A woman who has travelled to more than 50 countries has revealed the best holiday destinations for tourists hoping to avoid the EU’s new fingerprint system.
With the Entry/Exit System (EES) coming into force on October 12, many sunseekers are worried about potential teething problems.
The scheme is designed to strengthen border security and ultimately make travel smoother – but there are concerns it could lead to long queues when travellers first register.
Fortunately, Metro travel writer Alice Murphy has shared her top recommendations for destinations where holidaymakers can dodge EES altogether.
Under the new system, instead of manually stamping passports at borders, non-EU nationals – including Brits – will have to provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and a facial photo, automating the registration of entries and exits.
Instead of the manual stamping of passports at borders, the new systems means non-EU nationals (including Brits) will be asked to hand over biometric data such as fingerprints and a photo, automating the registration of entries and exits.
EES applies to all non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area, which covers 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries — Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Metro travel writer Alice Murphy (pictured) has shared her top recommendations for destinations where holidaymakers can dodge EES altogether
By April 2026, every airport, train station, and seaport in the Schengen zone will have the system up and running.
The only EU member states not affected are Ireland and Cyprus, though several nearby non-Schengen destinations are also exempt.
Ms Murphy, who has visited 25 of the 27 EU countries as well as most neighbouring nations, has revealed her top three destinations that are close to the UK and unaffected by the new rules.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Ms Murphy’s first recommendation is Tbilisi, the ancient capital of Georgia, which she says ‘has it all’ – from world-leading wine and trendy restaurants to an enchanting Old Town and rich history.
With easyJet and British Airways both launching direct flights to Georgia earlier this year, it’s now easier than ever to get there.
Non-stop routes from London take around five hours, running on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Georgia is also remarkably affordable by Western standards, and visitors from over 90 countries can stay visa-free for up to a year.
Ms Murphy’s first recommendation is Tbilisi, the ancient capital of Georgia, which she says ‘has it all’ – from world-leading wine and trendy restaurants to an enchanting Old Town and rich history
English is widely spoken in the capital, particularly in the Kala, Mtatsminda, Vera and Chughureti districts.
Just a 40-minute drive away is Mtskheta, a former Silk Road outpost and Georgia’s ancient holy capital.
Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to three striking churches and riverside restaurants serving ‘excellent’ lobio (kidney bean and walnut stew).
Return flights: From £180 in November, flying from London Luton to Tbilisi with easyJet.
Büyükada, Istanbul, Turkey
Next on Ms Murphy’s list is Büyükada, in Turkey’s Istanbul – a city famous for its dazzling mosques, bustling markets and irresistible street food.
She describes Istanbul as ‘ancient, decadent, and at times, overwhelming.’
Most tourists there head straight for the Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower and Blue Mosque, often battling huge crowds.
But just an hour’s ferry ride across the Marmara Sea lies Büyükada, a tiny island of pine forests and pristine beaches.
Next on Ms Murphy’s list is Büyükada, in Turkey’s Istanbul – a city famous for its dazzling mosques, bustling markets and irresistible street food
With no cars, no cinemas and no theatres, Ms Murphy says the island feels ‘like another planet.’
Visitors can spend their days walking through nature, sipping fresh pomegranate juice and swimming with the city skyline in the distance.
Though far quieter than Istanbul, she notes it can get busy in summer, so she chose to visit in September, when it was ‘lively yet peaceful.’
Return flights: From £56 in November, flying from London Gatwick to Istanbul with Wizz Air.
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ms Murphy’s final pick is Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country she says she ‘loves everything about’ – from its warm people and breathtaking scenery to its turbulent, fascinating history.
Known as the ‘Heart of the Balkans,’ it was recently crowned one of Europe’s best-value city break destinations.
She describes Mostar as a ‘truly fascinating place’ and recommends staying at the Old Town Hotel, ideal for exploring the ancient alleyways and wartime museums.
Next on Ms Murphy’s list is Turkey’s Istanbul – a city famous for its dazzling mosques, bustling markets and irresistible street food. She describes it as ‘ancient, decadent, and at times, overwhelming’
She also suggests visiting the Museum of War and Genocide Victims, which offers a ‘powerful and at times emotional glimpse’ into the conflict and ethnic cleansing that scarred the country in the 1990s.
A short walk from there takes you to the Old Town Mosque — climb its minaret for a spectacular view of the Stari Most (Old Bridge), a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the 16th-century Ottoman era and painstakingly reconstructed in 2004 after being destroyed during the war.
For a taste of Bosnia’s natural beauty, Ms Murphy recommends a day trip to Kravice, where visitors can swim beneath waterfalls and in the region’s iconic turquoise lake.
Return flights: From £42, flying from London Stansted to Sarajevo with Ryanair.