- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: kit.edu, theworldtravelindex.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Emergency contraception is sold over-the-counter at any Munich pharmacy (Apotheke) without a prescription, including through the night/weekend emergency-duty pharmacy rota — you don't need a doctor visit to get it quickly.
- Regular contraception (the pill, IUD, implant) is prescription-only in Germany — plan for a gynecologist (Frauenarzt) appointment rather than expecting to walk into a pharmacy for it.
- If you're over 22, expect to pay the full price for prescribed contraception yourself — German statutory insurance only covers it for those 22 and under.
- Frauennotruf München's phone line has specific weekday hours, not 24/7 — for support outside those hours, the national Hilfetelefon (08000 116 016) is free and available every day, around the clock, in many languages.
- The national violence-against-women hotline offers support in numerous languages plus sign language, which can be especially useful if your German is limited.
- If you're pregnant and considering abortion in Munich, you must complete counselling at a state-recognized centre (e.g. pro familia) and wait a mandatory 3 days before the procedure — plan for this timeline rather than expecting a same-week appointment.
- Most gynecologist practices in Munich's center (near Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, and the old town) offer appointments in English — worth confirming when booking via phone or Doctolib.
- MAGGY, run by the Munich city health department, offers free and anonymous gynecological care (including STI testing) for women without health insurance — a useful safety net for nomads between insurance plans.
- Difficulty finding a doctor able to perform the procedure quickly is a documented practical bottleneck nationally, not just in Munich — the ELSA study, funded by the Federal Ministry of Health, found that almost 60% of women surveyed had difficulty arranging the abortion, so starting the counselling process early matters if this becomes relevant.
- Bavaria (where Munich is located) has one of Germany's lowest reported abortion rates among federal states, partly linked to the higher concentration of Catholic-run hospitals in the region — a nomad seeking this care may need to specifically seek out a secular or family-planning-affiliated provider rather than assuming any general hospital offers it.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Street harassment is not the top safety concern in Munich, but it does happen — one traveler account described being followed and experiencing harassment from men despite otherwise finding the city easy and clean to get around. Academic researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology found that marginalized women (by gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation) using Munich's public transport do experience harassment and violence, even though many still report feeling relatively safe overall because such experiences have become normalized. Catcalling is generally described as less frequent than in many other European cities, though unwanted attention is more likely around nightlife venues and during heavy-drinking events like Oktoberfest.
Walking Alone at Night
Central, well-lit, busy areas such as Marienplatz, the Altstadt, and Altstadt-Lehel are generally considered fine for women walking alone after dark, with visible police presence and steady foot traffic. The one area repeatedly flagged for extra caution is the immediate vicinity of the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), especially late at night, where sources describe it as feeling grittier due to drug use and homelessness nearby, though not inherently dangerous. Quiet side streets, parks after dark, and poorly lit areas are the general categories advised against for solo walking at night.
Public Transport at Night
Munich's U-Bahn and S-Bahn are described as reliable and generally safe even late at night, and some late-night S-Bahn lines run women-only train cars marked 'Frauen.' Practical advice includes staying in well-lit parts of the platform, choosing carriages with other people already in them, and sitting near other women or families if a train is largely empty.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Uber's standard ride-hailing service is effectively unavailable across most of Germany, so licensed taxis booked through an app (such as Taxi Deutschland) are the normal safer alternative to hailing a car on the street, particularly after midnight. Munich also introduced taxis with female drivers that women can specifically request, a response to a small number of harassment cases reported in taxis in 2019. Hotel concierges arranging a trusted taxi, rather than hailing one off the street late at night, is a commonly recommended precaution.
OB-GYN Options Munich
Dr. Gabriele Anker — Frauenärztin München
- Phone
- 089 / 22 35 31
- Address
- Brienner Straße 11, 80333 Munich (near U-Bahn Odeonsplatz)
- Services
- General and special gynecology, pregnancy/obstetrics, genetic counselling for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer risk in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich's certified centre.
- Language Notes
- Practice run by a team of gynecologists; website available in English.
Frauenarztpraxis Im Tal — Dr. S. Scaravelli
- Address
- Im Tal, central Munich old town
- Services
- General gynecology and obstetrics.
- Language Notes
- 20 years of professional experience; we speak English, German, French & Italian, and offers fast scheduling with a central, transit-accessible location.
Frauenarztpraxis Theatinerstrasse — Dr. Med. Omar Qattawi
- Phone
- +49 89 / 22 11 13
- Address
- Theatinerstr. 36, 80333 München
- Services
- General and special gynecology, prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, perinatal medicine; obstetric deliveries arranged at Klinik Dr. Geisenhofer near the English Garden.
- Language Notes
- Located in the heart of Munich's old town.
Dr. Claudia Buchmann-Macrander
- Phone Note
- Contact via practice website; exact phone not confirmed at the time of research.
- Address
- Marienplatz 21 (2nd floor, above the Nespresso store), 80331 Munich
- Services
- General gynecology, pregnancy care, pelvic floor treatment (incl. BTL EMSELLA), elective/private and statutory health-insurance services.
- Language Notes
- Team includes a midwife; reachable via U3/U6 and S-Bahn Marienplatz, with stroller-accessible elevator.
Dr. Harry Tschebiner — Frauenarztpraxis
- Address
- Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district, Munich
- Services
- General gynecology, obstetrics, and a particular specialization in menopause/HRT care (founder of the Menopause-Zentrum München).
- Language Notes
- One reviewer described him as considerate, knows good English, understanding, patient and knows his field.
- Proximity Note
- Neuhausen-Nymphenburg is adjacent to the city center; confirm walking/transit time from your specific accommodation.
- Name
- MAGGY — Gynaecological outpatient clinic for the uninsured (Landeshauptstadt München health department)
- Services
- Free, anonymous gynaecological counselling and examinations for uninsured women, including individual prenatal-care visits (with referral for ongoing care), contraception advice, and STI testing; team consists of gynaecologists, medical assistants and social education workers.
- Cost Note
- Yes, the entire service, including the counselling and examinations, is anonymous and No, the entire service, including counselling and examinations, is free of charge, with the exception of an optional HIV rapid test (26 euros).
- Language Notes
- We speak English, French, Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Russian, and interpreters are used for other languages.
Counselling Centers Munich
Pro Familia München-Schwabing
- Phone
- 089 3300840
- Address
- Türkenstraße 103, 80799 München
- Notes
- State-recognized pregnancy conflict counselling centre; issues the legally required Beratungsschein. Languages: German, English, Spanish.
Pro Familia München-Neuhausen
- Notes
- State-recognized counselling on pregnancy and contraception; offers in-person and online counselling.
- Name
- Landeshauptstadt München – Beratungsstelle für Schwangerschaftsfragen (city health department)
- Notes
- Municipal state-recognized counselling centre; confidential and free counselling, issues Beratungsbescheinigung on request. 24-hour crisis line available outside opening hours: 0800 40 40 020.
Abortion Time Limits And Routes
- Route
- Counselling regulation (Section 218a(1) StGB) — the route used for the vast majority of abortions
- Requirements
- The pregnant woman must attend a pregnancy conflict counselling session at one of the state-recognised counselling centres and be issued with a counselling certificate (Beratungsschein), and there must be at least three full days of reflection time between the counselling and the procedure; the counselling and the procedure itself must not be carried out by the same person.
- Abortion Time Limit
- Up to the 14th week of pregnancy (12 weeks post-fertilization) they can do so under certain conditions.
Up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
- Route
- Criminological indication (Section 218a(3) StGB) — pregnancy resulting from sexual abuse or rape
- Requirements
- The indication must be given by a doctor other than the one performing the abortion; prior mandatory counselling is not required (though it should be offered), and no criminal complaint or formal proof of the assault is legally necessary.
- Route
- Medical indication (Section 218a(2) StGB) — risk to the pregnant person's life or physical/mental health
- Requirements
- There must be three days between notification of the medical diagnosis and the written indication, unless there is an imminent threat to life; the pregnant person must be informed of the option of psychosocial counselling.
- Abortion Time Limit
- No fixed upper abortion time limit — abortion according to the medical indication is also possible after the 14th week of pregnancy, unlike the counselling and criminological routes.
Assault Resources
Specialist Sexual-violence Crisis Line & Counselling Centre
- Phone
- 089 763737
- Cost
- Free and confidential; anonymous on request
- Name
- Frauennotruf München (Munich Women's Emergency Hotline / Rape Crisis Counselling Centre)
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–21:00 (Wednesday exception: 10:00–13:00 and 18:00–21:00)
- Services
- Phone, online, video and in-person counselling; crisis support; help understanding legal rights; works with an explicitly feminist, trauma-informed approach
- Languages
- German, with materials/support in English, French, Spanish, Farsi and others
- Location Note
- Schwabing district, near U2 Hohenzollernplatz (about 10 min from city center)
Hilfetelefon "Gewalt Gegen Frauen" (National Violence Against Women Helpline)
- Phone
- 08000 116 016
- Cost
- Free of charge
- Type
- National 24/7 telephone/chat/email support hotline
- Hours
- Available round the clock, 365 days a year
- Services
- Confidential, anonymous advice and referral to local support services anywhere in Germany, including Munich
- Languages
- Multiple languages (17–18), plus sign language and easy-language options
Medical Forensic Examination & Evidence-collection Service
- Cost
- Free
- Name
- Münchner Notfallambulanz für Opfer häuslicher/sexualisierter Gewalt (Munich Emergency Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Violence)
- Services
- Free medical examination, forensic evidence collection and counselling for victims of domestic and sexual violence
Krisendienst Psychiatrie Oberbayern (Bavarian Psychiatric Crisis Service)
- Phone
- 0800 655 3000
- Cost
- Free
- Type
- 24/7 acute mental-health crisis hotline
- Hours
- Available around the clock
- Services
- First point of contact for acute crisis situations, including after an assault; mobile outreach team available
Opfer-Telefon Des Weißen Rings (White Ring Victims' Helpline)
- Phone
- 116 006
- Type
- National victim-support hotline
- Services
- General support and guidance for victims of crime, including sexual assault
Munich Police – Women's/Domestic Violence Officers
- Phone
- Emergency: 110 (police) / 112 (ambulance)
- Type
- Police victim support unit
- Services
- Specialist police officers in the domestic and sexual violence unit support victims of violent crime; Munich also runs a proactive police-social services cooperation model (MUM) for domestic/partner violence
Regular Contraception
- Summary
- Unlike emergency contraception, ongoing hormonal methods (the pill, IUD, implant) are prescription-only in Germany and require an appointment with a gynecologist (Frauenarzt) — there is no over-the-counter route.
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Access Notes
- A prescription from your home country is often accepted by German pharmacies for refilling the pill, but placement procedures (IUD/implant) will still require a local gynecologist appointment. Pro Familia (a national non-profit family-planning organization) also offers contraception counselling and can help with reduced-cost access for lower-income women.
- Insurance Note
- Germany's statutory health insurance (GKV) covers prescribed contraception costs only for insured women aged 22 and under. From age 22 onward, you generally pay the full cost yourself unless the method is prescribed for an unrelated medical reason (e.g. a skin condition).
Methods
Combined/mini Birth Control Pill
- Price
- €20
- Price Range Note
- Roughly €20 for a 3-month supply, or €50 for a 6-month supply, depending on brand
Copper IUD
- Price
- €250
- Price Range Note
- Placement plus exam typically €130–€450
Hormonal IUD (E.g. Mirena)
- Price
- €350
- Price Range Note
- Placement plus exam typically €300–€400
Hormonal Implant (E.g. Nexplanon/Implanon)
- Price
- €300
- Price Range Note
- Roughly €180–€300+ depending on device and insertion fee; lasts up to 3 years
Emergency Contraception
- Summary
- Emergency contraception ("Pille danach") has been available without a prescription at any German pharmacy since March 2015, including night/weekend emergency-duty pharmacies. A short mandatory consultation with the pharmacist is required before it is sold.
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Access Notes
- No age restriction on purchase itself; pharmacists may refer under-14s to a doctor, and parental involvement is recommended (not legally required) for those under 14. Not available via mail-order/online pharmacies — only in-person at a physical pharmacy, so it can be obtained quickly, including outside normal hours via the 24-hour emergency pharmacy system.
- Insurance Note
- Free for statutorily insured women under 18 with a prescription; a €5 co-pay applies for ages 18–21 with a prescription. Most women over 20 without a prescription pay the full pharmacy price out of pocket.
Products
Levonorgestrel (LNG)
- Price
- €18
- Effective Window
- Up to 72 hours after unprotected sex (most effective within 24 hours)
- Price Range Note
- Typically €15–€26 depending on pharmacy and brand
Ulipristal Acetate (UPA / ellaOne)
- Price
- €35
- Effective Window
- Up to 120 hours after unprotected sex
- Price Range Note
- Typically €30–€43 depending on pharmacy and brand
Legal Status
- Summary
- Abortion is regulated by Germany's federal Criminal Code and is not treated as a routine medical service. Under Section 218 StGB, abortion is fundamentally illegal is regulated in the German Criminal Code (StGB, §218, §219), and is only exempt from punishment under very specific conditions: after mandatory counselling, or where a criminological or medical indication applies. Even when these conditions are met, the procedure is still technically illegal — only exempt from punishment, not affirmatively lawful.
- Classification
- Decriminalized or tolerated
Usage Breakdown
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 96% of abortions in 2020 were carried out according to the counselling regulation, around 4% according to medical indication and around 20 cases per year according to criminological indication.
Cost And Coverage
If you're on a low income, you can apply to your health insurer to have the cost of the abortion covered; otherwise you pay for the abortion yourself, though medical examinations before and after are paid for by your health insurer.
National Context Note
Reform of the law is an active political topic: a 2024 expert commission recommended decriminalizing abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and in November 2024 a Bundestag majority backed a draft law to remove Section 218 from the criminal code, but the Legal Affairs Committee declined to advance it in February, meaning the current framework remains in force.
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 Munich
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.