Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per person on Signature policies
Unlimited medical cover and emergency expenseson Comprehensive and Signature policies
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Travel insurance for Italy at a glance
Staysure’s travel insurance for Italy holidays offers cancellation cover, unlimited medical expenses on Comprehensive and Signature policies and up to £5,000 baggage cover on Signature policies. We can cover more than 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions, and all ages. With more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other UK travel insurance provider, we’ve won the Best Company for Travel Insurance for 9 years in a row (2016-2025). Get a quick quote online or call our friendly team to set yours up today.
The scent of espresso in a sunny piazza, the whoosh of skis on Dolomite snow, the fizz of Prosecco as the sun melts over the Adriatic – Italy pulls you in trip after trip. But even the most familiar getaway can throw a curveball.
Strictly speaking, Italy doesn’t demand proof of insurance at the border, but many tour operators, airlines and ski lift companies now insist on it before you can board, check in or clip into your bindings. With emergency medical bills and missed connections often much pricier than a Michelin-starred tasting menu, a good travel insurance policy can be worth its weight in gold.
With Staysure behind you, you can explore every corner of Italy and Sicily, and keep your focus where it belongs: on the holiday. We cover every age and more than 1,300 medical conditions, offer unlimited emergency medical cover on Comprehensive and Signature policies, and have a 24/7 English-speaking helpline for emergencies.
Does my EHIC or GHIC cover me for travel to Italy?
Your GHIC is certainly helpful for trips to Italy, but not a full safety net. A GHIC (or unexpired EHIC) lets you access Italy’s public healthcare system at the same cost a local pays, often a co-payment of €25-€30 for out-patient treatment. It won’t:
settle the bill for a medical escort or upgraded seat home
compensate you if illness forces you to cancel or cut short your trip
cover the cost of lost baggage
A Staysure policy works alongside your GHIC — and if you use it to access state care while you’re away, we’ll waive your excess on any related medical claim.
Why choose Staysure?
Up to unlimited medical emergency expenses
Generous cancellation cover up to £15,000
We’ve given over 13m people peace of mind
Most pre-existing medical conditions covered
Easy to access and amend your policy online
What does Italy travel insurance cover?
What’s covered?
emergency medical treatment abroad – including hospital care, ambulance transport and overnight stays if you fall seriously ill or are injured while away.
getting you home safely – repatriation cover if you’re too unwell to travel as planned, including specialist medical transport if needed.
cruise cancellations due to illness or injury – including if you're too unwell to travel, or experience a bereavement.
cutting your trip short – cover if something serious happens mid-holiday and you need to return early.
lost, stolen or damaged belongings – including your baggage, passport and personal money.
pre-existing conditions – if you’ve told us about them and we’ve accepted them, they can be included in your policy.
Example: You’re strolling the steep steps of Positano when a loose cobblestone sends you sideways, resulting in a fractured wrist. Because you declared osteoarthritis during Staysure’s medical screening, there’s no hiccup in cover. Our 24/7 helpline arranges an X-ray at a state hospital in Salerno and settles the treatment fee.
What isn’t covered?
cancelling because you’ve changed your mind – cover only applies to unexpected and insured reasons.
missed flights – unless it’s due to a strike* severe weather, or mechanical breakdowns.
undeclared medical conditions – always let us know about any health issues when you get a quote.
unattended items – valuables left alone may not be covered.
activities not listed on your policy – like extreme sports, unless you’ve added them.
travelling against advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – policies won’t cover destinations where the UK government advises against all or all but essential travel.
incidents involving alcohol or drugs – claims related to excessive alcohol or controlled substances won’t be accepted.
going against medical advice – for example, flying too soon after an operation or illness.
travelling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment – including consultations, tests, or planned procedures abroad.
Example: You’ve been counting down the days until your Florence trip, and have booked almost everything in advance – including a luxury hotel, a full day walking tour and Duomo tickets. When you buy your travel insurance policy, you forget to mention you’ve had some chest pain that your GP is investigating. Just before you’re due to set off, your GP says you’re not fit to fly. Because your symptoms weren’t declared, we can’t help recover any of your pre-paid costs.
Beth Craig
Travel insurance expert
Can I get joint travel insurance for a couples holiday to Italy?
What our expert says…
“Holidays feel better shared, and nearly half the visitors Italy welcomes each year arrive as couples. Staysure offers travel insurance for couples. Both travellers sit on one certificate, so if your partner’s unexpected illness keeps you off the flight, you’re both protected.
”
Italy travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions
Having a pre-existing medical condition shouldn't stop you from exploring Germany's stunning landscapes and rich history. As a medical travel insurance specialist, we cover over 1,300 medical conditions, and all ages.
We’ve put years into making our screening process as simple as possible, our underwriters have lots of experience with complex cases, and the claims team understand the realities of travelling with a health condition. In fact, 97% of customers are able to get medical cover with us.
Medical conditions we regularly cover
We cover a vast number of medical conditions, including:
For people who have trouble finding travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has a directory of specialist insurers, like us!
To find out more, or if on the odd occasion we are unable to provide the cover you need, contact BIBA on 0370 950 1790. You can also search BIBA's medical directory online.
Free English-speaking medical help abroad
Travel Doctor, our new online service, connects you with an English-speaking doctor if you need medical support while you are abroad.** It lets you book a video-based consultation to discuss your health needs with a doctor right from your sun lounger.
You can choose a slot that works for you, go through your symptoms, get your prescription and even use Travel Doctor to find your nearest pharmacy, so you can get your meds and get on with enjoying your holiday.
Pick a travel insurance policy and tailor it to you
Shout bon voyage to a one-size-fits-all policy and give a warm welcome to holiday insurance that's all about you. Join over 12 million people who've trusted us with their travel insurance since 2005.
“Hitting the Dolomites for a week of powder isn’t covered by our standard policy, but it’s easy to add. Add our optional winter sports cover (available on Comprehensive and Signature policies) when you get your Italy quote and skiing, boarding, snowshoeing and even guided off-piste routes inside the resort boundary all drop into your safety net. Planning more than one trip? Comprehensive and Signature annual multi-trip policies already include winter sports cover, with 21 days a year available on Comprehensive and 28 on Signature, so you can split your season between Cortina and Courmayeur without adding a penny later.
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How to buy travel insurance for Italy
Whether you prefer getting a quick online quote or speaking to a real human over the phone, we make buying travel insurance both easy and effortless.
1. Run us through your travel plans
To get started on your quote, we’ll go over your travel plans. We need to know who’s coming along, where you’re heading, how long your trip will be, and whether you need insurance for a single trip or annual multi-trip cover.
For cruises, it’s important to include every destination on your itinerary, as well as any flights to and from your port.
2. Tell us about your medical history
Next on the list, we’ll go over some health questions with you so we can make sure you get proper medical cover while travelling. Now is the time to tell us about any health concerns that needed medication, medical advice, or treatment during the last two years.
3. Get your personalised quote
Once we have everything we need, we’ll give you your personalised quote, either online or by reading it out loud over the phone.
You’ll be able to choose your level of cover and add any optional extras that suit your trip, such as cruise travel insurance or winter sports cover. If you’d like more time to think it over, we can also send your quote by email so you can go through it in your own time.
Many experts agree that buying travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday is the best way to go. By doing this, you’ll be covered during the run-up to your holiday and while you’re abroad.
Despite the benefits of buying early, lots of people leave it to the last minute. Our sales data from July 2025 to January 2026 shows that the majority of travellers purchased their policy within 30 days of leaving, with a significant proportion doing so within just a few days of departure.
Travel insurance can’t be backdated, so it’s best to get it locked in before you are on holiday. If you still have to get your policy in place for future travels, it’s not too late. Simply get in touch with our friendly team to get a quote.
How much is travel insurance to Italy?
A long weekend chasing Caravaggios in Rome, a fortnight of limoncello and lidos on the Amalfi Coast, or a full ski season in the Dolomites, each Italian adventure asks something different of your policy, so each quote lands at its own number. A few factors usually guide the price:
Age and health - We cover all ages and more than 1,300 medical conditions, but if you travel with an ongoing condition, your policy has to be ready to pick up any medical bills. That extra safety net can add a little, but it saves you worrying about hospital invoices later.
Trip length - 4 nights in Florence will usually cost less to insure than 6 weeks in Cortina because your policy is on duty for fewer days.
Policy level and add-ons - Adding optional extras like Cruise Plus, golf cover, or gadget cover (available on Comprehensive and Signature policies) widens your safety net, but will nudge up your final quote.
How to get cheaper holiday insurance for Italy?
Want to shrink the costs of your travel insurance while still getting the most out of your policy? Keep these tips and tricks in mind before you buy:
buy your policy early – taking out travel insurance soon after booking your trip can keep you covered if you need to cancel before you travel.
choose a higher excess – a higher excess will help to lower your premium, but be sure to choose an amount you’re comfortable paying if needed.
skip the add-ons – by not adding things like cruise or gadget cover if you don’t need them, you can lower your overall cover cost.
declare your medical conditions – being open about your health history helps to ensure the right cover is in place.
combine travellers on one policy – make sure all your travel companions are on the same policy, such as our family travel insurance, to save on cover costs.
keep your baggage light – by taking only what you need, you can lower the baggage limit on your policy and bring your premium down.
find a discount – make sure you swing by our discounts page before you buy so you can save on your policy.
The big-ticket costs travel insurance can help with
From October 2024 to October 2025, emergency medical expenses were our most common claim, and for good reason. Hospitalisation for a stomach bug in the USA with medical repatriation back to the UK could set you back £150,000+, according to the UK government.
In reality, the biggest claims are often more costly. While the average emergency medical claim on our worldwide policies was about £3,000, the highest we paid was closer to an eye-watering £350,000.^
Over the same period, our second most common claim on worldwide policies was cancellation. If you need to pull the plug on your holiday, we can help you recover the prepaid costs – with the average cancellation claim on our worldwide policies coming in at around £2,000, and the highest reaching more than £50,000.
Voted Best Travel Insurance 9 years running
The British Travel Awards have recognised us as the Best Company for Travel Insurance nine years in a row (2016-2025). This achievement is based on the votes of real customers, showing the trust travellers place in us.
This award is only given to travel companies that provide stellar service to their customers. It shows that we prioritise customer service, round-the-clock support when you need it most, and a reliable and speedy claims process.
Excellent 4.7 | 550,981 reviews
The UK’s favourite travel insurance provider
with more 5-star reviews than any other provider.†
Was very quick and easy booking holiday…
Was very quick and easy booking holiday insurance , and price was all good
Elaine Tumelty,
Excellent Holiday Insurance Cover
Easy to understand on what things to cover on holiday abroad
Thiranonh Souphakhet,
The advisor was excellent
The advisor was excellent, answered all my questions and was polite.
Lydia Dell,
Other Italy travellers often ask...
A good Italian travel insurance policy mirrors the trip you’re planning. City-breakers hopping Rome, Florence and Venice need cancellation cover that matches prepaid rail passes and museum tickets, plus baggage limits high enough for cameras and designer purchases.
Food-and-wine pilgrims booking vineyard stays in Tuscany should check that villa deposits fall within their cancellation limit.
Winter travellers heading to the Dolomites will often need a policy with a specific winter sports add-on for piste rescue, avalanche delays and hired-ski protection, while scuba fans diving the wrecks off Sardinia might want a policy that already includes recreational diving.
Whatever your itinerary looks like, with Staysure, you’ll get 24/7 English-speaking emergency assistance, at least £5 million in emergency-medical cover (Comprehensive and Signature policies go up to unlimited), and cover for more than 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions* and all ages.
Standard day cruises and ferry crossings are wrapped into every Staysure policy, so a short boat trip or ferry enjoys the same medical, baggage and cancellation protection as time on shore.
Planning an overnight voyage where you sleep in your own cabin? That’s classed as a cruise. Add our Cruise Plus upgrade (available on Comprehensive and Signature), and you unlock cover for cabin confinement, missed ports, itinerary changes and unused shore excursions.
If you have your own cabin, stay on board overnight and visit one or more ports of call, your trip meets the insurance definition of a cruise.
A standard ferry, even for overnight journeys with a reclining seat or cabin berth, is simply transport and is already covered by your base policy. When in doubt, ask: “Is the ship my primary accommodation?” If the answer is yes, let us know that you’re going on a cruise.
Italy’s active volcanoes, including Etna, Stromboli and the Phlegraean Fields, can close airports when ash drifts into controlled airspace. Standard Staysure policies cover emergency medical treatment if you are injured during an eruption but don’t automatically cover the travel fallout.
Add our travel disruption extension (included on Signature, optional on Basic and Comprehensive) before the ash cloud appears and you could unlock:
cancellation cover if the FCDO or WHO moves your resort to “all” or “all but essential” travel due to volcanic ash
extra hotel nights and meals if flights are rescheduled
new flights home once airspace reopens
refunds for prepaid tours you miss while grounded
Remember, the extension only works for unforeseen events, so buy it as soon as you book. Eruptions already in the news or forecast by local authorities are considered “known events” and can’t be insured retroactively. A good reason to buy holiday insurance to Italy as soon as you book!
Sicily is part of Italy, so choose “Italy” on a single-trip quote and the whole island is covered. For annual cover for Italy, choose Europe.
Scooters are as Italian as espresso, and hiring a Vespa is almost a rite of passage in Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast. Staysure covers you as driver or passenger on a moped, scooter or motorbike up to 125 cc/11 kW, provided the rider holds the correct licence, everyone wears a helmet, and you stick to public roads.
What the policy doesn’t cover is damage to the bike or third-party liability; that protection comes from the rental firm’s insurance, so always read the excess waiver. Engines above 125 cc, off-road riding or ignoring helmet laws push the activity outside cover entirely.
Pre-booked Trenitalia or Italo tickets, regional rail passes, the lake ferries of Como and Maggiore, and Alilaguna water-buses in Venice are all treated like any prepaid element of your trip.
If illness forces you to cancel before departure, claim those non-refundable tickets under cancellation. If a medical emergency in Florence cuts your holiday short, curtailment reimburses unused return legs. Should strikes** or floods disrupt schedules after you have started travelling, Staysure can pay reasonable extra costs to reach your next destination.
Minor tremors are common in central and southern Italy, and stronger quakes occasionally hit Abruzzo, Umbria or Sicily.
Standard Staysure travel insurance for Italy includes travel disruption cover for events like floods, fires and earthquakes specifically if the FCDO advises against ‘all’ or ‘all but essential’ travel to your destination as a result. But for broader protection, including cancellation, cutting your trip short, extra accommodation costs, or disruption caused by events at your hotel, our travel disruption extension goes further. It covers unexpected events including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, fires and explosions, and it comes as standard on our Signature policy, or can be added to Basic and Comprehensive.
The key thing to keep in mind is that our travel disruption extension only covers events that weren’t already happening or widely expected when you bought your policy. So if you’re travelling somewhere with a known risk, it might be worth buying your cover as soon as you book.
Staysure’s family travel insurance policies will ensure everyone is protected under one convenient plan, which is often more cost-effective and simpler to manage than buying individual policies for each family member. It covers one or two parents and their dependent children (under 18, or under 21 if in full-time education) – and if one person needs to cancel or cut the holiday short due to a medical emergency, everyone else can be covered too.
If your break includes grandparents, cousins or best friends, a group policy is the way to go. You can buy cover for up to nine people online, or up to 30 over the phone, even if you don’t all live at the same address.
In an emergency, contact the local emergency services first, and then call our 24-hour emergency helpline. Our team will help arrange your care and find the most appropriate place for treatment and follow-up care.
Our helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year:
Calling from outside the UK: +44 1403 288 414
Calling from USA or Canada: +1 844 780 0639
Calling from Mexico: +1 819 780 0639
Calling from the UK: 01403 288 414
If you or someone on your policy is admitted to hospital or your outpatient treatment is likely to cost more than £350, contact us as soon as possible.
Where you have a valid claim and your medical expenses exceed £350, we will look to settle the bill directly with the medical provider where possible.
If you have a non-urgent medical concern, such as sickness, headaches, or mild pain, contact our helpline first for advice on where to go for assistance.
At Staysure, we believe that age shouldn't be a barrier to adventure, which is why we specialise in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, and all ages. Our policies are designed to provide the tailored protection you need to travel with confidence at any stage of life, whether you are in your 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, or beyond.
Simply get in touch with our friendly team over the phone, or get a quick online quote, so you can make the most of your trip.
Stay in control of your account with My Staysure
You can make changes to your policy, online and in your own time with My Staysure.
It's quick and easy to make changes to your policy online. If you need to make simple changes such as updating traveller details or renewing a policy that's details are staying the same, just visit your My Staysure account.
Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per person on Signature policies
