Safety

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is highly recommended for overseas travel. A comprehensive plan should include coverage for trip interruption, delay and cancellation, medical expenses, emergency medical transportation, loss and damage to baggage, and a toll-free 24-hour travel assistance hotline. Comprehensive travel insurance usually costs 5 to 12 percent of your trip cost. Before purchasing, check your existing insurance policies.

Your Possessions

Traveling in Europe is generally very safe, but take a few precautions to protect your valuables and travel documents. Pickpockets are common in high-traffic tourist areas across the globe. Keep possessions close and use a money belt to carry documents inside your clothing. Keep money in more than one place. Make a photocopy of your tickets, passport, traveler’s checks, credit cards and IDs and keep them separate from your valuables. In hotels, use the in-room safes or those at the front desk to truly secure your valuables.

Health Tips

Generally, visitors to Europe do not need vaccinations. In any case. prior to departure, consult your doctor to determine if you need any immunizations. Check your health insurance policy to confirm you are covered while traveling abroad. Bring a copy of your health coverage ID card with you. Carry prescription medicine in its original packaging in your carry-on luggage. Bring a copy of your prescription in case you need to replenish your supply. Pharmacies are common in any European town or city, but bring enough medication for the length of your stay. If you must order medication, a prescription issued by a doctor in the country you are visiting may be required. Pharmacies are indicated by an illuminated green cross, but this varies between countries. However, the word for pharmacy has only a few language variations such as Chemist, Pharmacie, Pharmacia, or Apotheek.

For more information on travel advice regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, please refer to our COVID-19 Information Page.

Emergency Numbers

European Union countries share a single European emergency call number – 112. When dialing 112, the operator speaks in both the language of the country you are calling from as well as in English. In addition, all countries have an emergency number should you need the attention of the police, fire or medical/ambulance services.

Country Police Ambulance Fire
Austria 133 144 122
Belgium 101 100 100
Bulgaria 166 150 160
Croatia 92 94 93
Cyprus 199 199 199
Denmark
158
155 150
Estonia 112 112 112
Finland 110 112 112
France
17 15 18
Germany 110 112 112
Greece 100 166 199
Hungary 107 104 105
Iceland
112 112 112
Ireland 999 999 999
Italy 113 118 115
Latvia 112 112 112
Lithuania 113 112 112
Luxembourg 113 112 112
Malta 191 196 199
Monaco 17 18 18
Montenegro 122 124 123
Netherlands 112 112 112
Norway 112 113 110
Poland 997 999 998
Portugal 112 112 112
Romania 955 961 981
San Marino 112 118 115
Serbia 92 93 94
Slovakia 158 150 150
Slovenia 113 112 112
Spain 091 061 080
Sweden 112 112 112
Switzerland 117 144 118
Turkey 115 112 110
United Kingdom 999 999 999