Current situation in SouthWest Germany
SouthWest Germany and COVID 19: Current rules and guidance for travellers
Daily life continues in SouthWest Germany but, as elsewhere, changes have been made because of the coronavirus. The following rules and restrictions apply throughout the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.
Is it currently possible to travel to, and have day trips in, SouthWest Germany/Baden-Württemberg?
Yes! Generally speaking, holiday travel and excursions are now permitted. This is, of course, subject to the current hygiene and social distancing regulations. Before starting your journey, do contact the attraction, hotel, restaurant etc. to confirm opening times, restrictions and/or conditions. Since June 15th, tourist buses have been allowed to run – again, in accordance with current hygiene and social distancing regulations.
General rules
To avoid spreading the coronavirus, as well as for individual safety, everyone over the age of six must wear a non-surgical face mask (or comparable mouth and nose covering) on public transport, while waiting at stops for trams, buses, ferries and boats, as well as indoors in shops and shopping centres. The only exceptions are for those with medical conditions or other compelling reasons. It is acceptable to wear another type of facial protection, if it is equally effective.
Gatherings in public or private areas
The state’s Corona Ordinance restricts gatherings. In addition, social distancing of 1.5 meters must be maintained wherever possible.
Gatherings are only permitted for individuals or family groups (maximum 20 people). This restriction does not apply to:
- people who are directly related (e.g. parents, children and grandparents)
- Siblings and their families.
- People living in the same household, as well as their spouses/civil partners.
Restaurants, cafés, hotels, holiday apartments, campsites and tourist establishments are open, with the following guidelines:
- Social distancing of 1.5 metres must be maintained
- Bodily contact, particularly hugging and shaking hands must be avoided.
- Anyone, who has been in contact with someone infected with coronavirus in the preceding 14 days, or who shows symptoms of a respiratory infection or an elevated temperature, should not enter a restaurant, accommodation etc.
- Where possible, payment should be contactless (rather than cash).
For restaurants in particular:
- Advance booking is recommended, as is checking details of the restaurant’s own coronavirus rules.
- In the entrance area, guests must wear mouth and nose coverings while waiting to be assigned a table.
- On arrival, personal contact details must be given to enable any necessary “tracking and tracing”.
For all types of accommodation, the rules are:
- Everyone over the age of six must wear a non-surgical face mask or comparable mouth and nose covering in the reception area and any areas, where guests pass one another, particular corridors, elevators/lifts and staircases.
- A ban is in place for anyone arriving from – or whose residence is in – anywhere in the Federal Republic of Germany, where more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants were counted in the previous 7 days.
Cancellation of overnight stays
Please contact your host / booking agency direct. We are unable to provide any information regarding specific cancellation policies for hotels, youth hostels, holiday apartments etc. in SouthWest Germany/Baden-Württemberg.
Events and gatherings
Due to COVID 19, all major events nationwide have been cancelled or postponed. If in doubt, and for information on possible ticket refunds or replacement dates, please contact the event organizer.
Leisure activity companies
The following are open to the public, with strict conditions, such as social distancing. In addition, local regulatory authorities may have their own rules. But, always check ahead of time.
- Individual guided tours in the open air, such as city sightseeing and guided tours
- Boat hire
- Leisure and theme parks
- Outdoor and indoor swimming pools, thermal spas/baths and water parks (including lakes with controlled access)
- Public and private sports facilities, such as gyms, yoga studios, dance schools, etc.
- Libraries, museums, galleries, exhibitions and memorials
- Zoos and botanical gardens
- Pubs, beer gardens and bars
- Cinemas
NB: Discos and nightclubs are closed until further notice.
Shops and businesses
These are open, with rules e.g. the wearing of face masks. In shops, social distancing of 1.5 m is required and the number of customers may not exceed one per 20 m² of sales space.
Local public transport
When using public transport, all passengers over the age of six must wear a mouth and nose covering.
Travelling to SouthWest Germany, the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg
Citizens from the EU Countries, from Great Britain, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as a well as from several non-EU countries (Australia, Canada, Georgia, New Zealand, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay) are permitted to travel to Baden-Württemberg without any controls and without quarantine regulations.
Citizens from all other non-EU countries are only allowed to enter Germany in exceptional cases and on condition that there is an urgent need.
Please find more information on Germany’s Foreign Office website: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus
Countries/regions in which there have been more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 7 days will be deemed as risk territories. Citizens from these specific countries/regions must then be tested either up to 48 hours before their entry or up to 72 hours after arriving in Germany, e.g. as soon as they land at the airport. Any travellers not testing as negative must make their way straight to their destination. Until a negative test can be shown, they must self-isolate/ self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
Please note: The current destinations regarded as risk areas are listed here: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html
On an ongoing basis, the Federal Government constantly checks to see which areas should be classified as risk areas. As a result, this list can be modified/changed at short notice and, importantly, may also be extended. Immediately before setting off on your journey, please check whether you have spent time in one of these areas in the previous 14 days before entering Germany. If this is the case, then you must expect to be subject to quarantine.
Furthermore, citizens from non-risk areas are also allowed to get tested. As of August 1st, 2020 the test is FREE as long as it is performed within 72 hours of entering the country. You can get tested at a public health office, official test stations at airports, train stations or other hubs, and at a doctor’s surgery. The costs incurred for one repeat test per person are also covered.
Tests can be taken at the following locations:
1. Airports
Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Munich, Karlsruhe Baden-Baden and Friedrichshafen
2. Train stations
Karlsruhe main station, Stuttgart main station, Freiburg, Basel, Ulm main station (to be confirmed), Mannheim main station (to be confirmed)
3. Test stations on the main motorways (Autobahn)
A 5 – Brachfeld Ost car park (Parkplatz)
A 5 – Neuenburg Ost car park (Parkplatz)
A 81 – Räthisgraben car park (Parkplatz)
A 7 – St. Jakob car park (Parkplatz)
A 8 – Kemmental car park (Parkplatz)
Please find more detailed Federal Ministry of Health information about the coronavirus tests and an FAQ here:
Advice on specific cases
Due to the large number of enquiries, we are unable to deal with individual questions and requests. Many thanks for your understanding!
Correct as of August 9th, 2020
