Why Italy Belongs on Your Travel List

Italy is one of those destinations that offers something special no matter what kind of holiday you're looking for. From historic cities and beautiful coastlines to mountain adventures and world-famous food. It's easy to see why millions of travellers return year after year. Few countries combine culture, scenery and cuisine quite like Italy.

Historic Italian city street

Rome is packed with history around every corner. You can spend your morning exploring the Colosseum and Roman Forum before tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain. Meanwhile, Florence is home to incredible Renaissance art and architecture. Venice offers romantic canals and gondola rides. Milan blends historic landmarks with modern fashion and nightlife.

Italian coastal landscape

Beyond the cities, Italy's landscapes are just as unforgettable. The Amalfi Coast winds past colourful cliff side villages overlooking turquoise waters. Tuscany's rolling vineyards and hilltop towns provide a slower pace of life. In the north, the Italian Lakes and Dolomites offer spectacular scenery year round, whether you're hiking in summer or skiing in winter. Sicily and Sardinia deliver beautiful beaches, clear waters and a completely different side of Italian culture.

And then there's the food. Fresh pasta, authentic pizza, creamy gelato and regional dishes that vary from one part of the country to the next. Italy is a destination that's just as memorable for its flavours as its landmarks.

When you’re exploring Italy, the last thing you want is for an unexpected problem to derail your plans. From medical assistance emergencies abroad to travel delays and lost baggage, Switched On Travel Insurance is designed to help support you throughout your trip. Allowing you to enjoy the moments that matter most.

What's Covered with Switched On Travel Insurance?

Our travel insurance for Italy is designed to help protect travellers across the areas that matter most. From medical emergencies and cancellations to baggage issues and travel disruption, here’s a breakdown of the key cover available.

Our policy benefits include:

Please note: All cover limits shown are per person, per trip. Sub-limits apply to specific items such as single articles, valuables and cash. Please read the full Switched On Policy Wording for full terms, conditions and exclusions.

Add Ons to Tailor Your Cover in Italy

Skier carving down an Alpine slope

Winter Sports

Heading to the Italian Alps or the Dolomites? Add Winter Sports cover to protect yourself while skiing, snowboarding and enjoying other winter activities. Cover also includes ski equipment, piste closure, ski hire and off-piste skiing within resort boundaries and in line with our policy terms. You can add Winter Sports protection to your policy for an additional premium.

Airport departure board showing flight times

Travel Disruption

Protect yourself against major events that could affect your trip. This includes terrorism, natural catastrophe and air traffic control failures.

Phone, tablet, smartwatch and tech accessories laid out flat

Enhanced Gadget Cover

Travelling with valuable tech? Standard policies do not automatically include gadget cover for items such as phones, tablets, laptops or smartwatches. By adding Enhanced Gadget Cover, you can protect your devices while travelling in Italy. Premium and Ultimate policies already include gadget cover automatically, with €750 included on Premium cover and €1,000 included on Ultimate cover. If you'd like a higher level of cover, you can choose to increase this too for an additional premium.

Cruise ship sailing in the Mediterranean Sea

Cruise Cover

Italy is one of Europe's leading cruise destinations, with major ports including Rome, Venice and Naples. Cruise Cover increases baggage cover to €3,500 and includes protection for missed excursions and itinerary changes.

Golf flag on a putting green

Golf Cover

Planning a golfing getaway? Italy is home to a growing number of stunning golf courses, particularly around Tuscany, Lake Garda and the Italian Lakes. Golf Cover helps protect your golfing equipment against loss, theft, damage or delay, which you can add to your policy for an additional premium. You'll also be covered for lost green fees if illness or injury prevents you from playing. Please read the full Switched On Policy Wording for full terms, conditions and exclusions.

What's Not Covered

As with all insurance products, some things fall outside our standard policy. Common exclusions include:

  • Travel against Foreign Affairs advice at the time of travel
  • Pre-existing medical conditions not declared at the time of purchase
  • Incidents arising from alcohol or drug misuse
  • Extreme sports and hazardous activities not listed in your policy
  • Unattended baggage in public areas
  • Losses not reported to local police within 48 hours
  • Business equipment and samples

This is not a full list of exclusions, so it's important to read the full Policy Wording before travelling to ensure you have the right level of cover for your trip to Italy.

If you're travelling against the advice of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, your policy will not be valid. Always check ireland.ie before departure.

Before You Go – Italy Essentials

Currency

Italy uses the Euro, so there's no need to exchange currency if you're travelling from Ireland. Card payments are widely accepted in cities, tourist areas, hotels and restaurants. However, carrying some cash is still useful for smaller cafés, local markets, rural villages and independent shops where cash may still be preferred. ATMs are easy to find throughout the country, including at airports, train stations and in most town centres.

The official language is Italian. In popular tourist destinations and hotels, English is commonly spoken, although this can vary in smaller towns and rural areas. Locals appreciate visitors making an effort with simple Italian phrases such as buongiorno (good morning), grazie (thank you) and per favore (please).

Italy uses a 230V supply with Type F and Type L plugs. Irish plugs are not compatible with Italian sockets, so you'll need to bring a European travel adapter. Many hotels provide USB charging points or universal sockets, but it's always best to check in advance if you're travelling with multiple devices.

Travel Insurance for Every Type of Italy Trip

City Breaks & Weekend Escapes

Planning a few days in Rome, Florence or Milan? Travel insurance can help protect against cancellation costs, delayed flights and lost baggage, helping keep your trip stress free.

Italy is home to some of Europe's best ski resorts, including Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val Gardena and Madonna di Campiglio. By adding Winter Sports cover, you'll benefit from protection for ski equipment, piste closure and ski hire while enjoying the slopes.

From Mediterranean cruises departing Rome and Venice to sailing trips around Sicily and the Amalfi Coast, Cruise Cover provides extra protection for baggage, missed excursions and itinerary changes.

Doctor reviewing a patient's medical notes

Medical Care in Italy

Italy has a high-quality healthcare system, offering both public and private medical facilities throughout the country. Irish travellers should take a valid Irish-issued EHIC card alongside their Switched On Insurance policy documents when travelling in Italy.

Your EHIC gives you access to state healthcare on the same basis as Italian residents. However, it's important to remember that an EHIC is not the same as travel insurance. It does not cover private treatment, repatriation to Ireland, travel disruption or lost belongings.

With your Switched On Insurance policy, you have access to Air Doctor. This service helps you find trusted local doctors while abroad. Through the Air Doctor app, you can arrange appointments and access treatment for minor illnesses and injuries during your trip. For more information, see our dedicated Air Doctor page.

Emergency responder on a call

Emergency Numbers in Italy

Before travelling, it's a good idea to save important emergency numbers in your phone. In any serious or life-threatening emergency, dial 112. This is the universal European emergency number, which connects you to emergency services in Italy.

Other useful emergency numbers are:

  • 118 – Medical Emergency Services
  • 113 – Police
  • 115 – Fire Brigade

If you require emergency medical assistance during your trip, Switched On Insurance customers should contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Helpline for support. Our team will be able to advise you on what to do and help ensure you get the right treatment at the right place.

Whether you're booking a romantic city break in Rome, a family holiday on the Amalfi Coast, a skiing adventure in the Dolomites or a leisurely road trip through Tuscany, Switched On Insurance helps you travel with confidence. With flexible cover options, emergency medical protection, Air Doctor in-resort medical care and cover for over 120 sports and activities, you can focus on enjoying Italy while we help protect you against the unexpected.

Ready to go? Get a quick quote online today and find the right level of cover for your trip.