Europe Travel Insurance: Plans & Prices
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Key Takeaways
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Travel insurance is not mandatory when visiting Europe, but is recommended. Schengen Visa requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens planning short stays (less than 90 days).
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Your U.S. health insurance will not be accepted across Europe, and most medical facilities will require upfront payment or proof of travel insurance.
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The best Europe travel insurance plans can provide coverage beyond medical expenses, including reimbursement for evacuations, cancellations, delays, and lost baggage.
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Europe travel insurance costs $340 on average. Premiums are primarily driven by factors like age, trip length, and trip cost rather than your specific destination.
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While Travel Advisory levels vary by destination, major tourist hubs like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome are known for pickpocketing, scams, and petty crime targeted toward tourists.
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According to our analysis, the top travel insurance policies that cover trips to Europe are offered by Tin Leg, Travel Insured International, and IMG.
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Try our online travel insurance comparison tool to find the best policy for your European adventure. For personal assistance, call our award-winning agents at 1-800-240-0369.
Our Top Picks for European Coverage
- Tin Leg – Gold because it offers among the strongest medical and evacuation coverage of any comprehensive plan on Squaremouth.
- Travel Insured International – FlexiPAX because it provides well-rounded trip protection and provides multiple ways for customers to enhance and customize their coverage.
- IMG – iTravelInsured Choice because it offers generous pre-existing condition coverage.
Do I Need Travel Insurance for Europe?
Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for Americans visiting Europe for short-term stays, thanks to visa-free travel agreements between the United States and most European countries.
Despite not being mandatory, the U.S. Department of State and European government agencies strongly recommend that all travelers purchase trip protection before departing for Europe.
Since U.S. health insurance is not accepted throughout Europe, you may face substantial medical costs if you get sick or injured while overseas. A single emergency room visit at a private hospital in Western Europe can cost $3,000–$10,000, while a medical evacuation can exceed $100,000.
Beyond medical costs, travel insurance can also reimburse your prepaid trip expenses from unexpected cancellations, protect your belongings from pickpockets, and provide 24/7 emergency assistance throughout your trip.
Coverage doesn’t have to be costly. Even a basic travel medical policy, which can cost as little as a couple of bucks per day, can save you thousands if illness, injury, delays, or other disruptions impact your trip.
Schengen Visa Requirements for European Travel
A Schengen visa is an official travel document that allows non-Europeans to visit the Schengen Area, a group of European nations that have agreed to abolish border controls between one another.
Among the 29 countries that make up the Schengen Area are notable travel destinations like Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for tourists who need to obtain a Schengen visa, and your policy must meet specific criteria to ensure you’re adequately protected during your stay in the Schengen Area.
- Minimum Coverage: The travel insurance plan must provide a minimum of €30,000 (approximately $32,000) in medical coverage.
- Covered Scenarios: It should cover emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, emergency evacuations, and repatriation (returning you to your home country) for medical reasons or death.
- Coverage Period: The policy’s coverage period should last for the duration of your stay in the Schengen Zone.
- Validity: The insurance must be valid in all Schengen countries, regardless of your specific travel destination(s).
New EU Entry Systems: EES and ETIAS
Two new EU entry systems are changing the way Americans cross into Europe. Understanding what they are and how they apply can save you headaches when you land.
EES (Entry/Exit System) has been live at all Schengen borders since April, 2026. It replaces manual passport stamping with a biometric check, including a fingerprint scan and photo, each time you cross the border. Expect this to take a few additional minutes if it is your first time visiting Europe since the system was put in place.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is expected to launch in late 2026. Once in place, Americans will need to apply online through the official ETIAS website, pay a small fee (likely $7-$20), and get pre-approved before flying. This is a security screening, not a visa.
Neither EES nor ETIAS comes with new travel insurance requirements. They also don’t eliminate any existing Schengen visa requirements.
Why Travel Insurance Matters for European Trips
Europe is home to many of the world’s most popular destinations, but unexpected medical emergencies, travel disruptions, and other risks can turn an expensive trip into an even bigger financial burden. Travel insurance can protect you from a wide range of disruptions that many European travelers encounter, such as those listed below:
Expensive Medical Costs
European nations like Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands have among the best healthcare facilities in the world. However, private hospitals can be expensive and sometimes require upfront payment to provide care. According to LegalClarity, daily hospitalization across Europe can range from $500 to more than $1,000.
✅ Travel medical insurance is designed to cover you in the event you get sick or injured during your trip, covering essential hospital bills, doctor visits, prescription medications, and evacuation services.
High Travel Costs
According to our data from the past year, the average trip cost across all European destinations is roughly $6,750. European travel is becoming increasingly more expensive. For example, our data also indicates that trips to Italy have gotten 20% more expensive over the past five years. If an unexpected event forces you to cancel your trip, you may lose all of your prepaid travel expenses, like flights, hotels, rental cars, and excursions.
✅ Trip Cancellation insurance can reimburse up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you’re forced to cancel your trip for a covered reason, such as an illness, injury, family emergency, or natural disaster.
Pickpocketing & Theft
If you’re visiting major tourist cities like Rome, Paris, Barcelona, or London, International Traveller warns you to keep an eye out for pickpocketing, theft, and scams. Petty criminals throughout Europe will often target tourists’ wallets, phones, purses, passports, and backpacks.
✅ Baggage Loss protection is included in most travel insurance plans and can reimburse you for personal belongings that are lost, damaged, or stolen during your trip. All providers on Squaremouth offer 24/7 Emergency Assistance that can also help you replace important travel documents.
Extreme Heat & Wildfires
Summer travel to Europe now comes with a weather risk that didn’t used to factor into much trip planning. Recent summers have brought historically high temperatures to the continent, with The Guardian reporting that some areas reached over 110°F.
This extreme heat has driven up wildfire risk in southern Europe, occasionally forcing closure of hiking trails, parks, and forested areas. Europe also experiences other natural disasters throughout the year, including floods, earthquakes, and storms.
✅ Comprehensive travel insurance can reimburse you for delays, cancellations, interruptions, and medical emergencies tied to extreme weather events. Be sure to purchase your policy early, as coverage no longer applies once a weather event is widely reported and becomes “known.”
Flight Delays & Missed Connections
According to Generali, 7 of the 10 worst airports in the world for flight delays are found in Europe. If your journey involves multiple legs or you are traveling on a strict timeline, even a short delay can have significant consequences.
✅ Travel Delay coverage is designed to reimburse you for meal and accommodation expenses if your flight is significantly delayed. Missed Connection is another popular benefit that can cover the cost to make new travel arrangements if a delay forces you to miss your connecting flight.
Adventure Sports & Activities
Three of KE Adventure’s 10 Bucket List Adventure Holidays can be found in Europe. The continent is an absolute gold mine for high-altitude hiking, alpine skiing, and so many more adrenaline-filled activities. However, participating in adventure sports while traveling significantly increases your risk of injury.
✅ Many travel insurance providers offer policies specifically designed to cover medical emergencies that occur while participating in select high-risk activities, as well as coverage for any sports equipment you choose to bring on your trip. If you’re a thrill-seeker visiting Europe, check out our list of the best available adventure travel insurance plans.
Terrorism & Personal Safety
Most of Europe remains low-risk for U.S. travelers, but no destination is risk-free. The U.S. Department of State notes that terrorist groups remain a persistent threat in most countries across the continent, and that attacks can happen with little to no warning in public places and crowded venues.
✅ Most comprehensive policies include cancellation coverage due to terrorism, as well as 24/7 travel assistance and Non-Medical Evacuation coverage to get you to safety in the event of a terrorist event. To be eligible for reimbursement, you must purchase your plan before a terrorist attack occurs.
Most Important Travel Coverage for Europe
Regardless of whether you’re visiting one European country or multiple, purchasing travel insurance should be a part of your trip planning process. Even a low-cost travel medical insurance plan can provide valuable peace of mind and financial protection while away from home.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Traveling to Europe involves a lot of prepaid expenses like airfare, hotels, rental cars, and tours. Our data shows that Monaco, Norway, the Netherlands, and Greece are the most expensive European destinations at the time of writing. Travel insurance can reimburse any non-refundable expenses you lose as a result of an unexpected trip cancellation or interruption.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption are popular benefits included in comprehensive plans that protect your trip costs if your travel plans change for reasons outside of your control. This includes unforeseen illness, injuries, and family emergencies.
Travel Medical Coverage
Since U.S. health insurance is not accepted across Europe, purchasing a travel insurance plan with strong Emergency Medical coverage is crucial. With this protection, you will be reimbursed for unexpected medical costs, ranging from ambulance rides to hospital bills.
While most medical claims work on a reimbursement basis, some providers can pay for medical expenses upfront if required to begin treatment. When traveling to Europe, we recommend plans with at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage.
Medical Evacuation Coverage
If you get severely ill or injured, especially in remote parts of Europe, you may need to be medically transported via air ambulance to a medical facility. Medical evacuations represent the costliest disruption European travelers face, with EMS Air Ambulance reporting that services can cost between €55,000 and €180,000.
The Medical Evacuation benefit is designed to cover the cost to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility or back to your home country if necessary. Due to the high cost of European evacuation services, we recommend at least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.
Baggage Insurance
While Europe is generally safe, pickpocketing and theft are common issues in major tourist hotspots. Baggage Loss protection may reimburse you for lost, stolen, or damaged items such as passports, phones, cameras, and luggage.
Since coverage limits and deductibles vary between policies, be sure to compare plans carefully. Leaving valuable or irreplaceable items at home is always a good precaution when traveling.
Trip Delay Insurance
According to a recent study by KAYAK, flight delays are more likely to impact international travelers than those traveling within the United States. Oftentimes, delays can result in unexpected expenses such as food purchases and overnight accommodations.
Travel insurance can protect against these disruptions through Travel Delay coverage, which reimburses customers who incur unforeseen expenses, like food and lodging, as a result of a flight delay. Most plans require a minimum delay period of 3-6 hours before you are eligible for coverage.
How Much Does Europe Travel Insurance Cost?
According to our travel insurance sales data from the last 12 months, the average cost of Europe travel insurance is $340, with an average trip length of 16 days. You can expect to pay around $21 per day for EU trip protection.
Roughly 60% of Squaremouth customers visiting Europe opt for comprehensive travel insurance, which is the most robust form of trip protection and includes coverage for cancellations. This type of policy generally costs 4-10% of your insured travel expenses. Factors like age and trip length also significantly impact premiums.
Below are sample travel insurance costs for a 32-year-old couple taking a 14-day, $7,000 trip to Italy.
| Provider | Plan Name | Plan Cost | Cost / Day | % of Trip Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin Leg | Gold | $368 | $26 | 5.3% |
| Travel Insured International | FlexiPAX | $273 | $20 | 3.9% |
| IMG | iTravelInsured Choice | $217 | $16 | 3.1% |
Travel medical insurance is another, more affordable, travel insurance option available to European travelers. This type of coverage is more affordable than comprehensive coverage because it does not cover trip costs. You can expect to pay $5 per day for European travel medical insurance.
Travel Insurance Costs For Popular European Destinations
Our internal data shows that European destinations account for over a third of all policy sales on the Squaremouth platform. The table below highlights average pricing and trip cost information for the most popular vacation spots among our users over the past year. Click the individual country names for destination-specific travel insurance guides.
| Destination | % of EU Sales | Avg. Premium | Avg. Trip Length | Avg.Trip Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 17.0% | $371 | 15 days | $8,868 |
| United Kingdom | 12.1% | $307 | 17 days | $7,329 |
| France | 10.4% | $335 | 16 days | $8,198 |
| Spain | 10.2% | $316 | 17 days | $7,551 |
| Portugal | 5.6% | $323 | 16 days | $7,081 |
| Greece | 5.4% | $398 | 16 days | $9,332 |
| Germany | 5.1% | $280 | 17 days | $7,028 |
| Ireland | 4.3% | $292 | 14 days | $6,848 |
| Netherlands | 3.4% | $427 | 16 days | $9,528 |
| Switzerland | 3.3% | $349 | 15 days | $9,100 |
Details About the Top-Selling Europe Travel Insurance Plans
What Won’t Europe Travel Insurance Cover?
Most standard travel insurance policies for Europe will not cover:
- Known events: If a major weather event or airline strike is publicly announced before you buy your policy, coverage may not apply.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Unless you purchase a waiver, most policies exclude medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions.
- Adventure sports: Activities like surfing in Portugal or cycling in France require a plan that includes adventure sports coverage.
- Government travel advisories: While unlikely, if the U.S. issues a travel ban at your destination, most standard travel insurance plans will not cover related disruptions.
Is Travel Insurance Worth It for Europe?
Yes, even if you’re traveling to a world-famous European destination that’s considered safe, unexpected events can happen. For as little as $5 per day, you can gain valuable peace of mind throughout your trip.
For a relatively small fee, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can protect you against the most common travel disruptions, including cancellations and medical emergencies. To find the best value plan, we recommend comparing policies from multiple providers.
FAQs: Travel Insurance for European Vacations
How Do I Get a Europe Travel Insurance Quote?
The best way to get a travel insurance quote for a European vacation is to use a comparison site like Squaremouth. Doing so will allow you to receive quotes from multiple insurers at one time, making it easy to compare coverage, premiums, and reviews. Head to our quote page to easily find coverage for your upcoming adventure.
Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for Europe?
No, travel insurance is not often mandatory to visit Europe. However, entry requirements vary by country and are subject to change at any time. Before departing for your trip, be sure to check the entry requirements of your specific destination.
Will My U.S. Health Insurance Work in Europe?
No, U.S. health insurance, such as Medicare and private health insurance, is not accepted in Europe. Traveling without any type of medical coverage will leave you exposed to sizable out-of-pocket expenses if you get sick or injured while traveling.
Can I Get Travel Insurance for a Multi-Country Europe Trip?
Yes, most plans on Squaremouth cover travel to multiple countries under a single policy. However, they must be part of a single, continuous trip. If you plan to return home in between destinations, it may be best to purchase a separate policy for each trip.
Do I Need a Visa or Passport to Travel to Europe?
A passport is required to visit Europe. A visa may be required if you are taking an extended trip, typically more than 90 days. Visit your destination’s embassy or consulate website to determine specific visa requirements before you depart for your trip.
How Much Does a Medical Emergency in Europe Cost Without Insurance?
Costs vary by country and the nature of the emergency, but, in general, a basic emergency room visit at a private European hospital can run $1,000–$5,000. Hospitalization for several days can cost over $10,000, and an emergency medical evacuation back to the United States can exceed $100,000. Travel insurance covers all of these costs, typically for a fraction of what a single medical incident would cost out of pocket.
Do I Need ETIAS or EES Approval to Travel to Europe?
Not yet. While EES has been active since April 2026, it simply collects biometric data and does not require approval. ETIAS, a separate pre-departure authorization, is expected to launch at the end of 2026. Once in place, it will apply to visa-exempt travelers, including U.S. residents and citizens. ETIAS will not have any travel insurance component, and fees for the application will likely cost between $7 and $20 per person.