- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency contraception
- Over the counter
- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: stockholmtourism.org, en.tripadvisor.com.hk
Good to know
Good to Know
- The morning-after pill is sold over the counter at any Apotek in Stockholm with no prescription and no age restriction — you can just take it to the checkout counter.
- Regular birth control pills, IUDs, and implants all require a prescription in Sweden; a short-term visitor will generally need to see a private (often English-speaking) doctor to get one, which adds a consultation cost on top of the medication.
- If you're sexually assaulted in Stockholm, the Akutmottagning för våldtagna at Södersjukhuset is free, open 24/7, doesn't require a police report, and will preserve forensic evidence for up to two years if you're undecided about reporting.
- Kvinnofridslinjen (116 016) is free, anonymous, and available around the clock if you just want to talk or need guidance on next steps.
- A well-known 24-hour pharmacy (Apoteket C.W. Scheele) exists in central Stockholm for after-hours emergency contraception access; most other pharmacies keep standard daytime/evening hours.
- Abortion is legal on request up to 18 weeks of pregnancy with no requirement to state a reason, no parental consent for minors, and no spousal consent needed.
- Foreigners and tourists CAN legally get an abortion in Sweden, but unless you have a Swedish personal number (personnummer) or applicable EU health coverage, expect to pay the full cost out of pocket, roughly 5,000–15,000 SEK depending on the clinic and method.
- Most abortions in Sweden are medical (pill-based) rather than surgical, and very early ones can often be completed partly at home after a clinic visit.
- Private gynecology clinics like CMedical and Mama Mia generally don't require a referral, which makes them convenient for nomads without a Swedish GP.
- Calling 1177 is the easiest first step if you're unsure which clinic to use — the advice nurses can direct you and some services are available in English.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Multiple sources describe street harassment as uncommon in Stockholm, with locals keeping a respectful distance rather than catcalling or hustling. One local-authored guide notes that when it does happen it's usually a passing comment rather than anything menacing, and other accounts describe very low gender-based street harassment as part of everyday life in the city.
Walking Alone at Night
A local's guide describes central Stockholm as well lit with safe late-night transport, including the metro alone after midnight on weekends, and says street harassment is uncommon enough that the city is comfortable for solo women. Other travelers commonly recommend sticking to central, busy areas such as Norrmalm, Södermalm and Gamla Stan at night and avoiding empty streets or isolated areas, which is standard big-city advice repeated across several traveler accounts rather than an official warning about specific districts. Some sources flag that certain outer suburbs have had more crime in recent years, though these are well outside the areas nomads and tourists typically spend time in.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Because Sweden's taxi market is not price-regulated, locals and long-time residents commonly advise booking only from established companies (frequently named: Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir and similar major operators) rather than hailing an unmarked or unfamiliar cab, to avoid overcharging or unscrupulous drivers, particularly late at night. A local safety guide similarly advises booking only regulated taxis and confirming the meter is running.
Public Transport As the Safer Default
Several travelers note that Stockholm's metro and night buses are reliable and are often preferred over walking long distances alone or even over taking a taxi, since the transit system is considered safe at virtually any hour. One account from a long-term resident of the city said they would normally use public transport even for night travel alone, turning to a taxi mainly to save time rather than for safety reasons.
Practical Precautions
Common, repeated advice includes keeping to busier, well-lit streets in the evening, being extra mindful of bags and valuables in dense tourist zones like T-Centralen and Drottninggatan, having a planned route home before a night out, and moderating alcohol intake, since a bad decision made while drunk is cited as a more realistic risk than a stranger's actions. Trusting your instincts and leaving a situation that feels off is consistently recommended across traveler accounts.
Access Routes
- Method Mix
- The large majority of Swedish abortions are medical (mifepristone/misoprostol) rather than surgical, and medical abortions are often completed at home after an initial clinic visit for early pregnancies.
- How To Start
- Individuals can contact a hospital or clinic directly, or seek a referral from a youth clinic or health center; no referral is strictly required at many gynecological clinics. Abortion care must be initiated either from a hospital or from a clinic approved for the purpose by the National Board of Health and Welfare, and is offered at roughly 130 gynecological departments and specialized public or private clinics, not at primary-care level.
- Who Can Access
- Both residents and non-residents can access abortion services in Sweden; since January 1, 2008, foreign patients have been allowed to obtain abortions in Sweden.
- Confidentiality
- Patient information related to abortion in Sweden is subject to strict confidentiality rules.
Cost
- Residents
- Minor subsidized fee under the public healthcare (personnummer) system
Non Residents Without Personnummer
- Amount USD Low
- 520
- Currency Local
- SEK
- Amount USD High
- 1560
- Amount Local Low
- 5000
- Amount Local High
- 15000
- Note
- Non-residents without a Swedish personal number are generally responsible for the full cost of care.
Named OB-GYN Options Stockholm
Mama Mia
- Area
- Östermalm (central)
- Type
- Private multi-specialty women's health clinic
- Services
- OBGYN specialists, drop-in contraceptive consultations, pregnancy care, pediatrics
- Notes
- Popular clinic; reviewers note it can take a while to get through by phone due to demand.
CMedical Gynekologi Stockholm (Minerva Medica)
- Area
- Wonna Tower, Kungsholmen
- Type
- Private gynecology and fertility clinic
- Services
- General gynecology, gynecological surgery, fertility care (CMedical Fertility), medical abortion up to 10+0 weeks
- Sample Price
- SEK 275
- Referral Needed
- No
- Notes
- Accepts private-pay and health-insurance patients; also bookable via Vårdval Region Stockholm for some treatments; does not have a public reimbursement agreement for all services.
Stockholm IVF – Gynaecology
- Area
- Stockholm
- Type
- Private fertility/gynecology clinic
- Services
- General gynecology, cyst checks, abnormal cytology follow-up
- Languages
- Gynaecologists speaking Swedish, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and English
Nordic IVF – Gynecology
- Area
- Hammarby Sjöstad
- Type
- Private fertility/gynecology clinic
- Services
- Ovarian cyst check-ups, Pap smear follow-up, general gynecology
- Languages
- Swedish, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, and English-speaking gynecologists available
Läkarhuset Riddargatan 12
- Area
- Östermalm (central)
- Type
- Private clinic group listed among Stockholm's top-rated OBGYN providers
- Services
- General OBGYN care
- Notes
- Listed as a leading option in local directories; verify current services and English-language availability directly before booking.
Assault Resources
Kvinnofridslinjen (Sweden's National Women's Helpline)
- Phone
- 116 016
- Cost
- free
- Type
- phone hotline
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- Sweden's national women's helpline providing support to anyone who has been subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence. Calls are free and anonymous, staffed by professionals who can advise on contacting social services, healthcare, or police.
In-person Emergency Medical, Forensic and Crisis-counseling Care
- Phone
- 08-123 646 70
- Cost
- free — all visits are free of charge
- Name
- Akutmottagning för våldtagna (Emergency Clinic for Sexual Assault Victims), Södersjukhuset
- Address
- Sjukhusbacken 10, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm
- Availability
- Open 24/7; walk-in accepted within one month of an assault
- Description
- A regional specialist center for care after sexual violence. Welcomes anyone assaulted in or traveling through Stockholm County, regardless of gender identity or orientation, aged 13+ (or younger if menstruating). Care and forensic evidence collection are entirely voluntary — you do not have to report to police to receive help, and evidence can be stored for up to two years if you decide to report later.
Origo Stockholm
- Phone
- Available via 1177 Vårdguiden referral
- Cost
- free
- Type
- support and advice line for young people
- Availability
- Monday–Thursday 09:00–16:00, Friday 09:00–15:00
- Description
- Support and advice for young people aged 13–26 living in Stockholm County who have experienced violence or oppression; calls can be made anonymously.
Contraception Access
Routine Contraception
- Access
- Requires a prescription in Sweden — cannot be bought or fitted without seeing a prescriber. Prescribers include: ungdomsmottagning (youth clinic, free for under-25s), gynmottagning (gynecological clinic), barnmorskemottagning/mödravårdscentral (maternity care center), vårdcentral (health center), or an English-speaking private doctor (relevant for short-term visitors/tourists needing a renewal or new prescription).
- High Cost Cap Reference
- SEK 2,850
- Cost Note
- Costs vary by method and clinic. Sweden's högkostnadsskydd (high-cost protection scheme) caps what residents pay for prescription medicines at SEK 2,850 per 12 months, but this is tied to a Swedish personal identity number, so short-term nomads/tourists should expect to pay full price out of pocket for consultations and prescriptions.
Methods
- Combined and progestin-only birth control pills
- IUD (hormonal and copper)
- Contraceptive implant
- Hormone rings, injections
Emergency Contraception
- Access
- Available over the counter at any Apotek (pharmacy) without a prescription and with no age restriction. Also distributed free at youth clinics (ungdomsmottagning) for those under 25, and available at hospitals and family planning clinics.
- Cost EC Pill
- SEK 190
- Where To Find After Hours
- Apoteket C.W. Scheele on Klarabergsgatan is a well-known 24-hour pharmacy in central Stockholm; other pharmacies (jourhavande apotek) have extended evening/weekend hours, searchable via 1177 Vårdguiden.
- Cost Note
- Approximate over-the-counter shelf price for a pack of EC pills when purchased directly; free of charge when obtained through a youth clinic (ungdomsmottagning) for under-25s.
Methods
- Levonorgestrel pill (e.g. NorLevo) — effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex
- Ulipristal acetate pill (e.g. ellaOne) — effective up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex
- Copper IUD — can be fitted as emergency contraception, most effective option
Law Summary
The current Abortion Act (SFS 1974:595) entered into force on 1 January 1975 and permits abortion on the request of the pregnant woman until the 18th week, and thereafter only in cases of severe indications of medical risk. After the 18th week, abortions can only be performed after an evaluation by the National Board of Health and Welfare, and this evaluation cannot approve an abortion if the fetus is deemed viable outside the uterus, with the practical viability limit currently applied at 21 weeks + 6 days. Regarding healthcare providers, Sweden does not legally recognize a right to conscientious objection for performing abortions, so healthcare professionals cannot refuse to participate in abortion procedures based on personal or religious beliefs.
Legal Status
Fully legal and regulated
Abortion Time Limits
- After Limit
- Requires special permission from the National Board of Health and Welfare's Legal Council (Rättsliga Rådet); not granted if the fetus is considered viable outside the uterus (practical cutoff ~21 weeks 6 days). Fewer than 1% of Swedish abortions occur after week 18, mostly for fetal anomalies.
- On Request Up To
- 18 weeks 0 days (woman's own request, no justification required)
General Public Pathway
For anyone unsure where to turn, calling 1177 (the Swedish national healthcare advice line) connects to a nurse who can direct patients to the right gynecological or abortion care clinic.
Emergency Number
112 (police, ambulance, fire — for immediate danger)
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 Stockholm
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.