Safety, Health, and Travel Insurance Advice for Visitors in Europe
Travel to Europe has never been easier or more affordable. The Schengen area permits free movement between member states for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Ultra-low-cost airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet, while light on comforts, are heavy on bargains, offering deeply discounted flights. And multilingual urban areas make European cities particularly welcoming and easy to navigate.
Overall, Europe is a safe, healthy, and accessible travel destination. Tens of millions of travelers visit without issue every year, and it’s likely that you will, too! For the most comfortable and reassuring experience, here are some tips and suggestions to make your next trip worry-free.
The European Healthcare System
Every European country administers its own national health care program. Nearly all of Europe offers universal healthcare, and many countries combine this with supplemental care and private health insurance. The European Union has no responsibility for how each country practices health care. Still, EU countries offer their citizens a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which allows for emergency medical treatment on a reciprocal basis with other member states.
The European Health Consumer Index ranks European healthcare systems by country based on a score that takes into account patient rights and information, accessibility and waiting times, the range of services, treatment outcomes, preventive programs, and pharmaceutical factors. In 2017, the top-performing countries were the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, and Luxembourg. Rounding out the bottom were Hungary, Lithuania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania. According to the WHO Ranking of the Top Healthcare Systems by Country, France, Italy, Spain, and Austria offer some of the best healthcare systems.
Learn More About Healthcare in Europe
Explore detailed guides on healthcare systems across Europe to understand how medical care works in each country before you travel or move abroad.
Health and Travel Insurance in Europe
A wide variety of options is available for non-EU visitors who require healthcare. For minor concerns, such as a cold, indigestion, or moderate back pain, consider consulting a pharmacist for advice. Pharmacies across Europe adhere to a high standard of care, and most are accustomed to assisting tourists.
For serious concerns, please consult with your hotel staff about seeking medical attention or refer to this article on finding an international doctor. Depending on the circumstances and location, they might recommend visiting a walk-in clinic, making an appointment at a doctor’s office, or even arranging a house call. The costs for this are rarely exorbitant. In fact, they might even be free. However, please check in advance, as you’ll likely be expected to pay any associated fees on the spot.
Just like at home, severe and life-threatening emergencies should be treated at a hospital. While many travelers are astonished by how reasonable the fees are at European hospitals, knowing what your cost will depend on many factors. They include what country you’re in, what kind of hospital it is, what type of problem you have, what kind of specialists you need to see, and what kind of tests they have to run. The costs can range from being absolutely free to thousands of dollars. Imagine if you break a hip while skiing and have to be airlifted off a mountain, or if you have a heart attack and need to be rushed into emergency surgery. Even less dramatic circumstances, such as a sprained wrist, could potentially result in unpleasant bills. Therefore, make sure you have comprehensive insurance coverage.
In most European countries, 112 is the phone number to contact an ambulance or other emergency services, such as the fire department.
Best Travel Insurance for Visitors and Foreigners in Europe
Before jetting off to Europe, we want to ensure you understand global health insurance, safety guidelines, and travel medical insurance for short-term and long-term stays. Purchasing a health insurance plan to cover your stay in Europe will relieve any unnecessary health hassles that might impede your experience. Europe is typically a safe destination for travelers, students, expats, and seniors retiring abroad. However, below, we’ve outlined what you should be aware of before planning which tourist trap to visit first.
Single Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
- For U.S. citizens and residents up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, and repatriation benefits
- Choose between basic or more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Europe
For Expatriates in Europe, review and purchase coverage from one of the Best International Health Insurance Companies before you make the big move. Plans can provide comprehensive medical benefits worldwide, including in your home country.
Best Health Insurance for Expats in Europe
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Flexible plans tailored to your needs and budget
- 1.5M+ providers in 200+ countries
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
Best Health Insurance for US Expats in Europe
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
- Pre-existing conditions covered with prior insurance
- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Vaccines and Diet Considerations for Europe
There is no universal standard for mandatory vaccines to enter the European Union. You should be up to date on all routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and the polio vaccine. In some parts of Europe, vaccines for Hepatitis A and B are recommended. Rabies vaccination may also be recommended if you are participating in cave exploration. The Centers for Disease Control have a comprehensive database of all recommendations for each European country.
Generally, Western Europe has safe tap water, and most of Eastern Europe does as well. However, in Romania, Greece, Hungary, and Bulgaria, in particular, please check with your hotel staff. In most urban areas, the tap water is potable, but that may not be the case in their more rural regions.
In many parts of Europe, milk and other dairy products might be “raw,” meaning they are not pasteurized. Therefore, this might not be the right choice for all travelers. If you are pregnant or if you have ongoing health concerns, speak with your doctor to make sure your trip is as healthy as possible.
Common Safety Tips
Generally, European travel is considered very safe. Violent crime and gun violence are rare. The standard of living is exceptionally high. It’s a very welcoming destination for travelers. The most significant threat to visitors’ well-being is non-violent crimes of financial opportunity, as is common in any popular tourist destination. Here are some common scenarios for tourists and expats to keep in mind.
Beware the Crafty Pickpocket
In metropolitan areas, it is crucial to safeguard your belongings, as pickpocketing is a common occurrence. They’re pros at what they do, and you should make an effort not to be their easiest target. An open tote bag worn over your shoulder can be easily violated. The same applies to wallets left in back pockets and cell phones in open jacket pockets.
A cross-body bag with multiple zippers, worn towards the front of your body, offers much more protection. Another method of pickpocket defense is to use gear from travel specialists like Tilley Endurables, whose products often contain secret hidden pockets. However, for the best protection of all, don’t put all your cash in the same place. Split your spending money between your wallet, your money belt, and a secret compartment in your main bag. And when someone approaches you with a petition or a map, realize there’s a good chance they’re really working a pickpocketing angle.
Understanding the Street Hustle
Equally skilled as pickpockets are street hustlers who invite you to try your luck at a game of “three-card monte.” Don’t let their casual clothing and laid-back demeanor fool you. These are some of the most profitable entrepreneurs in Rome, Paris, and Prague. A “plant” – really an actor friend of the hustlers – appears to win big money by correctly guessing which cup contains a coin or which card is the Queen of Hearts. Then you get to try. Surprise, surprise! There was never a coin, and there was never a queen.
Be careful about accepting any “consolation prize.” That might be an invitation to join them for a complimentary drink to show there are no hard feelings. With a bit of help from their friend, the club owner, you’ll soon find yourself on the hook for a bottle of champagne.
The best way to make friends in Europe is the same way you make them at home—not gambling on side streets or hanging out with strangers who just took your money, but through common acquaintances, organized events, or casual conversation in conventional locations like cafes and hostels.
Suave men who appear from nowhere and won’t take no for an answer when it comes to a drink aren’t charming just because they’re in Paris. They’re just as creepy as if they were in Denver or Toronto. Only the architecture has changed. And when a new group of “best friends” appears on the street and tells you that they love Americans and insist on bringing you to a secret club that tourists don’t know about to toast your friendship, you know that something is up.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
However, most travelers find their greatest travel annoyances and safety threats lie in more mundane situations. A combination of unfamiliar road rules and flashy scooters makes driving hazardous. Practice your skills in a quiet setting before tackling cities, and triple-check before crossing the street. And, speaking of which, if said street is made of cobblestones, keep your wits about you. You don’t want to outsmart the pickpockets of the Louvre just to have your trip ruined by a sprained ankle.
Vanessa Chiasson is an award-winning Canadian travel writer with over ten years of experience. Her work has appeared in major publications, and she draws on living in France, Ireland, England, and Malawi to bring global insight to her stories.
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