A two-night city break feels too short to go wrong, but a missed connection, a twisted ankle or a strike can upend it fast. Good travel insurance and the right health card take ten minutes to sort and save a lot of stress. This checklist covers what to look for, plus the border changes that affect non-EU travellers.
Why insure a short trip
Short trips carry the same risks as long ones. You can still fall ill, lose a bag or have a flight cancelled. Medical treatment abroad can be expensive, and bringing someone home after a serious illness or accident can cost far more. A state health card helps, but it doesn’t cover everything.
If you take several trips a year, an annual multi-trip policy is often better value than buying single-trip cover each time. Check the maximum length of each trip it allows.
What your policy should cover
Read the policy wording, not just the summary. These are the essentials.
- Medical expenses and repatriation: the most important part. Look for a high limit and cover for getting you home if needed.
- Cancellation and curtailment: pays out if you have to cancel or cut short the trip for a covered reason, such as illness or a family emergency. Buy the policy as soon as you book, so cancellation cover starts straight away.
- Travel disruption: missed departures, delays and cancellations. Check whether strikes, airline failure and extreme weather are included, as many basic policies limit this.
- Baggage and belongings: check the single-item limit if you travel with a camera or laptop. Your home insurance may already cover these.
- Personal liability: covers you if you injure someone or damage property.
- Activities: skiing, hiking above a certain altitude, cycling and water sports are often excluded or need an add-on.
Tip: Declare any pre-existing medical conditions, even minor ones. If you don’t, the insurer can refuse a claim connected to them.
Common exclusions
- Claims linked to alcohol or drugs.
- Belongings left unattended, including in a car.
- Disruption you knew about before buying the policy, such as an announced strike.
- Travel against official government advice for a destination.
Some bank accounts and credit cards include travel insurance. It’s worth checking, but read the limits and age restrictions carefully.
Health cards: GHIC and EHIC
A health card gives you access to state healthcare while abroad. It’s not a replacement for travel insurance. Both the NHS and the European Commission say so plainly.
UK travellers: the GHIC
The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaced the European Health Insurance Card for most UK residents.
- It’s free. Apply only through the official NHS website. Unofficial sites may charge you for the same thing.
- It lasts up to five years.
- Where it works: the EEA countries, plus some others, including Montenegro and Australia. In Switzerland it works only for certain nationalities and statuses, so check the NHS guidance before you go.
- What it covers: necessary state healthcare on the same basis as a resident of that country. That care may be free or may carry a charge, just as it would for locals.
- What it doesn’t cover: private healthcare, medical repatriation to the UK, or mountain and ski rescue.
If you still have a valid UK EHIC, you can use it until the expiry date shown on the card.
EU travellers: the EHIC
If you’re insured in an EU country, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) comes from your national health insurance provider.
- It’s free.
- Where it works: temporary stays in the 27 EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
- What it covers: medically necessary state healthcare under the same conditions as people insured in that country.
- What it doesn’t cover: private care, the cost of getting home, or lost and stolen belongings. It also doesn’t apply if you travel specifically to get treatment.
Tip: Keep a photo of your card and your insurer’s emergency number on your phone. You’ll need both quickly if something goes wrong.
Border changes for non-EU travellers
These don’t affect your insurance directly, but they do affect your journey time, so plan for them.
EES: now in force
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. It replaces passport stamping for non-EU nationals on short stays in the participating European countries. That includes UK travellers.
- On your first trip, you register your fingerprints and a photo. Children aged 11 or under only have a photo taken.
- Registration is free, and your digital record is valid for three years.
- Travelling by Eurostar from St Pancras, by Eurotunnel from Folkestone or by ferry from Dover? Your details are taken at the UK border before you leave.
- Queues can be longer, especially on a first visit, so allow extra time at the border.
ETIAS: not yet running
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will require visa-exempt visitors, including UK citizens, to get an online travel authorisation before travelling to most European countries. As of mid-October 2026 it is not operating, and you can’t apply yet. The EU’s official guidance has said it will start in the last quarter of 2026 and that the start date will be announced several months in advance. Media reports in summer 2026 suggested it would slip into 2027. No start date had been announced by mid-October.
Ignore any website offering ETIAS applications now. ABTA warns that such sites are not legitimate. We’ll cover the launch in our travel news.
The basics still apply
UK passport holders can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive, and must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
Quick checklist before you go
- Policy bought when you booked, with cancellation cover in place.
- Medical and repatriation cover with a high limit.
- Pre-existing conditions declared.
- GHIC or EHIC packed and in date.
- Passport issue and expiry dates checked.
- Extra time planned for EES registration.
- Insurer’s emergency number saved on your phone.
Ready to book? Browse the best city breaks in Europe, check this weekend for event picks, or start planning a winter trip with the best Christmas markets in Europe.
FAQ
Do I need travel insurance if I have a GHIC?
Yes. The GHIC covers necessary state healthcare only. It doesn’t cover private treatment, repatriation, cancellations or lost belongings.
Is the GHIC free?
Yes. Apply through the official NHS website. Unofficial sites may charge a fee.
Does the EHIC work in the UK?
Yes. The EHIC covers temporary stays in the UK, as well as in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
When does ETIAS start?
It isn’t running yet, and no start date had been announced as of mid-October 2026. The EU says it will announce the date months in advance.
What is the EES?
The EU’s Entry/Exit System, a digital border check for non-EU visitors. It records your fingerprints and photo instead of stamping your passport, and it has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
