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Italy Travel Insurance
Italy Travel Insurance
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettEasily compare Travel Insurance
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
Do I need travel insurance for Italy?
Long story short
Travel insurance helps keep overseas chaos in check
Italy is a foodie’s dream destination, but unexpected costs can quickly spoil la dolce vita. Travel insurance can help save your wallet and keep the holiday going.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements only go so far
Australia and Italy have an agreement to cover some hospital costs, but not all. Getting travel insurance can help cover these agreement gaps.
Visas might need proof of insurance
If you’re planning on a longer stay, you’ll need a Schengen visa, which requires an active travel insurance policy with at least €30,000 of medical cover in place.
Do I need travel insurance for Italy?
You don’t technically need travel insurance for Italy, meaning you can stroll through customs without it. But if you’d rather dodge the stress of eye-watering medical bills or unexpected travel hiccups, then it’s a smart move. While Australia and Italy do have a reciprocal healthcare agreement, it’s no replacement for travel insurance. Outside of medical bills, your policy could help with lost luggage dramas or rental car excess if you get into a scrape on those famously narrow streets.
Let’s be honest, you don’t need an excuse to go to Italy. Between the sun-drenched coastlines, ancient streets, and food worth writing home about, it’s a dream destination. Whether you’re exploring every region or it’s one stop in a six-week Euro summer, with travel insurance in your back pocket, you can focus on enjoying la dolce vita instead of the what-ifs.
Which popular activities in Italy can be covered?
Get close to Italy’s fiery giants
Active volcanoes like Mount Etna are bucket list hot spots (literally). While it’s amazing to say you’ve stared into an active volcano, remember that most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to stay safe. Make sure to explore with a guide so you won’t have to experience the result of getting a little too close and personal to this Italian hot head.
Enjoy pistes and pasta in the Alps
The Italian Alps are stunning – think skiing by day and gnocchi by night. Sounds pretty good, right? Just make sure that your travel insurance includes winter sports cover, as basic policies often don’t. If you’re thinking of going extra with some off-piste skiing, you’ll probably need to hire a professional guide to keep your cover intact.
Cruise the Amalfi coast, one bend at a time
Driving the Amalfi Coast feels like starring in your own car commercial, thanks to its breathtaking scenery. But with more than a handful of hairpin turns and Vespas to dodge, getting behind the wheel can be a stressful experience. If you’re planning to drive, always get the right permits and review your travel insurance policy. You’ll want to see how it covers driving-related incidents, including rental vehicle excess, in case you have an accident.
See Roman ruins and ancient wonders
What’s a trip to Italy without seeing sights like the Colosseum or Pompeii? Unfortunately, you’ll need to keep your wits about you, as pickpockets are as sneaky as ancient Roman thieves in popular tourist areas. If you decide to ride a scooter around the city, remember that the law requires both drivers and passengers to wear a helmet.
Sip your way through Italy’s wine country
Sipping red wine with a plate of pasta has to be up there for many tourists as a must-do Italian experience. Whether it’s tasting the chianti in Chianti, prosecco in Veneto, or barolo in Piedmont, Italy is vino heaven. But if you’re doing your wine tour by car, remember to enjoy that wine with caution and keep under the limit. It’s unlikely your travel insurance policy will cover you for drink-driving accidents.
‘I would recommend visiting Piemonte (Piedmont), especially Torino (Turin) and Alba. Torino was the first capital of Italy and maintains beautiful architecture. It is also renowned for its rich history in chocolate-making and its vibrant cultural scene, including museums and historic cafes. Lavazza and Martini call Turin home. Torino is also home to the best* football team in the world, Juventus. *subject to bias’
Aldo Mencaraglia
iSelect Marketing Insight and Effectiveness Manager
What does travel insurance cover for Italy usually include?
Medical expenses
Travel insurance should cover medical bills, emergency evacuation and ambulance costs, and repatriation flights up to the stated limit of your policy.
Personal liability
If an incident occurs where you injure someone or damage property in Italy, personal liability cover could help cover your costs up to the limits specified in your policy.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits
If, due to circumstances outside of your control, you have to cancel your trip at the last minute, many travel insurance policies cover cancellation fees and lost deposits, helping you get back some of your expenses.
Rental vehicle excess
Driving across Italy in a rental car is incredible. However, if you have an accident, a policy with rental vehicle excess cover can help cover what you owe to the rental company.
Unattended items
If you leave your bags or belongings in a public space and they get lost or stolen, it often won’t be covered by your policy.
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
If you haven’t declared a pre-existing medical condition with your insurer and end up sick as a result, your claim could be rejected.
Claims while under the influence or unlawful
Not surprisingly, if you injure yourself while doing something illegal or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your claim likely won’t be paid out.
Activities that need extra cover
If you’re heading into the mountains for a ski trip or taking a European cruise, you’ll usually need extra cover for concerns specific to these higher-risk plans, otherwise your claim could be rejected altogether.
Medical expenses
Travel insurance should cover medical bills, emergency evacuation and ambulance costs, and repatriation flights up to the stated limit of your policy.
Personal liability
If an incident occurs where you injure someone or damage property in Italy, personal liability cover could help cover your costs up to the limits specified in your policy.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits
If, due to circumstances outside of your control, you have to cancel your trip at the last minute, many travel insurance policies cover cancellation fees and lost deposits, helping you get back some of your expenses.
Rental vehicle excess
Driving across Italy in a rental car is incredible. However, if you have an accident, a policy with rental vehicle excess cover can help cover what you owe to the rental company.
Unattended items
If you leave your bags or belongings in a public space and they get lost or stolen, it often won’t be covered by your policy.
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
If you haven’t declared a pre-existing medical condition with your insurer and end up sick as a result, your claim could be rejected.
Claims while under the influence or unlawful
Not surprisingly, if you injure yourself while doing something illegal or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your claim likely won’t be paid out.
Activities that need extra cover
If you’re heading into the mountains for a ski trip or taking a European cruise, you’ll usually need extra cover for concerns specific to these higher-risk plans, otherwise your claim could be rejected altogether.
How much does travel insurance for Italy typically cost?
Travel insurance is as important as your passport, and, depending on your needs, it shouldn’t put you too much out of pocket either. Comparing policies from iSelect’s range as of August 2025, for a week-long trip in Italia for a solo-traveller, you could be looking at around $50 for basic coverage, or around $113 for more comprehensive protection.1Indicative quotes based on a 30-year-old solo traveller with no extra coverage needed. Comparison conducted via iSelect, August 2025.
To put it in perspective the average cost of comprehensive travel insurance is similar to Japan or the UK, and less than the United States. Just remember, adding cruise or ski cover means you can expect the premium to possibly double or even triple in cost.
Travel tips for Italy
Safety
Italy is a pretty safe country, but, like anywhere in the world, it’s not crime-free. Petty crime is often common in tourist areas, with pickpockets or bag snatching particularly high on transport and around central train stations. Vehicle break-ins are also common. If you plan on renting a car to get around Italy, make sure not to leave anything important in your car (you might find that your travel insurance won’t even cover it!).
Visa requirements
Italy is part of the Schengen Area, which means, for Australians, no visa is needed to enter for a short stay trip. If you plan on staying in Italy for less than 90 days total across a 180-day period, then you won’t need a visa. But if you plan on staying for a longer holiday, you’ll need to apply for a visa. To get a Schengen visa, you’ll need a valid passport and travel insurance that covers you for a minimum of 30,000 euros for medical emergencies and hospital care. While Australia and Italy do have a reciprocal healthcare agreement, it only covers minor things like urgent dental work or public hospital care. That’s why travel insurance is essential if something goes wrong.
Local laws
Australia’s and Italy’s laws are similar in some ways, but it’s still important to understand the black and white when it comes to local laws. In tourist hotspots, you can be fined for littering, sitting, eating or drinking on steps or courtyards around churches. It’s also illegal to block pedestrian flow in public spaces and drive without headlights on main roads outside urban areas or highways. And here’s one thing Aussie travellers don’t expect: Italy doesn’t view de facto relationships the same way as we do. So, if something happens on your trip, your de facto partner likely won’t be recognised as next of kin by the Italian government.
Climate
Italy’s climate might seem mild, but it can experience severe weather and natural disasters. Summer (June to September) can bring forest fire risks in forested areas, threatening major towns in severe conditions. Heavy rains can cause flooding in some areas in the North (Veneto, Piedmont, and Liguria) as well as in the southern regions of Sicily and Calabria.
Being an active seismic area, Italy experiences earthquakes throughout the year. It also has active volcanoes. No matter which region you’re exploring, stay across local advice and keep an eye on weather warnings.
Frequently asked questions
Which companies offer travel insurance for Italy?
Just like the many types of pasta, when it comes to finding travel insurance for Italy, you’ll have your pick of the bunch.
Some insurers that iSelect can help you compare include:
- Fast Cover
- Huddle Insurance
- Insure4less
- InsureandGo
- ReadySet Travel Insurance
- Southern Cross Travel Insurance
- Tick Travel Insurance
- Travel Insurance Saver
- Travel Insuranz
- Travel Protect
- WAS Insurance
- World2Cover
- Zoom Travel Insurance
Other travel insurers in the market include:
- 1Cover
- Allianz
- Blue Insurance
- Budget Direct
- Bupa Travel Insurance
- Cover-More
- Everyday Travel Insurance
- Medibank
- Nib
- RACV Travel Insurance
- Travel Insurance Direct
Note: iSelect does not compare all travel insurance providers in the market, or all products offered by our partners in your area.
What travel insurance do I need for Italy?
Finding a great travel insurance policy is really all about you. Your travel plans might involve you, a backpack, and a tight budget, or you may be on the other end of the spectrum, with a more luxurious Italian stay planned, with tours and sights from the best views. You might opt for a medical-only policy and put more of your budget towards the actual travel part of your trip or choose a comprehensive policy to help give you a bit more peace of mind if you run into any cancellations or delays.
If you’ve got some more thrilling plans on your list, like skiing down the Italian Alps or cruising along Italy’s Mediterranean coast, you’ll need extra cover on top of your base insurance policy. This way, you’ll be covered for the unique concerns of these travel pastimes.
Does travel insurance for Italy cover COVID-19?
COVID-19 cover is included in many travel insurance policies, but the terms can differ between providers. This is why it’s so important to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to see how getting sick could affect your journey. In some cases, medical and repatriation costs are only covered if you get COVID-19 in the destination listed on your certificate of insurance. You might also find that some policies don’t cover healthcare costs after you return to Australia.
Say Ciao to holiday headaches with travel insurance for Italy
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but your travel insurance policy can be. If you’re ready to do as the Romans (or Turinians) do and eat pasta to your heart’s content, then it could be time to start looking for a travel policy. Start comparing travel insurance from a range of providers today to look for a great policy that supports your Italian extravaganza.
Easily compare Travel insurance quotes
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
iSelect does not compare all travel insurers or policies in the market. Travel insurance is only available through our website and not all policies are available at all times or in all areas. Not all policies available from our partners are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements and customer circumstances not all policies compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.
iSelect General Pty Limited ABN 90 131 798 126, AFS Licence Number: 334115. Any advice provided by iSelect is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice iSelect gives you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on iSelect’s advice or purchasing any policy. You should consider iSelect’s Financial Services Guide which provides information about our services and your rights as a client of iSelect. iSelect receives commission for each policy sold.