great eastern travel insurance

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Explorer Travel Insurance

Get up to s$58 in cashback + up to 40% off your travel insurance.

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Built-in with COVID-19 coverage

Extensive coverage such as trip cancellations, travel delay, baggage loss, and more

Up to $700,000 overseas medical coverage and 24-hour emergency overseas assistance hotline

Adult above 18 years old

Child between 3 months and 18 years old or full-time student below 24 years old can apply for child coverage

Singaporean, Singapore PR or foreigner with a valid pass/work permit

Get up to S$58 in cashback + up to 40% off your travel insurance Find out more

Be it for work, leisure, or to visit loved ones overseas, travel worry-free with our newly added COVID-19 coverage.

With effect from 5 November 2021, the COVID-19 coverage under our Ultimate and Essential plans will automatically extend to countries under the latest permitted travel arrangements as per the Singapore Government travel advisory at the point of your purchase. Kindly note that some countries may require COVID-19 insurance coverage as a condition of entry. Please ensure you select a plan that meets the requirement of your intended destination(s). For full details of our COVID-19 coverage and exclusions, please refer to the Eligibility and Policy Wording .

Simply make your purchase of Explorer Travel Insurance Essential or Ultimate plans via the OCBC Digital app to qualify:

• Single trip: Enter the promo code SAVE4U to get 40% off + S$28 in cashback
• Annual trip: Enter the promo code TAA15A to get 15% off + S$58 in cashback

Additional cashback rewards are awarded with a minimum spend of S$100 (after discounts). T&Cs apply.

Plans and coverage for

• Other benefits

Enjoy an enhanced COVID-19 coverage Our Essential and Ultimate plans now include COVID-19 coverage under the Singapore Government travel advisory.

To be eligible, the following conditions must be met:

• You have not served stay home notice, been quarantined due to COVID-19 or travelled to any countries other than the list of countries permitted as per Singapore Government travel advisory within 14 days before the commencement date of your trip.
• If required by the authorities, you must take a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or any COVID-19 equivalent test approved by Singapore authorities within 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of your trip and must be tested negative. Otherwise, there will be no coverage for overseas medical expenses and repatriation of mortal remains.
• You have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 at the point of purchase.
• You are purchasing a single trip two-way and annual multi-trip policies.

The following sub-limits apply for these coverages:

• Benefits / Sum Insured
• Essential Plan Enhanced coverage
• Ultimate Plan Most comprehensive coverage

Medical expenses incurred overseas Covers the medical expenses incurred overseas if the insured is diagnosed with COVID-19 whilst overseas.

Emergency medical evacuation Covers cost required for emergency medical evacuation expenses while overseas if insured person is diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas.

Repatriation and compassionate expenses Covers the cost of transporting Insured Person's body and ashes back to Singapore if he/she dies overseas due to COVID-19.

Travel inconveniences

(If you or a travel companion is diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas)

(If you, a relative, or a travel companion is diagnosed with COVID-19 before your trip commences)

(If you are placed under mandatory quarantine by the local authorities as a result of you being diagnosed with COVID-19 while you are overseas)

$50/day (Up to $700)

$100/day (Up to $1,400)

If you are hospitalized as a result of you being diagnosed with COVID-19 while you are overseas

If you are hospitalized or quarantined overseas as a result of you being diagnosed with COVID-19 while you are overseas

Up to 30 days

Overall limit per policy

(applicable to group purchases)

Choose from 3 travel insurance plans

Explorer offers you coverage with reimbursement for inconveniences, disruptions and medical expenses incurred while travelling.

Please refer to the table below for the Individual Cover limits. The limits under Family Cover are subject to the Individual Cover limits under the same plan for each Insured Person.

• Coverage ($)
• Starter Plan Basic coverage

Accidental Death and Permanent Disablement

Accidental Death on Public Transport

Medical reimbursement

(a)  Medical expenses incurred overseas

(b)  Medical expenses incurred in Singapore

(c)  Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) treatment

Maximum Aggregate Limit for (a), (b) and (c)

Hospital cash

(a)  Hospital confinement

$200 per day

Maximum $20,000

$200 per day Maximum $30,000

Maximum $40,000

$100 per day

Maximum $7,000

Maximum $1,000

Maximum $1,500

(b)  Hospital visitation/compassionate visit

(c) Child companion

Emergency medical evacuation

Repatriation of mortal remains

Emergency telephone charges

Maximum aggregate limit

Trip cancellation

Trip postponement, trip interruption.

Trip curtailment

Overbooked flight

Travel missed connection

Travel delay

$100 Every 6 Hours

Maximum $2,000

Maximum $3,000

Maximum $500

Delay due to hijack

$250 Every 6 Hours

Maximum $7,500

Maximum Aggregate limit for Trip Interruption, Trip Curtailment, Overbooked Flight, Travel Missed Connection, Travel Delay and Delay due to Hijack

Personal liability

Baggage loss

Personal money

Travel documents

Baggage delay

$200 Every 6 Hours

Maximum $200

Kidnap and Hostage

Maximum $5,000

Terrorism extension

Automatic extension of cover

Leisure adventurous activities

Not covered

The limits under Family Cover are subject to limits under the same plan for each Insured Person.

Boost your coverage with optional add-ons Sometimes, your basic travel coverage isn’t enough. That’s why we have 4 add-on options to cater to your travel needs.

• Optional add-ons

Sports equipment cover

Top-up cover for laptop computer, netbook and tablet under baggage loss

Rental vehicle excess

Home contents

Enjoy up to 40% off Essential and Ultimate Plans

• 15% off annual plans - TAA15A
• 40% off single trip plans - SAVE4U

Exclusive promotion: From now till 30 June 2024 only!

Get up to S$58 in cashback when you purchase a OCBC Explorer Travel Insurance policy with a minimum spend of S$100 (after discounts). Purchase early to secure maximum savings!

S$28 in cashback for single plan and S$58 in cashback for annual plan. This is only applicable for Essential and Ultimate plans.

Great Eastern General Insurance’s terms and conditions apply .

Get discounts for all Essential and Ultimate plans

Input the promo code to enjoy:

• 40% off single (round) trip plans – SAVE4U
• 15% off annual plans – TAA15A

Call our 24-hour emergency assistance hotline at +65 6708 7453 for travel and medical assistance. This includes translation assistance, medical advice, arrangement of hospital admission, emergency medical evacuation and more.

Get instant savings

Quick and seamless process

Fuss-free payments

Easy access to your policy

Log in to OCBC Digital app and tap on “Insure and stay protected”.

Tap on “Travel Insurance”. Navigate to the bottom and tap on “Get a quote”.

Input your travel details (promo code will be automatically applied). Then, tap on “View plans” to choose your preferred plan.

Main Applicant’s details will be pre-filled. Input traveller details. Then, tap on “View summary”.

Review your policy and slide to complete the purchase. You’re all set for your trip!

By Online Submission : Submit your  claim online .

Download and print the claims form . Complete the relevant sections. 

Attach all original receipts and relevant supporting documents.

Mail it to the claims department .

Eligibility requirements

Minimum age

18 years old

Nationality

Singaporeans, Singapore PRs and foreigners with a valid pass/work permit

Child coverage

Children aged between 3 months and 18 years old and full-time students below 24 years old can apply for child coverage

More information

Important notes.

Policy wording

Policy owner's protection scheme

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions governing Explorer 40% and 15% Discount

Terms and Conditions governing the Explorer cashback campaign

Common questions about Explorer Travel Insurance

Yes, you are able to purchase the plan as long as you have fully recovered and are diagnosed as negative for COVID-19.

We will follow all vaccination, pre-departure tests and post-arrival tests requirements imposed by the authorities.

For some countries, self-administered ART, PCR or other self-test kit will not be accepted for pre-departure COVID-19 test to fly out of Singapore.

You must make an appointment from the list of MOH-approved COVID-19 test providers found on MOH website ( https://www.moh.gov.sg/licensing-and-regulation/regulations-guidelines-and-circulars/details/list-of-COVID-19-swab-providers ).

The COVID-19 Trip Cancellation coverage is claimable if you are forced to cancel your trip within the 30 days that it was due to start as a result of you, a relative, or a travel companion being diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner in Singapore.

No. COVID-19 is only applicable should the trip is permitted under the latest permitted travel arrangement as per Singapore Government travel advisory.

You may refer to https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/ for more information on the latest travel advisories issued by the Singapore government.

A medical practitioner has to diagnose that you are positive with COVID-19 while overseas. You are required to provide us with supporting documents such as Inpatient Discharge Summary Report (IPDS), doctor’s memo or diagnosis indicated on the Medical Certificate.

A Medical practitioner is a person who is registered and legally qualified as a doctor, has a medical degree in Western medicine, and is authorized by the medical licensing authority of the relevant country to provide the medical or surgical services their licence and training relate to.

The medical practitioner cannot be the insured or an insured person, or:

• their husband, wife or unmarried partner;
• their business partner, employer, employee or agent;
• their travel companion; or
• any person who is related to an insured person or the insured in any way, including by marriage or adoption.

The policy is designed to protect you during your overseas journey. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 upon arriving in Singapore, after your journey, you will not be covered by the policy.

Terms and conditions governing Explorer Promotion

• Discounts shall apply on plans purchased online. Offer ends 31 March 2020.
• No other promotion shall be applied together with the above discount on Single Trip and Annual Plans.
• OCBC Bank reserves the right at its sole and absolute discretion to terminate the promotion or make changes to the promotion or any of these terms and conditions at any time without notice.
• The decision of OCBC Bank on all matters relating to this promotion shall be final and binding.

Sub-limits are part of the original limit for each coverage. They do not provide extra coverage, but set a maximum to cover a specific loss. For non-COVID-19 coverage, the coverage amount will be as per existing coverage plan .

Covers non-refundable travelling and accommodation expenses, as well as any change in entertainment tickets paid in advance because you or your travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner, and as a direct result you are forced to change any part of your trip.

Covers the irrecoverable travel (on economy class), accommodation expenses and/or cost of entertainment tickets that were paid in advance if the trip is cancelled due to you, a relative or a travel companion being diagnosed with COVID-19 in Singapore within 30 days prior to the trip commencement.

Covers the irrecoverable administrative charges of travel, accommodation expenses and/or cost of entertainment tickets that were paid in advance if you are forced to postpone your trip within the 30 days before it was due to start as a direct result of you, a relative, or a travel companion being diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner in Singapore.

Attention: Claims Department Great Eastern General Insurance Limited 1 Pickering Street, #01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

Family plan

• Single Trip Policy : shall mean an Adult and/or his/her spouse and unlimited number of biological or legally adopted children, OR any one or two adults who are not related by marriage and a maximum of four children who must be least Family related (i.e. biological or legally adopted Child or ward, sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin) to any one of the Adults.
• Annual Trip Cover : shall mean an Adult and/or his/her spouse and unlimited number of biological or legally adopted Children.

We will only reimburse the overseas medical expenses incurred up to 90 consecutive days from the date you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner.

If you pass away overseas within 30 days from the date you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner.

The above is for general information only. It is not a contract of insurance. It does not constitute an offer to buy an insurance product or service. It is also not intended to provide any insurance or financial advice. The precise terms and conditions of the plans are specified in the insurance policy contract. Explorer is underwritten by Great Eastern General Insurance Limited, a   wholly-owned   subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited and member of the OCBC Group. Explorer is not a bank deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed by OCBC Bank.

No representation or warranty whatsoever (including without limitation any representation or warranty as to accuracy, usefulness, adequacy, timeliness or completeness) in respect of any information (including without limitation any statement, figures, opinion, view or estimate) provided herein is given by OCBC Bank and it should not be relied upon as such. OCBC Bank does not undertake an obligation to update the information or to correct any inaccuracy that may become apparent at a later time. All information presented is subject to change without notice. OCBC Bank shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly howsoever in connection with or as a result of any person acting on any information provided herein.

Claims arising from events that have already occurred or made known to public via authorities or media before your application will not be covered.

Information presented as at 1 January 2024.

Policy Owner's Protection Scheme

This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the General Insurance Association (GIA) or SDIC websites ( www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg ).

Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme

Via ocbc online banking.

Via Great Eastern

More convenience with prepopulated personal details when you buy insurance via OCBC Online Banking. Choose to pay with your OCBC Savings/Current Account or OCBC Credit/Debit Card.

By clicking on "Apply now", you will be leaving the OCBC Bank website to Great Eastern's website. OCBC Bank has no control over this website and is not responsible for its contents.

You are leaving the OCBC Bank's website to access Great Eastern's website.

By clicking on "Proceed", you acknowledge the following:

• You have chosen not to seek advice on the suitability of this product. You should consider if this product is suitable for your financial circumstances or needs.

Clinics offering PCR swab tests

OneCare Medical

• 4 Woodlands Street 12, #02-57, Singapore 738623, Tel: +65 6363 2919
• 1 Raffles Place, #05-15/16, Singapore 048616, Tel: +65 6532 2692
• 315 Upper Changi Road, #01-01, Singapore 467347, Tel: +65 6970 0813
• Blk 449 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-241 Lot C, Singapore 120449, Tel: +65 6970 9300
• 15 Petir Road, #01-66 Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub, Singapore 678270, Tel: +65 6518 4055

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• Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Is It a Good Deal?

• TravelSmart Premier Basic is competitively priced for single trips
• Offers adventurous leisure activities and golf coverage
• Basic plan is only available for Malaysia
• Elite plan is expensive for ASEAN travellers but offers below average medical coverage

Great Eastern’s TravelSmart Premier stands out for offering affordable basic-tier travel insurance plans, both single and annual, to Malaysia. At just S$26 for a 1-week trip and S$261 for an annual insurance plan, the cost for the TravelSmart Premier Basic plan is below the industry average.

However, the basic-tier plan is a no-frills plan which does not have COVID-19 and Adventurous Leisure Activities coverage, and customers looking for more coverage would have to go for higher-end plans.

Table of Contents

• Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic Plan

Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic & Elite Plans

• Golfer Coverage

Claims Information

• Summary of Coverage

Great Eastern Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know

Great Eastern's travel insurance may disappoint those who are looking for cheap or high-value plans due to its mostly uncompetitive premiums and limited COVID-19 coverage. Depending on the destination and level of coverage you need, you can choose from the TravelSmart Premier Basic, Classic or Elite plan.

The TravelSmart Premier Basic plan offers basic medical, terrorism, trip inconvenience and golf coverage. However, the basic-tier plan can be purchased for Malaysia only and does not include COVID-19 coverage. Those looking to purchase travel insurance to other countries must select either the Classic or Elite plans, both of which cost considerably above average.

Additionally, though Great Eastern offers adventure leisure activities cover, they are only available for the Classic or Elite plan.

Even with these additional benefits, it is difficult to recommend Great Eastern's travel insurance to the average consumer who wants to maximise value.

Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic

The Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic plan has the potential of standing out by being the only Malaysia/Batam/Bintan plan that is available for annual coverage.

However, in exchange for the low premium, there is no COVID-19 coverage or Adventurous Leisure Activities coverage.

In addition, the Great Eastern Travel Premier Basic plan is only available for Malaysia and users have to select between Classic and Elite plans for other destinations.

Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premier Classic plan is quite expensive for the coverage it provides, giving consumers a low value plan and leaving those who either want top coverage or great prices unimpressed.

Although it includes adventurous leisure activities coverage—which may seem like a great deal at first because most other plans charge extra for these benefits—other mid-tier plans still end up being cheaper even with the extra cost to add on these sports coverages.

The Classic Plan's medical and personal accident coverage is also below average and its cancellation, trip delays, baggage loss and baggage delay coverage hover around the mid-tier average.

Great Eastern's Elite plan is similar to the Classic plan in terms of who it would—or wouldn't—attract.

For ASEAN travellers, it is one the most expensive options costing 15% above average. For trips to Asia and Global destinations, its prices are around average. However, the Elite Plan's medical coverage is around half of what most top-tier plans offer. Additionally, just like the classic plan, it also includes adventurous leisure activities and golf cover, terrorism cover and home contents cover.

If you are looking for a top-tier plan because you want the best coverage possible for your trip, then we would recommend Allianz, as they have extremely high medical and travel inconvenience coverage, and include all of the extra benefits Great Eastern includes such as sports, golf, jewellery and home contents coverage.

Notable Exclusions

Great Eastern has the standard exclusions for TravelSmart Premier plans, including no cover for events relating to pre-existing conditions, war, mental disorders and pregnancy.

Great Eastern offers fairly comprehensive golfer's coverage that includes equipment, unused green fees and hole-in-one. You will additionally be covered for medical and accident expenses occurring from leisure adventurous activity if you buy either the Classic or Elite plans. The sports covered include helicopter rides, jet skiing, mountaineering (below 3,000 metres), paragliding, parasailing, skiing/snowboarding, skydiving and underwater activities up to a depth of 30 metres.

To submit a claim with Great Eastern, you can either contact their emergency services number (in case of an emergency while on your trip), contact your insurance adviser or mail a claim form along with the appropriate documents.

Great Eastern Travel Insurance Details

When you get a great deal on your travel insurance, you'll end up maximising your peace of mind while not breaking the bank. Below, you'll find a summary of Great Eastern's coverage and premiums, as well as how they compare to the industry averages. If you'd like to see how Great Eastern's plans compare to other plans on the market, you can read our guide to the best travel insurance plans in Singapore.

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Great Eastern travel insurance review: Covid-19, promo, premiums

Great Eastern's travel insurance plans were once upon a time one of the most popular options in the market, but that was way back when everyone wore huge-a** shoulder pads. Now that the field has been disrupted by so many young upstarts, can the Red Lion still play the game?

Here's how Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance coverage measures up against popular competitors such as AIG, FWD, AXA, and NTUC's travel insurance plans in 2022:

1. Great Eastern Covid Travel Insurance: Premiums

In the past, Great Eastern travel insurance was sold under 2 brands: Great Eastern Travel E@sy and Great Eastern TravelSmart - both have since been taken off the market.

Great Eastern TravelSmart was still available for purchase as recent as March 2022, when Covid-19 travel were just about easing and "cruise to nowhere" was all the rage. Back then, you may have bought a Great Eastern TravelSmart Basic which was the cheapest travel insurance variant covering you for cruises, Bintan, Batam etc. However, thanks to the rapidly changing global travel restrictions, these travel insurance plans come and go so quickly. Great Eastern TravelSmart is no longer available.

Instead, it's been replaced by Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier, which comes in three plan tiers:

Here is a summary table of the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier travel insurance's premiums, benefits, and key coverage:

Note: Premiums are based on single-trip to South Korea (Asia), and Switzerland (Worldwide) for seven days during the September school holidays 2022.

Travel insurance plans' premiums are usually priced according to the country you're travelling to. While these countries are usually presented neatly in a table so you can figure out your premiums, Great Eastern does not state any of the countries nor their premiums transparently - which is a turn-off.

Instead, you have to key your country of destination into their website to check the premiums one by one. Here, we've checked a list of three to seven day single-trip premiums for all us Singaporeans' favourite holidaying spots:

• Malaysia: $19 Basic, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Bintan: $19 Basic, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Indonesia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Thailand: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Vietnam: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Cambodia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Hong Kong: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• South Korea: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Japan: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• India: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Australia: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Bhutan: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Maldives: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Germany: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• London/ UK: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Paris/ France: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• USA:$99 Classic, $118 Elite

2. Great Eastern Travel Insurance's Covid-19 Coverage

Although Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premier travel insurance comes in three-tier plans - Basic, Classic, and Elite - Covid-19 coverage is not offered in the Basic plan. Only the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic and Elite plans give you Covid-19 coverage.

Here's a summary of Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage:

Some other things to note about Great Eastern's travel insurance:

• Pre-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you test Covid-19 positive 30 days before your departure date and need to cancel or postpone your trip, Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance will cover your travel fares, hotel accommodation, entertainment tickets.
• During Trip Covid-19 Coverage: From the day you test Covid-19 positive overseas, you'll be covered for 90 days. Your travel insurance plan will also be automatically be extended for 30 days for free.
• Post-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you get Covid-19 only after you land in Singapore, you will not be covered.

Honestly, Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage pales in comparison to competitors' such as Sompo's Covid-19 travel insurance which offers a higher $100,000 to $200,000 in Covid-19 medical expenses coverage and emergency medical evacuation, and $2,000 to $4,000 in trip postponement claims.

All these are important – higher Covid-19 medical expense coverage means you can be assured that even if you’re sent to an expensive private hospital for Covid-19. Likewise, do not overlook the emergency medical evacuation coverage. If you came down with a really bad case of Covid-19, the doctors deemed you unfit for normal flight, and you need to be medically flown back to Singapore, the bill could easily come up to $200,000 or $300,000.

Not shitting you, it’s real. I’ve had a friend who was stuck in the US ’cause she was unfit to fly. Google “fundraiser for Singapore medical evacuation” to see more real-life examples.

Like Sompo travel insurance, Great Eastern travel insurance does not offer post-trip Covid-19 coverage. So if you’re back in Singapore and test positive for Covid-19, that’s on you.

3. Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Disadvantages

There are some caveats to Great Eastern's travel insurance and Covid-19 coverage that you need to take note of. For example, don't make the mistake of buying your travel insurance only at the airport's boarding area, just before your flight. Most travel insurance plans have waiting periods as well:

• Short Trips Only: Your trip cannot be longer than 90 days
• Covid-19 Coverage: Only included in Classic and Elite plans
• No Air Miles, Hotel Reward Points: If you're planning to use air miles, or reward points to redeem your flight and hotel tickets, these tickets won't be covered by your Great Eastern (GE) travel insurance
• Buy Early: There's a seven-day waiting period before your GE travel insurance plan kicks in
• First and Business Class: Your travel tickets will only be covered up to economy class ticket's price bracket
• Flight Delay caused by the airline or government (due to Covid-19 regulations) is not claimable
• No post-trip Covid-19 coverage
• No coverage for pre-existing conditions

As with all travel insurance, you need to prove that you have tried to call your hotel and airlines to get a flight ticket exchange or refund to no avail. Only then will your travel insurance be able to cover your additional expenses.

4. Travel Insurance For Extreme Sports & Outdoor Activities

A great advantage of the Great Eastern travel insurance is its comprehensive coverage of extreme sports and outdoor activities adventure. You'll need to get the Classic or Elite plan, and you must be engaging in these outdoor adventure activities in a leisure or recreational way with licensed guides and instructors. That means you cannot be a professional bungee jumper trying to win a competition.

Here are the outdoor adventurous activities that are covered by Great Eastern travel insurance:

5. Travel Insurance Claim Great Eastern

Dealing with travel insurance claims is not the easiest thing. You're back in Singapore, just ended a wonderful holiday with great memories, got lots of clothes to wash, and a million MS Teams messages from your boss - absolutely not in the mood to sort paperwork for travel insurance claims.

Before you depart for your trip, make sure you have all your flight bookings, tour agency receipts, and hotel and Airbnb receipts printed in a file that you can use for any claims. If you're bringing any high-value laptops, expensive cameras, or expensive Rimowa luggages along, dig out those receipts and leave it in the file, too. Just do it and leave it on your dining table.

• Fall sick, get into an accident, get Covid-19: Call Great Eastern's hotline at +65 6339 2155 (24-hour Emergency Assistance). Document the entire accident process (your wounds), your hospitalisation, and DEMAND for all documents detailing your diagnosis, your medicine, hospitalisation stay, and the bills. Go over the top. You need all sorts of evidence to prove to the old geezers sitting in the Claims Department that your leg indeed broke while you were sightseeing in Jeju Island and not Bukit Timah Hill.
• Lost item or Theft: Report loss of item and theft to local police within 24 hours, get a copy of the printed report
• Lost item or Theft in airplane, hotel, DisneyLand, etc.: Also make a report to your airline, tour bus company, hotel, amusement park etc… wherever you lost it, get a copy of the report in print
• Original Receipts: Go home, dig out all the original documents and receipts for your loss or stolen items
• Download and Print Claims Form: For Great Eastern, all their forms need to be downloaded, printed, filled in, and mailed to their GE office in Singapore. Here is the Great Eastern travel insurance claim form.
• Submit Claims: Submit all your travel-related documents, flight tickets, hotel bookings, PLUS your claims documents to Great Eastern via snail mail. Afterwards, call their general hotline 1800-248-2888 to check on the status of your claims. The address is:

(Attention: General Insurance Claims Department)

Great Eastern General Insurance Limited,

1 Pickering Street,

#01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

6. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Promo

At the moment, there is no ongoing travel insurance promotion for Great Eastern.

There is, however, a $100 gift credit that you can make use of to get 10 per cent off your travel insurance premium. You'll have to download the Great Eastern Rewards mobile app, and sign in. Then, you'll get $100 credits in your wallet.

But Great Eastern is a little sneaky… you can only offset a maximum of 10 per cent of your premium at any point in time. So, if your GE travel insurance premium cost you $65, that's $6.50 in discount. Yes, Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier is eligible for this promotion.

7. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Review

Should you buy Great Eastern travel insurance? If you're planning a trip to Niseko to skii, Bungee jumping in Seminyak Bali, or scuba diving in the Philippines, you'll be glad to know that Great Eastern's travel insurance is great for recreational extreme sports and adventures such as hiking and trekking.

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The basic coverage for GE's Travel Smart Classic and Elite plans aren't terrible, but they're not really that high. It covers all your needs sufficiently, e.g. medical expenses in overseas hospitals, medical evacuation back to Singapore, baggage delay, and loss.

Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage is, again, the bare minimum with $50,000 Classic and $150,000 Elite medical expense coverage for you when you get hospitalised overseas for Covid-19. The daily $50 or $100 Covid quarantine or hospitalisation allowance is great, but it is capped at 14 days.

However, the trip cancellation, postponement, and disruption coverage is pretty low at $1,000, $3,000, and $5,000 - and may be insufficient to cover the now-exorbitant airfares.

But perhaps the biggest deal breaker is the terribly outdated claims process. Hey Great Eastern, 1995 called. They want your insurance claims procedure back.

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Terrific Eastern travel insurance review: Covid-19, promo, premiums

Great Eastern's travel security plans endured once upon a time neat concerning the most favourite options in the market, but this was way back at people carried huge-a** shoulder pads. Now so the field has had disrupted due so more young upstarts, can the Crimson Lion still perform that game? 3. Singtel Move Protect shall underwritten through Great Eastern General Insurance Small, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Little both a member ...

Here's methods Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel international coverage measures up negative popular competitors such such AIG, FWD, AXA, and NTUC's voyage insurance plans in 2022: Read 12 unbiased reviews of Great Eastern Travel Insurance 2021 on Seedly community

1. Great Eastern Covid Travel Insurance: Premiums

In the past, Big Eastern travel insurance where sold under 2 brands: Great Eastern Travel E@sy and Great Eastern TravelSmart - both can since been taken off that market.

Great Eastern TravelSmart was stand available for purchase as recent as March 2022, when Covid-19 traveling were just about easing and "cruise go nowhere" has all to rage. Back then, you may have bought one Major Eastern TravelSmart Basic which was to cheapest travel insurance variant covering you for cruises, Bintan, Batam etc. However, thanks to the rapidly changing global travel exclusive, these travel insurance plans come and go so quickly. Great Eastern TravelSmart is negative longer available. Look through our various plans before making your purchase. Via Greatness Eastern. or OCBC Internet Credit. Alternatively, they may contact us at ...

Instead, it's been replaced by Great Eastern TravelSmart First, which arrival in three plan tiers:

Here is a summary table of the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier travel insurance's premiums, benefits, and key product:

Note: Premiums exist based on single-trip to Sw Korea (Asia), and Switzerland (Worldwide) for seven days during the September school holidays 2022.

Travel insurance plans' premiums are usually rated after in the country you're travelling toward. While save countries are usually presented neatly in one table so you can figure out your premiums, Great Easterly does not state any out the countries nor their premiums transparently - which is a turn-off.

Instead, thee have to press owner country of destination into their website to check the premiums one over one. Here, we've checked a list of three to seven day single-trip premiums for all us Singaporeans' favourite taking spots:

• Malaysia: $19 Elementary, $47 Classic, $56 Eliot
• Bintan: $19 Basal, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Indonesia: $47 Classic, $56 Best
• Thailand: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Viet: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Cambodia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Hong Kong: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• South Korea: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Japan: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• India: $65 Classic, $75 Elites
• Australia: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Ladakh: $99 Classic, $118 Elitist
• Indische: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Germany: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• London/ UK: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Paris/ France: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• USA:$99 Typical, $118 Elite

2. Great Eastern Travel Insurance's Covid-19 Coverage

However Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premiered travel insurance comes within three-tier planned - Ground, Classic, furthermore Elite - Covid-19 coverage is not offered in the Basic schedule. Includes the Great Asian TravelSmart Premium Classic and Elite plans give you Covid-19 coverage. Grand Eastern How Indemnity: Is It ampere Good Deal?

Here's a summary of Great Eastern going insurance's Covid-19 cover:

Some other things to note about Great Eastern's trips international:

• Pre-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you test Covid-19 positive 30 days before your departure date and need go cancel or postpone your ride, Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel financial will cover your travel fares, hotel accommodation, entertainment tickets. Outstanding Western Travel Insurance Reviews and View - Seedly.sg
• Within Tour Covid-19 Coverage: From who day you test Covid-19 positive overseas, you'll being covered for 90 days. Your travel insurance plan will also be automatically be elongated for 30 per for free. Great Eastern's travel insurance schemes were once upon a time one of the most famous options in the market, but that was way back when all wore huge-a** shoulder pads. Now that the field has been disrupted by so many young upstarts, canned the Red Lion still play the game? Here's how Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance protection measured up...
• Post-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you get Covid-19 only after i landed at Singapore, you will not be covered.

Honestly, Great Eastern traveling insurance's Covid-19 coverage fairs inside comparability to competitors' such as Sompo's Covid-19 travel insurance which promotions a highest $100,000 toward $200,000 in Covid-19 medical expenses coverage and emergency medical evacuation, and $2,000 to $4,000 in trip shifting claims.

All these are critical – higher Covid-19 gesundheitlich expenditures coverage means you can be assured that even if you’re sent to an expensive private hospital for Covid-19. Likewise, do not ignore of emergency medical vacate coverage. If you was down with a honestly bad case of Covid-19, the doctors deemed you incompetent for standard flight, and yours want to be medically flown back to Singapore, the poster could easily come up to $200,000 button $300,000. Because premiums between $65 to $118, Great Eastern's travel insurance is best for extreme sports such as Bungee, Hot Air Balloons, the scuba diving.

Not shitting you, it’s real. I’ve had a friend who was stuck for the US ’cause their were unfit to fly. Google “fundraiser fork Spanien medical evacuation” in see more real-life instances. Great Eastern Travel Services Review: Covid-19, Promo, Rewards

Like Sompo travel insurance, Great Eastern travel insurance does not bid post-trip Covid-19 coverage. So if you’re support in Singapore additionally test positive for Covid-19, that’s on you. Read our in-depth review of Grand Eastern's travel insurance options to find out if it's the right travel insurance for you.

3. Fine Easterly Travel Insurance: Disadvantages

There are some caveats to Great Eastern's travel travel and Covid-19 coverage that you require into take note of. For demo, don't make the mistake of buying your travel insurance only at one airport's boardings area, just for their flight. Greatest travel insurance plans have waiting periods as fountain:

• Short Trips Only: Your trip cannot be longer than 90 days
• Covid-19 Coverage: Only included in Classic and Elite plans
• No Air Kilometers, Hotel Reward Matters: With you're planning to use air miles, or reward points to redeem thine flight real hotel tickets, these tickets won't be covered until your Great Eastern (GE) travel insurance Great Eastern travel insurance review: Covid-19, promo, premiums
• Buy Quick: There's a seven-day waiting periods before your GE travel insurance planned kicks in
• First and Business Group: Your vacation tickets will only be roofed up to economy school ticket's price bracket
• Flight Delay caused by the aviation or government (due to Covid-19 regulations) is did claimable
• No post-trip Covid-19 coverage
• No coverage for pre-existing condition

As with all trip insurance, you need toward prove that she have tried to telephone your hotel and airlines to get a flight admission austausch or refund to no avail. Only then will our travel insurance be able to cover your additional expenses. Answer 1 of 7: I used to buy from OCBC (great eastern), but ocbc can only buy 3 months prior in the travel date, both current this hlas can 40% off, ...

4. Travel Insurance For Extreme Sports & Outdoor Activities

A great edge from the Great East travel insurance is your comprehensive coverage of extreme sports and outdoor activities hazard. You'll need to get aforementioned Classy or Elite plan, and i must remain engaging in these outdoor my services in a leisure or recreational way use licensee guides and instructors. Which resources you cannot live a professional bungee jumper attempted to win an competition. AsiaOne

Hither are an outdoor adventurous proceedings that am covered by Great Eastern travel insurance:

5. Travel Insurance Claim Big Eastern

Austausch with travel protection claims is not the easiest thing. You're back in Singapore, just exit a wonderful holiday with great memories, got lots of dresses to cleanse, and an million MS Groups notifications from your boss - absolutely not within the mood to sort paperwork for trips insurance claims. Acquire Travel Services Online | Singtel

Before you depart on your getting, make sure you have all your flight bookings, tour agency receipts, and stay also Airbnb receipts stamped in ampere file that you can use for optional claims. When you're bringing anything high-value laptops, expensive cameras, or highly Rimowa luggages along, dig out those receipts and leave computer in the file, too. Just do it and leave it on your dining table.

• Fall sick, get for einen accident, get Covid-19: Call Great Eastern's hotline by +65 6339 2155 (24-hour Emergency Assistance). Document the entire accident process (your wounds), your hospitalisation, also DEMAND for all documents detailing your diagnosis, your medical, hospitals stay, and the bills. Go over this top. You need all sorts of evidence to prove at the old geezers standing in the Claims Department that your leg indeed broke while you were sightseeing in Jeju Island both not Bukit Timah Hill. The Seoul tragedy lefts the the mourning, and emphasized an need to re-look into travel actual plans and its coverage.
• Lost item or Theft: Report loss the item real theft to local police during 24 working, get a copy of the printed reporting
• Lost single or Theft in aviation, hotel, DisneyLand, etc.: Also make a report to your airline, tour autobus company, hotel, amusement park etc… whereever you lost it, get a copy of to report in print Explorer Travel International | COVID-19 Coverage | Promotions
• Original Earnings: Go home, dig out whole the original documents and receipts since is defective or stolen items
• Download and Print Compensation Form: Available Great Russian, select their forms need to be load, printed, stuffed in, and mailed to their GE office stylish Singapore. Here is that Great Eastern go insurance declare mold. Gemeinschaft traveling problems and how to resolve theirs easily | Lifestyle ...
• Submit Claims: Take view your travel-related documentation, escape tickets, hotel bookings, PLUS your claims related the Greatest Eastern via snail mail. Afterwards, get your general hotline 1800-248-2888 to control off the state of your claims. To address exists: anyone bought hlas travel insurance before? - Tripadvisor

(Attention: General Insurance Claims Department)

Great Eastern Public Insurance Limited,

1 Pickering Driveway,

#01-01 Greatness Eastern Centers, Singapore 048659

6. Large Eastern Journey Insurance Promo

During the momentary, go is no ongoing travel assurance promotion for Great Eastern.

There is, however, a $100 gift credit that you can make use concerning to get 10 per cent out your travel insurance special. You'll have to download the Greater Eastern Rewards mobile app, and sign in. Then, you'll get $100 end include is credit. Using no additional premium needed, get up to $150,000 coverage1 expenses and emergency therapeutic evacuation if i become diagnosed over COVID-19 during your ...

But Great Eastern is a little sneaky… they can only offset a maximum of 10 pro cent of choose premium at any point in zeiten. So, if your S travel policy premium cost you $65, that's $6.50 in discount. Yes, Major Ne TravelSmart Premier is suitable for this promotion.

7. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Review

Should you buy Great Eastern travel services? If you're planning a trip to Niseko to skii, String jumping in Seminyak Bali, or scuba diving in this Philippines, you'll be glad to know that Major Eastern's travel insurance remains great to leisure-time extreme sports real adventures such as hiking and trekking.

[[nid:583522]]

One basic coverage for GE's Travelling Smart Classic and Elite plans aren't terrible, but they're not really that high. It covers all your needs sufficiently, e.g. medical expenses in jenseits hospitals, medical evacuation back to Barbuda, baggage delay, and loss.

Great East travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage will, again, the bare minimum through $50,000 Classic and $150,000 Elite medizin expenses coverage for you if you get hospitalised overseas for Covid-19. The quotidian $50 or $100 Covid quarantine or hospitalisation allowance is great, but to is capped at 14 days.

However, the trip cancellation, postponement, and disruption coverage is charming low at $1,000, $3,000, furthermore $5,000 - and may may insufficient to cover and now-exorbitant airfares.

But perhaps an biggest deal breaker is the scary antiquated claims process. Dear Great Eastern, 1995 called. They want your coverage argues practice back.

6 Best Travel Insurance with COVID-19 Coverage in Singapore (Apr 2024)

COVID-19 might be the last thing on your mind…but it could be the first thing to ruin your next trip. Whether you end up quarantined overseas or have to cancel the holiday entirely, there are plenty of ways COVID-19 could make a vacation go awry. And that’s before you consider things like lost luggage, flight delays , getting pickpocketed, and more.

Good news—there’s an easy way out. Before you jet off to your  dream travel destination , don’t forget to purchase  travel insurance . Covering you for your potential travel disruptions, travel insurance is the next most important thing besides your flight ticket!

Most insurance providers have added COVID-19 coverage to their travel insurance plans, but to varying extents. Some have COVID-19 as an optional add-0n that you have to purchase. Coverage wise, some providers offer far better COVID-19 protection than others.

Find out how to choose, what to look out for, and the cheapest travel insurance you can buy with our comparison of the best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage  in Singapore and their ongoing promotions. Promotions are generous this Apr 2024— you could even win a Rolex Oyster Perpetual , 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000), all-expenses paid trip, or a 2D1N staycation!

Best Travel Insurance in Singapore with COVID-19 Coverage (2024)

• Best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage

Bubblegum Travel Insurance

• FWD travel insurance
• Starr travel insurance
• MSIG travel insurance
• Singlife travel insurance
• Etiqa travel insurance
• Cheapest travel insurance in Singapore
• Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?
• How do I choose the best travel insurance policy with COVID-19 coverage?
• What do I do if I test positive for COVID-19 during or after travelling?

1. Best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage

With the sheer number of travel insurance providers out there, it can be overwhelming to compare everything against everything else. We know that pain, because that’s exactly what we’ve just done.  Wipe away those tears of exasperation— we’ve done the legwork for you and picked out the top 6 travel insurance plans in Singapore:

Why are these the top 6? We’ve compared them based on affordability, COVID-19 cover inclusion, emergency medical coverage, and trip cancellation coverage. (If you’re an adventure seeker, that’s more niche—refer to this article for all the best travel insurance for extreme sports and outdoor adventure instead.)

Ready to dive into the deets? We compared the coverage and prices of most popular  travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage in Singapore. So if you’re looking for a specific type of coverage for your travel needs, e.g. high trip cancellation coverage, this is a better summary table for you to work with:

Note: All travel insurance options above are before promotional discounts are applied. Unless otherwise stated, all include COVID-19 coverage.

Back to top

2. Bubblegum Travel Insurance

Bubblegum Travel Insurance  is a great option if you’re looking for fuss-free, essential coverage at affordable rates. Bubblegum’s travel insurance model is simple, offering just 1 travel insurance plan. Here are its pricing and coverage benefits:

If fuss-free, essential travel insurance is your top priority, we think Bubblegum is a good option for you. Their travel insurance is all-inclusive with coverage for travel inconveniences like cancellations and delays, and also gives you coverage for COVID-19 related expenses at no additional cost.

If you’re a thrill-seeker looking at adventurous activities, Bubblegum Travel Insurance will also cover you for hot air ballooning, scuba diving and skiing, with no restriction on height or depth.

Bubblegum travel insurance promotion

Total Premium

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   •  Enjoy 10% off  your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. •  Additionally, receive up to S$25 via PayNow with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.

Key Features

Bubblegum offers just 1 affordable plan to suit all your travel needs to maximise your savings

Overseas medical expenses up to $150,000 SGD (Covid-19 sub-limit of $65,000 included)

24-Hour global Emergency Assistance services including Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Covid-19 trip related cancellation/curtailment up to $600 SGD included

Adventurous activities like scuba diving and hot air ballooning are covered with no limit on depth or height.

Bubblegum is currently offering a 10% discount on all their travel insurance plans. That means you can cover a 7-day trip to ASEAN with just $38—about $5+ a day !

Truth is, the discount is even greater when you consider the fact that Bubblegum will also give you My Millennium Points and cashback when you purchase Bubblegum travel insurance:

• Get  2,400 My Millennium Points (worth $16) with every policy purchased.
• Plus, get  $15 Cash via PayNow when you buy a Bubblegum Travel Insurance plan with a premium of $80 to $119.99 OR  $25 Cash via PayNow with a premium of $120 and above.

Promotion valid till 30 Apr 2024.

3. FWD Travel Insurance 

FWD travel insurance offers some of the cheapest travel insurance plans in Singapore, so this is a budget-friendly option which still offers you great value for every dollar. I like that coverage for emergency medical evacuation is unlimited for all tiers, and overseas medical expenses go up to a generous $1,000,000 (which is about as high as it gets).

Here’s a quick run-through of the price and benefits offered by FWD travel insurance plans:

When you’re purchasing FWD travel insurance, the COVID-19 benefits are an add-on. The price of the COVID-19 add-on costs between $11 to $22  depending on the part of the world you’re travelling to. If you choose to add it on, it’ll give you comprehensive coverage of the following:

• Trip disruption
• Trip cancellation
• Overseas hospital cash
• Hospital cash while in Singapore
• Medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation

The plan reimburses your travel-related expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 no more than 30 days before your scheduled departure date, or if you have to change your itinerary because of a COVID-19 diagnosis while overseas. You also get to claim medical expenses and a hospital cash benefit if you get hospitalised overseas or for up to 14 days in Singapore upon your return.

On top of that, there’s also an automatic policy extension of up to 21 days should you be prevented from travel as per foreign government regulations due to:

• You contracting COVID-19; or
• You or your travel companion needing to be self-isolated due to being in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19

Read the full T&Cs of FWD’s COVID-19 coverage .

FWD travel insurance promotion

[ Win a Rolex, FREE Travel Insurance & More!   | MoneySmart Exclusive]    • Enjoy 25% off your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased.  T&Cs apply.   BONUS:  For a limited time only, stand a chance to score over S$11,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000). • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550).    What's more? We are giving away FREE Travel Insurance to 8 lucky winners daily when you purchase your Travel Insurance, and submit the Claim Form between 12pm to 8pm .    Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

Enjoy cashless medical outpatient treatment in Singapore, access to emergency assistance and your travel policy documents through the FWD SG app!

Add on coverage for COVID-19 available for both Single & Annual Trips for travel period of 90 days or less.

Optional add on coverage available when your trip is cancelled for any reason for Single Trips. (To be purchased within 7 days of your initial trip deposit for your trip).

Plan Highlights

Covid-19 protection, leisure activities.

Currently, you can take 25% off the prices for all FWD travel insurance tiers. That brings the rate for a 7-day ASEAN trip down to $25 to $42, or just $3+ to $6 a day !

We haven’t gotten to the really good part yet. Purchase FWD Premium , FWD Business , or FWD First travel insurance and stand a chance to win over $10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw ! Prizes include:

• Rolex Oyster Perpetual – 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000)
• All Expenses Paid Trip
• 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550)

Promotions valid till 7 Apr 2024 (Prizes 2 and 3) / 30 Apr 2024 (Prize 1).

4. Starr Travel Insurance

Starr’s travel insurance   Starr TraveLead Comprehensive is a leader in terms of how customisable their insurance is. When signing up, medical coverage (including COVID-19 coverage) is automatically included in all plans, but you can choose whether or not you want to add trip coverage (e.g. document loss, travel delay) and baggage coverage (e.g. baggage delay). Then, you can also easily add riders for Golf Protection, Cruise Vacation, Scuba Diving, and Snow Sports.

Starr TraveLead Comprehensive comes in 3 tiers: Gold , Silver and Bronze . While all are pretty comprehensive (as the name suggests), we advise you go for at least Silver . This affords you $500,000 overseas medical coverage, as well as $30,000 medical coverage for COVID-19 and $250 coverage for COVID-19 related trip curtailments and cancellations. You won’t get the COVID-19 trip curtailment/cancellation coverage in the Bronze plan, which only offers $15,000 for COVID-19 medical coverage. Better be safe and  go for Silver or Gold.

Here are the prices and coverage amounts for each tier. Prices are given with trip coverage included in the plan.

Note: Starr also has a travel insurance called Starr TraveLead Essential, which also comes in Bronze , Silver and Gold tiers. They look very attractive because of their low prices—for example, Starr TraveLead Essential Bronze costs just $20 for a 7-day trip to an ASEAN destination.

However, unless you’re on a really tight budget, I wouldn’t recommend these plans because of their more limited coverage. For example, while the Starr TraveLead Essential Bronze plan does cover you for $200,000 worth of overseas medical expenses (which is already the bare minimum), it doesn’t cover you at all for trip cancellation and loss/damage of baggage. Neither do the Silver or Gold tier plans.

Starr Travel Insurance promotion

Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Silver

[ Win a Rolex, FREE Travel Insurance & More!    | MoneySmart Exclusive]   • Enjoy 42% off your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$45 via PayNow OR 1 x Apple AirTag (worth S$45.40) with eligible premiums spent. T&Cs apply.   BONUS:  For a limited time only, stand a chance to score over S$11,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000). • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550).   What's more? We are giving away FREE Travel Insurance to 8 lucky winners daily when you purchase your Travel Insurance, and submit the Claim Form between 12pm to 8pm .   Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

For Cruise to nowhere insurance: Find out more here

Flexible coverage allows you to create a travel insurance plan with different types of coverage and add-ons that can adapt to your needs

Overseas Covid-19 related medical expenses of up to $30,000 SGD included (Excluding China).

Covid 19 Trip related cancellation/curtailment up to $250 SGD included (Excluding China).

Covers Travel Expenses for return of Child(ren) during the hospitalisation of the insured person.

No sublimit or restriction on outpatient expenses and number of visits

24 hours Global Emergency Assistance Services help you when you need it most, connecting you with medical treatment and transportation

Seamless and Cashless claims via PayNow

Please note that travelling to Russia and Ukraine is not covered in Starr’s insurance with immediate effect.

With the ongoing 42% discount promotion on Starr travel insurance, prices are very affordable. Coverage for a week-long ASEAN trip is just $24+ ($3+ a day), while a trip of the same duration to countries like USA costs $30+ ($4+ a day).

The best part? Purchase Starr TraveLead travel insurance of any tier and stand a chance to win over $10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw ! Prizes include:

5. MSIG Travel Insurance

MSIG travel insurance is categorised into 3 plans— Standard , Elite , and Premier . The cheapest, basic plan still offers pretty adequate coverage in medical emergencies and trip cancellations or delays.

Here’s a quick run-down of the plan’s key benefits:

One more unusual area of coverage that MSIG includes is emergency dental expenses. You get $5,000 to $15,000 in coverage, depending on the travel insurance tier you select.

MSIG’s Areas A and B refer, roughly speaking, to ASEAN and Asia respectively. Here’s a more comprehensive list of the countries in each category:

• Area A : Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
• Area B : Australia, China (excluding Inner Mongolia and Tibet), Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and including countries in Area A
• Area C : Worldwide

MSIG Travel Insurance’s COVID-19 coverage is an automatic inclusion to its travel insurance plans and offers the following coverage:

• Trip cancellation, postponement, shortening, disruption
• Replacement of traveller
• Overseas medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Overseas quarantine daily cash allowance

This is quite a decent list of benefits, but do note that daily hospital cash allowance is missing from the list.

MSIG travel insurance promotion

MSIG TravelEasy Standard

[ Win a Rolex, FREE Travel Insurance & More!    | MoneySmart Exclusive]   • Enjoy up to   40% off your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$45 via PayNow OR 1 x Apple AirTag (worth S$45.40) with eligible premiums spent. T&Cs apply.   BONUS:  For a limited time only, stand a chance to score over S$11,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000). • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550).   What's more? We are giving away FREE Travel Insurance to 8 lucky winners daily when you purchase your Travel Insurance, and submit the Claim Form between 12pm to 8pm .   Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

COVID-19 coverage of up to $150,000 medical cover and up to $1,500 travel inconvenience benefit for your trip protection.

Packaged tour coverage for insolvency of licensed travel agencies registered with the Singapore Tourism Board (includes NATAS registered travel agencies).

Get covered across all TravelEasy Plan types with a high limit of S$1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation & repatriation

MSIG provides cover for insolvency of licensed travel agencies registered with the Singapore Tourism Board (includes NATAS registered travel agencies)

Currently, you can take 40% off all MSIG travel insurance plans with their ongoing promotion. That means your 7-day ASEAN trip now costs just $37 to $70 to cover compared to $62 to $116.

On top of the 40% discount, you’ll receive lots of goodies with your MSIG travel insurance purchase:

• Receive  2,400 My Millennium Points (worth $16) with every policy purchased.
• $15 cash via PayNow with a premium of $65 to $119.99
• $25 cash via PayNow with a premium of $120 to $239.99
• $45 cash via PayNow or an Apple AirTag (worth $45.40) with a premium of $240 and above .

Promotion valid till 12 Apr 2024.

6. Singlife Travel Insurance

Singlife travel insurance comes in 3 tiers— Lite , Plus , and Prestige . The price you pay and the coverage you’ll get increase with each plan.

Here are Singlife travel insurance’s key prices and benefits:

On top of the coverage above, Singlife also covers you for chiropractor and/or chinese physician treatment : $250 ($50 per visit) for Lite, $500 ($75 per visit) for Plus, and $1000 ($100 per visit) for Prestige.

As far as COVID-19 coverage goes, here’s a quick run-down:

• Emergency medical evacuation, repatriation
• Overseas quarantine allowance
• Trip cancellation, postponement, interruption

While Singlife travel insurance’s coverage for non-COVID medical expenses, travel delay and trip cancellation is comprehensive, we have to dock some points for the lack of overseas hospital cash allowance and pretty low COVID-19 trip cancellation coverage.

Also, do note that the lowest tier, Lite, doesn’t come with certain coverage, such as trip cancellation or postponement for any reason and COVID-19 overseas quarantine allowance.

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Covers trip cancellation for any reason, T&Cs apply.

Covers trip interruptions or cancellations due to COVID-19 and cover your medical treatment should you contract COVID-19 whilst overseas.

Payout of up to S$150** should your trip be affected by excessive rainfall.

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It’s a win-win situation—get 28% off your Singlife travel insurance premiums these goodies thrown in:

• $10 cash via PayNow with a premium of $65 to $129.99
• $20 cash via PayNow with a premium of $130 to $329.99
• $30 cash via PayNow or an Apple AirTag (worth $45.40) with a premium of $330 and above .

Promotion valid till 29 Feb 2024.

7. Etiqa Travel Insurance

Do you hate making travel insurance claims? I do. That’s why when a friend of mine told me that you don’t need to make any claim on Etiqa to receive compensation for your flight delay, I was very intrigued.

I’ve been fortunate—all my recent flights have left on time. But from what I’ve heard from friends who weren’t as lucky on their recent travels, it’s true that Etiqa has the most seamless claim process for flight delays . All you need to do is enter your flight details when purchasing your insurance. Etiqa will monitor your flight and know if your flight is delayed (to count as a delay, it needs to be pushed back at least 3 consecutive hours). If that happens, they’ll transfer money into your Etiqa TiqConnect eWallet—even if you don’t submit a claim! You can then encash that sum via PayNow.

On top of this travel delay claim benefit, Etiqa also provides flight check-in reminders and baggage belt collection details via SMS when you land. I’ve experienced this myself when I bought Etiqa’s travel insurance for my trip to the UK this year. Now that’s what I call service.

Etiqa’s travel insurance is called Tiq Travel Insurance  and comes in 3 tiers: Tiq Entry , Tiq Savvy , and Tiq Luxury . Here are their costs and coverage components:

Tiq Entry is sufficient to give you essential coverage for travel disruptions. But if you’ve just a little more to spend, go for Tiq Savvy . This will more than double your coverage limit for overseas medical expenses from $200,000 to $500,000 for just an additional $5 a week—that’s less than $1 a day.

Comprehensive COVID-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip

Covers Cruise to Nowhere

Get paid upon a 3-hour flight delay, even without submitting a claim

Instant claims encashment via PayNow

24-hour worldwide emergency travel support

The only disadvantage to Tiq travel insurance is that COVID-19 coverage is not included in the base price and you’ll have to pay for their optional  COVID-19 Add-On to be covered. Some people might say this is an advantage—it gives you a greater degree of flexibility to decide if you want to have COVID-19 coverage or not, especially as COVID-19 becomes less and less prevalent. However, the fact remains that you need to pay extra for it compared to travel insurance plans where COVID-19 coverage is already included.

Here’s how much the COVID-19 Add-On will cost for a 7-day trip:

To be covered for travel disruptions and medical expenses related to COVID-19, you’ll need to add the costs above to the base Tiq travel insurance prices.

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Comprehensive Covid-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip

Enjoy  40% off Tiq Single Trip Travel Insurance plans —that means your week-long ASEAN trip now costs just $23 instead of $39 under Tiq Entry.

Getting annual travel insurance instead? Get  60% off COVID-19 add-on for Annual Plans!

From now till 15 Aug 2024, purchase Tiq travel insurance to enter  Etiqa’s 10th Year 2024 Grand Draw . 5 lucky winners will walk away with  $10,000 cash , and 150 will receive a S ingapore Mint Lunar Dragon 1 gram 999.9 fine gold medallion (worth $173)!

8. Cheapest travel insurance in Singapore

When I buy travel insurance, I don’t really care whether the insurer has 900 years of experience or if the plan comes with extra coverage for Chanel bags. Just give me the cheapest travel insurance plan can  l iao !

If that sounds like you too, you’ll be glad to know we’ve done the legwork for you. After assessing the most popular travel insurers in Singapore, the honour of cheapest travel insurance in Singapore goes to… FWD travel insurance .

FWD Premium

But as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Will you regret being a cheapskate and lose out on important coverage if the only number you look at is the price?

In a way, yes. Because FWD travel insurance is only the cheapest option with 2 caveats.

Firstly, travel insurers have limited-time discounts all the time. This is no secret. It does, however, make it difficult to compare prices when an expensive plan is on 40% off but a cheaper one is on 10% off. That’s why for the table above, we compared base prices without discounts .

But when you take into account promotional prices, which plan is the cheapest? There’s no need to open a million tabs to compare every travel insurance plan out there. Just use our travel insurance comparison tool with the “Lowest Price” filter  on. You’re welcome!

The second caveat is this: FWD came out the cheapest when we looked at its price  without its COVID-19 add-on. If you’re looking for a travel insurance plan that includes coverage for disruptions due to COVID-19 (which you should!), the real winners are  Amex travel insurance and  Starr travel insurance .

Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Bronze

Personalise your travel insurance-Flexible coverage allows you to create a travel insurance plan with different types of coverage and addon that can adapt to your needs

Overseas Covid-19 related medical expenses of up to $15,000 SGD included (Excluding China).

Covers travel expenses for sending back an unattended child during the hospitalisation of the insured person

At the end of the day, ask yourself what specific travel insurance coverage you want to have, and assess the travel insurance options to find one that suits your needs.

Need some help? Read our travel insurance guide to understand all you need to know about choosing the best travel insurance. Don’t forget to use our travel insurance comparison tool to seamlessly compare plans across different providers in Singapore.

9. Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, most insurers did not extend their coverage to COVID-19-related mishaps. (Read more here .) The pandemic was quickly considered a “known event”, which insurers usually do not offer compensation for. So, if your flight got cancelled because of COVID-19, you’d be out of luck trying to get your insurance claims approved.

Now that practically all travel restrictions are lifted, insurance companies are rushing for a slice of the pie. Since the virus looks like it’s here to stay, most insurers are offering coverage that includes specific benefits for COVID-19. Where COVID-19 benefits aren’t already included in the policy, insurers offer an optional COVID-19 rider you can pay for to add on to the existing regular coverage.

Read your policy documents carefully to see if COVID-19 is covered, and add it on if you need to.

10. How do I choose the best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage?

COVID-19 coverage  can vary quite a bit from insurer to insurer . When you’re shopping for the best insurance policy,  there are 4 things you want to look out for when it comes to choosing the best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage:

• Medical expenses coverage

Do note that the plans still exclude travelling against a travel advisory put in place by the Singapore government or by the local authority at your trip destination. Meaning, if your destination country goes on red alert for COVID-19, visitors are highly likely to come into contact with the virus and your insurance is highly likely to reject any COVID-19 claims. So be sure to check announcements on both ends before you depart.

Another common exclusion is failing to take precautions against COVID-19. This is worded kinda vaguely in those lengthy insurance policies, but could include not following any COVID-19 regulations at your destination or on the plane. So make sure you wear your mask whenever it’s required (or even when it’s not, if you want to play extra safe) and don’t attend any illegal raves.

11. What do I do if I get COVID-19 during or after my travels?

First of all, when booking your trip, you should retain all receipts, tickets and itineraries in case your trip has to be cancelled or altered.

At the first sign of a COVID-19 infection or related travel disruption, you should call your insurer and ask for guidance. Many insurers maintain a 24-hour hotline for travel claims. Save that number before you depart Singapore so that you aren’t stuck somewhere without wi-fi or 4G to Google the hotline.

To make a claim , you will usually have to submit your insurer’s form with supporting documents by the deadline mentioned in your contract (usually 30 days). Don’t wait until you’re back in Singapore to check which documents you need.

If you catch COVID-19 while you’re in Singapore , you will likely have to submit the results of a PCR Swab Test or Antigen Rapid Test conducted at a clinic or hospital.

It gets a bit more complicated if you’re overseas . The insurer will likely require documentation from the hospital as well as a doctor’s letter stating that you are unfit to travel and/or recommending treatment.

If you need to be quarantined overseas , you should make sure you have a quarantine order from the government, otherwise you may not be able to claim for quarantine allowance. Remember to ask for this as not all countries automatically issue such documentation.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Travel Insurance Claim Guide

Planning to get travel insurance for your next trip? Learn how to claim for COVID-19 here!

About the author

Vanessa Nah  is a personal finance content writer who pens articles on the ins and outs of travel insurance, the T&Cs of credit cards, and the ups and downs of alternative investments. She’s a researcher at heart and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to breaking down complex finance concepts and making them easy to understand for the everyday Singaporean. When Vanessa’s not debunking finance myths, you’ll find her attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, or (most im paw tently) fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled and loved kitty in the world.

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17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow

Written By: Linda Voltaire

Updated On: December 21, 2022

Visiting Russia? These are the top 17 things to do in Moscow to help you plan your trip.

If the western world has New York City , the first great metropolis on the eastern side of our planet is Moscow. A huge city with a complicated and impressive history, Moscow gets a bad rep over Russian politics – but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Capital to the largest country in the world, Moscow takes the grandeur of its standing very seriously.

This is a place where luxury is king and where opulence takes a front seat in every aspect of life. The buildings are grand and imposing, the parks are luscious and enormous, and even the subway stations look different in Moscow than anywhere else in the world.

Table of Contents

Best Things to do in Moscow, Russia

Walking around Moscow is also going through the tumultuous history of the 20th century, which had Russia as one of its main protagonists. There are fascinating remains of these times everywhere in the former Soviet capital, from the gorgeous Seven Sisters skyscrapers to the Orthodox cathedrals that were closed for the better part of a century.  Still, Moscow is also a completely modern city, with a vibrant social and party scene, incredible restaurants, and some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

After living in Russia’s capital as an ex-pat for four years, I got the privilege to experience not only the main attractions in Moscow but also the everyday life in this huge city and quickly found my sweat spots off the beaten tracks! So here is my list of my top 17 things to do in this exciting metropolis!

Attractions in Moscow

When visiting a famous city like this one, it’s a must to go through the most iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin & Surrounding Area

No place tells the story of Moscow’s power in the past century the way the Red Square does. This is where the biggest political meetings in the USSR occurred for many decades, and you can feel the power on each step.

Here, you’ll also find the historic museum at the entrance, showcasing the decades of history behind this iconic landmark. The Lenin Mausoleum, perhaps the most famous resting place in the world and home to the remains of the former communist leader, is also here.

On one side of the Red Square you’ll find the Kremlin, the fortified complex that now hosts the presidential residence. This is also home to the most iconic of all Moscovite landmarks: St. Basil’s Cathedral, a 16th-century marvel of colors. This is the best spot to take a selfie and show the world you’ve reached the Russian capital!

• Get your Kremlin Skip the Line Tickets and Kremlin tour here.
• Free cancellation up to 24-hours in advance of the tour.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

You can easily spend a couple of days just exploring the Moscovite city centre, and the Bolshoi Theatre should be your second stop. Walk past the Red Square and then head to the nearby Bolshoi Theatre, one of the oldest and most renowned houses of opera and ballet on Earth.

Visit for the impressive early 19th-century architecture, but if you’re seeing a ballet performance, make sure you book between 3 and 6 months in advance! I can strongly recommend this as it is a truly unique experience!

• Book a private 2-hour tour of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre.
• See the presidential box reserved for tzars, watch a rehearsal and skip the lines through a separate entrance.
• Free Cancellation up to 24-hours in advance.

3. Luxury Shopping at GUM and TSUM

While many might think of Moscow as the sad place with the long bread queues from the USSR days, it’s been quite the capitalist haven for a while.

If you’re up for some shopping, you’ll find one of the biggest luxury malls in town, TSUM, right behind the Bolshoi and GUM, at the red square. GUM is the most famous department store in town, where you’ll find luxury everywhere and all high-end brand. 

All in an imposing late 19th-century building with lots of history, worth a visit just for the design, its bridges and the glass roof even though you are not up for shopping!

4. Christ the Savior Cathedral

A newer addition to the gorgeous Moscovite cathedrals and my grandeur neighbor during my years in the city Don’t let the young age of this building fool you. After the perestroika in the early 90s, the newly revived Russian Orthodox Church received permission to build a cathedral on this site. They did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church.

The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes as tall as the skies in bright gold and gorgeous paintings and decor! Bring a shawl to cover your hair to adjust to the local tradition.

Head to the back of the cathedral and you will find one of the most photographed bridges in Moscow, the Patriarshiy Most. This is the perfect spot to get a good view and photo of the cathedral but also to see the Kreml and Gorky Park from a distance. Or why not just enjoy a moment watching the river and its boats!  

• Get around Moscow with ease using the Hop On Hop Off boat and Bus ticket. 24, 48 or 72-hour tickets available.

5. Gorky Park

Cross the river and head to Gorky Park along the Moscow river. The most famous green area in town, similar to New York ’s Central Park and the weekend hangout for locals. There are many beautiful parks in the city, but if you’re only visiting for a few days, this is the unmissable one! 

With fair attractions to entertain children, beautiful artificial lakes and gardens, and lots of outdoor activities, it’s a lovely place to relax. A place of rest in the middle of the metropolis. The area in front of the New Tretyakov Gallery & the Muzeon Park of Arts is actually one of my favorite oasis as a bit more quiet and peaceful than Gorky itself.

Why not spend some time in the museum to get a great tour of Russia’s history through art or just enjoy the art exhibition outside where local artists spend their weekends. 

6. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow is from the Moscow River. There are many stops for the boats and one is just next to Gorky Park. See the city from another perspective – and turn the ride into a romantic one by taking the evening cruise. Moscow is magic during the night.

If you’re looking for a truly luxurious experience, take the Radisson Blu cruise – or the Erwin for a delicious seafood dinner. Both stop at Gorky or at the luxury Radisson Royal Hotel, set in one of the Seven Sister’s skyscrapers.

• We use Get Your Guide when booking city tours and they offer a River Sightseeing Cruise seeing all the main tourist attractions in Moscow

7. Metro Hopping

First inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow subway system is one of the oldest in the world, and certainly the most beautiful. Started under Stalinist times, each metro station is dedicated to grandeur and oozing personality.

Visiting the subway stops is an attraction in and of itself, and Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, Kropotkinskaya are my favorites. Those surrounding the Red Square are also mesmerizing – in general, these are kind of like underground palaces.

Most of the signs at the Moscow Metro now have Latin letters, so it’s very easy to get around!Unfortunately, the trains are not as beautiful and pleasant as the stations but still, this is a true Moscow experience.  Take a guided tour of the 9 most beautiful Metro Stations including the award-winning art deco station. See more details here.

8. Arbatskaya & Artsy Moscow

Novy Arbat Street is one of the most touristy areas in the city, with lots of shops and cafés directed at visitors. When you walk a little beyond, you’ll find a different part of town, where the hip scene thrives because so many artists live in the area. Just follow the small streets with fewer tourists!

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings hosts the main building of the Moscow State University, one of the most prestigious colleges in Russia – and the one with the best view.

Although this is a little outside the city centre, the sight from above is more than worth it, with the nearby fountains and park and then the whole of the city behind them.

10. Russian Market

If you love to visit markets wherever you go, Moscow has one of the most impressive ones in the world – the Izmailovsky. You can easily take the metro here and feel like you’ve been transported to another time.

This place was first built in the 16th century and retains the look of an old fairytale, with a lineup of colorful old castle. A lovely local experience beyond the confines of the bustling metropolis, where you can also try some delicious Russian barbecue.

Here, you’ll find beautiful souvenirs at great prices.

Off The Beaten Track Moscow

Once you’ve covered the most touristic spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer – and the places below will also be full of locals! Moscow is a city for hipsters, full of trendy and arty spots where you can literally feel the creativity oozing! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend my sweat spots below!

11. Patriarshiye Prudy

This is my favorite area in the entire city! While Moscow is generally a very noisy metropolis, Patriarch Ponds is far quieter, yet such a vibrant place. This is a very hip and trendy area making you think you are rather in Paris than in Moscow. Here the streets are narrow and full of chic eateries and clubs to see the local crowd.

A little bohemian and with an air of peace you won’t find anywhere in the city this is a great spot to spend an afternoon with your thoughts.

12. ArtPlay

Barely 15 minutes away from the city center you’ll find the artsiest Moscow district: ArtPlay. For decades, this block was a factory, but it was renovated to become a hub for the arts not too long ago.

Now, you’ll find it’s full of exhibitions, showrooms and art schools – and some of the most creative people in town. Writers, painters, and young hip people use ArtPlay as a rendezvous, and you can feel the creative energy here. The industrial design with modern interior decoration is also a feast for the eyes!

13. Shopping Local Designs

If you’re into design, both international and local, you’ll find lots of cute things at Patriarshiye Prudy. Department store Podium Market is also a great spot for shopping, as a department store everywhere in town, with lots of local and international brands. There’s one in the Four Seasons Hotel next to Red Square. My favorite Moscow mall is Tsvetnoy Central Market, a cool spot with great brands, lots of inspo, and even a cute café!

14. Moscow City

Like many other great capitals of the world, for the past few decades, Moscow has hosted a super modern area full of modern skyscrapers – Moscow City. With a completely different vibe than the rest of town, it’s like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressively tall glass buildings. Here, you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, such as Ruski and Sixty they are perfect spots for dining or enjoying a glass of wine with a view. There are also a relatively new shopping mall with lots of international brands called Affimall!

Wine, Dine, and Party in Moscow

Gone are the gloomy Moscow days – cold as it might be in the winter, Russia’s capital is a place for the senses. Great food and drinks abound – and the clubs are hot, too!

15. Where to Eat in Moscow

Moscow is a great metropolis where people love to dine out, and there are endless options for delicious food. The flavors are as diverse as you’d expect from a big city, with options of fine dining and little hipster eateries. 

• For traditional Russian flavors, I can’t recommend Café Pushkin, Dr. Zhivago, and Turnadot enough.
• When looking for international cuisines, Italian is always the way to go, and my local favorite is Probka.
• Fine dining is best done among the clouds at White Rabbit, with European flavors.
• As for the hip spots, you can spend a full day just eating around trendy places, from burgers to Asian fusion.

More Dining Options

• Patriarshiye Prudy offers a lot of small and classy spots with cool concepts, like breakfast restaurants I Love Cake and Fresh.
• For dinner, I love the NYC experience of Saxon & Parole, and the wonderful trendy Pins, with its delicious food and drinks.
• For delicious Asian food head to CutFish. 
• Lastly, there’s a recent revival of food markets in Moscow, offering lots of great choices of international flavors at affordable places.
• Don’t miss out the Vietnamese food stand at the Danilovsky market, and everything at Usachevsky!

16. Rooftopping

Big cities deserve to be seen from above, having a cocktail among the clouds. These are my recommendations for rooftop bars in Moscow.

• As I mentioned in the Moscow City section, Sixty & Ruski are two of my favorites, overlooking the newest part of town. 
• White Rabbit and its fine dining is also a lovely place for a fun dinner looking down on Moscow.
• O2, in the city center, has an advantage above all others: amazing views of the Red Square.
• Buono, above the Radisson Royal Hotel, might be the most romantic rooftop hotel in town, with its candlelit setting.
• Also on the Radisson stands the Mercedes. It’s a luxurious and posh experience with delicious cocktails.
• The Sky Lounge offers a peculiar experience, mixing an old Soviet building with futuristic additions.

17. Moscow by Night

Party the night away! The city is full of bars everywhere, but there are some areas where you’ll find more than others.

• Patriarshiye Prudy has lots of hip and small clubs and great bars, including the super fun private club Clava, which has a great vibe and people from all walks of life.
• For more hipster style bars, Red October is the place to go.
• Streak is a summer favorite, with a lovely terrace to catch a beautiful sunset – plus, their mozzarella bar is delicious.
• At night, Red October lights up with clubs everywhere, including the cool rooftop one Gipsy.
• Jagger is also a great spot during summer with a more relaxed vibe in garden setting. 
• For the traditional Russian luxury experience, go to SohoRooms, a whole other world including all-night go-go dancers.

There are so many things to do in Moscow at night and during the day, you definitely need several days to explore this exciting destination.

Moscow is a must-see city, a city like no other ! I hope you will enjoy this Russian metropolis as much as I did!

If you enjoyed this article on the , share it to Pinterest for future travel planning.

• Mother Russia Stands Proud at Volgograd
• 25 Haunting Chernobyl Pictures – 3 Decades after the Disaster
• 10 Reasons to Add Tbilisi Georgia to Your Bucket List

Follow Linda on  Instagram  guides! For more inspiration, follow my journey also on Facebook and Pinterest and see Linda’s bio below for more at her website.

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About Linda Voltaire

Linda Voltaire is the owner of Travel with a Silver Lining, home to reviews of gorgeous boutique & design hotels, hip & trendy eateries as well as authentic and personal travel experiences beyond the crowd. She started blogging after a life-changing trip across South America. Follow Linda at TravelWithASilverLining / Facebook / Instagram /

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10 thoughts on “17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow”

These places look so awesome! Moscow is truly a beautiful city

Very good article, you have explained so nicely. Russia has always been a part of history and its good to know about much more about architecture and other things, wish i could see the inside of façade

Thanks for sharing such a nice article.You have very beautifully explained everything that one need for a trip to Moscow.

Nice article. Love the hidden gems and graffiti art, would love to visit Artplay. Thanks for a comprehensive guide to Moscow!

Moscow is a city where the past and the future live side by side. Here we can find everything from medieval fortresses and Soviet monoliths to glass skyscrapers and innovation centers.

Your article is good and meaningful .

Thanks for sharing about ArtPlay district, we didn’t know about it and it looks amazing 🙂 Hopefully there’ll be a second time in Moscow, we visited last May and really liked the city!

Wonderful stuff! I’ve been to Moscow, but not properly – it’s a long story lol!

Anyhoo, my next thing is to fly from Berlin to Moscow and then travel from there to Beijing via the Trans-Mongolian / Trans-Siberian train. Now, if only I could just find the time …!

I hear Moscow is very beautiful at night. I hope to get out there one day. A friend of mine went to St. Petersburg and had a great experience. Despite all the tension we see on the news with Russia and other Countries like the U.S. I wonder what the sentiment is with Russians and foreigners visiting their country for tourism. Especially Americans.

that looks like quite a beautiful place. 🙂

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Is Moscow Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded its neighbor country Ukraine, starting a war between these two countries.

This act of invasion caused many Ukrainians to flee their country and seek shelter in places like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, etc…

At this time, we recommend no travel to Russia or Ukraine, or any neighboring countries for your own safety.

Russia : Safety by City

• Nizhny Novgorod
• Novosibirsk
• Saint Petersburg
• Yekaterinburg

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is a political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of this huge country.

It’s one of the most visited places in Russia, and for good reason.

The best-known parts of Russia are concentrated precisely in the urban areas and cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Moscow’s history attracts the most tourists, as they are fascinated by it is a surreal and sometimes brutal but nevertheless thrilling and jaw-dropping national story.

In this city, visited by 17 million tourists annually, the history, told in its numerous museums, some of which are the world’s greatest, interacts with modernity.

For example, in the Garden of Fallen Monuments (Fallen Monument Park), you can see entire clusters of modern art contrasting with the very non-conceptual Communist monuments.

• Warnings & Dangers in Moscow

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Generally speaking, Moscow today is safe as much as other cities in Europe, despite its problematic history with criminal activity in the 90s. However, if you’re planning on traveling to Moscow, keep in mind that you should always keep your guard up and remain aware of your surroundings, just in case.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Generally speaking, transportation in Moscow is safe, but you should bear in mind that kidnappings have been known to happen, mostly in unlicensed taxis, so be careful when hailing one on the streets. Keep in mind that the most dangerous areas where small crime tends to occur are the underground walkways, called “perekhods”. Only use official services like Yandex Taxi, Uber or Gett taxi.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpocketing is very common in Moscow, and surprisingly it is mostly performed by groups of children. Pay attention to your belongings, don’t leave them in plain sight and be especially careful in crowded places like stations or near tourist attractions.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Moscow isn’t particularly susceptible to natural disasters. Some blizzards and snowstorms are possible during winter which can affect the traffic and delay your flights. During winter, be prepared to face the below-freezing temperatures.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The situation improved drastically when it comes to kidnappings and muggings. Generally, never accept free drinks or food when you’re in a club or a bar. Drink spiking and then attacking and robbing the victim have been reported on numerous occasions.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

After the recent terrorist attack in the subway in St. Petersburg the probability of this situation happening again in Moscow is very high.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

There are many scams in Moscow, usually performed by children trying to distract you and then steal some money from you. Never talk to strange kids on the street. Also, you should avoid playing street gambling games.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are generally safe in Moscow, though you should avoid finding yourself alone in clubs or bars, and of course, apply all normal precaution measures like avoiding remote and poorly lit streets and areas.

• So... How Safe Is Moscow Really?

Moscow experienced a rise when it came to crime rates during the 1990s.

Violent crime, as well as petty crime and scams,  had increased, but the biggest part of the violence was within the criminal groups themselves, and it didn’t affect foreigners that much.

However, it decreased since the 90s, so right now, for tourists, Moscow isn’t more dangerous than any other European city, it’s even less so.

The crime rate in Moscow is fairly lower than one in New York, London or Paris, so you should feel safe here.

Also, you can count on the officials to be uncorrupted – don’t ever try to bribe them: you will be charged with bribery.

Bear in mind that if you are a member of the LGBT community, there is no reason to avoid Moscow altogether but you should refrain from any public displays of affection.

As of June 2013, “homosexual propaganda to minors” is prohibited, which means that any discussion of gay rights or homosexuality issues in the presence of minors is punishable by law.

While you walk around Moscow, you might encounter police officials that may demand to see your papers to check if you have been registered within 7 business days of your arrival into Moscow.

You shouldn’t have any problems with this, because if you stay in a hotel then you are automatically registered and will be handed a confirmation paper.

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Most countries do need a visa to enter Russia, and if you’re a U.S. citizen you must possess both a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. None of the nationals that do need a visa can acquire one upon arrival, so make sure you apply for your visa in advance. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

The Russian ruble is the official currency in Moscow. ATMs are widespread throughout the country and credit cards are accepted everywhere.

Moscow has a highly continental influenced climate characterized by warm to hot and dry summers and extremely cold, freezing winters with temperatures as low as -30°C – sometimes even lower, with heavy snowfall.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is the Russian busiest international airport. It is located in Molzhaninovsky District, Northern Administrative Okrug, in Moscow, about 29 km northwest of central Moscow.

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Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Moscow, because it would cover not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

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Russia - Safety by City

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9 Reviews on Moscow

That's just not true.

The person who wrote the text obviously have never been in Moscow and in Russia at all. This is ridiculous. Even about pickpocketing, the risk at most is medium, mugging is zero in historical places but is pretty high in sleeping quarters

Your rating is only two stars for safety though? So I am confused. Are you rating the article to be in poor taste?

I went to Moscow in 2021. I enjoyed the trip. I felt there were “unsafe areas” so I avoided them. So long as you know where you are going and don’t insult the locals, you should be fine.

51% safe?! Is this out of date?

Moscow and Russia in general are MUCH SAFER than Paris or London, yet those latter are more than 15 points ahead?!

Hell, it’s even admitted in the above text: “Moscow isn’t more dangerous than any other European city, IT’S EVEN LESS SO.” Yeah, you bet! And then: “the crime rate in Moscow is fairly lower than one in New York, London or Paris, so you should feel safe here.” So why the low rating? I don’t get it.

Also, the latest terrorist attack in Moscow happened in 2010… so how can you honestly say that the risk is still “high”? Especially for the fact Russia is very much on the edge when it comes to fighting terrorism domestically and over the world.

Sure, it might not be ideal everywhere in Moscow, but it’s WAY SAFER than in Paris, especially at night. You just can’t go out in Paris after the evening anymore, in most areas (I got assaulted for no reason at Châtelet-les-Halles and taking the RER train at dark is becoming more and more risky)… while in Moscow, chances are that you’ll see girls in miniskirts walking home while quietly singing. Or maybe you’ll stumble upon some gorgeous lady asking you for a lighter and then giving you her number for a coffee the next day. So very dangerous!

I sense a serious bias, here. Is it because of that LGBT thing? Could you pick a more extreme case? Yeah, you can totally be gay in Russia, just be so in private. There even are transsexuals, but this is a traditional and respectable country, so you should respect their choice of not publicizing various sexual lifestyles.

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are safe

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are very safe in my opinion! I’ve been to both cities visiting family! There are so many people out on the streets and on public transportation- I felt very safe! You need to change your ratings!!

Any update on Covid-19 to visit Moscow

I visited 118 country and Moscow one of the safest city I have been, st Petersburg as well, I read this article hoping to find any update on covid-19 restrictions upon arrival, so if anyone can update I’m planning to visit Moscow again but I need to know if quarentain is required or mandatory, anyone can share, cheers.

In Russia nobody cares, masks off. I dont know if fiew thousands of infected per day are high for you though. I was never arrested for not wearing mask, but you have to have it on you. Sometimes cops ask to put mask, you just do that and everything ok, some shops can refuse to do service if you dont have mask. I assume they pressured by boss, so just put on mask, they can give you gloves and dont cause any problems.

Written by someone who never visited Russia

A veer biased review. Moscow or St. Petersburg for being such brilliant truly cosmopolitan cities are extremely safe. Pickpocketing in Russia?! By children?! Who wrote this? Clearly by someone who has never been to the great country of Russia.

Have never been there. But wish me well

Bias review, Moscow is much safer than that!

This review is so bias and just wrong! First of all apart from being a political, scientific and etc center, it is an absolutely beautiful city and a very culturally rich city. For tourists there’s a huge range of delicious food, amazing shopping, a lot of cultural activities, and all sorts of entertainment. I’ve travelled there in December 2019, and most of the time I spent walking around and exploring by myself, be it during day time or night, nothing happened to me once. I mostly used subways and sometimes taxi, both safe. Just have a common sense when it comes to safety and you’ll be fine. You need to travel there at least once in a lifetime, it’s a completely different experience and it’s a beautiful one, NOT a communistic terrorist epicenter as some describe it to be.

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Article Contents

• Moscow : Safety by City
• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
• Share Your Experience

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How long did it take to get from Moscow to St. Petersburg throughout the centuries? (INFOGRAPHICS)

Russian Railways recently announced a new speed train railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg will be launched by late 2027. The journey is expected to take just 2.5 hours in total (with an estimated 2 hours 15 minutes ride time without stops). As of today, the project is going to break a record in terms of the duration of a journey between the two capitals. So, how long did it take to travel from “the northern capital” to Moscow (and vice versa) in the different epochs?

In 1703, Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg and transferred the Russian capital there. The city began to develop, with its population swiftly growing, but a great many noble families continued on living in Moscow. Additionally, the main orthodox cathedrals, where tsars were crowned and buried , remained there. So, Peter the Great would make the journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow and back by horse carriage, making it the most frequently used route for centuries.

Alexander Orlovsky. Journey in a kibitka (carriage with tent). Litography, 19th century

In the 18th century, the journey took on average four and half to six or more days . To a great extent, it depended on weather conditions; for instance, it took the least amount of time to glide on winter ice and snow. Empress Elizabeth of Russia held the record in the 18th century for the shortest journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

Elizabeth's sledge

In 1742, it took her and her entourage merely three days to reach her coronation place in a sledge. They rode quite a few horses to death at that time, traveling only during the day and resting at night.

One could reach the destination fast enough with a troika , pulled by three horses, as they developed a speed of 45-50 km/h. However, not everyone could afford such a ride, most often going for a pair of horses or just one.  

During the off-season, in spring and fall, the road was covered with impassable mud and it cost more and took longer to travel along it. “ No less than six days did I wend my way along a filthy road, arriving in St. Petersburg half dead,” Alexander Pushkin wrote in his sketch ‘The Journey from Moscow to Petersburg’. All in all, the poet traveled between the cities over 20 times: in a tilt cart or by changing horses (a sort of “horse sharing”, when one would change horses at post stations) or in his own comfortable carriage.

Nikolai Sverchkov. A Landowner on the Road. 1855

In 1820, the first “public transport” emerged, namely stagecoaches, which could carry 4-12 passengers and ran between the cities according to a schedule. The journey in a stagecoach took about 4.5 days .

Back in 1834, the first “even highway” between the cities was built: part of the road was paved with stone, while the rest was covered with pebble stone. Pushkin made up his mind to test it and reached the destination - in merely four days!

The first railway

The mid-19th century saw a real technical breakthrough. In 1842, Nicholas I signed an order to build a railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Years earlier, the first railroad in Russia had been built, connecting St. Petersburg with its suburb, Tsarskoye Selo. Regular trains started running between St. Petersburg and Moscow in 1851, with the journey taking 21 hours 45 minutes . After Nicholas I’s death, the railroad adopted his name - Nikolaevskaya - and, in Soviet times, it was renamed Oktyabrskaya, as we know it today.

The railroad in Tver, early 20th century

It became incredibly trendy to travel between the cities by train. It’s not by chance that, in the 1870s, Leo Tolstoy wrote his novel ‘Anna Karenina’, where the railway was a significant part of the narration .

In the USSR, the importance of railways was fully acknowledged, with focus put on reducing the time of a journey. In the 1920s, passenger trains between the two capitals traveled for 15 hours on average. Back in 1920, an experimental electric train managed to cover the distance in just 12 hours . In 1931, the first Soviet express train was launched, reaching the destination in a record-breaking ten hours . In the 1960s, the focus shifted from locomotives to the electric haulage, which made it possible for an electric train to accelerate to 130 km/h instead of the average 70.

In 1984, the speedy ER200 electric train covered the distance from Leningrad to Moscow in five hours 20 minutes and, later, in as little as four hours 59 minutes . It could reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. However, there were only two such trains, which ran three times a week and cost a lot to maintain and, thus, were not mass-produced. Soviet people preferred regular passenger trains to them. In 2009, the ER200 ran for the last time, giving way to the high-speed ‘Sapsan’ train.

What’s there nowadays?

Sapsan high-speed express trains

These days, a plane covers the distance between Moscow and St. Petersburg in merely 1.5 hours . Yet, taking into account the journey to the airport and then from it in the city of destination, as well as the fact one has to arrive at the airport in advance, many prefer to travel by rail. A good thing is that there always are a plethora of options to choose from: over 30 trains run between the cities daily.

Journey time on express trains is seven to 10 hours , with the length mostly depending on the number of stops. The eight-hour journey was immortalized in a popular 1995 song by Maxim Leonidov  - ‘From Petersburg to Moscow’, featuring the following lines: “Just eight hours without sleep/from Petersburg to Moscow”.

Journey time on the Soviet ‘Red Arrow’ train also roughly takes eight hours . There are also a number of different express trains: For instance, the journey on the Nevsky Express takes four hours and four minutes . The fast Lastochka electric train covers the distance in 5.5-6.5 hours , whereas the journey on the fastest train - the ‘Sapsan’ takes only three hours 50 minutes .

Road signs on the M-11 Moscow-to-St Petersburg Motorway in Moscow Region

For many years, apart from the railway, the old tsar road was used for traveling on horses and then, in cars. In 1958, asphalt was added, with the road becoming known as highway M10. It is typically possible to cover the distance of 684 kilometers in ten hours . Most of the road goes through villages and towns, where a speed limit of 40-60 km/h applies.

In 2019, the express M11 ‘Neva’ toll highway was unveiled. The journey takes around five hours , with most parts having a 130 km/h speed limit. A small section of the highway in the vicinity of Tver is still being built, which forces the route to travel through residential areas. 

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Edinburgh is a great holiday destination, it may not always have the warmest climate but with such beautiful countryside and friendly people, it is hardly noticable. There are fabulous beaches not far from the centre of the city includingthe lovely town of North Berwick with its sandy beaches, sailing, boat trips, golf, tennis and watersports. A surfers paradise lies just 20 miles from Edinburgh at Gullane with its long beach surrounded by sand dunes. Its village has a selection of pubs, shops and restaurants.

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Visitors to Edinburgh will find plenty to do both indoors and out. The city is dominated by the huge castle that sits high above Edinburgh and offers tourists an insight into Scotland’s royal past. There are audio tours available daily. The zoo is one of Scotland’s most visited attractions. Edinburgh zoo is involved in various conservation projects and offers visitors a wealth of information about its animals which include Azara's agouti to Grevy's Zebra a penguin parade and feeding chimps.

A big part of the attraction for visitors to Edinburgh is the festivals; the Edinburgh Festival is the most famous. The Edinburgh Festival is a variety of different events which include The Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo and a Jazz Festival. During winter the city hosts many Christmas themed events which culminate in the Hogmanay.

Less than 10 miles from Edinburgh is the village of Roslin and the Rosslyn Chapel a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The chapel which has been described as an “Architectural Wonder” was built between 1446 and 1484 and almost every surface of the chapel is completely covered with carvings of individual figures and scenes. There are tours held for both adults and children to find out more about this world famous attraction.

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