No, you cannot legally travel within the European Union (EU) or the Schengen Area without some form of valid official identification, and for non-EU citizens, a passport is mandatory. While the Schengen Agreement has removed most internal border controls, allowing you to drive from France to Germany without stopping at a checkpoint, airlines and hotels are still required by law to verify your identity. Furthermore, in 2026, countries can temporarily reintroduce border checks for security reasons, and you must be able to prove your legal right to be in the area at all times. For EU citizens, a national ID card is sufficient for travel. For visitors from countries like the U.S., Canada, or the UK, you must carry your passport, which should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure. Additionally, starting in 2026, non-EU travelers from visa-exempt countries must also have a valid ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) approval linked to their passport, making the physical travel document more important than ever for a trouble-free European vacation.