No country on this list asks travelers for a COVID test anymore: the WHO ended the global health emergency on 5 May 2023, and the pandemic-era entry rules that defined 2020 and 2021 have been dropped or replaced by ordinary visa and e-authorization paperwork. The 15 destinations below were the ones that stayed open to tourists when the world was shut. They are still some of the best places to go, so here is why, and what you actually need to check before you fly in 2026.
Welcome back Aluxers. If you remember the long lines, the PCR certificates and the quarantine forms, this is the list that got you moving in 2020. We kept the destinations, dropped the stale case counts, and rewrote the entry advice. For the money side of that period, see our piece on 15 Countries That Are Going Bankrupt Because of COVID.
Welcome to Alux.com, the place where future billionaires come for inspiration. If you’re not subscribed yet, you’re missing out. Prefer the video version? Here it is:
What replaced COVID entry rules in 2026?
Mostly standard travel authorizations. Kenya, for example, abolished visas for visitors from 1 January 2024 and now requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation applied for online before travel, with a fee of about US$32.50. South Korea requires visitors from visa-exempt countries to hold a K-ETA, while Turkey, Egypt, Zambia and Bangladesh all depend on your passport: visa-free, e-visa, visa on arrival, or embassy visa. Namibia allows stays of up to three months for citizens of listed countries without a visa. Rules change often, so confirm on the destination’s official immigration site before you book.
The 15 countries at a glance
| # | Country | Why it made the list | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andorra | Pyrenees skiing, walkable capital | Passport or ID rules for your nationality |
| 2 | Namibia | Kolmanskop, Skeleton Coast | Visa exemption list (up to 3 months) |
| 3 | The Bahamas | Exuma Cays, Green Turtle Cay | Official entry requirements |
| 4 | Chile | Atacama, Valle de la Luna, Easter Island | Current visa and entry forms |
| 5 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Tara Canyon, Mostar | Rules for your nationality |
| 6 | Kenya | Great Migration, Lake Nakuru | eTA required (about US$32.50) |
| 7 | North Macedonia | Matka Canyon, Kokino | Standard entry formalities |
| 8 | South Korea | Seoul, theme parks, food | K-ETA for visa-exempt nationalities |
| 9 | Turkey | Cappadocia, Pamukkale | Visa-free, e-visa or visa by passport |
| 10 | Egypt | Aswan, White Desert | Visa on arrival, e-visa or exemption |
| 11 | Jamaica | Martha Brae, Blue Mountains | Immigration site for your passport |
| 12 | Malta | Gozo, Ggantija Temples | Official entry requirements |
| 13 | Zambia | Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba | E-visa unless your passport is exempt |
| 14 | Bangladesh | Dhaka’s old churches and forts | Visa required for most travelers |
| 15 | French Polynesia | Lagoons, reefs, waterfalls | Current visa and entry forms |
1. Andorra
Tiny, mountainous and easy to explore on foot. Andorra la Vella is small enough that you can walk it in an afternoon, and the skiing is the big draw, with Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig among the best-known areas. In 2020 it asked for PCR tests and repeat antigen tests. Today the planning is about snow reports, not paperwork.
2. Namibia
A vast, empty country that was perfect for distancing and still is. Visit Kolmanskop, the old mining town slowly buried by sand, and the Skeleton Coast, where shipwrecks litter the shore. Namibia lets citizens of a list of countries enter without a visa for up to three months, so check whether your passport is on it.
3. The Bahamas
Sun, sand and boats. Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is a marine protected area popular with divers and snorkelers, and Green Turtle Cay feels like stepping back in time: you get around by golf cart and watch fishermen bring in crawfish and conch.
Did you know you can sneak into a dreamy private resort in the Bahamas? Read about A Private Hideaway in the Bahamas: Tiamo Resort.
4. Chile
The Atacama Desert and Valle de la Luna pull in most visitors, while Easter Island (Rapa Nui National Park) sits about 3,500 km from the mainland and lets you stand beside the famous stone statues in person. In 2020 Chile demanded an affidavit, a PCR test and insurance. None of that is part of today’s trip.
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Raft the Tara Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Europe, with walls reaching roughly 1,300 meters. Then head to Mostar, where the arched bridge dates to the 16th century, was destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian conflict and was rebuilt in 2004.
6. Kenya
Welcoming people, huge landscapes and experiences you won’t forget. Watch the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara as thousands of wildebeest cross the savanna, or visit Lake Nakuru National Park for flamingos in their hundreds. The 2020 rule was a test under three days old. The 2026 rule is an online eTA.
7. North Macedonia
Hike Matka Canyon, visit its monasteries, then reward yourself with Macedonian red wine. Kokino, about an hour from Skopje, is often called the Stonehenge of the Balkans: a Bronze Age observatory on a hilltop.
8. South Korea
The 14-day quarantine is long gone. What is left is Seoul’s Trick Eye Museum, full of trompe l’oeil optical illusions, and the Imsil Cheese Theme Park, a 32-acre park dedicated to cheese, a food that only entered the Korean diet around 1958. Say cheese, then plan your K-ETA.
9. Turkey
Turkey was quick to build a website to track cases and hospital wait times in 2020. Now the reason to go is Cappadocia and Pamukkale, known as Cotton Castle in English, where white mineral terraces look like another dimension.
10. Egypt
Aswan is a tranquil place to unwind, and the White Desert will make you mistake chalky dunes for snow in the middle of the sand. Egypt requires either a visa on arrival, an e-visa or an exemption depending on your passport, and passports must be valid for at least six months.
11. Jamaica
Raft the Martha Brae River on a bamboo raft with a local guide, popular with couples, or head to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park: dense jungle, waterfalls and coffee plantations, with a history as a refuge for the Taino people and for escaped slaves.
12. Malta
The island of Gozo is the quiet side of Malta, with small towns and calm beaches. It has the fortified medieval city of Victoria and the Ggantija Temples, dated to about 3500 BC.
13. Zambia
Secluded beaches along Lake Kariba, boat tours and helicopter flights over Victoria Falls, and waterfalls and rapids across the country where you can have the view to yourself. Zambia asks for an e-visa unless your passport is on its visa-exempt list, and your passport must be valid for at least six months.
14. Bangladesh
Dhaka is the first stop for most visitors and a busy heritage city: the Armenian Church, Dhakeshwari Temple, mosques, the Cathedral of St. Mary in Ramna, the Holy Rosary Church and Lalbagh Fort. Unlike many destinations on this list, Bangladesh generally requires a visa, so apply early.
15. French Polynesia
An outdoor explorer’s wonderland: reef and lagoon snorkeling, kayaks, private boat tours and sea scooters, with turtles and stingrays along the way. Head inland for forests, waterfalls and hikes.
Keep reading
- 15 powerful mindsets that travel gives you: what trips like these teach you beyond the photos
- Countries hit hardest financially by COVID: the other side of the 2020 travel story
FAQ
Do any countries still require a COVID test to enter in 2026?
The WHO ended the global health emergency on 5 May 2023, and the test-and-quarantine rules of 2020 and 2021 are no longer the norm. Always confirm on the official immigration site of your destination before you travel.
What paperwork replaced COVID entry rules?
Standard travel authorizations. Kenya uses an online eTA (about US$32.50) and South Korea uses K-ETA for visa-exempt nationalities. Other countries on this list use visas, e-visas or visa exemptions that depend on your passport.
Which country on this list is best for avoiding crowds?
Namibia, thanks to its vast, empty landscapes, and Gozo in Malta for quiet beaches and small towns.
Do I need a visa for Bangladesh?
Most travelers do. Bangladesh exempts only a list of countries from visas, so check your passport and apply through an embassy or, where available, on arrival.
Why did these countries make the original list?
They were among the destinations open to tourists in 2020 with manageable rules. We kept them because the attractions are still excellent, but we removed the old case counts and entry requirements.
Last updated: October 2026.
