Healthcare in Madrid: emergencies, pharmacies and doctors for travellers

The number to remember: 112

Who answers and what to say

In Spain, 112 is the single emergency number: sudden illness, accident, serious injury, fire, assault. The call is free. In the Community of Madrid, operators answer in Spanish and English, and a telephone interpreting service lets calls be handled in 80 languages. Deaf or hard-of-hearing people can reach 112 by text message.

The operator confirms your location, identifies the type of emergency and sends the appropriate help. Have three pieces of information ready: what happened, the exact address (street name and number, or a nearby landmark), and how many people are involved and their condition. In the city of Madrid, emergencies on public roads, in public buildings and during major events are handled by SAMUR-Protección Civil, the municipal service recognisable by its white, yellow and red ambulances. For someone taken ill at home or in a hotel, it is usually SUMMA 112, the Community of Madrid's emergency service, that responds. You don't have to choose: 112 routes the call.

Other useful numbers

Numbers as of October 2026. What to do after a theft is explained in our guide to scams to avoid in Madrid.

Public hospital emergency departments

Where to go depending on your area

Madrid's major public hospitals all have an emergency department open 24/7, 365 days a year. You can walk in directly, without an appointment or a doctor's referral. Patients are seen according to how serious their condition is, not in order of arrival: for a minor problem, the wait can run to several hours. These four hospitals are the easiest to reach from the centre:

Addresses as of October 2026.

The Gregorio Marañón, the closest to the Puerta del Sol and Retiro Park, splits its emergency services across several buildings: general and trauma emergencies on one side, maternity and children's emergencies at calle O'Donnell 50. Follow the "Urgencias" signs from the moment you enter the site.

With children

The Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, avenida de Menéndez Pelayo 65, on the edge of Retiro Park, is the main public hospital for under-18s. Its paediatric emergency department runs 24/7 and has paediatricians, surgeons and trauma specialists dedicated to children; the entrance is directly off the avenue. La Paz and the Gregorio Marañón also have paediatric emergency departments.

What to bring

Bring your passport or identity card, your European Health Insurance Card if you have one, your travel insurance certificate and a list of any medication you are taking. Keep a copy of every document you are given on discharge (medical report, prescriptions, invoices): your insurer will ask for them.

A less serious problem: the other options

Primary care emergency centres

Hospital emergency departments are meant for serious situations. For a fever, gastroenteritis, a small wound or an ear infection, the Community of Madrid runs primary care emergency centres, called SUAP or continuous care points, open in the evening, overnight, at weekends and on public holidays, when local health centres are closed. Their list, with opening hours and addresses, is on the Community of Madrid health portal, which has a search tool by town or postcode. During the day, health centres (centros de salud) see public-system patients from their catchment area; a visitor with the European card can be seen there for urgent care.

Private hospitals and clinics

If you want to avoid the wait or your travel insurance works with a private network, several private hospitals have emergency departments open day and night in the smart districts of the centre:

• Hospital Universitario HM Madrid, plaza del Conde del Valle de Súchil 16, in the Chamberí district;
• Hospital Universitario Ruber Juan Bravo, calle de Juan Bravo 49, in the Salamanca district, emergencies on level -1, open to children from age 6 for trauma and from age 14 for other specialities.

In the private sector, you pay for the consultation on the spot, unless your insurer has given approval in advance. So call your insurance assistance line before you go: it will tell you the nearest partner facility and can cover the costs directly.

Pharmacies: open, on duty or 24/7

Spotting a pharmacy and knowing its hours

Pharmacies (farmacias) are marked by a green cross, often illuminated. There are plenty in the centre, including in old shops such as the Antigua Farmacia de la Reina Madre, calle Mayor 59. Opening hours vary from one pharmacy to another, and many close in the middle of the day and on Sundays. The pharmacist is a good first point of contact for a minor problem: they give advice, refer you to a doctor if needed and sell common medicines without a prescription, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Finding the duty pharmacy

At night, on Sundays and on public holidays, a rota of duty pharmacies (farmacias de guardia) is organised by the Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Madrid, which publishes the daily list of duty pharmacies by district on its website. Closed pharmacies also display the addresses of the nearest duty pharmacies in their window.

Several pharmacies in Madrid stay open 24/7. The most convenient for a visitor is the one at calle Mayor 13, a short walk from the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor.

Medicines and prescriptions

In Spain, antibiotics and most prescription medicines are only dispensed with a prescription. If you are on medication, bring enough for your whole stay, in your hand luggage, along with the prescription. Note the name of the active ingredient (the international non-proprietary name) as well as the brand name: brands differ from country to country and the pharmacist will find the Spanish equivalent more easily.

What care costs depending on your cover

Travellers from the European Union and the United Kingdom

With the European Health Insurance Card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea), a visitor from a European Union country, the European Economic Area or Switzerland is treated in the Spanish public system on the same terms as someone insured in Spain, for care that cannot wait until you get home. Care is then free at the point of use; at the pharmacy, you still pay part of the cost of prescribed medicines. British travellers get the same access with their GHIC or an old EHIC that is still valid. Show the card at reception: without it, the centre may charge you for the care. The card does not cover the private sector or repatriation.

Travellers from other countries

Public hospital emergency departments treat anyone who turns up, but a visitor without European cover will then receive a bill for the care. Travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is therefore essential for a trip from the Americas, Africa or Asia, and strongly recommended for all travellers. Check whether your bank card includes this kind of insurance, note your insurer's assistance number and call it before any significant expense.

Rules as of October 2026.

Prevention is better than cure

• The heat. In July and August, average highs exceed 31 °C in Madrid and the air is very dry: dehydration sets in quickly. Drink regularly, visit museums and monuments during the hottest hours and save walking in full sun for the morning or late afternoon. The month-by-month climate is covered in our guide to the best time to visit Madrid.
• Tap water is safe to drink. Bars and restaurants must offer non-bottled water free of charge: ask for "agua del grifo".
• The sun. The city's altitude, over 650 metres, and its often clear skies make the sun strong even in spring: a hat and sunscreen are useful from April to October.
• Nights out. The city goes to bed late: if you go out, keep an eye on your drink and your friends, and plan your way back in advance. Our guide to Madrid at night gives you pointers for a worry-free night out.

In short

Information as of October 2026.

Further reading

To avoid unpleasant surprises in the street and on the metro, read our guide to scams to avoid in Madrid, which also explains how to report a crime. Our guide to getting around Madrid helps you reach a hospital by metro, and our budget for a trip to Madrid lets you factor the cost of insurance into your spending.