- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: tourismattractions.net, travelsafe-abroad.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- The morning-after pill is sold over-the-counter in any Las Palmas pharmacy with no prescription and no age limit — you can just walk in and ask for it directly.
- If you feel unsafe or have experienced an assault, saying the code phrase 'Mascarilla 19' to any pharmacist will trigger a discreet call to 112 for help, no explanation needed at the counter.
- You do NOT need to file a police report to access victim-support services in the Canary Islands (CIAM, Cruz Roja crisis centre, etc.) — support is free, confidential, and open to all nationalities.
- 112 is the single number that connects you to Canary Islands' specialized 24/7 women's violence response (S.A.M.V.V.) and, if needed, emergency shelter (DEMA) within minutes.
- IUDs and implants can be effectively free if you're enrolled in Spain's public health system (which requires local residency registration/social security), but as a short-term nomad without that access you'll likely pay private clinic rates.
- Getting an IUD or implant fitted in Las Palmas as a visiting nomad generally means booking a private gynecology clinic — public referral routes are for residents with SNS access and can involve waiting lists.
- Abortion is legal on request up to 14 weeks of pregnancy in Spain, and free of charge in the public health system for both residents and non-residents, but public-system access usually means referral to a private clinic contracted by the health service rather than treatment inside a public hospital, due to high rates of conscientious objection among public gynecologists.
- As a foreign nomad without a Spanish public health card (tarjeta sanitaria) or S1/EHIC-equivalent coverage, the practical route is almost always a private clinic paid out of pocket rather than the free public pathway.
- No dedicated abortion clinic could be confirmed with certainty specifically in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from public sources — the listed OBGYN practices are general gynecology providers; call ahead to confirm they perform terminations and to get current private pricing.
- All the listed clinics/practices are private and charge consultation fees typically in the €48–€100+ range for a standard gynecology visit; abortion-specific pricing was not publicly listed for any Las Palmas provider.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Street-level catcalling and unwanted comments do happen in Las Palmas as in the rest of Spain, but sources on the city consistently describe the bigger day-to-day nuisance as pickpocketing and bag-snatching rather than aggressive harassment, with hotspots named as the Las Canteras promenade, the Vegueta and Triana old-town lanes, and Parque Santa Catalina. Spain criminalized street sexual harassment nationwide as a minor offense under its 2022 'only yes is yes' law, though it is only prosecuted if the victim files a complaint.
Walking Alone at Night
Multiple current guides describe Las Palmas as generally fine for walking at night along well-lit, populated routes such as the Las Canteras seafront, with a crime-index safety rating for night-time walking rated 'high' rather than low. The one specific area repeatedly flagged to avoid at night, especially on weekends, is Parque Santa Catalina near the cruise port, along with any poorly lit side streets or isolated stretches in the Vegueta/Triana old town.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Spain has an established licensed taxi system and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Cabify also operate in its major cities, though their arrival has triggered regulatory disputes and strikes by licensed taxi drivers elsewhere in the country. For Las Palmas specifically, current safety guides recommend using an official taxi or a reliable ride-hailing app rather than walking home alone after dark, particularly after nightlife.
Practical Precautions
Guides to the city advise keeping phones and wallets out of sight and off café tables to deter opportunistic theft, using a hotel safe for documents and spare cash, and staying extra alert around the Las Canteras promenade and the cruise-port area where pickpocketing and bag-snatching are the most commonly reported issues. Solo travelers are also told to stick to main, well-lit streets at night and avoid cutting through dim side streets or unfamiliar alleys as a shortcut.
Rising Local Crime Debate
In 2025, official Interior Ministry statistics showing a rise in violent and sexual offenses in Las Palmas during the first half of the year sparked a political debate between the city council and opposition politicians over policing resources, even as the wider island of Gran Canaria continued to be described as one of the safer major tourist destinations in Spain. This is useful context but reflects a political dispute over interpretation of city-level statistics rather than a settled safety verdict either way.
National Law
- Minors
- For women aged 16 to 17 years, consent to the abortion lies exclusively with them in accordance with the general arrangements for older women, though at least one legal representative must generally be informed unless disclosure would create a risk of family conflict or violence.
- Country
- Spain
- Governing Law
- Organic Law 2/2010 on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy, amended in 2023
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Cost Public System
- Both surgical and medical abortions are free of charge for resident and non-resident women within the public health system (Sistema Nacional de Salud).
- Consent And Documentation
- Women have to give written consent, and all healthcare professionals have the right to conscientiously object, though objection must be declared in writing in advance.
- Access Route Practicalities
- The vast majority of abortions in Spain are performed in private facilities under agreement with the public system rather than directly in public hospitals, partly due to widespread conscientious objection among public-sector gynecologists; access can therefore mean referral to a contracted private clinic even for those using public coverage.
- Recent Reform Notes
- The latest reform removed the mandatory three-day reflection period between receiving information and the procedure, and aims to guarantee access as close as possible to the woman's home.
Abortion Time Limits
- On Request
- In Spain, abortion is legal without justification up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.
- Beyond 22 Weeks
- After 22 weeks, abortion is only legal when fetal anomalies incompatible with life are detected, or in cases of extraordinarily severe and incurable fetal disease, always following evaluation by a clinical committee.
- Extended Medical Grounds
- It is also permitted up to 22 weeks if there are serious risks to the woman's health or life, or severe fetal anomalies.
OB-GYN Options In Las Palmas
Clínica Nuestra Señora Del Carmen
- Area
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city center
- Type
- Private clinic dedicated entirely to women's health
- Notes
- Described as the only center in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria entirely dedicated to women's integral health, offering gynecology, pregnancy care, major ambulatory gynecological surgery, and treatment of fibroids/polyps.
Ginecólogas Gran Canaria (Mesa Y López)
- Area
- Mesa y López, central Las Palmas
- Type
- Private all-female gynecology practice
- Notes
- A practice of female OBGYN specialists, including one with a sub-specialty in gynecological oncology, based in the central Mesa y López commercial district.
Policlínico León Y Castillo – Gynecology Department
- Area
- Calle León y Castillo, central Las Palmas
- Type
- Private polyclinic
- Notes
- Offers a comprehensive gynecology service covering routine checkups, menstrual disorders, preconception care, and early disease detection, serving both private-pay and insured patients.
Plaza De La Feria, Central Las Palmas
- Name
- Centro de Especialidades Médicas CIME (Dra. Liuba Canal, Ginecología y Salud Sexual)
- Type
- Private specialist clinic
- Notes
- Gynecology and sexual health consultation located in the Plaza de la Feria / Fuente Luminosa area.
Gine Dos (Consulta Dr. Octavio Arencibia and Associates)
- Area
- Calle Venegas, central Las Palmas
- Type
- Private multi-specialty gynecology practice
- Notes
- A multi-doctor gynecology consultation on Calle Venegas, offering obstetrics, sexual and reproductive health, and family planning services.
Vithas (Las Palmas)
- Area
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Type
- Private hospital group with gynecology/obstetrics department
- Notes
- Part of the Vithas private hospital network, which operates gynecology and obstetrics services with online appointment booking.
Assault Resources
Reporting Notes
- Access to the specialized victim-support network in the Canary Islands does not require filing a police report first; all women can request help or information regardless of nationality or immigration status.
- If reporting a sexual assault, guidance from local victim-support materials is not to wash or change clothes until after a medical examination, and to bring the medical injury report (parte médico de lesiones) when filing a police report.
Emergency Numbers
112 (Emergencias / Emergency Services)
- Number
- 112
- Availability
- 24/7, every day of the year, free and confidential
- Description
- National 24-hour emergency line. Calling 112 in the Canary Islands automatically activates the Servicio de Atención a Mujeres Víctimas de Violencia de Género (S.A.M.V.V.), a specialized phone service staffed by professionals trained in gender-violence and sexual-assault response, coordinated with police, healthcare, and justice services.
DEMA (Dispositivo De Emergencia Para Mujeres Agredidas)
- Number
- Activated via 112
- Availability
- 24/7, all islands
- Description
- 24-hour emergency response device for assaulted women, providing immediate assistance and, if necessary, emergency shelter for up to 96 hours; it coordinates with police, medical, and justice services.
Policía Local (Las Palmas De Gran Canaria)
- Number
- 092
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- Local police emergency line; can also be reached for gender-violence situations.
Casa De La Mujer / Ayuntamiento De Las Palmas De Gran Canaria
- Number
- 900 713 571 (free)
- Availability
- Mornings, roughly 09:00–14:00 on weekdays
- Description
- Municipal free hotline offering information, guidance and assistance to women; also reachable by email at igualdad@laspalmasgc.es.
Centro Insular De Atención a La Mujer (CIAM), Vegueta
- Number
- 928 314 200 / 928 314 700 / 928 824 970
- Address
- Calle Sor Brígida Castelló, Nº 1 (Centro San Antonio), Vegueta, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Availability
- Weekday office hours
- Description
- Island-level specialized center offering social, legal, psychological and integral support to women and minors who are victims of gender violence or sexual violence; no police report required to access.
928 290 000 / 678 483 271 / 928 246 901
- Name
- Cruz Roja – Servicio Insular de Atención Especializada a Víctimas de Violencia de Género y Violencia Sexual
- Address
- Calle Lord Byron, Nº 9, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Availability
- 24-hour crisis centre
- Description
- Comprehensive support service (a designated 24-hour Crisis Centre for sexual violence) run in coordination with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, offering prevention and integral, multidisciplinary care to women and minors affected by gender-based and sexual violence.
012 – Información General Canarias
- Number
- 012
- Availability
- Business hours, general information
- Description
- Free, confidential general information line that can direct callers to the 24-hour Crisis Centres for sexual violence.
Pharmacy Discreet Help
- Code Phrase
- Mascarilla 19
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Description
- A woman who feels she is in danger (from partner violence or assault) can go to any pharmacy and say 'Mascarilla 19'; pharmacy staff will take basic details and call 112 on her behalf to trigger the women's emergency response.
Contraception And Emergency Contraception
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
IUD
- Access
- Available through gynecology/family-planning referral in the public health system (typically free of direct cost if entitled to Spanish public healthcare) or same/next-day in private clinics.
- Public System Note
- Coverage of the device and insertion under Spain's public system varies by autonomous community; in many cases the copper or hormonal IUD and placement carry no direct cost to the patient if she is entitled to public healthcare.
Private Cost Copper
- Range Low
- €60
- Range High
- €180
Private Cost Hormonal
- Range Low
- €165
- Range High
- €400
Implant
- Access
- Subdermal hormonal implant, inserted by a doctor; available via public referral (cost may be subsidized/free in some regions for certain groups) or private clinic.
Private Cost Estimate
- Range Low
- €60
- Range High
- €100
Birth Control Pill
- Access
- Requires a prescription from a doctor/gynecologist in Spain; can be obtained through the public health system (Sistema Nacional de Salud) if you have Spanish healthcare coverage, or via a private consultation/pharmacy purchase without coverage.
- Note
- Cost varies significantly by brand and whether a nomad is enrolled in the public system; without local social security coverage expect to pay full pharmacy price per pack.
Emergency Contraception Pill
- Access
- Sold over-the-counter in any pharmacy in Spain (including Las Palmas) without a prescription and without age restriction. Two active-ingredient types are available: levonorgestrel (effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex) and ulipristal acetate (effective up to 120 hours).
- Price Ulipristal
- €30
- Price Levonorgestrel
- €20
Typical Private Consultation Cost
- Typical Private Consultation Cost
- €48
General private gynecology consultation (non-abortion), for reference on typical out-of-pocket costs for a nomad without Spanish public health coverage.
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Las Palmas
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.