How Pharmacies Work in Europe: Guide for Travelers

We've all been there - cramped inside an airplane full of strangers, and suddenly the unexpected, uncovered sneeze comes your way. You try to cover your face, but germs travel quickly.

Lo and behold, in a few day's time, you find yourself reaching for a box of Kleenex, and on the hunt for something to kill your fever.

You're in Europe, and you pop into the nearest grocery store. Luckily, they're never too far away. Scanning the shelves, you see the toothpaste, hair products, cleaning supplies, and toiletries. But where is the medicine?

Well, unfortunately, you won't find it there.

Where to buy medicine in Europe

The last thing you want to do when you have a cold or the flu is to run around town looking for something to make you feel better.

While in the States, you can pop into pretty much any grocery store, convenience store, or bodega and at least find some kind of pain reliever, fever reducer, or cough suppressant.

That commodity doesn't exist in many European countries. Instead, you'll need to get your medicine from a pharmacy.

How European pharmacies operate

The pharmacy you go to in Europe might operate differently from the ones you visit in your home country. They also may vary from country to country. After all, Europe is a large continent made up of many countries.

There are two scenarios:

• You need a prescription medication.
• You need an over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

In the EU, you won't be able to get a prescription medication without visiting a doctor. Say you come down with an ear infection or a urinary tract infection, you'll need to visit a doctor to get antibiotics.

Over-the-counter medications, on the other hand, are available at pharmacies. The term "over-the-counter" is quite literal.

In many cases, the Pharmacy will have some toiletries, vitamins, and self-care products on the shelves. These are available for you to compare and contrast, and self-serve.

When it comes to actual medications, even things as simple as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, you typically need to talk to a pharmacist.

Pharmacies will have kiosk counters that you can go up to if you are looking for a specific product. If you have a stomach ache and need Immodium, for example, you can go up to the pharmacist and let them know what you need.

They'll grab it for you from behind the counter, and you can pay there.

If you're not sure what you need

In many cases, if you don't know what you need, you can ask the pharmacist. In France, for example, you can tell a pharmacist you have a sore throat, and they will recommend specific medications to you.

They will usually ask follow-up questions, similarly to how a nurse or doctor might. These questions help them give the best recommendation for whatever it is that's making you feel so crummy!

Available medications

Medications aren't always universal. Depending on which country you're in, the medicine you're used to might not be available. This can be for a couple of different reasons.

For starters, different countries have their own pharmaceutical companies (thus different brand names). The name of the compound can also be different.

In the States, we call the common pain/fever reducer Acetaminophen; in many European countries, it's called paracetamol (or a variation of that word in the local language).

Before you head to a pharmacy, it can help to do a little bit of research about what you're looking for.

Say you are in France. If you're looking for Tylenol, you can look up Tylenol's main active ingredient. It's Acetaminophen. Then, you can search what Acetaminophen is in France. It's paracetamol.

When you go to the Pharmacy, in this case, you can ask for paracetamol, and they will know exactly what it is you're looking for. In France, one of the main Acetaminophen brands is Doliprane. The packaging will look different from what it does in the States, but the main ingredient will be the same.

One thing that can happen is that a medication you rely on back home isn't sold in the country you're visiting. This is usually due to local laws and regulations. It could be that the medication is only available with a prescription, or that the medication isn't offered there at all.

For instance, most OTC sleep aids (like Zzzquil or Unisom) are not available in European pharmacies. Instead, you'll find products like Melatonin. The same can be true for some types of cold medicines, especially stronger ones like Sudafed or Nyquil.

Paying for your medication

How you need to pay depends on the town and country you're in. In most cases, you should be able to pay by card. In some remote places, it's possible you'll need to pay in cash, but that is less and less common throughout the EU.

Medication costs vary a lot, and how expensive it feels is relative to how expensive medication is back home. In general, over-the-counter medications are more expensive in Europe than in the US, and the quantities are smaller.

Instead of getting 200 pills, you might get 12, but the cost can be two or three times what you're used to (this is just an example).

If you have travel insurance, over-the-counter medication isn't covered (unless it's a prescription related to a serious medical emergency, in which case it could be).

How to find a pharmacy

In major European cities like Paris, Barcelona, or Rome, you'll find pharmacies every few blocks. They're widely available and generally open all day.

If you're in a smaller town or a more remote location, you can find a pharmacy on Google Maps or by searching online. Your hotel or resort staff may also be able to help you, depending on where you're staying. Even if a travel insurance policy won't cover the cost of an OTC medication, if your policy has 24/7 assistance and support, they can help you find the best pharmacy near you.

In Europe, pharmacies usually have a large, brightly lit green plus sign.

Many travelers opt for bringing a few OTC medications with them, just in case. You can learn more about what's allowed in and how to pack them in our Prescriptions & Medications Guide.

Additional resources

• Learn more about how medications are monitored and distributed here: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/partners-networks/eu-partners/eu-member-states/national-competent-authorities-human

• Getting sick abroad: What happens?
• Learn about whether or not you have coverage overseas in our Medicare Abroad Guide.