Last updated: 03/21/2025
Italy does not require travel insurance for entry. However, since the country does not accept U.S. health insurance, such as Medicare, travelers without the right trip protection must pay for medical expenses out-of-pocket.
Italy presents unique travel risks, including pickpocketing, medical emergencies, transportation strikes, and extreme weather like flooding and heat waves. Frequent airline and train delays can also disrupt travel plans. A comprehensive travel insurance policy can protect against these financial risks.
Italy remains one of Europe’s most expensive travel destinations. According to Squaremouth data, visitors spend an average of $8,300 on flights, hotels, rental cars, and excursions. When significant expenses are involved, trip cancellations or interruptions can result in major financial losses.
✅ Comprehensive travel insurance reimburses up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you cancel for a covered reason like illness, injury, or family emergencies.
Italy offers high-quality medical care, especially in major tourist cities. However, hospitals can be expensive for foreigners and often require upfront payment. U.S. health insurance does not cover medical expenses in Italy.
✅ Travel medical insurance covers hospital stays, doctor visits, and emergency transportation, reducing unexpected expenses. Some policies arrange direct payment to hospitals.
Italy’s major tourist areas—Rome, Milan, and Venice—attract pickpockets. Thieves frequently target travelers’ wallets, passports, and phones in crowded areas, like major tourist attractions and public transport.
✅ Travel insurance includes baggage loss protection that covers the cost to replace stolen personal items, including passports, cameras, and electronics. You may also contact your providers 24/7 assistance services to arrange emergency cash transfers or replace important travel documents.
Italy’s busy airports, including Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP), often experience delays, and European airline strikes can cause last-minute flight cancellations. Taking multiple flights to reach your destination also increases the risk of flight disruptions impacting your travel plans.
✅ Travel insurance covers hotel stays and food expenses if a flight is significantly delayed. If a delay causes you to miss a connecting flight, travel insurance can cover cost to make new travel arrangements.
Italy faces increasing weather-related travel disruptions, including intense summer heat, winter storms in the Alps, and Venice flooding. Severe weather events can disrupt your trip, regardless of the time of year you plan to visit.
✅ Comprehensive travel insurance covers trip cancellations, trip interruptions, delays, and medical emergencies related to extreme and inclement weather.
At the time of writing, the average cost of travel insurance for Italy is $22 per day.
This is based on internal sales data from roughly 30,000 travelers who used Squaremouth to protect their Italy adventures over the last 12 months. The average traveler spent $370 on Italy travel insurance with an average trip length of 17 days.
That said, it’s possible to find even cheaper travel insurance for Italy by opting for medical-only travel coverage.
Regardless of your travel plans, we recommend buying travel medical coverage at a minimum when visiting Italy. That said, a comprehensive travel insurance plan is always best if it fits into your budget.
You should consider the following coverage when comparing plans for your upcoming Italy trip:
Italy offers excellent healthcare, but foreign visitors must pay out of pocket if they don’t have international medical coverage. The country does not accept U.S. health insurance or Medicare, which means travelers without a policy could face significant medical expenses.
A travel medical insurance plan provides essential protection and is often quite affordable. We recommend choosing a policy with at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage to ensure adequate financial protection. Some plans also cover pre-existing conditions, provided you meet certain requirements.
Italy’s hospitals deliver high-quality care, especially in major cities like Rome and Milan. However, if you experience a severe medical emergency in a rural area or while hiking in the mountains, you may need emergency transportation to a better-equipped facility.
Medical evacuations can cost upwards of $50,000, making this coverage essential. In extreme cases, a policy can also cover medical repatriation to the U.S. in case of a serious illness or death. We recommend choosing a policy with at least $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage for peace of mind.
Italy is a dream destination, but trips can be costly, especially when factoring in flights, hotels, and pre-booked excursions. If an unexpected event forces you to cancel or cut your trip short, trip cancellation and interruption insurance can reimburse you for your non-refundable expenses.
Comprehensive travel insurance policies often cover up to 100% of your insured trip costs for cancellations due to illness, injury, or the death of a family member. If you must return home early for a covered reason, some policies will even reimburse up to 150% of unused travel expenses to help cover return transportation.
While Italy is generally safe, pickpocketing is a common issue in tourist hotspots like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Travel insurance can reimburse you for lost, stolen, or damaged items such as passports, phones, cameras, and luggage.
Since coverage limits and deductibles vary between policies, be sure to compare plans carefully. Leaving valuable or irreplaceable items at home is always a good precaution when traveling.
Most standard policies will not cover:
As the nation’s largest travel insurance marketplace, we allow travelers to compare more policies and providers than any other site. Comparing plans side-by-side ensures you find the best coverage for your Italy trip at the lowest price.
Coverage varies between travel insurance plans, so always review the details carefully. Look for exclusions that might impact your trip, such as restrictions on adventure sports or pre-existing medical conditions. Reading the Certificate of Insurance will help you understand exactly what’s covered.
Italy presents unique travel risks, including medical emergencies, pickpocketing, and transportation strikes. Additionally, the country experiences occasional extreme weather, such as heat waves and flooding in Venice.
Your age, health, planned activities, and time of travel all influence your risk level. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time will help you choose the right policy for your trip.
When purchasing Italy travel insurance, we recommend at least $50,000 in medical coverage and $100,000 in evacuation coverage to avoid financial hardship in case of an emergency.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Italy, hospitals often require foreign travelers to pay upfront for medical care. Some travel insurance providers offer direct payment to hospitals, preventing high out-of-pocket expenses.
Absolutely. Even in a relatively safe destination like Italy, unexpected events can happen. For as little as $2.50 per day, you can gain financial protection and peace of mind throughout your trip.
The small cost of travel insurance is well worth the security it provides. For that reason, we strongly recommend purchasing a policy before your departure.
Travel insurance is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Italy for less than 90 days. However, it is highly recommended to protect against unexpected medical expenses, trip cancellations, and travel disruptions.
No, U.S. health insurance is not accepted in Italy. If you require medical treatment during your trip, you will need to pay out-of-pocket unless you have a travel medical insurance policy. If you are planning a trip to Italy, you should purchase a travel insurance plan with at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need the following to enter Italy:
Starting in 2026, U.S. visitors will also need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) visa waiver, which will require an online application before departure.
The cost of a trip to Italy varies based on travel style, season, and itinerary. On average, Squaremouth users spend $8,300 on trips to Italy. This includes a variety of prepaid travel expenses like airfare, hotel reservations, rental car bookings, tours, and excursions.
At least 10 to 14 days is recommended when traveling to Italy. The average Squaremouth user that purchases Italy travel insurance has a trip length of 17 days. Trips this long allow enough time to explore multiple cities, experience local culture, and enjoy a mix of sightseeing and relaxation.
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Steven Benna, Lead Data Analyst: sbenna@squaremouth.com