The Schengen Area is a grouping of 27 different countries in Europe where you can travel without having to go through additional border checks. Named after the Schengen Agreement, which was originally signed on 14 June 1985 by five different countries (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany).
What Countries Are In The Schengen Area
The Schengen Area (sometimes called the Schengen Zone) currently consists of 27 different European countries. Travel within the Schengen Area does not require any border checks, which is incredibly helpful in towns such as Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau, where the border literally runs through the middle of the town.
Currently there are 27 countries in the Schengen Area
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
This includes 23 countries in the European Union (EU), plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which are not members of the EU but are members of the Schengen Area.
2 New Countries Joining The Schengen Area
On December 30, 2023, the European Commission unanimously voted to include Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area. This will start with lifting controls at air and sea borders as of March 2024. I would assume that land borders will be coming over time. Bulgaria and Romania are both members of the EU and have been working towards joining the Schengen Area for quite some time. It will be great for travelers to these 2 countries to not have to worry about border controls traveling to much of the rest of Europe.
(H/T: The Bulkhead Seat)
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
Croatia will be surprised to learn that it’s not in the EU.
Thanks – Croatia is in the EU but not the Schengen Area (I had it reversed). Liechtenstein is the 4th country that is in the Schengen Area but not the EU (I’ve updated the post)
It will be great for travelers to these two countries? As it is, for most non EU citizens, the 3 month visa limit is hardly enough time to see so many diverse countries. Now two more I won’t be able to jump to and avoid the Schengen restrictions. Despite my tax dollars going to defend Europe. While Europeans can apply for the B2 visa to stay 6-12 months in the US, Europe has not reciprocated. And people wonder why Americans are voting more nationalistic.
Pretty sure they will live to regret it.