Practical travel news: borders, rules, trains and the cities pushing back on crowds.
Europe's biometric Entry/Exit System has replaced passport stamps since April 2026. ETIAS, the €20 travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, is still not running, and as of November 2026 the EU has given no new start date.
Europe's sleeper network changed sharply in 2026. A cooperative operator revived Paris–Berlin and launched Brussels–Milan, while state-backed routes such as Paris–Vienna disappeared. Demand is strong; the cost of running night trains is the problem.
Europe received a record 793 million international tourists in 2025. Venice, Barcelona and Amsterdam now use entry fees, higher taxes and limits on holiday lets, and in November 2026 the EU adopted its first tourism strategy.
