Compare travel insurance for Greece
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Key things to know about travel insurance for Greece
- Full medical disclosure: Declare all pre-existing conditions and ensure a "stability period" for hypertension; the intense Greek heat and rugged terrain increase the risk of medical emergencies.
- Repatriation is important: A GHIC only covers public care; you need insurance for medical treatment and emergency medical flights from remote islands, which can cost a significant amount of money if you have to pay it yourself.
- Activity & behaviour risks: Standard policies exclude high-risk activities like quad biking or cliff diving. Cover is also invalidated by drug/alcohol misuse or riding without a helmet/licence.
- Strategic savings: Choose "Europe" only cover to avoid higher worldwide rates, and carry a GHIC to potentially waive your medical excess at public hospitals.
Compare travel insurance for Greece
Greece is a very popular tourist destination, with over 40 million people visiting the country in 20241.
It has plenty of interesting destinations to visit, including:
- The Acropolis
- Samaria Gorge
- Mykonos
- Santorini
Add in the gorgeous weather, and you can see why it’s so popular, particularly in the UK.
However, to fully enjoy these experiences, without worrying about unforeseen circumstances, you should consider getting your own travel insurance policy. It’s even more important if you decide to go to a remote island such as Folegandros, Amorgos, or Kasos.
This is because they are unlikely to have the specialist medical facilities needed to treat you if you were to fall ill or get seriously injured. You’d have to be flown back either to the mainland or medically repatriated back to the UK, which can cost upwards of £10,0002. Having the right travel insurance for your trip to Greece can help you avoid having to pay this cost yourself.
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What does Greece travel insurance cover?
Medical Repatriation (being flown back to your home country) | If you’re seriously injured or become seriously ill, you may have to be flown back home with a medical escort. If this happens on the Greek mainland or on a Greek island, it can cost you anywhere between £25,000–£50,0003. |
Emergency medical expenses | If you need medical care while in Greece, you will be covered. |
Theft and loss of your belongings | Many tourist hotspots around the world are magnets for thieves, your belongings are covered if you’re a victim of theft, or if you lose your items. |
Travel disruption | If your trip or part of your trip is cancelled or delayed, you can be compensated for it. For example, the infamous Meltemi winds in the Aegean Sea can cause delays to ferries in the summer months. Your travel insurance makes sure you’re covered for something like this. |
Climate | Greece unfortunately suffers from wildfires and heatwaves during the summer. Travel insurance covers you if your trip is affected because of these issues. But, for a cancellation or curtailment claim (relating to wildfires or heatwaves) to be accepted, it must not have been a ‘known event’ when you bought your policy. This means that they were public knowledge. If you bought the policy after they were public knowledge your claim will likely be rejected. |
Why you need travel insurance for Greece
The GHIC shouldn’t be enough to give you full peace of mind when visiting Greece. This is because it only gives you access to public emergency care, which can be very limited in some parts of the country. So if you become seriously ill or are severely injured, it may not be enough to treat you properly. It doesn’t cover more advanced care , mountain rescue or repatriation.
Many Greek private hospitals require you to prove you can pay before treating you in the form of:
- A large cash deposit
- Verified proof of insurance
What is not covered by Greece travel insurance?
High-risk activities | If you’re planning on riding quad bikes or high-powered scooters, you’ll need activity-specific add-ons to make sure you’re covered. Most standard policies won’t cover these sorts of activities. Another thing to remember is that if you choose to ride either of these without a valid licence and a helmet, it will invalidate your policy. |
Alcohol and drugs | If you were to get injured or sick from excessively drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs, your policy will be invalidated. |
Not disclosing pre-existing medical conditions | If you get ill or injured during your trip, and you haven’t told your insurance provider about a pre-existing condition, your insurance may be invalidated, and you’d have to pay for your treatment yourself. |
How much does Greece travel insurance cost?
Greece sits in the ‘Europe’ classification, which makes it one of the more affordable places to travel to from a travel insurance standpoint.
The following factors can affect the cost of travel insurance:
- Age - When you begin to approach the age of 65 and above, it may become more difficult to get affordable cover. This is because after this age, you are statistically more likely to make a claim.
- Medical history - Most standard policies don’t cover pre-existing conditions. If you have one, it may increase the cost of your premium. But, if it is well managed, the increased cost is likely to be minimal.
- Activities - The more high-risk activities you plan to do, the higher the likely cost of your cover will be.
- Undeclared pre-existing conditions - If you had an undeclared pre-existing condition and fell ill on the trip, your policy would be void.
- Travelling against FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office) advice - If the UK government advises against travelling to Greece due to a potential danger to UK citizens, and you were to still travel, you wouldn’t be covered.
Tips on finding affordable travel insurance for Greece
- Select "Europe" cover - There is no need to pay for more expensive "Worldwide" policies if you’re only visiting Greece.
- Leverage your GHIC - Always carry your GHIC. Many insurers will waive your medical excess (the amount you pay toward a claim) if you use a GHIC at a public Greek hospital.
- Only buy add-ons if you need them - Standard policies often exclude higher risk activities such as cliff diving, riding quad bikes and mopeds. Only pay for these activity add-ons if you definitely plan to do them.
- Declare your full medical history - The intense Greek summer heat and steep island terrain can be physically demanding. To help increase the chances that your claim will be accepted, always disclose your entire medical history.
- Cancellation protection - Buy your policy the moment you book. This ensures you are protected from day one against ferry strikes or wildfires, which can cause cancellations. You can also be protected from emergencies such as a death in the family, or jury service.
Find the right travel insurance policy for your Greek holiday by using PayingTooMuch to compare quotes now.