How can I prove I haven’t overstayed in Europe’s Schengen zone?

November 21, 2025 — 5:00am

My son is planning a post-Year 12 backpacking trip around Europe next year, spending some time outside the Schengen zone in Albania and Turkey. How can he prove he has left the Schengen zone after 90 days if he crosses into Albania by land? If he goes to the UK, would a Eurostar ticket be enough?
M. Finch, Cooks Hill NSW

While the Schengen zone has no internal border controls, every exit from a Schengen country, including those to non-Schengen neighbours like Albania, requires a passport check, and passport stamps serve as proof of departure from the zone. It’s important to get that stamp, and a simple request should do the trick. The same applies when leaving Paris for the UK aboard the Eurostar. A French border officer will check the passports of those exiting the Schengen area, and here, too, you can request a stamp.

If the Schengen zone’s new digitised Entry/Exit System (EES), is fully operational at all Schengen border crossings there would be no need for passport stamps. That is due to happen by April 10, 2026. Until that date, your son needs to have stamps in his passport to prove he has not been in Schengen zone countries for more than 90 days in a 180-day period.

We are attending the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo in February 2026. Then we have two weeks to get to Oslo for a Northern Lights cruise. Can you recommend a train/ferry route for this trip, and should we book a Eurail pass?
K. Diamond, Artarmon NSW

In frosty February I’d be sticking to the cities, and you’ve got some crackers along the way, starting with Venice. This is a brilliant time to be in Venice. The hordes have yet to arrive, the city is wreathed in mist and you might even catch some of the Carnevale madness. In 2026 Carnevale takes place from January 31 to February 17, and nowhere else does Carnevale like Venice. From there, take a train to Innsbruck, followed by Munich, Nuremburg, Hamburg and finally Copenhagen before reaching Oslo. It’s not worth buying a Eurail Pass. Apart from the train journey from Copenhagen to Oslo, most of these rail trips are two to three hours long. A Eurail pass only makes sense when you need flexibility, multiple long journeys in a short time or travel across several countries, especially if you’ll take several trains in one day. Use trainline or Omio to book your railway tickets and if you book a month or so in advance you can usually find discount tickets.

Our European trip next year will include three days in Paris. Can you recommend a quieter area of the city with perhaps apartments instead of a hotel, within reach of the major attractions? We previously did a cooking class in Barcelona and it was excellent. Can you recommend something similar in Paris?
M. Edwards, Glenmore Park NSW

One area that might suit you is Parc Monceau. It’s an English-style park just to the north-east of the Arc de Triomphe with quiet residential streets and good cafes. Monceau metro station puts you within easy reach of the Champs-Elysees, Place de la Concorde and La Madeleine. Despite its proximity to some of the main attractions the area has a neighbourhood feel with a touch of luxury. On a couple of visits, I’ve rented an apartment in the Neuilly-sur-Seine area, just to the north of the massive Bois de Boulogne. It’s also quiet and neighbourly and since it’s further from the centre apartments there tend to be less expensive but the metro station at Pont de Neuilly lies on Metro line 1 which runs right through the heart of the city. For your cooking class, what could be more Parisienne than a croissant-making session? Located close to the Montmartre district, Studio Patisserie has a three-hour baking class that teaches small groups how to make croissants and pains au chocolat.

In May 2026 after three to four nights in Paris I will travel to Menerbes via Avignon where I’ve booked a house for two weeks. I would like to join a four to five-night tour to Annecy and perhaps one or two other stops in eastern France before arriving in Avignon.
K. Delamont, Crows Nest, NSW

Four to five nights is a tight schedule for the guided tour you have in mind. All the tours from operators such as Trafalgar take a week or longer to travel from Paris to Lyon and Annecy and finishing in Avignon. What you could do instead is take a train from Paris to Lyon, base yourself there and take a day trip to Annecy. Lyon has plenty to keep you occupied for the time you have available, local guides offer any number of half and full-day tours and Annecy makes a lovely side trip. If you were to stay in Annecy, the quickest train to Avignon requires a change in Lyon.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances

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