Find a pharmacy in Udine
Udine anchors the Friuli plain with a compact pharmacy network of 13 verified outlets serving roughly 95,000 residents plus a wider Friuli-Venezia Giulia catchment that draws shoppers, university students from the Università degli Studi di Udine, and cross-border patients from Slovenia and Austria. Density is highest inside the ring formed by the inner ring road and Piazza Libertà, with secondary clusters along Viale Venezia and near the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital complex in the northern Rizzi-Chiavris district. Slavic-speaking and German-speaking visitors are common, so multilingual counter staff are a practical reality rather than a marketing claim. The mix leans heavily on independent, family-run pharmacies rather than national chains, a pattern consistent with Friuli's preference for owner-operated retail across food, optical, and health services.
The market is fragmented and family-owned: long-standing names such as Farmacia Londero and Eredi Cadamuro operate near the historic core, while Del Torre and Colutta G.P. serve residential pockets toward the eastern suburbs. Del Monte and Beltrame draw foot traffic from the via Mercatovecchio shopping spine, and outlying neighbourhoods are covered by independents including Manganotti Enrico, Farmacia Turco, Favero, and Farmacia del Sole. There is no dominant chain — Italy still restricts pharmacy ownership through the pianta organica, which caps the number of licences per inhabitant — so each outlet tends to develop a specialism: homeopathy, dermocosmetics, veterinary lines, galenic preparations, or paediatric formulations. Several operate as farmacie comunali satellites linked to the hospital catchment.
Pricing & coverage
Prescription medicines on Fascia A are fully reimbursed by the SSN with a regional ticket in Friuli-Venezia Giulia typically ranging from €1 to €4 per pack, depending on income band and exemption status. Over-the-counter analgesics run €3–€8, a standard antibiotic course €6–€15, and common dermatological creams €10–€25. Galenic preparations, prepared in-pharmacy, usually cost €15–€40 depending on the formula. Branded versus generic equivalents are interchangeable at the counter under AIFA rules unless the prescriber specifies non sostituibile. Current reimbursement lists and patient-cost transparency tables are published by the regulator at AIFA.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Udine operates a servizio di turno duty rota: at any hour one or two pharmacies remain open, with the current rota posted on every shop window and on the Federfarma Udine website. The 24-hour reference point is the pharmacy inside the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital in piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia. For acute medical or dental emergencies the same hospital runs the pronto soccorso; out-of-hours non-emergency cover is provided by the guardia medica (continuità assistenziale). Dial 118 for ambulance dispatch or the European 112 for any life-threatening situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a prescription filled in Udine if it was issued in Slovenia or Austria? Yes, under the EU cross-border directive a prescription issued in any EEA country can be dispensed in Udine, provided it carries the prescriber's full name, qualification, signature, and the patient's details. Pharmacists in Udine routinely handle Slovenian and Austrian scripts because of proximity to Nova Gorica and Villach. The medicine must be authorised in Italy — if not, the pharmacy can suggest an equivalent. You pay the full private price; reimbursement is claimed afterwards through your home insurer using the receipt and scontrino parlante.
Are pharmacies open on Sundays in Udine? A duty rota guarantees Sunday and public-holiday cover, but most independents close on Sundays and rotate through the schedule. The farmacia di turno list is posted on every shop window, on the Federfarma Udine site, and at the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital pharmacy, which keeps long hours throughout the week.
Do Udine pharmacies offer rapid diagnostic services? Yes. Under Italy's farmacia dei servizi framework, accredited outlets in Udine offer blood pressure checks, blood glucose and cholesterol testing, ECG with telemedicine reporting, and seasonal vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19 for eligible adults. Fees for self-pay tests typically sit between €10 and €25.
Will my EHIC card be accepted? Yes for SSN-covered prescriptions when issued by an Italian GP during your stay. The EHIC does not cover OTC purchases or full private prescriptions filled directly at the counter without an Italian script.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. For individual clinical decisions, consult a licensed pharmacist or physician in person.