- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: travelsafe-abroad.com, hersafevoyage.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- SOS 15900 operates 24/7 in Greek and English and is a good single number to remember for psychosocial support, legal advice, or shelter referral anywhere in Greece, including Thessaloniki.
- The emergency contraceptive pill is sold over the counter at Greek pharmacies with no prescription and no age check — but pharmacies keep normal business hours and many close evenings/weekends, so acting quickly and knowing the 11850 pharmacy-finder line is useful.
- If you rely on an IUD or contraceptive implant, book with a private gynecologist in advance — both methods are used far less commonly in Greece than in much of the EU, so provider availability and experience can vary.
- Filing a police report for sexual assault in Greece carries no fee, and a medical/forensic exam for evidence can be arranged through a hospital emergency department.
- Abortion is fully legal in Greece and has been since 1986 — this is not a gray-area or 'tolerated' situation, it's a regulated medical procedure.
- Going through the public hospital system can be free but often involves longer waits and more paperwork; most people in Greece who can afford it use a private clinic for speed and privacy, at their own cost.
- If you need an English-speaking OB-GYN, look for doctors who list UK, Belgian, or other international training/postgraduate qualifications in their bio — several private practitioners in Thessaloniki highlight this.
- Greek society is culturally shaped by Orthodox Christianity, and public attitudes toward abortion are more contested than the liberal legal framework suggests — this shouldn't affect your legal access, but don't assume every provider will be equally comfortable discussing it, and it's worth confirming a clinic's stance before booking.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Sources describe harassment levels in Thessaloniki as relatively low compared to many destinations, with one safety guide noting that street harassment is possible but not common, mainly in the form of catcalling or unwanted attention near nightlife strips and the station area. Another source rates overall harassment risk as moderate rather than high, and notes it is more associated with drunk behavior around bars at night than with daytime street encounters.
Walking Alone at Night
Central, well-lit areas such as Aristotelous Square, Ladadika, Valaoritou, the waterfront promenade (Nea Paralia) and Ano Poli in daylight are generally considered comfortable to walk. Sources advise avoiding isolated streets after midnight and specifically flag the area around the main train and bus station, the Bardaris district west of the center, and the Dendropotamos neighborhood as places to steer clear of, especially after dark, with one local account noting the area near the train station is considered unsafe for women due to drug activity and theft.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Official taxis in Thessaloniki are regulated and metered, and are described as a safe transport option, though occasional overcharging can happen, particularly on airport routes, so confirming the meter is running or agreeing a price upfront is recommended. Ride-hailing and taxi apps such as Uber, Beat and FreeNow operate in the city and are recommended over hailing unmarked cars or accepting drivers who claim the meter is broken.
Nightlife and Drinks
Several guides note that alcohol creates more practical risk around Thessaloniki's nightlife areas than the neighborhoods themselves, advising travelers to keep track of their drinks, stay with their group, and avoid letting an intoxicated friend walk home alone. Using a licensed taxi or ride-booking service after a night out, rather than walking back alone, is a commonly repeated recommendation.
Practical Precautions
Common advice for solo women includes sticking to busy, well-lit routes after dark (especially near Egnatia and around the station area), saving your accommodation address on your phone, and checking in advance whether a late arrival will involve dark streets or hard-to-find entrances. Keeping bags zipped and belongings close in crowded markets or squares is also recommended due to occasional pickpocketing.
Abortion Law And OB-GYN
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Governing Law
- Law 1609/1986 (amending earlier Law 821/1978)
Access Routes
- Minors
- Individuals under 18 need written permission from a parent or legal guardian to obtain an abortion.
- Public System
- Termination within the public National Health System (ESY) hospital network is covered and can be free of charge for those covered by Greek health insurance, but heavier bureaucracy and high demand often mean longer waits than in the private sector.
- Private System
- Most abortions in Greece are accessed through private gynecology clinics/hospitals, which perform the procedure faster but at the patient's own cost (surgical abortion, done by an OB-GYN with an anesthesiologist present, is the more common method used — about 90% of cases nationally, largely because the law requires anesthesiologist involvement).
- Medication Abortion
- The two-drug medical abortion regimen (mifepristone plus misoprostol) is legally available but must be prescribed by a doctor and is administered within a hospital/clinic setting rather than dispensed for unsupervised home use.
- Informed Consent And Privacy
- Patients have a right to full information on options/consequences before the procedure, and medical confidentiality is legally protected throughout.
Abortion Time Limits
- On Request
- Abortion on request is permitted up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, for any reason, without requiring special approval or justification.
- Rape Or Incest
- Up to 19 weeks of pregnancy in cases resulting from rape or incest.
- Fetal Abnormality
- Up to 24 weeks of pregnancy where serious fetal abnormalities are identified; approval from a medical committee is required for terminations performed between 12 and 24 weeks.
- Risk To Life Or Health
- No time limit applies where there is an inevitable risk to the pregnant person's life or a serious and continuous threat to their physical or mental health — legal at any point before birth.
Named OB-GYN Options In Thessaloniki
Diolgeris Ob/Gyn Clinic (Dr. Vasilis Diolgeris)
- Type
- Private OB-GYN clinic
- Address
- Tsimiski 137, Thessaloniki 54621 — central Thessaloniki
- Notes
- General obstetrics/gynecology private clinic on the city's main central commercial street.
Dr. Matsingos — Gynecologist Thessaloniki
- Type
- Private OB-GYN practice
- Address
- Historical centre of Thessaloniki
- Notes
- General gynecology, prenatal ultrasound, and pregnancy monitoring practice; site does not itemize abortion-specific pricing.
Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki (Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinics)
- Type
- Public teaching hospital
- Notes
- A public university-affiliated hospital referenced by multiple local private gynecologists (several list prior residency/collaboration here) as a training and referral site for obstetric and gynecological care, including legal pregnancy termination through the public system.
Local Support Services Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki Counselling Centre for Women Victims of Violence
- Access Route
- Reached via SOS 15900 or in person; referrals for shelter placement go through the Counselling Center.
- Description
- Thessaloniki hosts one of the network's Counselling Centers, which provide free psychosocial support, legal advice and referral, run in cooperation with local Bar Associations.
Shelter for Women and Their Children
- Access Route
- Referral via the SOS 15900 hotline or the local Counselling Center; not a walk-in/publicly advertised address for safety reasons.
- Description
- Thessaloniki is one of the cities (alongside Attica) that hosts dedicated shelters for women, alone or with children, who are in danger.
National Hotlines Serving Thessaloniki
SOS 15900 – National Helpline for Violence Against Women
- Phone
- 15900
- sos15900@isotita.gr
- Hours
- 24/7, 365 days a year
- Operator
- General Secretariat for Demography, Family Policy and Gender Equality (Ministry of the Interior)
- Cost Note
- Cost of the call is one local call unit
- Description
- A 24-hour hotline offering psychosocial support, legal advice, and referral to shelters for women victims of any form of gender-based violence, including sexual assault.
Languages
- Greek
- English
Direct Social Aid Line 197
- Phone
- 197
- Hours
- 24/7
- Operator
- National Center for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.)
- Cost Note
- Toll-free
- Description
- Toll-free 24-hour line for people in psychosocial crisis; E.K.K.A. operates a Social Support Center in Thessaloniki itself (in addition to Athens and Piraeus).
Police (General Emergency)
- Phone
- 100
- Hours
- 24/7
- Operator
- Hellenic Police
- Description
- For immediate danger, to report an assault, or to reach the Hellenic Police's dedicated Domestic Violence Services, present at police departments nationwide.
EU-wide Emergency Number
- Phone
- 112
- Hours
- 24/7
- Description
- Pan-European emergency number, operator-assisted, usable for police/ambulance dispatch in Thessaloniki.
Contraception Access
IUD
- Practical Access
- Requires an appointment with a gynecologist for fitting/removal; not something you pick up at a pharmacy. IUD use in Greece is relatively uncommon compared to Northern/Western Europe.
- Prescription Required
- Yes
- Cost Note
- No standardized public price found for Thessaloniki specifically; expect a private gynecology consultation fee plus the device cost, payable out of pocket for most short-term visitors.
Implant
- Recommendation
- If reliant on an implant, consider arranging removal/replacement in a country where the method is more routinely used, or confirm well in advance with a private gynecology clinic in Thessaloniki that they stock and regularly fit implants.
- Practical Access
- The contraceptive implant is available in principle through a gynecologist but is essentially not used in Greece — national data show virtually 0% uptake — so finding a provider experienced with insertion/removal in Thessaloniki specifically may take extra effort and advance planning.
- Prescription Required
- Yes
Emergency Contraception
- Timing
- LNG pill is most effective within 72 hours of unprotected sex (up to ~95% prevention if taken within 24 hours); UPA pill and the copper IUD can be used up to 5 days (120 hours) after.
- Typical Price
- €20
- Practical Caveat
- Greek pharmacies are generally not 24-hour and many close on weekends/evenings, so locating an open pharmacy quickly can be a real obstacle — the national pharmacy-finder line 11850 can help identify the nearest open pharmacy.
- Prescription Required
- No
- Access Notes
- Both LNG and UPA emergency contraceptive pills can be bought directly over the counter at Greek pharmacies without a prescription or age check; the copper IUD option requires an in-person fitting by a doctor/gynecologist.
- Price Range Note
- Reported price range is roughly €12–30 depending on brand (LNG vs UPA) and pharmacy; not reimbursed by the national health system since it's dispensed for family-planning purposes.
Methods Available
- Levonorgestrel (LNG) pill
- Ulipristal acetate (UPA) pill (e.g. ellaOne)
- Copper IUD (inserted by a doctor)
Regular Oral Contraceptive Pill
- Practical Access
- Officially a physician's prescription is required to obtain combined oral contraceptives in Greece, but in practice many pharmacies will sell the pill without insisting on one.
- Prescription Required In Theory
- Yes
- Usage Context
- Modern hormonal contraceptives are used far less in Greece than in many other EU countries — condoms and withdrawal remain the most common methods, and pill use is comparatively low.
- Reimbursement Note
- Contraception is not reimbursed by the national health system when prescribed purely for family planning, so nomads should expect to pay full retail pharmacy price.
Process Notes
Process Notes
- Sexual violence, abuse and harassment are prosecuted under the Greek Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure; there is no fee required to file a complaint for crimes against sexual freedom.
- A forensic/medical exam can be requested at a hospital for evidence collection in cases of rape or sexual assault; going to a hospital emergency department first (or calling 100/112) is a reasonable first step if immediate safety and evidence preservation are concerns.
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 Thessaloniki
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.