A Traveler’s Guide to Getting Medical Help in Italy
- Ashley Campolattaro
- Mar 10
- 5 min read
Nothing is worse than being sick while on vacation. Whether it’s a cold, sore muscles, or an upset stomach, the sooner you can find relief and get back to enjoying your trip, the better.
Spending time in Italy means embracing a different rhythm of life and that includes the healthcare system. Italian pharmacies are excellent, efficient, and deeply woven into daily life here. There are five of them within Lucca's walls, (and tons more outside the walls) so you never have to go far. But they do not operate the way American drugstores do. A little preparation can save you stress when you are not feeling your best.
Here is what you need to know before you find yourself searching for medicine in Lucca or beyond.
Look for the Green Cross
In Italy, every official pharmacy displays a glowing green cross. That is your signal. If it's not glowing, they are not open.
If you see a blue cross, that is a parafarmacia. These shops sell skincare, supplements, and some over the counter products. They cannot fill prescriptions. If you need medication prescribed by a doctor, make sure you are entering a farmacia, not a parafarmacia.
You might have noticed that farmacias aren’t just “pharmacies” like back home, they’re a whole different experience. Instead of being a self-serve shop, most products sit behind the counter, and the pharmacist is your go-to health advisor. Need help with a cold, a skincare question, or baby care essentials? They’ll guide you to the right products, suggest over-the-counter solutions, and sometimes even run quick health checks like blood sugar or cholesterol testing.
Farmacias also operate differently depending on where you are. A farmacia handles all prescriptions, while a parafarmacia sticks to over-the-counter and beauty items. Many take turns staying open late or on weekends, and some even have 24-hour vending machines for basic medicines. You’ll find a mix of the old and the new...centuries-old apothecary-style buildings stocked with modern, high-tech tools.
Your American Prescription Is Not Valid
An American prescription cannot legally be filled in Italy. If you lose medication or run out, you will need to see an Italian doctor who can write an Italian prescription.
Guardia Medica
This is Italy’s urgent care service, available nights, weekends, and holidays. In summer, tourist areas often activate a Guardia Medica Turistica specifically for visitors. A consultation usually costs around 20 to 25 euros.
Pronto Soccorso
This is the emergency room. It is available to everyone, including tourists. You will not receive a massive bill. Many minor visits are free or very low cost, but you may wait for hours before seeing anyone, depending on the severity of your condition.
Pharmacies Close for Lunch
Most Italian pharmacies follow a traditional schedule:
Morning: 8:30 AM to 12:30 or 1:00 PM
Closed for lunch
Afternoon: 3:30 or 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Yes, they close for several hours midday. On Sundays and holidays, many are closed entirely.
However, Italy has a rotating system called farmacia di turno. Pharmacies take turns staying open nights, weekends, and holidays. Every closed pharmacy posts a notice listing the nearest open location.
In larger cities, pharmacies near major train stations are often open 24 hours. To find the nearest farmacia near you in Tuscany, you can use this locator.
Talk to the Pharmacist
This is the most important advice of all. In more touristic towns, most speak some english. Google Translate can also be your friend!
In Italy, the pharmacist is not simply a cashier. They are a highly trained medical professional and often serve as the first line of care. We've literally walked into a pharmacy, shown the pharmacist a rash on my son's stomach, and walked out with an ointment that resolved it overnight! Another time, my middle son had swimmer's ear and we got ear drops for relief within minutes! No doctor's visit and co-pay, no trip to pick up the prescription...so easy!
When Italians feel unwell, they go to the pharmacy first. The pharmacist asks questions, evaluates symptoms, and recommends treatment. If necessary, they will refer you to a doctor.
What Might Surprise You
Italian pharmacies sell more than medicine. You may find:
High quality skincare and cosmetics (see my blog on some of my favorites!)
Excellent European sunscreen
Gluten free pasta, bread, and snacks
Baby food, diapers, and supplies
Herbal and homeopathic remedies
Pharmacy grade insect repellent (the summer zenzara/mosquitos are no joke in Tuscany)
Ask Don't Tell
Instead of asking directly for a specific medication like ibuprofen, try describing your symptoms instead. For example, “I have a headache and a fever” or “My stomach hurts after eating.” Then let the pharmacist guide you. Pharmacists are highly trained to recommend the right treatment.
Often they will suggest a simple remedy first, such as a soothing cough syrup with honey or a calendula cream for a rash. They will also tell you if your symptoms require medical attention. If they suspect you may have an infection that requires antibiotics, they will advise you to see a doctor, since antibiotics require a prescription in Italy.
When You Need to be Seen by a Doctor
If it is recommended that you see a doctor for a non-urgent issue, there are services that make this easy for visitors. Options include Doctors in Italy or Air Doctor, which help tourists schedule appointments with English-speaking doctors either online or in person. They can evaluate your symptoms, provide medical advice, and issue a prescription if needed, which you can then take to the farmacia to get filled. If you have traveler's insurance, you many not even need to pay anything at the time of the visit.
I recently had the "opportunity" to experience Doctors in Italy first-hand. Making an appointment took under two minutes and I immediately got a message that a physician could see me five minutes later. I met over a brief video call with a doctor out of Rome who was very kind and listened to my symptoms. Within minutes of concluding the call, I received my prescription by email. No need to print it out, I just went to the nearest farmacia and showed the pharmacist the email prescription and it was filled. My cost for the telehealth call was 37€ (which I can file with my US insurance for reimbursement) and the prescription was only 12€.
No Costco Quantities!
In the United States, you might buy 200 tablets in one bottle. In Italy, you may purchase 12 tablets in a small box for 5 to 8 euros. Medications are sold in modest quantities, often close to the exact amount prescribed. The per unit price may feel higher, but you are not buying far more than you need.
You may also encounter different forms of medications that are less common in the US:
Homeopathic remedies
Powder packets dissolved in water
Effervescent tablets
Bring More From Home Than You Think You Need
Bring at least one extra week of any prescription medication in case of travel delays. Keep medicine in its original packaging with your name, the drug name, and your doctor’s information visible. If you use a pill organizer, also carry the original labeled containers. And always know the generic name of what you take.
Emergency Contacts in Lucca
112 for ANY EMERGENCY. An operator will sort the call according to its urgency.
118 for AMBULANCE
Here’s a list of the ‘long version’ contact information:
Hospital of Lucca +39.05839701
Emergency Medical Service +39.0584616779
Municipal Pharmacy 24h +39.0583491398
