Is any pharmacy open on Christmas Day in Europe?
Yes, a duty pharmacy is open on Christmas Day in 17 of the 20 European countries listed here. Ireland and the UK rely on pharmacies' own holiday hours, and Romania on non-stop chain pharmacies. Call 112 for an emergency; it is free in every EU country. Each country's official duty-pharmacy finder names the open pharmacy.
Which countries have a duty pharmacy open on Christmas Day?
Seventeen of the 20 countries below open a duty pharmacy on 25 December, by rota. Ten of the 12 countries Mobi Doctor serves run a legal duty-pharmacy rota; Ireland has no national rota and Romania relies on non-stop pharmacies.
The rota (pharmacie de garde, farmacia de guardia, Apotheken-Notdienst, farmacia di turno) keeps one pharmacy per district open, often through the night. Our article on why people fall ill on holiday explains why a cold so often peaks mid-trip.
Which number do you call when sick abroad at Christmas?
Call 112 for an emergency. Every EU country uses 112 as its emergency number. The call is free from mobiles and landlines in every EU country, and in many countries the operator can take it in English. For anything less urgent, our urgent care guide for Europe lists every country's out-of-hours numbers.
How to find a duty pharmacy in Europe
The fastest way is the notice on the door of any closed pharmacy, which names the nearest duty pharmacy. Each country also has an official finder, listed in the tables below. Rotas change daily, so check on the day.
- Read the notice on the nearest closed pharmacy's door.
- Open your country's official finder from the tables below.
- Enter the town or postcode and the date.
- Where a phone line exists, dial it: 3237 in France, 11892 in Cyprus.
- No finder, no notice: ask the hotel reception or the out-of-hours doctor line.
Which out-of-hours doctor do you call in each country?
Germany uses 116 117, Austria 1450 and Portugal SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24; the table gives the route for all 12 countries Mobi Doctor serves. Every link and number was checked on 2 November 2026.
| Country | Duty-pharmacy finder | Out-of-hours doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent care in Austria | Apothekensuche finder (pharmacists' chamber): nearest open or night pharmacy | 1450 health line (free, day and night); 141 night doctor 7pm–7am, weekends, public holidays |
| Urgent care in Denmark | Find apotek (pharmacy association), duty filter; Steno Apotek, Copenhagen, never closes | Regional doctor on call: 1813 Capital Region, 1818 Zealand; other regions below |
| Urgent care in France | 3237.fr duty rota (RésoGardes, pharmacy unions), or dial 3237 any hour | 15 (SAMU) everywhere; 116 117 in some regions: evenings from 8pm, weekends, holidays, free |
| Urgent care in Germany | aponet.de duty search (Federal Chamber of Pharmacists) | 116 117 doctor on call, day and night, free from a German number |
| Urgent care in Greece | Pharmacists' Association of Attica list; elsewhere the pharmacy door | No GP line; ministry's daily hospitals on duty list (Athens, Thessaloniki); 1566 health line |
| Urgent care in Ireland | No national rota: check the door or phone ahead. PSI pharmacy register | GP co-ops: Caredoc 0818 300 365, SouthDoc, NowDoc and others; HSE urgent-care map |
| Urgent care in Italy | Federfarma farmacie di turno | 116 117 (guardia medica) in Lazio, Tuscany and other regions: nights 8pm–8am, weekends, holidays |
| Urgent care in Luxembourg | pharmacie.lu pharmacies de garde (pharmacists' union); each duty runs 8am to 8am | Maisons médicales de garde: weekdays 8pm–midnight, weekends and holidays 8am–midnight; after midnight 112 |
| Urgent care in the Netherlands | Vind een apotheek (KNMP); ask the GP post which duty pharmacy is open | Huisartsenpost (out-of-hours GP post), phone first; number on the nearest GP practice's website |
| Urgent care in Portugal | No national finder; rota posted on every pharmacy door with the night pharmacy's address | SNS 24 line, 808 24 24 24: assesses acute illness and refers you on |
| Urgent care in Romania | No official finder; big chains' non-stop city pharmacies stay open through the holidays | No national GP line; 112 is the single emergency number |
| Urgent care in Spain | Farmacias de guardia (General Council of Pharmacists' Colleges): pick your province | No GP line; 112, free from any phone, reaches 19 regional health emergency services |
Denmark's other regions: Southern 70 11 07 07, Central 70 11 31 31, North 70 15 03 00. Irish GP co-ops see patients by appointment only, so phone first. Elsewhere in Italy, pharmacies post the local guardia medica number.
Luxembourg's maisons médicales de garde are in Luxembourg City, Belval and Ettelbruck. The Dutch huisartsenpost covers evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays. Portugal's regional health administration approves the rota; INFARMED publishes it online.
Regular pharmacies close on 25 December and 1 January in all 12 countries below, and the duty rota applies. The second table lists all closure days, 24 December to 6 January.
| Country | Pharmacies closed, 24 Dec–6 Jan | Emergency number |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan, 6 Jan; most close early on 24 and 31 Dec | 112 or 144 |
| Denmark | 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan; shortened hours on 24 and 31 Dec | 112 |
| France France healthcare guide |
25 Dec, 1 Jan (also 26 Dec in Alsace and Moselle) | 112 or 15 |
| Germany Germany healthcare guide |
25–26 Dec, 1 Jan; 6 Jan in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt | 112 |
| Greece Greece healthcare guide |
25–26 Dec, 1 Jan, 6 Jan | 112 or 166 (ambulance) |
| Ireland | 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan | 112 |
| Italy Italy healthcare guide |
25–26 Dec, 1 Jan, 6 Jan | 112 |
| Luxembourg | 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan | 112 |
| Netherlands | 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan | 112 |
| Portugal Portugal healthcare guide |
25 Dec, 1 Jan; most close on the afternoon of 24 Dec | 112 |
| Romania | 25–26 Dec, 1–2 Jan, 6–7 Jan | 112 |
| Spain Spain healthcare guide |
25 Dec, 1 Jan, 6 Jan (also 26 Dec in Catalonia) | 112 |
German pharmacies also work half days on 24 and 31 December.
Eight more countries: pharmacy and doctor numbers
Belgium, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, Latvia, Hungary and Switzerland run a duty-pharmacy rota; the UK runs on voluntary holiday hours and the NHS finder. Mobi Doctor does not see patients in these eight countries.
| Country | Duty-pharmacy finder | Out-of-hours doctor and emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium Belgium healthcare guide |
pharmacie.be duty finder / apotheek.be | 1733 doctor on duty; 112 |
| Cyprus Cyprus healthcare guide |
No online finder verified; night-pharmacy line 11892; lists in the daily papers | Hospital emergency departments; 112 |
| Malta | Malta Medicines Authority pharmacy roster for Sundays and public holidays | Public health centres; 112 |
| Croatia | HZZO duty-pharmacy list by county (last updated 2023); pharmacies post the local rota | 194 emergency medical service, day and night; 112 or 194 |
| Latvia | State Agency of Medicines pharmacy map (Aptieku karte): filter for night pharmacies | Family-doctor line 66016001: weekdays 5pm–8am, weekends and holidays all day; 113 or 112 |
| Hungary | OGYÉI pharmacy finder (medicines authority): duty pharmacies by county and date | 1830 GP line (National Ambulance Service): weekdays 4pm–8am, weekends, holidays all day; 112 |
| Switzerland | pharmaSuisse pharmacy finder; every pharmacy posts the local emergency-pharmacy list in its window | Cantonal emergency-doctor numbers (differ by canton, posted at pharmacies); 144 ambulance or 112 |
| United Kingdom | NHS Find a pharmacy (England): late-night, 24-hour and holiday opening | NHS urgent helpline (non-emergency), free, online or by phone; 112 works too |
Pharmacies in these eight countries close on the days below; the duty rota or the notice on the door names the open one.
- Belgium: 25 Dec, 1 Jan
- Cyprus: 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan, 6 Jan
- Malta: 25 Dec, 1 Jan
- Croatia: 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan, 6 Jan
- Latvia: 24–26 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan
- Hungary: 25–26 Dec, 1 Jan; most close early on 24 Dec
- Switzerland: 25 Dec and 1 Jan everywhere; 26 Dec and 2 Jan in most cantons
- United Kingdom: bank holidays 25, 28 Dec and 1 Jan (England and Wales); opening is voluntary
Cyprus also runs recorded English information on +357 90 901 412 to 416, one line per district.
What can a pharmacist give you without a prescription?
Pain relief, cold remedies and rehydration powder, but never an antibiotic. Our doctors' advice for the pharmacy counter: for a cold, flu or sore throat, a pharmacist can sell paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever and aches. They also sell decongestants for a blocked nose, cough and throat remedies, and oral rehydration powder for a stomach bug.
A cold clears on its own in about 1 to 2 weeks; most flu does the same with rest, fluids and simple pain relief. For vomiting or diarrhoea, rehydration powder matters more than anything that stops the symptoms. Decongestants are not for everyone and are not given to young children, so say what you already take.
Antibiotics are prescription-only across Europe, and they do nothing against the viruses behind colds and flu. A doctor has to assess you first and may well decide you do not need one. For a sore throat, our guide to tonsillitis in adults explains when it needs a doctor.
Our guide to flu antivirals in Europe explains when our doctors prescribe them. Next time, read our list of medicines to pack for Europe before you go.
What can wait until 27 December?
Most holiday illness can wait for the regular pharmacy and surgery to reopen. A cold needs no doctor unless you are in a risk group. A stomach bug usually settles in 2 to 3 days, and you stay contagious until 2 full days have passed without vomiting or diarrhoea. Most ear infections clear within 3 days.
Flu without warning signs needs rest, fluids and pain relief. Ask for a doctor if you are 65 or over, pregnant or recently delivered, or have a long-term condition or a weakened immune system. Also ask if you feel short of breath, feel very unwell, or your symptoms have not improved after 7 days. Our guide to this winter's flu strains names the viruses.
See a doctor if the earache is no better after 3 days. Go sooner if there is swelling around the ear, fluid coming out of it, or a very high temperature. Our page on norovirus, the winter vomiting bug covers the stomach bug. Our tips on fending off the Christmas cold help the rest of the household.
When to see a doctor: what cannot wait
Call 112 now, from any of the 20 countries, for chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding, a seizure or a rash that does not fade under a glass. The list follows the NHS emergency criteria. None of these is a video consultation, and nobody with these signs should drive themselves to hospital.
- Signs of a heart attack: chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest.
- Signs of a stroke: face dropping on one side, unable to hold both arms up, difficulty speaking.
- Severe difficulty breathing: not being able to get words out, choking or gasping.
- Sudden severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood or coffee-ground vomit, or black, sticky stools.
- Heavy bleeding, a seizure, or someone who cannot be woken.
- Sudden, rapid swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue.
- Sudden confusion: someone who cannot be sure of their own name or age.
- A rash that does not fade when a clear glass is pressed firmly on it, child or adult.
A middle band needs a doctor within hours, by the out-of-hours number or a video consultation.
- A fever that keeps climbing despite the pharmacist's remedies.
- Breathlessness that is new but mild, or pain that is not controlled.
- Vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down.
- Dehydration that persists after rehydration sachets: very dark urine, dizziness on standing.
- Any illness in someone pregnant, over 65 or on treatment that weakens the immune system.
Can you fly home with an ear infection or a cold?
The UK Civil Aviation Authority advises against flying with an infection of the ear, nose or sinuses. Swollen tissue blocks the free flow of air, and the descent can cause pain, bleeding or, in the most severe cases, a ruptured eardrum. The same guidance says to delay a flight until an illness is no longer contagious.
Flu is passed on most readily in the first 5 days after you catch it; our calculator shows how long flu is contagious. A stomach bug stays contagious after you feel better: keep away from work, school, hospitals and care homes until 2 days have passed without vomiting or diarrhoea.
If you must fly, swallow, chew or yawn repeatedly during the descent, and read our page on ear barotrauma before you board.
What if a child is ill on Christmas Day?
Use the local system: Mobi Doctor is an adults-only service, so a sick child goes to local paediatric care or 112. Most out-of-hours lines in the tables take calls about children; Hungary's 1830 says so outright. Call 112 or go to emergency care for any of these signs.
- A rash that does not fade under a glass.
- Breathing that is fast or laboured.
- A child who is floppy, unusually drowsy or hard to wake.
- A high-pitched or unusual cry in a baby.
- A bulging soft spot on a baby's head.
For earache, fever and coughs that are not on that list, a local pharmacist can advise. A baby under 12 months with a suspected ear infection should see a doctor.
What a video doctor can do over Christmas
Over video, our doctors take a full history, look at what the camera can show and decide what you need. That may be self-care, a prescription when appropriate, sent to a pharmacy you choose, or a referral to in-person care. Consultations run daily 7am–11pm CET and start usually within 15 minutes, in the 12 served countries.
Our doctors are licensed, EU-registered and make every clinical decision themselves. They cannot examine inside your ear or chest, X-ray a joint, run a blood test or stitch a cut; for those, use the local services in the tables.
On a ski trip, our guide to seeing a doctor on a ski holiday covers the Alps; on the coast, read about a winter doctor in Spain or Portugal.
The short version: duty pharmacy on the day, 112 for the list above, a doctor over video for the rest.
Sources
- NHS (urgent-care triage service): Check it's not an emergency (accessed 2 November 2026)
- NHS: Meningitis - Symptoms (accessed 2 November 2026)
- NHS: Stomach ache (accessed 2 November 2026)
- NHS: Flu (accessed 2 November 2026)
- NHS: Norovirus (vomiting bug) (accessed 2 November 2026)
- NHS: Common cold (accessed 2 November 2026)
- NHS: Ear infections (accessed 2 November 2026)
- ECDC: Key messages for the general public (antibiotics) (accessed 2 November 2026)
- UK Civil Aviation Authority: Air travel and your health (accessed 2 November 2026)
- European Commission: 112 - the European emergency number (accessed 2 November 2026)
Written by the Mobi Doctor Medical Team. Medical review by Dr Chrysoula Liakou, MD, PhD: pending.
