Length of your trip
If you choose a single trip policy, the length of your holiday will affect the cost of your travel insurance. Multi-trip is also more expensive than single trip
Compare Quotes for European holiday Insurance
We’re dedicated to finding you a great deal on your travel insurance, that's why we compare deals from 35 leading travel insurance providers, including:
*Accurate as of March 2023
No mater where in Europe you plan to travel, you can always benefit from travel insurance. There are so many ways that things can go wrong on holiday and travel insurance is designed to recover quickly from theses incidents and help you get your holiday back on track.
From lost baggage to emergency transport, the right travel insurance policy can support you when the worst should happen.
While it is not a legal requirement to have travel insurance for Europe, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) recommends holidaymakers take out a policy, even if they also have the Global Health insurance Card (GHIC).
This is because the GHIC only covers you for emergency healthcare – and only in State-run medical facilities. It would not cover you for repatriation or extra accommodation for you – and family members – if you were in hospital for a time and could not travel home, or for treatment in private hospitals, for example.
A quality travel insurance policy should cover these eventualities – and also extras such as holiday cancellation and cover for cash and baggage.
With MoneySuperMarket, single trip policies can start at as little as £4.73*. How much your travel insurance policy will cost, however, depends on a few key factors. These include:
If you choose a single trip policy, the length of your holiday will affect the cost of your travel insurance. Multi-trip is also more expensive than single trip
Insurers charge more for travel to certain destinations, usually due to higher healthcare costs or greater risks
The cost of travel insurance increases as you get older, which is unfortunately unavoidable, although affordable cover is still available to over 70s
Travel insurance that covers pre-existing conditions is more expensive than standard policies that usually exclude existing health problems
*Based on an individual aged 30 taking single trip cover for 3 days to France. Cover starts on 12th September 2022 and ends on 15th September 22. Equivalent to £1.73 per day.
What's covered by a standard travel insurance policy can vary depending on your provider and the types of policies they have available. Here is an outline of what you can usually expect from your Europe travel insurance cover:
Medical cover: Your insurance will cover the cost of emergency medical treatments as well as emergency transport if you need to return home to continue treatment
Stolen or damaged baggage: Travel insurance will cover your belongings if they are stolen or damaged. This is offered either as standard or as an optional cover
Holiday cancellation: European travel insurance will cover the cost of cancelling your holiday if you are no longer able to travel due to an emergency
Personal liability : This cover protects you in case something you do injures a third party, causes the loss of their possessions, or destroys something that belongs to them.
Pre-existing conditions : Standard European travel insurance won't cover the cost of treatment for any pre-existing conditions unless you purchase a specialised policy with medical cover
Drugs and alcohol: Any incidents relating to drugs or alcohol are unlikely to be covered by your insurance. This applies to all types of claims, including claims for medical cover
Missed departure : Travel insurance won't reimburse you if you miss your flight because you were late. You'll only be covered for missed departure in an emergency
High risk activities: Some activities may be covered by optional adventure sports cover. However, especially dangerous activities may be excluded completely, like bungee jumping
"Even when travelling to a country where healthcare is free or low cost, it's still beneficial to have travel insurance because of the extra protection it gives. While a GHIC or EHIC will offer only the most basic of medical cover for travel in Europe, travel insurance can offer baggage cover, repatriation cover, and personal liability cover. Compare with us online and see for yourself how quick and easy it can be to take out a policy.
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You can choose between two types of travel insurance policies - one that covers a single holiday and the other which can cover multiple trips in a single year. Here's what you can expect from these options:
Policies last only for a single trip, with the end date set when taking out the policy
Limits for trip length are usually much larger than they are for multi-trip policies
Single trip travel insurance policies are less likely to have upper age limits
You can tailor your cover for each trip to match the requirements of your holiday
Policies will cover all of your trips abroad over a 12 month term
Limits may apply to the length of each trip. A common limit is around 31 days
Some policies have age limits and may not cover travellers over 75
If you take out a European policy your policy won't cover you outside of Europe
At MoneySuperMarket, we’re here to make sure your holiday planning is a breeze. Here’s what you’ll get:
We search through leading insurance providers, so you can find great deals to match your needs.
Simply pop in a few details about where you’re off to next, pick the best deal for you and get insured for your next trip.
Thousands of happy holidaymakers say they’d use our services again* – so why not try it now and see how much you could save?
*Source: Feefo. Users rated MoneySuperMarket Travel Insurance 4.7/5.
Travel insurance providers offer a range of different options for you to adjust your policy to get the cover you want. The choice available will depend on your provider and the policy type, but here are some common add-ons you can find with a European travel insurance policy:
This insurance option gives you special cover for cruise-specific mishaps, like cabin confinement, missed departure and excursions, and it can cover you for travel in multiple countries
Golf cover will give you extra protection for a golfing holiday. Not only do you get extra cover for your golf clubs, but also for non-refundable green fees if an emergency forces you to cancel
Insurers won't normally cover dangerous activities but this cover allows you to add cover for certain winter sports and activities, such as skiing, or sledding.
This will expand the number of activities that your travel insurance will cover to include some riskier ones. It can cover camping, hiking, zip lining, caving, horse riding, and more
If you're travelling for work, this cover will give you tailored protection to cover business equipment, company money, and alternative travel or accommodation for schedule changes
Standard policies have a per-item cover limit for belongings that are broken or lost, so this add-on gives you extra cover for expensive gadgets and electronics, such as phones or laptops
Some providers give you the option to have your excess waived, so your insurance provider will cover 100% of a claim. However, there there may be some exceptions to look out for
Rather than just an add-on, this different insurance type can cover you for trips that include multiple destinations fun activities that a standard policy might not
If you have any health problems, you can still get travel insurance for European travel, although you may find your policy to be more expensive. In some cases, your insurance provider may even refuse to cover your health conditions while you're abroad. This means that you would have to cover the full cost of any medical treatments relating to your condition.
If you want to make sure that you have cover for your health problems abroad, there are options available to you. There are specialist travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing conditions without issue. While they tend to cost more than standard policies, they can give you peace of mind that you'll receive full medical cover while you travel.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the cost of your policy and get a better deal for your European travel insurance. However, some of these actions can affect the cover you get, so it's worth it to consider your options carefully when shopping for your policy.
Annual multi-trip travel insurance policies can work out cheaper than purchasing several single trip policies if you plan on doing a lot of travelling. However, you only start saving money once you're travelling more than three or four times a year. Before you jump the gun on an annual policy, it's best to check whether it really is cheaper than buying single trip policies for each trip
By adjusting your excess you can change the cost of your policy, but this is something to think carefully about before you commit. Reducing your excess means you contribute less when you make a claim, but it will make your policy more expensive. Alternatively, increasing your excess will make your insurance cheaper, but it may end up costing you more if something unfortunate happens on holiday
Providers have their own lists of optional add-ons but those add-ons don't always cost the same. Some providers might offer these optional extras at a cheaper rate than others. At the same time, what is an add-on from one provider might be offered with standard cover from another. That's why it pays off to take a closer look at what's on offer and pay attention to more than just the baseline cost of your policy
It's no surprise that taking the time to compare quotes will help you find policies for better value, but did you know that MoneySuperMarket can help you save time as well as money? We ask you questions to narrow down your search and show you quotes from the top UK providers all in one place. With us, you can compare not only cost, but also what each policy has to offer
Give a few details about you, your travel plans, and what you need cover for.
We’ll put together a list of travel insurance quotes, so you can pick one that works for you.
Once you’ve chosen, you can purchase your policy and you’ll be covered for your trip.
The rules for travelling to Europe have changed for UK citizens, so there are a few extra things you need to take with you on holiday.
The first thing you need to bring is a valid UK passport.
You should also bring your GHIC (or your EHIC if it is still valid). This will provide you with reduced cost or free state healthcare in most European countries.
In some countries you may need a visa if you're planning a longer trip. You can check GOV.uk for further information.
If you plan to drive, you will need to bring a valid UK driving license with you. You typically don't need an international driving permit to drive in EU countries.
Finally, while it's not essential, it's a good idea to bring a copy of your travel insurance documents with you, including the contact information of your provider. This will help you make a claim if you need to and remind you of what your policy will cover.
European travel insurance usually covers you for travel to any European Union country and also often a range of non-EU states, such as Iceland, Switzerland, Turkey and Norway for example. If in doubt always check the small print of your policy to ensure your holiday destination country is included.
You can take out a travel insurance policy right up until the day you leave on holiday to Europe. But it’s recommended that you get cover in place as soon as you book your trip. This is because it can cover part or all the cost of cancelling your holiday before you leave if you have to due to illness, job loss or bereavement, for example.
Check the wording of the travel policy before you buy as not all insurers cover cancellation – and where cancellation is covered, the terms and conditions can vary widely between providers.
You can travel into and around the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing a visa. This rule applies to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
You can also stay up to 90 days in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania without using up your 90-day EU quota.
You may need a visa or permit to stay in Europe for longer or to work or study, or for business travel.
From 2023, two new EU entry and exit schemes are set to be introduced that may change these rules. While there's no plan to introduce visas of UK citizens entering Europe, they may be required to scan their passports and documents with the ESS (Entry/ Exit System) when crossing the border.
You can find out more about this change from The House of Commons Library.
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