Visa first
See the difference between Schengen visa, visa-free travel, e-visa, visa on arrival and special rules.
Europe in plain language
Europe, the EU, Schengen and the Eurozone are different. This guide explains the practical travel meaning.
Everyday travel help
Payment, opening hours, trains, tap water, toilets, bottle deposit, hiking, camping, tax refunds and country-by-country basics.
Important notice · 重要提示
General travel information only
Wanouzhou provides general travel orientation for Chinese-speaking travellers. This website does not provide legal advice, immigration advice, visa services or individual travel approval. Visa and entry rules can change without notice. Before booking or travelling, always check the official embassy, consulate, border authority, airline and destination country websites.
Start here · 欧洲基础
Europe, EU, Schengen and Eurozone are not the same thing
This is the first point many first-time travellers misunderstand. For tourism, the most important question is often not “Is it Europe?”, but “Is it Schengen, and do I need a visa?”
Europe
A continent. It includes EU countries, non-EU countries, Schengen countries and countries outside Schengen.
European Union
A political and economic union. Examples of well-known European countries outside the EU include Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom. Many other countries in or near Europe also have their own rules.
Schengen Area
A common travel area with shared short-stay visa rules and normally no regular border checks between member countries.
Eurozone
Countries using the euro. Some EU countries do not use the euro. Some non-EU countries are closely connected to the euro area but are not EU members.
The practical tourist rule
A Schengen visa is generally valid for the Schengen Area, not for every country in Europe. The usual short-stay limit in the Schengen Area is 90 days in any 180-day period. Countries such as Türkiye, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia or Russia follow their own entry rules.
Chinese ordinary passport · 中国普通护照
Which European and nearby countries need a visa?
This overview is for ordinary passport holders from mainland China planning tourism or short private travel. It is conservative on purpose: if a rule is conditional or temporary, it is marked clearly.
Visa-free no visa before travel for ordinary tourism stays
e-Visa online visa or electronic authorisation before travel
Visa on arrival visa at the border or airport
Visa required apply before travel
Special rule temporary, conditional or easily misunderstood
| Destination | Chinese name | Category | Stay | Since / until | Travel note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen Area | 申根区 | Visa required | Usually 90 days in any 180 days with a Schengen visa | Current Schengen short-stay system | Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and many others are in Schengen. A Schengen visa is not an all-Europe visa. |
| Türkiye | 土耳其 | Visa-free | Up to 90 days in any 180 days | Since 2 January 2026 | Useful for Istanbul, Cappadocia, Mediterranean trips, transit and Europe-Asia routes. |
| Russia | 俄罗斯 | Special rule | Up to 30 days for many categories, including tourism | Until 14 September 2026 | Temporary rule. Some categories are excluded, including long-term study, migrant work and logistics or transport work. |
| Serbia | 塞尔维亚 | Visa-free | Up to 30 days | Since 15 January 2017 | A useful Balkan destination outside Schengen. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 波黑 | Visa-free | Up to 90 days in any 180 days | Since 29 May 2018 | Often combined with Balkan travel. Not a Schengen country. |
| Albania | 阿尔巴尼亚 | Visa-free | Up to 90 days in any 180 days | Since 18 March 2023 | A growing Balkan destination. Confirm airline boarding rules before travel. |
| Georgia | 格鲁吉亚 | Visa-free | 30 days per entry, cumulative maximum 90 days in any 180 days | Since 28 May 2024 | A Caucasus destination often combined with Europe-Asia travel. |
| Armenia | 亚美尼亚 | Visa-free | Up to 90 days in any 180 days | Since 19 January 2020 | A Caucasus destination near Europe, but not part of Schengen or the EU. |
| Belarus | 白俄罗斯 | Visa-free | Up to 30 days, no more than 90 days per year | Since 10 August 2018 | Check route, insurance, flight and current political travel conditions carefully. |
| Kazakhstan | 哈萨克斯坦 | Visa-free | 30 days per entry, maximum 90 days in any 180 days | Since 10 November 2023 | Not Europe in the simple tourist sense, but relevant for Europe-Asia routes. |
| Montenegro | 黑山 | Check carefully | Not listed here as simple visa-free for ordinary PRC tourist passports | Rules are conditional | Do not assume visa-free entry. Some exemptions concern diplomatic, service or public-affairs passports, not ordinary tourist passports. |
This page is a travel orientation guide, not legal advice. Before buying tickets, check the embassy, border authority, airline and official visa portal of the destination country.
Practical travel topics · 实用旅行问题
What Chinese travellers should check before visiting each country
Visa is only the first step. Many problems in Europe are practical: payment, Sunday opening hours, transport tickets, toilets, deposits, hiking, camping, local currency and tax refunds.
Visa and border
Schengen status, entry rule, passport validity, visa-free stay, e-visa, separate national visa and border checks.
Money and payment
Cash, bank cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, local currency and common payment problems.
Sunday and opening hours
Supermarkets, pharmacies, train stations, airports, restaurants and public holidays.
Transport
Trains, buses, city tickets, ticket validation, taxis, ride apps, driving licence and tolls.
Everyday rules
Tap water, toilets, bottle deposit, rubbish sorting, tipping, quiet hours and restaurant habits.
Hiking and camping
Mountain trails, alpine weather, huts, wild camping rules and why hiking in Switzerland or Bavaria can feel very different from scenic parks in China.
Shopping and tax refund
VAT refund basics, minimum purchase amounts, airport stamping and why the refund is not the full VAT.
Quick answers · 常见问题
First-time Europe questions
Is Europe the same as Schengen?
No. Europe is a continent. Schengen is a travel area. Some European countries are in Schengen, some are not.
Do Chinese tourists usually need a Schengen visa?
Yes. For most trips to Schengen countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria or Switzerland, ordinary passport holders from mainland China usually need a Schengen visa.
Is Switzerland in the EU?
No. Switzerland is not in the European Union, but it is in the Schengen Area. It also does not use the euro as its official currency.
Can Chinese ordinary passport holders visit Türkiye visa-free?
Yes. Türkiye allows ordinary passport holders from the People's Republic of China to enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as of 2 January 2026.
Is hiking in the Alps different from visiting a scenic park in China?
Yes. In places such as Switzerland, Austria or Bavaria, many mountain areas are open and self-guided. Trails can be long, weather can change quickly and mobile signal may be weak. Local rules for huts, camping and protected areas matter.
Is Russia visa-free for Chinese tourists in 2026?
Russia has a temporary special rule for many Chinese travellers, including tourists, allowing visa-free entry for up to 30 days until 14 September 2026. Some categories are excluded.
Official checks · 官方核对
Sources used for this first overview
Visa information changes. For each real trip, check official sources again before booking flights, hotels or trains.