visa waiver system called ETIAS (similar to the USA’s ESTA system) will follow in 2025, on a date yet to be announced. This will be valid for three years (or to the end of your passport’s validity if less than three years), and a fee of 7 Euros will apply. It will need to be secured in advance of travelling via the ETIAS website or mobile app. It will apply to entry to the same countries as listed above for EES.

It is not yet possible to apply for an ETIAS, but see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en for more details and to check whether you will need an ETIAS to travel.

Updated 23 December 2024

This lovely route in the quiet hills of Provence is available again, having had a break while we made improvements. Our Local Contact, Emily, has been working hard to seek out the best hotels, with some long-standing favourites remaining too. And we’ve updated and refreshed the walking, adding a new circuit. So if it’s been on your wish list before, now may be the time to give it a try!

This area, to the east of Avignon, is full of extraordinary geological features.  At the centre lies ‘le Mont Ventoux’ (the windy mountain), well known to cyclists and spectators of the Tour de France. While the view of its lonely summit is often on the horizon, our walks wind through its greener foothills.

The medieval cliff-top village of Venasque makes a great starting point, with views to the peaks of the ‘Dentelles de Montmirail’ (lace points) where you will walk later in the week.  From Venasque you’ll walk to Mazan, tiny Le Barroux, and finally to a top restaurant with comfortable rooms just outside of Vacqueyras for two nights, your base for an exploration of the Dentelles.

And of course as this is France, the food and wine are most definitely not of secondary importance.  As well as excellent restaurants along the way, a couple of the hotels boast excellent kitchens. There are plenty of opportunities for wine lovers to try not only the well-known regional wines but also Vacqueyras whites and a variety of ‘marcs’ – straight from the vineyards you pass on the way.

If you’ve got time, we recommend you add a night or two in historic Avignon to see the Palais des Papes, the bridge and also the fascinating side streets and museums. A great way to round off your adventure.

Find more about our Northern Provence route here

Whether you are a dedicated walker or an armchair wanderer, travel books are a wonderful way to transport yourself to a different landscape. As passionate walkers and readers, the On Foot Team recommends these great reads…

“Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere” by Jan Morris – read by Debbie

An easy and absorbing read with the remarkable description of a city that has fallen from grace. From being one of the principal Mediterranean ports, its glorious history is reduced to that of a small city, almost forgotten in northeastern Italy. Yet it has an extraordinary atmosphere that is so well evoked by the wonderful Jan Morris – whose prose beautifully describes the character of this once great city.

“Lonely Planet’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe” – read by Heather 

This is a glossy book to dip in and out of, which will inspire glorious journeys and fun stopovers for your travels round Europe by train. Via the device of half a dozen long distance journeys on high-speed routes, it covers many of Europe’s most scenic lines, with plenty of enchanting places to stop on the way. Useful for general advice and route planning, rather than forensic detail.

“As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning” by Laurie Lee – read by Viiktoria 

This is a classic travel memoir that describes the physical and emotional journey of a young man setting out in life. Laurie left his quiet Gloucestershire village to walk across Spain, only to find himself caught up in the escalating civil war in Andalucia. Lee writes a frank but poetic portrayal of his experiences and the people that he gets to know along the way.

“Neither Here Nor There” by Bill Bryson – read by Tina 

Bryson takes you on his journey through Europe as a student, sharing his highs and lows. He has created a light-hearted, funny summary of his travel experiences, and reminds me that exploring new cultures isn’t always as easy and glamorous as we might wish.

“The Salt Path” by Raynor Winn – read by Emma 

I read this whilst walking On Foot’s Coastal Exmoor route with my Mum. The route follows the South West Coast Path (SWCP) on several days – it was lovely to be walking the path and then reading Ray and Moth’s journey over the same parts of the path, albeit in the opposite direction!

It’s the true story of Ray and Moth losing everything they own, including their beloved farm in Wales. On top of this, Moth receives a devastating health diagnosis. From their misery they make the incredibly brave decision to walk the 630 miles of the SWCP. The book follows their epic journey of endurance, courage, love and ultimately hope, with lots of tears and laughter along the way.

If you enjoy The Salt Path then there is a follow on that you might like – “The Wild Silence”, about their life in Cornwall.

“A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemmingway – read by Harriet 

A Farewell to Arms is an unflinching historical romance that follows the events of the Italian campaign of WWI. The author’s minimalist writing style heightens the sense of suspense and danger during the lovers’ daring escape across Lake Maggiore and into Switzerland. The narrative features many places included in or near our Lake Maggiore walking holiday, so you can step back into the local history and see through Hemingway’s perspective. A passionate and refreshing read.

Hemingway’s most iconic novel – a dramatic portrayal of love and war. Loosely biographical.

And if you liked those, here are more suggestions for books to fire the imagination of a keen traveller:

Mythos by Stephen Fry – a vivid retelling of the myths of the Greek gods and goddesses. Ideal preparation for your own Greek odyssey!

The Red Room by Mark Dawson – a murder mystery starring private investigator Atticus Priest, set in On Foot’s home town of Salisbury.

Europe, An Intimate Journey by Jan Morris – a portrait of a continent forged over decades of journeying.

Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – an exciting account of this aviator’s flying adventures, from the Pyrenees to the Andes.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières – a modern classic, blending a tender love story on the Greek island of Cephallonia with the harsh realities of World War II.

The Writer’s Map edited by Huw Lewis-Jones – this is a beautifully illustrated “atlas of imaginary lands” for map lovers, which will take you to Narnia, Middle-Earth and Moominvalley, as well as the semi-fantastical charts of early explorers.