Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
Unlike car insurance, travel insurance isn’t compulsory – and being so close to home, you may be tempted to skip the cover.
But even though some of Europe’s most-loved tourist attractions are just a short flight or train ride away, the unexpected can still happen.
Whether that’s lost baggage, cancellations, or even emergency medical treatment, it's a good idea to have travel insurance if something goes wrong.
What does European travel insurance cover?
European travel insurance covers you for lots of different things, including:
Emergency medical expenses
We cover reasonable and necessary emergency medical treatment costs if you get ill or injured in an accident abroad.
Delayed or missed departure
If you're delayed or miss your transport because of unforeseen circumstances, we'll cover reasonable costs for accommodation and travel.
Lost or stolen personal belongings
You can claim up to your policy limits if your personal belongings or luggage are lost, stolen or accidentally damaged during your trip.
For the full list of what’s covered, head to our travel insurance page or check your policy book.
Choose from three levels of cover
We have three levels of cover to choose from, depending on the level of protection you’re looking for.
| Admiral | Admiral Gold |
Admiral Platinum |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess | £100 | £75 | £50 |
| Emergency medical treatment and repatriation | £10M | £15M | £20M |
| Cancellation or cutting your trip short | £1.5K | £3K | £5K |
| Personal belongings | £1K | £2K | £3K |
| Money and documents | £300 | £400 | £500 |
This isn't everything we cover. For the full list of benefits, head to the travel insurance page or check the policy book.
What doesn’t European travel insurance cover?
Like with all insurance policies, there are some things we don't cover, including:
- flights cancelled or delayed for any reason other than severe weather conditions, strike, or mechanical breakdown (unless you’ve bought extra cover)
- claims related to flights that don't start or end in the UK (connected flights), unless you’ve bought extra cover
- trip cancellation because you’ve changed your mind
- pre-existing conditions you've not declared
- claims related to death or illness of someone not on the policy linked to pre-existing conditions they had at any time before you bought your policy
- lost or stolen items you've left unattended
- claims where you can't give us evidence, for example, a police report or receipts
- being denied entry because you don't have passports or the correct visas
- extreme sports, winter sports or cruise trips unless you've paid for the additional cover
- circumstances that aren’t specified in your policy
This list isn't exhaustive and doesn't include exclusions for our specialist travel insurance, like winter sports or cruise cover. For the full list of exclusions, check your policy book.
Single vs multi-trip policies
Got a few trips booked? Or maybe you’re planning one big special trip?
Either way, we’ve got cover for you.
Single Trip Insurance
Cover for one trip lasting up to 365 days for travellers aged 18 to 100 years, depending on where you’re heading!
Annual Travel Insurance
Cover for 12 months on an unlimited number of trips, lasting up to 31 days each. For travellers aged 18 to 90, depending on where your holiday is.
If you need cover for trips longer than 31 days, let us know when you get a quote. We may be able to cover you, depending on if you're eligible.
Winter sports
Planning a skiing trip to Zermatt, or maybe to Andorra?
If you’ve got a winter sports trip booked, you need to make sure you have the right cover in place to protect you.
That means buying our winter sports add-on. You won’t be covered without it.
Maximum age limits apply.
Cruise trips
Whether you’re off on a cruise around the Norwegian fjords or down the Amalfi coast, you need cruise cover to protect you.
This is an add-on to our standard travel insurance. You won’t be covered without it.
How much does European travel insurance cost?
As with all insurance policies, the cost of your European holiday insurance depends on:
- where you’re going
- how long you’re going for
- what you’re going to get up to
- if you have any pre-existing medical conditions
Healthcare in Europe
It’s not ideal – but whether you’re sunning yourself on the beach or on a hiking holiday, accidents and illnesses can still happen.
That might mean you need to find treatment or medication wherever you are on holiday. So, it’s a good idea to be clued up on the options before you jet off.
- For minor ailments – for things like scratched knees, headaches, or allergies, you can head to a local pharmacy. Some pharmacists may speak a bit of English, or you can use a translator app to communicate the issue.
- For accidents or serious illnesses – you should find a local hospital or medical facility that can treat you straight away. Ideally, find a facility that accepts the GHIC, which we’ve explained below.
EHIC/GHIC cards
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a medical card that lets you access healthcare in Europe.
Owning an EHIC or the new GHIC means you can receive medical treatment at an approved facility when you're abroad in some European countries.
The card tells foreign medical professionals about your identity and medical history.
Remember, the GHIC isn't a stand-in for travel insurance, and doesn't necessarily cover all the medical costs you could need, including repatriation to the UK.
It’s free to get a GHIC from the NHS online so get one before jetting off on your next trip and carry it at all times.
Read our in-depth guide on the EHIC and GHIC cards.
Pre-existing conditions
If you have a pre-existing condition, you have to tell us about it when getting a quote to see if we can offer cover and to avoid invalidating your policy.
We can't cover your pre-existing conditions unless you've:
- declared them all on your policy
- had written confirmation that we'll cover your medical condition
- paid any additional costs in full
If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may become invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.
MoneyHelper directory
If we can't cover your medical condition, you can use the MoneyHelper directory to find a specialist insurer who might be able to cover you if you've been:
- refused travel insurance or had your policy cancelled
- offered cover with a medical exclusion that you can't remove from your policy
- quoted a price for a travel insurance policy with high medical costs
MoneyHelper makes it easier to find and compare policies you can afford that cover your condition and medical needs. Access the MoneyHelper directory online or call MoneyHelper on 0800 138 7777 (phone lines are open Monday to Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm, excluding bank holidays).
Visit the MoneyHelper DirectoryPlanning for your trip
Here’s some more things you need to consider before jetting off.
Visas for Europe
Since Brexit, getting in and out of Europe is slightly different and things are changing again in 2025.
At some point in 2025 the new EU Entry/Exit system will be coming into force, which will mean you’ll need to register your biometric data when entering Europe.
Learn more about ESS
Currency
A lot of European countries use the Euro – but not all!
Before travelling, always check the currency of wherever you’re heading to and do some research on your options when using money abroad.
How to get the best exchange rates
Mobile roaming
Each phone company has different rules around mobile roaming. Some will charge you every day to use your data abroad, while others won’t charge you.
Check out your phone provider’s rules and keep your phone safe.
Keep your belonging safe aboard
Hire cars in Europe
You might just need a hire car for local journeys – or you could be planning a mega European road trip!
Either way there are some handy things to know things when it comes to hiring a car abroad, from when to book one to how to pay to it.
Get on the roadGuides and resources
Looking for more? Don’t worry, we’ve got a ton of articles on everything from travelling with a medical condition to lost baggage.
Your questions answered
Still got questions? We’ve got you.
Where does European travel insurance cover?
Can I travel anywhere in Europe?
Mostly, yes!
Although you won’t be covered if you travel to a country which the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised ‘against all travel’ or ‘against all but essential travel’.
Do you cover business trips to Europe?
Yes, we can do!
If you’re heading off on a business trip to Europe, we can still cover you.
If you need to take any of your tech away with you, like your laptop and phone, it may be worth looking at our gadget cover add-on.
Read our guide on business travel insurance to find out more about what you’re covered for and what you’re not.
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