Europe remains the most popular holiday destination for UK travellers, whether you’re planning a beach holiday, city break or cultural escape. From Spain and France to Italy and Greece, travel insurance for Europe can help protect against unexpected costs such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, delays and lost luggage, so you can travel with confidence from the moment you book.
What is travel insurance for Europe?
Europe travel insurance provides financial protection for trips taken within the European region. Cover typically starts from the moment you purchase your policy and continues until you return home.
A Europe travel insurance policy can include cover for:
-
Emergency medical treatment abroad
-
Medical repatriation to the UK
-
Trip cancellation and curtailment
-
Lost, stolen or damaged belongings
-
Travel delays and missed departures
-
Personal liability
If you’re only taking one European trip, you might prefer:
👉 Single Trip Travel Insurance
If you’re taking several European trips this year:
👉 Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance
Popular European Destinations
Europe offers an incredible variety of holiday experiences, from Mediterranean beach resorts and historic cities to mountain escapes and island adventures. Below are some of the most popular European destinations for UK travellers.
Spain remains one of the most popular destinations for UK travellers, offering everything from Costa holidays and city breaks to Canary Islands escapes.
Greece Travel Insurance
Whether you’re exploring Athens, Crete, Rhodes or Santorini, travel insurance can help provide protection before and during your trip.
Portugal Travel Insurance
From the Algarve and Lisbon to Madeira, Portugal continues to attract millions of UK holidaymakers each year.
Italy Travel Insurance
Whether you’re visiting Rome, Venice, Florence or the Amalfi Coast, travel insurance can help protect against unexpected disruption.
France Travel Insurance
France remains one of Europe’s most popular destinations for skiing, city breaks and summer holidays.
Travel Insurance for Different Types of European Holidays
Europe offers an incredible variety of holiday experiences, from relaxing beach breaks and city escapes to cruises and ski holidays. Choosing the right travel insurance helps ensure you’re protected throughout your trip, wherever you’re travelling in Europe.
Beach Holidays
Whether you’re heading to Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus or another popular coastal destination, travel insurance can help protect against unexpected disruption before and during your holiday. Cover can include emergency medical treatment, cancellation costs, travel delays and lost or stolen belongings.
City Breaks
Short breaks to destinations such as Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Prague continue to be popular with UK travellers. Even on a weekend getaway, travel insurance can provide valuable protection if your trip is cancelled, your luggage is delayed or you require emergency medical assistance while abroad.
Family Holidays
Travelling with children often involves additional planning and expense. Family travel insurance can help protect the whole family from the moment you book, providing cover for cancellation, medical emergencies, travel disruption and lost luggage so you can focus on enjoying your holiday together.
Cruise Holidays
Many European cruises visit multiple destinations during a single trip, whether you’re exploring the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords or the Greek Islands. Cruise Cover can be added to your policy to provide protection for cruise-specific events such as missed ports, cabin confinement and cruise interruption.
👉 Related: Cruise Travel Insurance
Winter Sports Holidays
If you’re travelling to ski resorts in France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe, standard travel insurance may not provide cover for winter sports activities. Winter Sports Cover can be added to help protect against ski equipment loss, piste closure, avalanche delays and other winter sports-related risks.
👉 Related: Winter Sports Travel Insurance
Business Travel
Europe remains one of the most popular destinations for business travellers. If you’re travelling for work, Business Travel Cover can provide additional protection for business equipment, laptops, documents and other work-related items while you’re away.
👉 Related: Business Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance for Europe with Medical Conditions
Many travellers visiting Europe live with one or more medical conditions. Following medical screening, cover may be available for a wide range of declared conditions.
Commonly declared conditions include:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Conditions
- Cancer
- Arthritis
Cover availability will depend on your individual circumstances and the outcome of medical screening.
Medical screening is available online or over the phone.
👉 Related: Medical Conditions Travel Insurance
Why Choose Covered2Go?
We’ve helped thousands of travellers protect their holidays with award-winning travel insurance designed to provide confidence before and during your trip.
- Which? Best Buy Recognised Policies
- Excellent Trustpilot Rating
- Medical Screening Available Online
- Single Trip & Annual Multi Trip Cover Available
- FCA Regulated UK Travel Insurance Provider
- UK-Based Customer Support
Compare Our Cover Levels
Covered2Go offers three levels of cover to suit different travel plans and budgets. Compare the key benefits available across our Silver, Gold and Platinum policies below.
| Cover Feature | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation Cover | £2,000 | £5,500 | £10,000 |
| Emergency Medical Expenses | £5 Million | £10 Million | £10 Million |
| Baggage & Personal Belongings | £1,500 | £3,000 | £5,000 |
| Missed Departure | £600 | £1,000 | £2,000 |
| Travel Delay | £150 | £210 | £600 |
| Personal Liability | £2 Million | £2 Million | £2 Million |
| Legal Expenses | £15,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Policy Excess | £75 | £50 | Nil |
Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
Yes. While Europe is close to home, healthcare systems and costs vary by country, and some destinations require upfront payment for treatment. Even a minor incident — such as a sprain, illness or delayed flight — can lead to unexpected expenses.
Europe travel insurance helps ensure you’re protected if something goes wrong before or during your trip.
You may need cover for:
-
Trip cancellation (illness, injury or other insured reasons)
-
Flight or transport delays
-
Lost or stolen luggage
-
Stolen valuables or travel documents
-
Emergency medical treatment abroad
-
Personal liability
Healthcare costs abroad vary, and some countries require upfront payment. Europe travel insurance helps ensure you’re protected throughout your trip.
EHIC / GHIC and Europe travel insurance
Many travellers assume an EHIC or GHIC replaces travel insurance — but this is not the case.
What EHIC / GHIC does cover
An EHIC or GHIC allows access to state-provided healthcare in certain European countries, often at the same cost as residents.
What EHIC / GHIC does not cover
EHIC and GHIC do not cover:
-
Repatriation to the UK
-
Private medical treatment
-
Mountain rescue
-
Lost or stolen luggage
-
Trip cancellation or delays
-
Personal liability
Some destinations — including Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands — do not accept EHIC or GHIC at all.
Travel insurance for Europe remains essential even if you hold an EHIC or GHIC.
What does Europe travel insurance cover?
Emergency Medical Expenses
Covered2Go offers between £5 million and £10 million for emergency medical treatment abroad.
Personal Belongings & Baggage
Cover for lost, stolen or damaged items, including clothes, tech and luggage. Essential items may also be covered if your baggage is delayed.
Trip Cancellation & Curtailed Trips
If you need to cancel your holiday due to an insured reason (such as illness, injury or bereavement), cancellation cover may help recover your non-refundable costs.
Travel Delays & Missed Departures
Cover for delays, missed connections and certain unexpected disruptions.
Personal Liability
Protection if you accidentally cause damage to property or injure another person while abroad.
Full limits and exclusions can be found in our Policy Wording.
Popular European Destinations We Cover
Covered2Go Europe Travel Insurance is designed for many of the most popular European holiday destinations, including:
Popular destinations
-
Spain (including The Balearic & Canary Islands)
-
Greece
-
Portugal
-
Italy
-
France
-
Turkey
-
Switzerland
-
Norway
A full list of countries included in the Europe region is available within the policy wording.
Single trip vs annual travel insurance for Europe
The right option depends on your travel plans, destination and how often you expect to travel throughout the year.
Single Trip Europe Travel Insurance
Suitable if you’re taking one specific European trip.
👉 Single Trip Travel Insurance
Annual Multi Trip Europe Travel Insurance
Often more cost-effective if you’re taking two or more European trips within 12 months.
👉 Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance
Not sure which to choose?
If you expect multiple trips this year, annual cover may offer better value.
Comparison Table – Europe Travel Insurance Options
If you’re planning more than one European trip during the next 12 months, an Annual Multi Trip policy may offer better value than purchasing separate policies for each holiday.
| Feature | Single Trip Europe Cover | Annual Multi Trip Europe Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Trips | One specific holiday | Multiple trips within 12 months |
| Cost Efficiency | Suitable for travellers taking one trip | May be more cost-effective for 2+ trips per year |
| Trip Duration | Up to 365 days | 31 days per trip standard extension options available |
| Spontaneous Travel | Must buy cover for each trip | Cover already in place for eligible trips |
| Optional Add-ons | Winter Sports, Cruise, Business, Golf | Winter Sports, Cruise, Business, Golf |
Not sure which is right for you?
If you’re taking more than one European trip in the next 12 months, Annual Multi Trip cover is often more cost-effective. Otherwise, Single Trip cover may be the simplest option.
Do I need to declare pre-existing medical conditions?
Yes. You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions to ensure your Europe travel insurance provides the correct cover.
Learn more:
👉 Travel Insurance for pre-existing medical conditions
You can also visit the MoneyHelper Directory for specialist providers.
Do I need business travel cover for work trips to Europe?
If you’re travelling to Europe for business, consider adding Business Travel Cover, which can protect:
-
Business equipment
-
Laptops/tablets
-
Documents
-
Business money
-
Replacement personnel
Get a quote for travel insurance for Europe
Whether you’re heading to Spain, Italy, Greece or elsewhere, the right travel insurance for Europe helps ensure your trip is protected from unexpected costs.
👉 Get your Europe travel insurance quote now
Travel with confidence across Europe — from the moment you book until you return home.
Essential Travel Resources for European Travel
Travel Advice & Requirements
- UK Foreign Travel Advice – Get up-to-date information on visa requirements, travel restrictions, and safety tips for your destination.
- NHS Fit for Travel – Find health advice, vaccinations, and travel health recommendations.
Cover limits, terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Please read the Policy Wording carefully to ensure the cover meets your needs.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Reviewed by the Covered2Go Travel Insurance Team
