24-hour pharmacies in Prague are mostly found at hospitals and a few spots in the centre — the city has around eight or nine pharmacies running on a genuine 24/7 schedule. The most convenient options for visitors and residents are Lékárna Palackého (Praha 1, near Wenceslas Square) and the pharmacy at the Nemocnice Na Františku hospital in the Old Town. Below is a verified list of round-the-clock and on-call pharmacies with addresses, plus tips on how to quickly find the nearest open pharmacy at night and what to do in an emergency.
According to the publication Vitalia, citing the Czech Chamber of Pharmacists (Česká lékárnická komora), only around 16 pharmacies in the whole of Czechia operate nonstop, around the clock, every day of the year — and half of them, eight, are in Prague. Out of several hundred pharmacies in the city, only a handful keep a true nonstop schedule. Alongside this official group of eight is the well-known on-call Lékárna Palackého near Wenceslas Square (run by Nemocnice Na Františku hospital). Here are the pharmacies open 24 hours a day:
| Pharmacy | Address | District |
|---|---|---|
| Lékárna Palackého | Palackého 720/5 | Praha 1, Nové Město (city centre, near Wenceslas Square) |
| Lékárna Nemocnice Na Františku | Na Františku 847/8 | Praha 1, Staré Město |
| Lékárna U svaté Ludmily | Belgická 238/37 | Praha 2, Vinohrady (near Náměstí Míru metro station) |
| Lékárna Thomayerovy nemocnice | Vídeňská 800 | Praha 4, Krč |
| Lékárna Fakultní nemocnice v Motole | V Úvalu 84 | Praha 5, Motol (near Nemocnice Motol metro station) |
| Dr. Max (Kulaťák) | Vítězné náměstí 997/13 | Praha 6, Bubeneč (near Dejvická metro station) |
| BENU — Lékárna Letná | Františka Křížka 683/22 | Praha 7, Holešovice (Poliklinika Holešovice) |
| EUC Lékárna — poliklinika Šustova | Šustova 1930/2 | Praha 11, Chodov (near Chodov shopping centre) |
| EUC Lékárna — poliklinika Malešice | Plaňanská 573/1 | Praha 10, Malešice |
The best-known one among visitors is Lékárna Palackého, just a couple of hundred metres from Wenceslas Square. At night, medicines here are dispensed through a dedicated on-call window — just ring the bell. Pharmacies attached to hospitals (Na Františku, Motol, Thomayerova, U svaté Ludmily) are handy since medical help is right there too. Opening hours can change from time to time, so it's worth double-checking the specific location before heading out.
Pharmacy hours in Czechia change fairly often, so always check the current status before heading out at night. A few reliable ways to do this:
Note that Czechia doesn't have a strict "rotating duty" system for on-call pharmacies like some other countries. Night-time service is provided specifically by the permanent 24/7 pharmacies listed above — plan your route to the nearest one of those.
After the main hall closes, 24-hour pharmacies keep operating through a dedicated on-call window (pohotovostní okénko). The process is simple: go to the window or entrance, ring the bell, and wait for the pharmacist. At hospital pharmacies, if the main entrance is closed, look for an intercom by the door.
A few important things to know about a night visit:
In Czechia, medicines are divided into prescription (na předpis) and over-the-counter (volně prodejné, OTC). Prescription drugs are sold only with a prescription, and medicines in general can only be bought at a pharmacy (lékárna) — not at a supermarket or drugstore.
Prescriptions in Czechia are electronic, through the eRecept system. After your appointment, the doctor sends you a prescription code by SMS or e-mail (or gives you a printout with a QR code). At any pharmacy, simply showing this code is enough — no paper form is needed. Common OTC remedies for colds, fever, and pain (such as Paralen or Ibalgin) are sold without a prescription, but always check the correct dosage with the pharmacist.
If the situation is serious, don't waste time looking for a pharmacy — call emergency services instead. Calls are free from any phone, even without a SIM card.
| Number | Service | When to call |
|---|---|---|
| 155 | Emergency medical service (Zdravotnická záchranná služba) | Acute condition, injury, life-threatening situation |
| 112 | Single European emergency number | Any emergency situation; English-speaking operators available |
| 158 | Police (Policie ČR) | Crime, traffic accident |
| 150 | Fire service (Hasiči) | Fire, rescue operations |
For urgent but non-life-threatening problems at night, you can turn to an out-of-hours medical service (LSPP / pohotovost) — for example, the adult out-of-hours clinic at EUC Šustova (Chodov, Praha 11) operates alongside a 24-hour pharmacy right next door.
A night-time doctor's visit and medicine without insurance can get expensive. It's worth planning ahead:
For more on healthcare in Czechia, arranging insurance, and online consultations, check out our other guides — they'll help you pick the best option without overpaying.
Yes, around eight or nine pharmacies in Prague operate nonstop, 24/7 (eight officially recognised ones plus the on-call Lékárna Palackého). The most central is Lékárna Palackého (Palackého 720/5, Praha 1). At night, medicines are dispensed through the on-call window when you ring the bell.
Search "lékárna nonstop" or "lékárna pohotovost" on a map app, check the official list at lekarnici.cz, or look for a notice on the door of the nearest closed pharmacy — it will list the address of the on-call one.
Over-the-counter (OTC) remedies — for fever, pain, colds — are sold freely, but only at a pharmacy. Prescription medicines are dispensed only with an electronic eRecept, the code for which is sent by SMS or e-mail.
Dispensing medicine during on-call hours may come with a small surcharge (at EUC pharmacies, around 50 Kč for an over-the-counter purchase at night). Bring cash — not all night windows accept cards. Insurance (travel or state) covers part of the cost of prescription medicines.
Don't look for a pharmacy — call 155 (ambulance) or 112 (single European emergency number) right away. The call is free, and 112 operators speak English too.
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