Can I Use the Emergency Room in Italy as an American Tourist in 2025?

And, more importantly, how much does the emergency room cost in Italy?

If you're having an emergency, go to the emergency room immediately. Called a "pronto soccorso" in Italian, they will take anyone, regardless of where you're from and your current health insurance status. The emergency number to call an ambulance is 118.

If you're coming to Italy as a tourist, especially as an American tourist, it can be nerve-racking to think about a small injury changing the course of a trip. A missed step and a twisted—or broken—ankle, falling off a Vespa, or simply pulling a muscle from all the walking could all call for a trip to the emergency room.

The question is: how much will it cost?

Thankfully, very little, no matter where you're from.

Each trip to the emergency room will result in a small fee if you aren't having an emergency. The fee is anywhere between a national base of 25 euros and a typical cap of around 50 euros. This fee is set by the region, and where we live (in Campania) you'd only spend 25 euros for any trip to the emergency room that isn't for an emergency, whether you're in Naples or in some small hospital in the middle of nowhere.

In most cases, you won't spend anything unless you have to spend the night. In this case, it will depend on your travel insurance, where you're from, and if your country has a healthcare agreement with Italy. (As of writing this in 2025, the USA and Italy do not have a healthcare agreement, so you will have to have medical travel insurance.)

Of course, that's worse case scenario. In most cases, like a broken foot, or a twisted ankle, they will wrap it then and there and send you out the door.

Lastly, the definition of "aren't having an emergency" seems to be intentionally vague. Italy is pretty big on the power of the individual, so if you go to the emergency room because you think you're having a heart attack but it turns out to be a bad case of indigestion, some people won't charge you because they don't think it fits into the guideline of "not having an emergency". After all, you came into the emergency room while you thought you were having an emergency.

A pharmacy in Italy. Look for the green cross or green letters.

Filling a prescription in Italy

When it comes to filling an Italian prescription, there will be a charge. Even in this case, it's incredibly minimal.

Using myself as an example, I recently had a bad case of bacterial bronchitis. Normally this means bed rest and soup, but as we were flying to the States soon, I wanted to be healthy-ish for the flight rather than coughing up a lung (and potentially contaminating everyone).

So I went to the Guardia Medica (more on this later, but think of it like a state-run emergency clinic) to see what they could do.

Not only was the Guardia Medica free (for everyone), they were able to prescribe me steroids, antibiotics, and recommended acetaminophen (Tylenol). I needed a prescription for the antibiotics, but not the steroids or acetaminophen.

Off I went to the pharmacy.

In total, I paid 11 euros. Six for the acetaminophen, three for the antibiotics, and two for the steroids.

This brings me to the point of: drug prices are standard. Drug prices are set at a national level, so if you're going to a pharmacy in Rome or one in Milan, you'll pay the same (apart from the taxes).

This is why, in Rome, most Romans go to the pharmacy in the Vatican City. They have a much lower tax on pharmaceuticals, so it's cheaper to buy prescription drugs there.

Keep in mind, you cannot fill an American prescription in Italy. You will have to have an Italian doctor diagnose you and write a prescription for you, or get your doctor to talk to an Italian one, explain your condition, and get them to write a prescription for the closest pharmaceutical if the one you take isn't sold in the EU or Italy.

Summer Emergency Room Visits

In the summer, especially in tourist-heavy cities like Rome and Florence, it can get pretty hot, especially during the heatwaves from the Sahara. We're talking 110-115F. And in a city like Rome where shade wasn't invented (ancient Romans were big on keeping nature out of cities, seeing it as a sign of the uncivilized, and modern Rome has continued this tradition), it can turn into a giant oven where you're easily dehydrated if you aren't constantly sucking down water.

During this time of year, Rome will have tents all over the city where you can get out of the heat and grab a bottle of water for free. They're also very serious on the "if you feel like the heat is getting to you, go to the emergency room." It will be free for everyone and they have it specifically triaged for heat-related illnesses. So if you're in Rome in the summer, and you feel a little faint in the heat, go to the nearest emergency room. Don't take chances because you can absolutely use the emergency room as a tourist in Italy.

Italy Emergency Phone Numbers

In Italy (and in most of the EU) there's a single number to call (just like calling 911 in the United States), but there are also more specialized numbers to call depending on the situation.

General Emergencies: 112 (This is an EU-wide emergency number that is the main one to remember.)

State Police: 113 (Call this if there's been an accident, a break in at your lodgings, you've been mugged, etc.)

Urgent Medical Assistance: 118 (This number is for all medical-related emergencies. This connects you to the Ambulance operator who will first ask where you are and what the emergency is.)

Fire Brigade: 115 (This is who you call if there's been a fire. If you're a hiker and you got lost, or there's been a cave-in and you have service, this is also the number you call. This might be more important during Italy's flooding periods where you might be trapped in a car or somewhere similar, though hopefully not!)

Rome-specific heat-related questions: 1500 (In the summer, Rome often actives this special tipline that will offer information on how to stay cool, where to find the cooling centers in Rome, and they will direct your call to an emergency line if you're having issues at that moment.

There is no standard rule on the operators speaking English, so if you can prepare yourself, it's best to learn a few Italian words or phrases beforehand. Of course, this is less necessary when it comes to talking to the police (learning the words for "mugging" or "robbed" might be important, but they can also make the trip much more stressful if you're constantly expecting to be robbed in an incredibly safe country). However, if you have a heart condition, an allergy, or any other underlying medical issue, it can be helpful to learn some of the words around it, so the ambulance operators know what to expect when they arrive.