Pick a country to see what you need to sort out before you travel: entry rules and visas, new visitor fees, the big ticket prices, money and plugs. Every figure comes from our country guides, with its source and the date we checked it.
Visa rules depend on your passport. Always confirm on the official sites linked for each country before you book or pay.
Choose a country above to see its essentials.
Europe
Before you go to France
Entering France
Schengen rulesFrance is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
ETIAS travel authorisation
No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.
The Louvre, non-European visitors
€32Since 14 January 2026 for most visitors from outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, €10 more than before. Discounts for under-26s and others still apply.
Palace of Versailles, non-European visitors
€35For the Palace ticket since 14 January 2026, up from €32.
Eiffel Tower, adult
€36.70By lift to the summit; €23.50 by lift to the 2nd floor, €14.80 by stairs. From 29 September 2026, stairs tickets must also be booked ahead.
Money and plugs
Euro (€), Type C/ECards are accepted almost everywhere. Sockets take the round two-pin European plug.
Schengen rulesGreece is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
ETIAS travel authorisation
No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.
The Acropolis, Athens
€30For adults, with a one-hour entry slot. Morning slots in summer sell out weeks ahead. Free for under-18s from outside the EU. Buy on the official Hellenic Heritage site.
Climate resilience fee
€2 to €15 a nightPer room, paid at your hotel or rental from April to October, depending on its category; much less in winter.
Cruise visitors
€20 per passengerFor each call at Santorini or Mykonos from June to September, usually added by the cruise line. Other ports charge less.
Money and plugs
Euro (€), Type C/FCards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small tavernas and island shops. Sockets take round two-pin plugs.
Schengen rulesItaly is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
ETIAS travel authorisation
No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.
Venice access fee, day visitors
€5 to €10Charged on 60 busy days between April and July 2026, from 8.30am to 4pm: €5 if booked at least four days ahead, €10 after that. Overnight guests are exempt but must register. Check the official site for next year's dates.
Trevi Fountain, Rome
€2Since 2 February 2026 to go down to the basin, from 9am to 10pm. Rome residents and children under 5 are free. Only cards are accepted at the entrance.
Colosseum tickets
Named, timed entryTickets carry your name and an entry time, and you must show ID. They go on sale 30 days ahead. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.
Money and plugs
Euro (€), Type C/F/LCards are widely accepted. Italy uses round two-pin plugs and its own three-pin Type L, so bring a universal adapter.
Schengen rulesSpain is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
ETIAS travel authorisation
No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.
Barcelona tourist tax
Up to €12 a nightSince 1 April 2026, per person in five-star hotels (€7 Catalan tax plus a €5 city surcharge); €9.50 in holiday rentals. The city surcharge rises by €1 a year until 2029.
Sagrada Família, adult
€26For the basic ticket with the audioguide app; €36 with tower access. The new Tower of Jesus is complete outside, but its viewpoint is not expected to open before 2027.
The Alhambra, Granada
Timed entryThe Nasrid Palaces have a fixed time slot you must arrive for. Bring the original passport or ID used for booking, and book weeks ahead in high season.
Money and plugs
Euro (€), Type C/FCards are accepted almost everywhere. Sockets take the round two-pin European plug.
Schengen rulesSwitzerland is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
ETIAS travel authorisation
No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.
Swiss Travel Pass, 2026
From CHF 254For 3 days in 2nd class (CHF 405 in 1st); CHF 439 for 8 days. Covers trains, buses, boats and city transport, plus 500+ museums.
Jungfraujoch return from Interlaken
CHF 261.20May to October; CHF 224.40 the rest of the year. With a Swiss Travel Pass it falls to CHF 177.20 in summer.
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)Switzerland does not use the euro, though some shops and stations accept it and give change in francs.
Zermatt
Car-freeDrivers park in Täsch and take the shuttle train; most visitors simply arrive by rail.
Visa-free or e-VisaMany nationalities can visit without a visa; others need an e-Visa before travelling. Check your passport on the official site, evisa.gov.tr, and apply only there, as other sites charge extra.
Hagia Sophia, foreign visitors
€25For the visitor route through the upper galleries, where the Byzantine mosaics are. The ground floor is a working mosque, used by worshippers.
Topkapı Palace
Closed TuesdaysThe Harem needs a combined ticket. Arrive at opening time in summer, when queues build quickly.
Balloon flights, Cappadocia
Weather permittingFlights are often cancelled for wind, especially in winter. Book for your first morning so there is time to fly on a later day.
Money
Turkish lira (TRY)Lira prices change often, and some big sights price tickets in euros. Cards are widely accepted; carry some cash for small shops and markets.
Plugs and mosques
Type C/F, 230 VRound two-pin European plugs. In mosques, cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and everyone removes their shoes.
$100 a dayFor international adults, with boat trips and night drives booked separately.
Park permits
Book aheadVolcanoes, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura permits are sold through Irembo, the RDB booking portal or licensed tour operators. Akagera sells entry on its own site.
Visa
On arrivalAvailable to all nationalities, capped at $50 for a single entry. The $100 East Africa Tourist Visa also covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.
Getting in
Kigali International AirportThe main entry point. Volcanoes and Akagera are each a few hours' drive away; Nyungwe and Lake Kivu are a full day.
e-visa (ETA) systemTravellers who need a visa now apply online through the Electronic Travel Authorisation at eta.dha.gov.za, for a R500 processing fee. Many nationalities can still visit visa-free; check yours before you book.
Kruger National Park, foreign visitors
R602 a dayConservation fee per adult per day until 31 October 2026 (R300 for children). Rates usually rise each November. Visitors from Southern African countries pay less.
Table Mountain Cableway
R475 returnAdult return bought online (R530 at the ticket office), valid for a week. The cable car stops in bad weather, so keep a flexible day.
Malaria
In Kruger and the north-eastKruger and parts of the north-east are malaria areas, mainly in the wet summer months. Ask a doctor about prevention before you go. Cape Town and the Garden Route are malaria-free.
Money
South African rand (ZAR)Cards are widely accepted. Tipping is normal: around 10 to 15% in restaurants, and a small tip for car guards and petrol attendants.
Plugs and driving
Type M/N/C, drive on the leftLarge round three-pin plugs are common; bring a South African adapter. Self-drive trips are popular, but avoid driving long distances after dark.
Not needed by 74 countriesCitizens of 74 countries and regions can visit for short stays without a visa. Others now pay ¥15,000 for a single-entry tourist visa (raised from ¥3,000 in July 2026).
Departure tax
¥3,000Per person on flights and cruises booked from 1 July 2026, up from ¥1,000. It is built into the ticket price.
Japan Rail Pass, from 1 October 2026
¥53,000 for 7 daysOrdinary class; ¥84,000 for 14 days and ¥105,000 for 21 days. Buy a pass ↗Partner link
Kyoto lodging tax, from 1 March 2026
¥200 to ¥10,000Per person per night, depending on the room rate. Most mid-range rooms (¥6,000 to ¥19,999) pay ¥400.
Climbing Mount Fuji
¥4,000 per climberOn the Yoshida Trail, open 1 July to 10 September, with a cap of 4,000 climbers a day and required gear checks.
Miyajima
¥100 visitor taxCharged since October 2023 to visitors to the island of Itsukushima Shrine.
30 daysSince 15 September 2026, for travellers from 60 countries and territories, down from 60 days. You can ask Thai immigration for one 30-day extension, or apply before you travel for a 60-day tourist e-Visa.
Digital arrival card (TDAC)
Free, onlineEvery foreign visitor must fill it in within the 72 hours before arrival, on the official immigration site, tdac.immigration.go.th. Other sites charge for it.
Tourist entry fee
Not charged yetA 300-baht fee for air arrivals has been announced several times, but it was still not being collected in mid-2026. Ignore sites asking you to pay it in advance.
Temples and the Grand Palace
Dress codeCover shoulders and knees; no tight or see-through clothing. The Grand Palace is strict and turns visitors away. Shoes come off inside temple halls.
Money
Thai baht (THB)Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants. Carry cash for markets, street food and taxis. Thai ATMs charge a fee for foreign cards.
Plugs
Type A/B/C, 220 VMost sockets take both flat and round two-pin plugs.
Visa-free for manyCitizens of many countries can visit without a visa for 30 or 90 days; some others can get a visa on arrival if they hold a residence permit from certain countries. Check your nationality on the official u.ae portal.
Passport validity
At least six monthsYour passport should be valid for six months or more from the date you arrive.
Dubai's Tourism Dirham
AED 7 to 20 a nightPer occupied room, depending on the hotel's category, added to your bill at checkout. Holiday homes charge it too.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
AED 10For tourists since September 2026. Free for visitors aged 60 and over, for worshippers and on guided cultural tours. A strict dress code applies.
Ramadan
Dates change each yearDuring the holy month, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in the daytime. Many restaurants still serve visitors, sometimes behind screens.
Money and plugs
UAE dirham (AED), Type GThe dirham is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.67. Sockets take the British-style three-pin plug.
Check your passportMany nationalities can visit without a visa; others need one. Check the Mexican foreign ministry's site for your nationality before you book, and keep your entry record until you leave.
Non-resident fee (DNR)
About MXN 983Per visitor in 2026, roughly US$53. Airlines usually include it in the ticket price; check your fare breakdown. Land arrivals pay it separately.
Visitax, Quintana Roo
About MXN 280–300A state charge for foreign visitors to Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, children included. Pay online before you fly home; airport staff may ask for the QR code.
Chichén Itzá, foreign visitors
MXN 697A single ticket since 27 March 2026, replacing the two separate payments visitors used to make at the entrance.
Money
Mexican peso (MXN)Cards work in cities and resorts. Carry pesos for markets, small restaurants and taxis, and use bank ATMs rather than street machines.
Water and plugs
Bottled water, Type A/BDrink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water. Sockets take flat two-pin plugs, as in the US.
$40.62From 16 October 2026 (it was $40.27). Apply only on the official CBP website; other sites charge extra. Approval is usually quick, but apply at least 72 hours before you fly.
Visa applicants
$250 extra feeA new "visa integrity fee" is added to most visitor visas. Some consulates are already collecting it and others are not yet, so check with yours. It may be refundable if you keep to your visa's terms.
National parks, non-US residents
+$100 per personOn top of the entrance fee at 11 busy parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion, for visitors aged 16 and over.
Annual parks pass, non-residents
$250Covers entry and the $100 surcharge at all national parks for a year, so it pays off if you visit two or more of the 11 parks. US residents pay $80.
Money and tipping
US dollar ($)Prices usually exclude sales tax, which is added at the till. In restaurants, a tip of 15 to 20% is expected.
Plugs
Type A/B, 120 VFlat two-pin plugs. Check that hair dryers and similar devices work on 120 volts.
