FROM MALTA TO MONACO...THE GREEN LIST OF HOTSPOTS IRISH TOURISTS ARE FREE TO VISIT WITHOUT WORRY OF QUARANTINE RULES
MALTA
Population: 441,543
Virus cases: 677
Deaths: 9
Flights: Ryanair flights from Dublin and Cork have restarted
Famous for: Sunshine and megalithic temples National food: Stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew)
Lesser known fact: Malta’s name comes from Greek word Melite or ‘honey sweet’ and it has the highest obesity rate in the EU
National psyche: Friendly but, after so many invasions, doesn’t like authority
FINLAND
Population: 5,540,720
Virus cases: 7,351
Deaths: 328
Flights: Dublin to Helsinki flights are open – although no more Norwegian Air flights
Famous for: Midnight summer sun/saunas/Santa
National food: Poronkäristys (Sautéed reindeer)
National psyche: Finnish people are warm and friendly but it can be difficult for outsiders to really get to know them
NORWAY
Population: 5,421,241
Virus cases: 9,038
Deaths: 255
Flights: Dublin to Oslo flights resumed two weeks ago with SAS
Famous for: Blonde, blue eyed Nordic loveliness
National food: Gravlax (cured salmon coated in dill, lemon and vodka)
Lesser known fact: Norway has knighted three penguins since 1972
National psyche: Norway prides itself in living by social norms called Janteloven – putting society over the individual and staying low-key
ITALY
Population: 60,461,826
Virus cases: 244,752
Deaths: 35,073
Flights: Ryanair restarted flights from Dublin to Milan in late June. Bergamo, the epicentre of the outbreak, is 40km away from Milan. From July 1, Aer Lingus recommenced some of flights to Rome.
Famous for: Art, culture, food being Italian
National food: Pasta Lesser known fact: Italy’s last king ruled for just 36 days before the monarchy was finally abolished in June 1946
National psyche: Lively and fun loving
HUNGARY
Population: 9,660,351
Virus cases: 4,366
Deaths: 596
Flights: Ryanair flies direct from Dublin to Budapest
Famous for: Rich food, not huge fans of immigrants National food: Goulash soup (above)
Lesser known fact: Clinking glasses is considered Austrian, and a social faux pas
National psyche: Heavy people who hate communists with a passion
ESTONIA
Population: 1,326,535
Virus cases: 2,022
Deaths: 69
Flights: Direct flights to Tallinn with Ryanair, indirect with KLM and others
Famous for: Medieval architecture
National food: Kohuke (Curd cheese snack)
Lesser known fact: Highest female-to-male ratio in Europe – 100 women for every 84 men
National psyche: Like to be independent and discourage over-familiarity
LATVIA
Population: 1,886,198
Virus cases: 1,193
Deaths: 31 Flights: Dublin to Riga direct with Ryanair
Famous for: Fighting off the Soviets peacefully in the early 1990s
National food: Rupjmaize (dark rye bread)
Lesser known fact: One of the last countries in Europe to become majority Christian, still has many pagan characteristics
National psyche: ‘Europe’s nation of introverts,’ according to the BBC
LITHUANIA
Population: 2,722,289
Virus cases: 1,949
Deaths: 80
Flights: Dublin to Vilnius direct
Famous for: Deep forests and open countryside
National food: Blynai (pancakes)
Lesser known fact: Basketball is the most popular sport
National psyche: Score very highly as ‘turbulent mediators’ in psychology profiles
CYPRUS
Population: 1,207,831
Virus cases: 1,040
Deaths: 19 Flights: Ryanair direct to Valetta
Famous for: Greek/Turkish sectarian strife
National food: Fried halloumi cheese
Lesser known fact: 64 blue flag beaches – the cleanest beaches in Europe
National psyche: It depends on which side of theisland you’re on – Greeks don’t like Turks, Turks, don’t like Greeks. Tourists should adjust accordingly
SLOVAKIA
Population: 5,459,642
Virus cases: 2,021
Deaths: 28 Flights: Dublin to Bratislava direct
Famous for: Not being Slovenia or the Czech Republic National food: Bryndzové Halušky (creamy potato dumplings)
Lesser known fact: At an average of 24, Slovak women marry at the youngest age of any nationality in the European Union
National psyche: Slovakia is still struggling with its identity as the less cool side of the former Czechoslovakia. Citizens are also adamant they are not Slovenian
SAN MARINO
Population: 33,931
Virus cases: 716
Deaths: 42
Flights: No direct flights. British Airways offers Dublin to Charles De Gaulle Paris, then Florence. Bus from Florence.
Famous for: Stamp and coins collectors doing day trips to add to their collection, beautiful towers
National food: Torta Tre Monti (layered cake held together by hazelnut creme)
Lesser known fact: The oldest country in Europe, founded as a city state in 301 AD.
National psyche: Surrounded on all sides by Italy; don’t want to be Italians