Anyone planning a European getaway this year may have already heard the horror stories about long queues at border control.
The new entry-exit system, which asks travellers to provide fingerprints and facial scans on their first crossing into Schengen countries, has caused some lengthy delays at busy checkpoints. If you’d rather skip all that entirely, a handful of European countries sit outside the Schengen zone altogether, meaning none of this applies. Here’s where to head instead.
The new border system has caused real headaches for travellers.
The entry-exit system requires biometric information such as fingerprints and facial images to be collected the first time someone enters a Schengen country. It sounds simple in theory, but in practice, some borders have struggled with the rollout, leading to queues stretching several hours long in the worst cases.
Blame has been thrown around between airports, border staff and the system’s own design, but for holidaymakers stuck waiting before they’ve even collected their luggage, the reason behind the delay matters far less than the wasted time itself. Choosing a destination outside Schengen entirely sidesteps the problem completely.
Cyprus offers a Mediterranean escape without any EES queues.
Despite being part of the EU, Cyprus has never fully joined the Schengen zone, meaning travellers heading there skip the new border system entirely. The island is well known for lively beach towns like Limassol, Larnaca, and Ayia Napa, alongside quieter spots such as Protaras and the Troodos Mountains, home to the island’s highest peak.
Beyond the beaches, Cyprus also appeals to history lovers, with ancient ruins in Paphos and a mix of Venetian, Ottoman and Byzantine architecture scattered across the capital, Nicosia.
Ireland stays EES free thanks to a longstanding opt out.
Ireland shares Cyprus’s exemption, holding a special agreement that keeps it outside Schengen rules despite being an EU member. Flights and ferries between the UK and Ireland remain completely unaffected by the new system.
The country is home to the Wild Atlantic Way, a sixteen hundred mile coastal route passing landmarks like the Cliffs of Moher. City breaks are just as appealing, whether that’s Galway for traditional music, Cork for its food scene, or Dublin for its pub culture and the Guinness Storehouse.
Albania has quietly become one of Europe’s best value destinations.
Often nicknamed Europe’s best kept secret, Albania has grown into an increasingly popular, more affordable alternative to Greece or Croatia. Its Ionian coastline, known as the Albanian Riviera, offers strikingly clear turquoise water around spots like Ksamil and Himarë.
For travellers less interested in beaches, the Albanian Alps offer serious hiking, including the 10-mile Valbona Pass. The capital, Tirana, also makes for an affordable city break, blending Ottoman era buildings with striking modern architecture.
Bosnia and Herzegovina rewards travellers willing to look beyond the coast.
With only a 12-mile stretch of Adriatic coastline, Bosnia and Herzegovina isn’t really built around beach holidays, but it more than makes up for that elsewhere. The Kravica Waterfalls offer one of the country’s most striking natural sights, while Una National Park draws visitors for white water rafting along its emerald river.
Mostar, home to the famous sixteenth century Stari Most bridge, and the capital Sarajevo, one of Europe’s cheapest cities to visit, both offer memorable, budget-friendly city breaks.
North Macedonia mixes mountains with centuries of history.
This landlocked Balkan country remains overlooked despite dramatic mountain scenery and thousands of ancient sites. The capital, Skopje, sits beneath Mount Vodno and includes the sprawling Old Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest markets in the Balkans.
Beyond the capital, Lake Ohrid, shared with neighbouring Albania, offers hilltop fortresses, medieval churches and a red tiled old town built along steep cobbled streets.
Moldova is quietly one of the world’s oldest wine producing countries.
Rarely near the top of anyone’s travel list, Moldova has a fascinating winemaking history stretching back over seven thousand years. The Ștefan Vodă region produces reds including the local Rară Neagră, while the milder Cordu region specialises in white and sparkling wine.
Moldova is also home to Mileștii Mici, the world’s largest wine cellar, storing over one and a half million bottles underground. The capital, Chișinău, adds Soviet era architecture set among an unusually large number of parks and green spaces.
Montenegro pairs mountains with a glamorous coastline.
Despite being one of Europe’s smallest countries by population, Montenegro packs in serious scenery, particularly around Durmitor National Park, where hiking, rafting and winter skiing are all on offer. Rural farm stays called katuns give visitors a quieter, more remote alpine experience too.
The Adriatic coast draws a different crowd entirely, with luxury towns like Sveti Stefan long favoured by celebrities. Beyond the exclusive resorts, the coastline includes over a hundred beaches, along with the stunning Bay of Kotor.
Kosovo offers a young, walkable capital full of contrasts.
As Europe’s youngest nation, having declared independence in 2008, Kosovo remains underexplored by most travellers. The capital, Prishtina, is compact and easy to walk around, mixing brutalist architecture with Ottoman mosques and a lively coffee culture. Further south, Prizren sits at the foot of the Sharr Mountains and is known for well-preserved Ottoman era buildings alongside fortifications dating back to the Bronze Age.
Serbia’s capital has built a reputation for nightlife.
Landlocked Serbia draws most of its visitors to Belgrade, regularly ranked among Europe’s best cities for nightlife thanks to floating river clubs that come alive each summer. Cultural highlights include Belgrade Fortress, the vast Saint Sava Temple, and the bohemian Skadarlija quarter, filled with traditional taverns and antique shops.
Outside the capital, Serbia offers five national parks worth exploring, including Tara, known for mountain peaks, ancient archaeological sites and sweeping valley views.
Staying in the UK sidesteps EES entirely.
For anyone wanting to avoid border queues altogether, a UK staycation remains the simplest option of all. Scotland’s highlands and islands, the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales, and the English countryside around the Lake District or Cotswolds all offer strong alternatives to a European trip.
Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway remains a spectacular coastal landmark too, while underrated cities like Dundee, Birmingham, or Newcastle offer a fresh alternative to the usual London or Edinburgh weekend break.
Understanding the Schengen Area helps explain why these countries differ.
The Schengen Area is a border free zone covering 25 of the EU’s 27 member countries, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, bringing the total to 29 countries. The new EES system now applies at the external borders of every single one of these.
Despite being EU members, Cyprus and Ireland sit outside Schengen entirely, which is exactly why they avoid the new system. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are also effectively part of the zone in practice, since reaching them requires passing through Schengen countries first.
A few overseas territories also escape the new system.
Several territories connected to Schengen countries remain outside the zone itself, meaning UK travellers heading there won’t face EES checks. This includes French overseas regions like Réunion and French Polynesia, as well as Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Dutch territories such as Aruba and Curaçao.
Other territories have gone the opposite way. The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands have all implemented EES, as have Spain’s Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast. A recent agreement has also brought Gibraltar into the Schengen system, meaning UK travellers flying there now face EES checks too.
