Do I need travel insurance for Greece?

Yes - particularly for medical emergencies, activity cover, and cancellations. Greece's public healthcare system covers emergencies (EHIC/GHIC for EU visitors) but private hospitals and medical evacuations are expensive. Watersports, hiking, and scooter riding on islands require specific activity cover that most basic policies exclude.

Does the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) cover everything in Greece?

No. The EHIC (or GHIC for UK citizens) gives you access to Greek public healthcare at the same cost as a Greek citizen - which often means some cost, and public hospitals can be stretched in tourist areas in summer. Private hospitals and clinics (generally preferred for quality of care) are not covered. EHIC does not cover medical evacuation, lost baggage, or trip cancellation.

What activities need specific cover in Greece?

Most standard travel insurance excludes: motorcycle/scooter riding, ATV/quad riding (a significant source of island accidents), watersports (jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding), rock climbing, and canyon/gorge hiking. If you plan to do any of these, confirm your policy covers them or add an activities upgrade.

What should I look for in Greece travel insurance?

At minimum: medical cover of €1–2 million (for private hospital care and potential evacuation), trip cancellation cover (ferry delays and cancellations are common in summer), and baggage cover. If doing activities, confirm they are included. Look for 24/7 emergency assistance with a Greek-speaking line.

Greece Travel Insurance | The Greece Guides

Greece is generally a safe travel destination, but accidents happen - particularly on the islands, where scooter and ATV accidents are a consistent problem, ferry cancellations are common in rough weather, and medical facilities on smaller islands are limited.

Why the EHIC Alone Is Not Enough

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - or its UK equivalent, the GHIC - gives EU/UK citizens access to Greek state healthcare at local rates. In practice, this means:

Emergency hospital treatment: Covered at public hospitals (but public hospitals in tourist areas can be understaffed in peak season)
Private hospitals: NOT covered - and Greek private hospitals (generally better equipped and with English-speaking staff) can charge €500–3,000+ per night
Medical evacuation: NOT covered - helicopter evacuation from a remote island can cost €15,000–50,000
Trip cancellation: NOT covered
Lost baggage: NOT covered

The EHIC is a useful baseline but not a substitute for full travel insurance.

What to Cover

Medical and emergency: The most important element. Look for policies with at least €1–2 million medical cover. This should include hospitalisation, emergency dental, and - critically - medical repatriation (getting you home if you need specialist treatment).

Trip cancellation and interruption: Ferry cancellations due to Meltemi wind are common in the Aegean in July–August. A policy that covers transport delays and consequential accommodation costs is worth having.

Baggage: Greek beaches and crowded ferry terminals are common locations for theft. Standard baggage cover (€1,000–2,000) covers most cases.

Activities cover: This is the most commonly overlooked element. Greek island accidents involving scooters, ATVs, and watersports are common enough that Greek hospitals in tourist areas are well-practised at treating them. Most budget policies exclude:

Motorised two-wheelers (scooters, motorcycles)
ATVs and quad bikes
Jet skiing and parasailing
Rock climbing
White-water activities

If you plan to rent a scooter in Corfu, ride an ATV in Santorini, or walk the Samaria Gorge, confirm your policy explicitly covers it - or add an activities upgrade.

Comparing Travel Insurance Providers for Greece

No single policy is right for every traveller. Below are providers we regularly recommend, with approximate price ranges for a one-week Greece trip for a healthy adult aged 30 - as of 2026. Prices vary significantly based on nationality, age, trip cost, and cover level.

VisitorsCoverage A strong option for European visitors, with clear policy terms and an activities upgrade that covers scooter riding, watersports, and gorge hiking. Online purchase takes under 5 minutes. 24/7 emergency assistance line. Approximate cost for one week in Greece: €18–32 as of 2026, depending on cover level.

Get a quote: VisitorsCoverage.

World Nomads Popular with long-term and adventure travellers. Policies cover a wide range of activities by default - including motorcycle riding (with a valid licence), hiking, and watersports - without needing an upgrade. Medical limits are high (€10 million standard). Good for travellers combining Greece with multiple countries. Approximate cost for one week: €25–45 as of 2026. Purchase and claims managed entirely online.

Allianz Travel One of the largest travel insurers globally. Strong cancellation and disruption cover - useful for Greek island travel where ferry delays and cancellations are frequent. Scooter and ATV riding typically requires an add-on or is excluded in standard policies - read the fine print carefully. Medical cover solid. Approximate cost for one week in Europe: €20–40 as of 2026.

AXA Schengen / AXA Travel Widely available across Europe and useful if you need to demonstrate insurance cover for a Schengen visa application. Comprehensive cover with clear activity tiers. Approximate cost for one week: €22–38 as of 2026.

Cover-More (Australian and New Zealand visitors) A well-regarded insurer for Australians visiting Greece. As of 2026, Cover-More’s comprehensive policy for a one-week Europe trip starts from approximately AUD 65–90 for a healthy adult. Activity cover for scooters and watersports available as an add-on.

Key things to compare across any policy:

Medical cover limit: look for a minimum of €2 million; €5–10 million is better
Medical repatriation: must be explicitly included
Activity exclusions: read the list carefully, not just the headline
Cancellation limit: make sure it covers your actual prepaid costs (particularly Santorini accommodation)
Ferry delay cover: some policies treat ferries differently from flights - check the trigger delay time

Tips for Making a Claim

Keep all receipts: Medical bills, pharmacy receipts, taxi receipts to hospital, police reports (for theft).
Report theft to the police: Greek police report (αναφορά κλοπής) is required for most baggage theft claims.
Contact your insurer before treatment where possible: Some policies require pre-authorisation for expensive private hospital admission.
Document everything: Photos of damage, written records of cancellations with reasons (ferry company emails, etc.).

When to Buy Travel Insurance

Buy as soon as you book your trip - not the day before you fly. The main reason: trip cancellation cover only applies to events that occur after the policy start date. If you book Santorini accommodation in January for a July trip, buy insurance in January. That way you are covered if you need to cancel in February due to illness or a family emergency.

Pre-existing medical conditions are a common source of claim disputes. Declare any conditions when purchasing - most insurers offer cover for declared pre-existing conditions, sometimes at a higher premium. Undeclared conditions that lead to a claim are typically denied.

For US and Australian Visitors

Greece does not have reciprocal healthcare agreements with the US or Australia - EHIC does not apply. Without travel insurance, you are responsible for 100% of medical costs at Greek hospitals. US visitors in particular should ensure very high medical cover limits - medical repatriation to the US from a Greek island can cost $50,000–100,000 as of 2026.

For US visitors, providers worth comparing include Allianz Travel, Travel Guard (AIG), and Seven Corners - all offer policies for international travel with high medical limits appropriate for covering potential US-bound repatriation costs.

For Australian visitors, Cover-More and 1Cover are the two most commonly used providers for Greece trips. Both offer dedicated European travel policies with activity cover options.

Get travel insurance for your Greece trip: VisitorsCoverage.

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Travel Insurance for Greece: What You Actually Need