The green cross. Italian pharmacists assess symptoms and recommend directly — use for fever, flu, sore throat, stomach, food poisoning, allergies, bites, eye and skin reactions.
Many close 1–4 PM. Search farmacia aperta ora for one open now, or look for a posted Farmacia di Turno sign — one is always on rotation. Most speak basic English; use the Symptom Card tab in smaller towns.
Guardia Medica — evenings, weekends, holidays. Short wait, real doctor, ~€20–30, can prescribe. In summer coastal/resort areas look for Guardia Medica Turistica (not available in Rome, Florence, or most inland cities).
Non-urgent questions: call 116117 (works in Rome/Lazio and most regions).
Call 118 or go to Pronto Soccorso. Seen by urgency, not arrival order — non-urgent waits can be long. You will be treated; as a US visitor you will receive a bill. Keep all itemized receipts for your insurer.
| Non mi sento bene. | I don’t feel well. |
| Ho bisogno di un medico. | I need a doctor. |
| Chiami un’ambulanza. | Call an ambulance. |
| Dov’è la farmacia? | Where is the pharmacy? |
| Mi fa male qui. | It hurts here. (point) |
| Ho bisogno di medicina per... | I need medicine for... |
| Ho la febbre. | fever |
| Ho mal di testa. | headache |
| Ho mal di gola. | sore throat |
| Ho mal di stomaco. | stomachache |
| Ho la diarrea. | diarrhea |
| Ho nausea / sto vomitando. | nausea / vomiting |
| Ho una reazione allergica. | allergic reaction |
| Ho un’eruzione cutanea. | rash / skin reaction |
| Ho una puntura di insetto. | insect bite |
| Ho irritazione agli occhi. | eye irritation |
| Ho dolore al petto. | chest pain |
| Ho difficoltà a respirare. | difficulty breathing |
| Ho le vertigini. | dizziness |
| Da ieri. | Since yesterday. |
| Da [X] giorni. | For [X] days. |
| All’improvviso. | Came on suddenly. |
| Peggiora. | Getting worse. |
| Sono allergico/a a... | I am allergic to... |
| ...la penicillina. | ...penicillin. |
| ...gli antidolorifici. | ...anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). |
| Prendo questi farmaci. | I take these medications. (show list) |
| Ho un’assicurazione sanitaria. | I have travel / health insurance. |