Coronavirus in Tirol: the most important questions and answers

When coming to Tirol from a country where the COVID-19 situation is stable, entry is possible without restrictions. Visitors must have resided in the country they travel to Tirol from for at least 10 days.

Countries with a stable COVID-19 situation: Andorra, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal (except Lisbon and Norte regions) San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (Canary Islands only), Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City, United Kingdom (except the North East, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and The Humber).

When entering from a country where there is not a stable COVID-19 situation or from all countries not mentioned above:

• Entry only with a negative PCR test not more than 72 hours old.
• If the test cannot be carried out abroad, entry can still be granted and the PCR test must be carried out in Austria within 48 hours of arrival.
• Until a negative test result is presented, visitors must quarantine for up to 10 days and must provide proof of where they will be staying during this period.
• The costs of the test and any accommodation costs must be paid for by the visitor.
• If the test result is negative, the quarantine can be terminated.

These countries include:

• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Lisbon and Norte (Portugal)
• Île-de-France (Greater Paris) and Cote d'Azur (France)
• Czech Republic
• Israel
• Spain (except the Canary Islands)
• UK (the North East, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and The Humber).

• Tirol is on the country’s “red list”.
• Travellers returning from Tirol to Belgium no longer have to provide a negative PCR test (this rule will remain in place until at least 15.11.2020).
• Travellers must register online. The authorities will then decide whether or not a ten-day period of quarantine is required.

More Information (in Dutch)

More Information (in Czech)

• Travel warning for all of Austria.
• Entry from Austria to Denmark only possible with a valid reason (cannot be replaced by a negative PCR test).
• Legally binding information on entry requirements only from Danish authorities (Tel.: +45 7020 6044).

More Information (in Danish)

Information in French

• Travel warning for the federal provinces of Tirol, Vorarlberg and Vienna (except Jungholz and Kleinwalsertal).
• German visitors are still allowed to travel to and stay in Tirol. However, the German government is recommending its citizens to leave high-risk areas immediately.
• Visitors entering Germany from Tirol must have a negative PCR test (not more than 48 hours old).
• Visitors without a test must quarantine for 14 days.
• Since 15 September 2020 travellers who have been to a high-risk area at any point in the last 14 days are entitled to a free test within 10 days of entering Germany. Further information is available on the website of the German Federal Ministry of Health.
• Commuting, freight transport and border crossings for family reasons are excluded from the quarantine measures.
• It is still permitted to travel through Germany to another country.
• Important! There are different regulations in place in Germany’s federal states. For more information click here.

On 8 November the new quarantine regulation for travellers returning from high-risk areas will come into force. It states, among other things, that quarantine will in principle end at the earliest five days after entry if the person provides a negative test result. However, there will be exceptions to this rule.

Also people arriving from high-risk areas will have to register online before entering the country. Those who fail to comply with this obligation to register risk being fined. Exemptions ­will continue to apply to commuters and other travellers crossing into and out of specific border regions.

More Information (in German)

Information in Italian

• Travel warning for Tirol 
• Mandatory ten-day quarantine for travellers arriving from Tirol (cannot be avoided by presenting a negative PCR test).

More Information (in Dutch)

• Travellers arriving from the federal provinces of Vienna, Salzburg and Burgenland must quarantine.
• This applies to people who have stayed in Vienna for more than 24 hours within the last 10 days.
• It is still possible to travel through Switzerland to another country.

• Travel warning for all of Austria.
• Travellers arriving from Austria must register upon arrival.
• Travellers arriving from Austria must quarantine for 14 days (cannot be avoided by providing a negative PCR test).

Travelling to Austria is possible without any restrictions from Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic (except Prague) and many other European countries. Travellers coming to Austria from these countries do not need to provide a negative PCR test and do not have to complete any forms before or during arrival.

From 03.11.2020 the measures in place to restrict the spread of the coronavirus in Austria were tightened. This means that all ski lifts and gondolas may no longer be used for leisure purposes. As a result, skiing is only possible for professional skiers. These rules are likely to stay in place until the 6th of December. For a full list of ski resorts and their respective opening times please click here.

No. You do not have to book your lift pass in advance. Some ski resorts are offering the option to purchase your lift pass online before you get to the resort in order to minimise crowding at the ticket desks. Visit the ski resort’s website to find out more about the buying your lift pass online.

The following rules have been agreed on in order to maintain social distancing on the ski lifts and cable cars wherever possible:

• Cable cars are subject to the same rules as public transport. This means passengers and staff must wear face masks covering the nose and mouth.
• Face masks must be worn in all enclosed ski lifts (gondolas, etc.) as well as at the ticket desks and when queuing for the lifts.
• Social distancing of at least one metre must be maintained at all times. If necessary, the number of people allowed onto each lift will be limited in order to ensure space.

Yes. The restaurants in the ski resorts are open subject to certain legal requirements (Restaurants, bars, cafés, etc. must remain closed from 3 November until at least 06 December). These include mandatory wearing of face masks (guests and staff) in enclosed areas. Groups must include no more than six people (not including children). Measures are in place to ensure there is plenty of space between groups. Food and drink may only be consumed while seated.

Yes. The après-ski bars will be open this winter (closed until 06 December). Guests must wear a face mask when entering and leaving the building. Drinks may only be consumed at tables. Drinks may not be consumed at the bar.

Yes. Hotels and other accommodation providers will be open this winter (hotels will be closed to tourists from 3 until 06 December 2020). Please get in touch with the owners for more details. Accommodation providers in the region have put in place comprehensive measures to meet the legal safety requirements and offer guests a safe and enjoyable stay.

Yes. All ski schools are open. Guidelines have been developed by the local ski schools aimed at providing a safe and enjoyable skiing experience for all guests. Groups must be no larger than ten people, including the instructor. Ski and snowboard instructors coming to Austria from other countries must provide the ski school with a negative PCR test.

Yes. Ski and snowboard equipment can be hired just like in previous winters. All the rental shops in the region maintain strict social distancing and have increased their disinfection regimes for hire equipment.

Yes. All public transport in Tirol is operating a normal timetable. A face mask covering the nose and mouth must be worn on public transport. For information on timetables please visit www.vvt.at. It is also possible for guests to travel to Tirol by train, coach or plane from neighbouring countries. More information 

Find here the latest numbers on Covid-19 infections in Tirol.

From 17 November, 00:00, a curfew will be introduced in Austria. This means that it is not permitted to leave your home unless it is for one of the following reasons:

• Fulfilling basic needs of daily life.
• Caring for, looking after or providing help to another person.
• To avoid a clear and present danger to life or property.
• For work reasons.
• For reasons of physical or mental health (e.g. individual sports, going for a walk)

In public spaces, a minimum distance of one metre must be maintained to all people not living in the same household. The wearing of a face mask covering the nose and mouth is mandatory in the following situations:

• in (food) shops
• on the premises of service providers and in all forms of customer contact
• on public transport and in taxis
• at indoor and outdoor events
• in cable cars, funicular railways, coaches and in sightseeing boats
• in local authority buildings
• in schools outside the classroom
• in pharmacies, nursing homes, hospitals and health resorts, and in places where health and care services are provided
• in locations subject to the Austrian Act on Hygiene at Swimming Pools and Bathing Waters (with the exception of showers and indoor swimming pools)
• at markets and trade fairs (indoor and outdoor)

--> Please be aware that different rules may apply in different regions and provinces of Austria. These are determined by the Corona Traffic Light System. 

The Corona Traffic Light System is a tool developed by the Austrian government to indicate the risk level in the different parts of Austria. Based on the latest epidemiological data, a commission of experts gives each region, each province and Austria as a whole one of the following colours:

• Red: very high risk. Uncontrolled outbreaks, widespread distribution of the virus.
• Orange: high risk. Strong accumulation of cases (no longer attributable to individual clusters).
• Yellow: intermediate risk. Moderate accumulation of cases (attributable to individual clusters).
• Green: low risk. Individual cases, isolated clusters.

Details on the Corona Traffic Light System and the current situation in all provinces and regions can be found here (German)

• Since Monday, 15 June there have been no health and identity checks at the borders with Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This means the situation will be the same as before the Coronavirus epidemic - travellers will be able to come to Austria without having to present a negative test or go into quarantine. 
• People wishing to enter Austria from countries which are currently subject to a travel warning must bring with them proof of a negative Covid-19 test (PCR test) or, alternatively, quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days.
• Austria, respectively Tirol is currently subject to travel warnings from Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium and Norway. This means that travellers from Austria must register and quarantine for a period of 14 days. Travellers from Austria arriving in Norway must quarantine for 10 days (regulation in place since 19 August). We recommend contacting the foreign office of the land you wish to travel to in order to get the latest information.

Here you get an answer if you are allowed to travel to Austria from your home country.

Wearing protective face masks covering the nose and mouth is mandatory on public transport. Moreover, a minimum distance of one metre must be observed on public transport wherever it is possible.

• Since Monday 18 May 2020, public transport in Tirol has been running at full capacity again.
• Since Monday 18 May 2020, regional trains in Tirol have been running at full capacity again.
• Since Monday 15 July 2020, long-distance rail services have been running at full capacity again.

Accommodation providers must stay closed from 3 November until at least 06 December with the following exceptions:

• Accommodation providers can continue to welcome guests travelling for business purposes.
• Guests who had already checked into the hotel at the announcement of the lockdown will be allowed to remain in the hotel for the duration of the stay they have booked.
• Accommodation providers can also take in people who are in urgent need of accommodation as well as people who are in need of help or support.
• Guests staying at spa hotels for medical reasons as well as any accompanying persons will be allowed to stay at hotels provided the hotel in question offers the relevant medical treatments.

• Ski lifts and gondolas may not be used for leisure purposes.
• Contact sports are not allowed, indoor sports facilities will be closed.
• Leisure and arts venues will be closed (with the exception of libraries)

All events have been cancelled in November.

Exceptions:

• Professional sporting events are allowed to take place (spectators are not permitted).
• Funerals are allowed to take place (maximum of 50 people).
• Demonstrations are allowed to take place.

Hospitality locations must remain closed from 3 November until at least 06 December.

• Hospitality locations are allowed to offer a takeaway service from 6:00 until 19:00, but food and drink may not be consumed on the premises (with the exception of cantines and accommodation providers serving their guests).
• Food delivery services are allowed around the clock.

Detailed information can generally be provided by your accommodation provider, the online booking platform you used to book your holiday, your travel company or, where relevant, your travel insurance provider.

Moreover, the Austrian Association for Consumer Information (VKI) provides a hotline for legal questions relating to travel: 0800 201 211 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 until 12:00). If you are already abroad, you can find online advice (German only) here.