Travel insurance for Europe

Compare Europe travel insurance from £4.06*

Protects you from unexpected costs while travelling in Europe
Covers travel for most European countries
Compare policies from up to 43¹ trusted UK providers

*The cheapest policy for a European trip based on 1 adult aged 30, with no previous medical conditions travelling for 1 week. Correct as of March 2024.
¹Correct as of March 2024

Do I need travel insurance for Europe?

It's not a legal requirement, but travel insurance is worth considering just in case the unexpected happens. Anything could happen on your trip - you could lose your belongings, your flight could be cancelled or delayed, or you could need medical treatment. Travel insurance helps you to protect yourself against unexpected costs.

Do I still need European travel insurance if I have an EHIC or GHIC?

You should still consider buying travel insurance, even if you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC, and its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), provide you with subsidised medical care. This means you pay the same as a citizen of the country you're in. Many European countries don't have free healthcare, so you might end up with medical bills to pay. You might also need private treatment, which the EHIC and GHIC don't cover. Travel insurance could cover these costs.

Travel insurance also covers more than just medical costs. If you need to cut your trip short or require repatriation, travel insurance provides cover for these scenarios.

What's the best travel insurance for Europe?

The type of travel insurance policy you buy depends on your personal circumstances.

Annual travel insurance. If you travel abroad multiple times each year, it's worth comparing annual multi-trip travel quotes. Annual policies cover you for an unlimited number of trips lasting up to 30 days during the policy term. This can be cheaper than buying individual single-trip policies for every trip you take.
Single-trip travel insurance. If you only travel once a year, a single-trip travel insurance policy should provide the cover you need. These types of policies cover you for 1 trip lasting up to 30 days. This might also be a good option if you're travelling outside of Europe, because often an annual policy only covers you for a single region for 12 months at a time.

Family travel insurance. If you're planning your family summer holiday, it might work out cheaper to buy a family travel insurance policy. These can be more convenient and cost-effective than buying individual policies for each person. They cover 1-2 adults and up to 8 children, including foster and step-children, up to the age of 18.
Interrailing travel insurance. If you're heading off on a gap year, or spending your summer break travelling, you might be considering going interrailing. Interrailing insurance covers you to travel to multiple countries in a single-trip lasting up to 180 days. These types of policies tend to be more expensive because they cover you for more countries, where the cost of medical care can vary.

What does European travel insurance cover?

Exactly what's covered varies between providers, so it's important to check the policy documents before buying to ensure you've got suitable cover.

A typical policy will cover:

Emergency medical costs for anyone named on the policy. This includes the cost of private emergency treatment.
Repatriation if you need to be flown back home for treatment.
Cancellations or curtailment if you need to cut your trip short or cancel it due to unexpected circumstances.
Lost or stolen possessions, including lost luggage or travel documents.
Travel disruption due to delays, strikes or cancelled flights or ferry crossings.

It won't normally cover:

Travelling against government advice, for example to countries that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against.
Pre-existing medical conditions that weren't declared when the policy was bought.
Natural disasters or other events that were known when the policy was bought.
Incidents that occur under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Why is European travel insurance important?

"You might think that because Europe is so close to home, you don't need to worry about travel insurance. Or that you're covered by an EHIC or GHIC. However, having European travel insurance in place could save you £1,000s if the unexpected happens. If you lose your luggage, have to cancel your trip, or need medical care, travel insurance can help cover the bills."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

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What countries are covered by European travel insurance?

Europe travel insurance typically includes all countries within the European Union (EU). You can see the full list of EU member countries to check whether your destination is covered.

Some insurers will also offer cover for non-EU members, including:

Iceland
Norway
Switzerland

Most insurers also consider Turkey to be a part of Europe for insurance purposes, despite it being mostly in Asia. However, you should check your policy details before you buy insurance to ensure you're covered.

How do I compare Europe travel insurance quotes?

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about yourself, the cover you need and who you're travelling with.

Let us know what cover you need

Let us know if there's any additional cover you need or whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Compare quotes and policies

We'll show you quotes from up to 43¹ UK travel insurers. Choose the policy that best suits your needs.

How much does travel insurance for Europe cost?

Policy type	Price
Single-trip travel insurance	£4.06¹
Annual multi-trip insurance	£11.85²
Family travel insurance	£16.70³

What affects the price of travel insurance?

Like other insurance products, the price of travel insurance is based on risk. This means that the more 'risky' you are to insurers, the more you're likely to pay.

European countries typically have low medical costs. Many are also covered by the EHIC and GHIC, which can reduce medical costs for UK travellers. So, travel insurance is normally cheaper than it would be if you were travelling to somewhere like the USA.

¹The cheapest single-trip policy for a European trip based on 1 adult aged 30 with no previous medical conditions travelling for 1 week. Based on Confused.com data, March 2024.

²The cheapest annual policy for a European trip based on 1 adult aged 30 with no previous medical conditions. Based on Confused.com data, March 2024.

³The cheapest family policy for a European trip based on 2 adults and 2 children with no previous medical conditions travelling for 1 week. Based on Confused.com data, March 2024.

Here are some factors that can affect the price of travel insurance:

Whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions. These make you more likely to require medical assistance. So, insurance normally costs more. You might also find your choice of insurers is more limited, especially if you have a serious condition.
Your age, and the ages of anyone named on the policy. The older you are, the more at risk you are of needing emergency medical treatment while abroad.
The length of your trip. The longer you're travelling for, the higher your risk of falling ill or becoming injured during your trip. This increases the likelihood of you seeking medical treatment.
The type of activities you're planning during your trip. Adventurous activities, like paragliding, and winter sports, like skiing, are considered high risk, so typically require specialist cover.
The type of policy you buy. Policies with higher cover levels generally cost more than lower levels of cover. For example, long-stay travel insurance is normally more expensive than single-trip insurance. Any additional cover you need, like gadget cover, also comes at a higher price.

Can I get European travel insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, most insurers will still offer cover for those with pre-existing medical conditions, as long as they're declared when you get a quote. If you don't declare a condition, you risk not being covered and any claims you make being rejected.

Some insurers may not cover you if you have a serious medical condition, or multiple conditions. Others might only offer insurance at a much higher price. If you can’t find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

You can find their directory of insurers on the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) website.

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies¹ to find you our best deals

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Want more information about travelling to Europe?

Do I need a visa to visit Europe?

No, if you're a British citizen and hold a valid UK passport, you don't currently need a visa to visit most European countries. However, starting in 2025, you need to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This is similar to a visa, and will be an entry requirement of 30 countries within the EU and Schengen area.

If you're unsure what documents you need to travel to Europe, you can check for any entry requirements on the FCDO website.

What if I'm travelling to Europe for business purposes?

If you're travelling to Europe for business purposes, you might be carrying company equipment, like a laptop or phone, and money with you. Standard travel insurance policies might not offer a suitable level of cover. So, a business travel insurance policy might be worth considering.

Does travel insurance for Europe cost more since Brexit?

Brexit hasn't affected how much Brits pay for medical care abroad. This is because you can still use the EHIC or GHIC. So, the price of travel insurance hasn't been affected by the UK leaving the EU.

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How to claim on your travel insurance

Making a claim should be relatively straightforward. Even so, there are ways to speed up the process.

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Activity travel insurance

will cover you if you’re planning an action-filled sports trip.

Business travel insurance

covers you for any business-related trips.

Family travel insurance

means you can get one policy that covers everyone, rather than buying individual policies.

Annual travel insurance

is the perfect option if you plan on traveling more than once a year.

Over 50's travel insurance

allows you to easily get a quote for travellers over the age of 50.

Pre-existing medical travel insurance

policies may cover treatment for specific medical conditions.

Pregnancy travel insurance

helps provide peace of mind for any unexpected problems while away.

Ski travel insurance

is a specialist winter sports policy that covers you against slope injuries.

Worldwide travel insurance

will cover you for travel to multiple locations around the world.

Page last reviewed: 26 April 2024

Reviewed by: Alvaro Iturmendi

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