A surge arrester comprises an electrical insulator (10), which surrounds a cavity (20), a pin electrode (30) and a tube electrode (40), which are arranged in the cavity (20), wherein the pin electrode (30) projects into the tube electrode (40). An ignition strip (50) is applied on an inner surface (S10a) of the insulator facing the cavity (20). An outer metallization (61, 62, 63) is arranged on an outer surface (S10b) of the insulator (10). As a result, an effective reduction of the protection level can be achieved in the case of the surge arrester.