In two years, Americans will need to apply for something called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) in order to enter the continent.

The European Commission says the new visas will be enforced as an effort to upgrade international security, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
The ETIAS Visa for Americansthis link opens in a new tab will apply only to 22 countries in the Schengen Zonethis link opens in a new tab, including France, Germany and Italy. If you’re visiting the U.K., you will not need to apply for this visa.
Americans traveling to Europe for less than 90 days don’t need any sort of visa.The visa will be valid for three years and Americans won’t have to apply every time they want to visit. It will be valid for multiple entries.