Norway is opening to travelers from many European countries

Norway is reopening to visitors from some, but not all, European countries with no quarantine requirement, as parts of the world open up again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travelers from many European countries are permitted to visit from July 15 © streetflash/Shutterstock

Travelers from many European countries are permitted to arrive there from July 15, and this includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and Vatican City.

Portugal, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Luxembourg are excluded, as is Sweden, with the exception of travelers from Kronoberg, Skåne and Blekinge.

Norwegians will also be able to take summer vacations in European countries without having to undergo home quarantine on their return to Norway. The Norwegian authorities have announced that those in a relationship of at least nine months and other family members from countries outside the EU/EEA will be eligible to enter the country to join their loved ones from July 15.

Norway is popular with those wanting to see the Northern Lights in winter © Wide Wings/500px

The move is good news for travelers looking to explore Norwegian stunning fjords and pretty villages. Enjoying nature in Norway is very much an active pursuit, and it is one of Europe's most varied adventure-tourism destinations. It is also popular with those wanting to see the Northern Lights in winter. When it comes to wildlife, visitors can watch whales off Andenes, Stø or Tromsø, while the interior offers up wild reindeer, musk oxen, elk and Arctic foxes. Birdwatching is a highlight, from the puffins of Bleik to the migratory seabirds of Runde and Varanger, and you can also catch polar bears and walruses in Svalbard.

“Tourism companies across the country can now receive guests from a number of countries in Europe again," says minister of trade and industry, Iselin Nybø. "The opening will provide greater income to the companies and get more people back to work.”