Travel insurance for Greece

Get the right travel insurance for a trip to Greece 

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Getting the right cover

Greece is a very popular holiday destination but, as with any trip, you should make sure you have the right level of travel insurance cover in place.

Annual versus single-trip travel insurance

If you head abroad more than twice a year it could work out cheaper to take out multi-trip or annual travel insurance. This gives you more freedom to book last-minute deals without having to organise single-trip insurance every time.

Greece travel insurance

What should my policy cover?

  • Medical expenses
  • Cancellation or curtailment of your trip
  • Delays or missed departures for reasons out of your control (such as extreme weather)
  • Repatriation to the UK in case of ongoing medical treatment
  • Lost or stolen baggage
  • Loss or theft of passport

What's usually not covered?

  • Illness or injury as a result of a pre-existing medical condition
  • Unexpected incidents such as terrorism, war, civil unrest or natural disasters
  • Accident, illness or injury as a result of intoxication
  • Accident, illness or injury in any location The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised not to travel to
  • Accidents or injuries that occur during activities such as sky-diving, skiing or scuba diving. If you plan on doing any of these activities, you'll need extra cover for extreme sports

Medical care in Greece

Greece is part of the EU, so you’ll be able to use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive the same healthcare as Greek citizens.

Since the UK left the EU, EHIC cards have been replaced by GHIC (Global health insurance cards). Similarly to the EHIC, these allow you to access state provided medical treatment whilst abroad. It's worth noting that the GHIC card is only valid in EU countries.

You can apply for an GHIC using the NHS website. If you lose your GHIC, or don’t have it when you need treatment in Greece, you can call the Department of Health Overseas Healthcare Team on +441912181999 to get a Provisional Replacement Certificate.

Having travel insurance in place on top of this will cover healthcare costs if you’re taken to a private facility by ambulance in an emergency - something your GHIC won’t cover you for.

Medical repatriation back to the UK also isn’t covered by an GHIC, but is by your travel insurance.

If you need prescription drugs in Greece, you’ll need to bring a doctor’s note explaining why you’re taking the medication.

If you need to use your EHIC or GHIC, make sure you’re treated by a healthcare provider that has a contract with the Greek National Organisation for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) - use mountain rescue or the emergency services on a cruise.

If you need emergency medical services during your trip, call 112 or 166 and ask for an ambulance.

You won’t be covered if you have private treatment or need to come home in an emergency. Make sure you have adequate medical cover from your travel insurance in case you need to use it alongside your EHIC or GHIC.

Driving in Greece

Your UK car insurance should provide you with third-party cover as a minimum. Talk to your insurer to see if you’re covered for damage to your own vehicle. If you’d like more comprehensive cover whilst you’re abroad, you can usually upgrade it for a fee.

If you’re driving in Greece, you must carry the following documents with you or face the risk of hefty fines:

  • Full, valid driving licence
  • Proof of insurance/green card
  • Proof of identification (passport)
  • Proof of ownership (V5C certificate or rental agreement)

Think about European breakdown cover for roadside assistance and repatriation if your car breaks down, can’t be repaired, and needs to be returned to the UK.

General travel advice for Greece

Here are a few things you should be aware of when in Greece:

  1. Passport

    You’ll need a passport that’s valid for at least six months from the day you arrive in Greece. Expect passport control checks and queues entering and leaving Greece - get to the airport early

  2. Money

    The currency is euros. There’s a daily limit imposed by the Greek banking system on how much money you can withdraw from ATMs, usually around €600. Make sure you always have enough cash, as some businesses don’t accept card transactions

  3. Smoking

    It’s illegal to smoke in all indoor public places, with a penalty of up to €500

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