Emergencies in Thessaloniki

Good to Know

• 112 is the single number guaranteed to work from any phone in Greece, including foreign SIM cards and even with no signal or credit — it's the safest default if you're unsure which local number to use.
• The direct three-digit lines (100 police, 199 fire, 166 ambulance, 108 coast guard) also work and connect you straight to that specific service, which can occasionally be faster than going through 112.
• 112 operators in Greece typically respond in Greek, English, and French, so language shouldn't be a major barrier when calling in Thessaloniki.
• If you accidentally dial 112, stay on the line and tell the operator it was a mistake rather than hanging up — this avoids an unnecessary emergency response being dispatched.
• Public hospitals in Thessaloniki work on a rotating 'on-duty' (εφημερεύον) system for non-life-threatening walk-in emergencies — only certain hospitals are designated to receive ambulatory ER cases on a given day, so it's worth calling ahead or checking the current duty schedule if it's not a critical emergency.
• For genuine life-threatening emergencies (major trauma, stroke, cardiac arrest), call 166 (EKAB, the national ambulance service) or 112, and ambulances will route you to the appropriate capable hospital regardless of the daily duty rotation.
• EU/EEA citizens with a valid EHIC (or the UK's GHIC) can access public hospital emergency care under reciprocal arrangements; non-EU nomads should confirm their travel insurance covers direct billing or be prepared to pay upfront and seek reimbursement.
• Papageorgiou Hospital, while the region's top trauma referral center, is located outside the central city area, so for genuine emergencies calling an ambulance (166) rather than self-transporting is the safer option, as EKAB will determine the best-equipped hospital for your situation.