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Finding a doctor in Hamburg and getting help out of hours

How to find a family doctor, specialist, psychotherapist or dentist in Hamburg, how the 116117 appointment service works, where to go in the evening and at weekends (Arztruf Hamburg and emergency practices), and which crisis lines to save.

Checked 8 Oct 2026
Applies to
Everyone living in Hamburg with German health insurance. The appointment service and the 116117 on-call service are primarily for people with statutory health insurance; privately insured people can use doctors' practices and emergency services too.
Effort
Medium effort
Time needed
An hour or two of searching and phoning to find a family practice; out-of-hours help is available at any time on 116117
Cost
With statutory health insurance, doctor's visits and the 116117 services are covered; you pay prescription co-payments at the pharmacy.
When
Look for a family doctor in your first weeks, before you are ill.
Where
Hamburg, Germany
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Before you start
  3. Documents you need
  4. Step by step
  5. Evenings, nights and weekends
  6. Emergencies
  7. Mental health support
  8. Pharmacies and prescriptions
  9. Watch out
  10. Common mistakes
  11. Tips
  12. Frequently asked questions
  13. Official links
  14. In your plan
  15. Sources
  16. Related guides

In Germany your first point of contact is usually a family doctor (Hausarzt), who treats common illnesses, coordinates your care and refers you to specialists. Hamburg has many practices: in January 2026, 5,430 doctors worked in their own practices in the city, 1,332 of them in general practice, according to the Statistikamt Nord's neighbourhood profiles. They are unevenly spread, though, and many practices do not take new patients, so it is worth finding one before you need it.

Hamburg's doctors are organised in the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg, KV Hamburg). It runs the doctor search, the appointment service and the out-of-hours service Arztruf Hamburg 116117.

Before you start

  • Health insurance and, as soon as you have it, your electronic health card (*Gesundheitskarte*)

Documents you need

  • Health insurance card or proof of insurance

    required

  • Vaccination record

    Bring it to your first visit so the doctor can check what is due.

    optional

  • Passport or ID

    optional

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Search for a family practice near you

    Use the KV Hamburg doctor and psychotherapist search or the national 116117 doctor search to find practices by specialty and location. Practices update their own opening hours and accessibility information.

    Call or visit and ask whether the practice accepts new patients (Nehmen Sie neue Patienten auf?). If your German is limited, ask whether a doctor at the practice speaks your language.

  2. Step 2: Use the appointment service if you cannot find a doctor

    The KV Hamburg's appointment service (Terminservicestelle) helps people with statutory insurance get an appointment, usually within about four weeks (two weeks for acute psychotherapy). Call 116117 on weekdays from 7:00 to 18:00 or book online at 116117-termine.de or in the 116117 app.

    • No referral needed for family doctors, gynaecologists, eye doctors, paediatricians and initial psychotherapy consultations.
    • Other specialists: you need a referral from your doctor with a placement code (Vermittlungscode).

  3. Step 3: Go to your first appointment

    Bring your health insurance card, your vaccination record and a list of any medication you take. The first visit is a good time to ask which vaccinations or check-ups are due.

  4. Step 4: Find a dentist and keep your bonus booklet

    Hamburg had 1,778 dentists in December 2025. Find one through your insurer, the search tools above or recommendations. With statutory insurance, ask for a bonus booklet (Bonusheft) and have it stamped at your yearly check-up; see the guide to health insurance.

Evenings, nights and weekends

When your practice is closed and you need a doctor but it is not life-threatening, call Arztruf Hamburg on 116117, day or night. You get medical advice by phone, a home visit if needed, or a referral to an emergency practice (Notfallpraxis).

The KV Hamburg lists these emergency practices for adults (hours as published on its site, last updated March 2024; check 116117 before you go):

  • Altona, Stresemannstraße 54: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 19:00-22:00, Wednesday 16:00-22:00, weekends and holidays 9:00-22:00.
  • Harburg, Eißendorfer Pferdeweg 52: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 18:00-24:00, Wednesday 13:00-24:00, Friday 17:00-24:00, weekends and holidays 8:00-24:00.
  • At the UKE, Martinistraße 52 (Eppendorf): Monday to Thursday 18:00-24:00, Friday 17:00-24:00, weekends and holidays 8:00-24:00; there is also an eye emergency practice there.
  • At the Bundeswehrkrankenhaus, Lesserstraße 180 (Wandsbek): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 18:00-24:00, Wednesday 13:00-24:00, weekends and holidays 8:00-24:00.

Children are seen at paediatric emergency services, for example at the Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus (Bleickenallee 38) and the Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift (Liliencronstraße 130), each with evening hours on weekdays and longer hours at weekends.

Emergencies

In a life-threatening emergency, such as chest pain, breathing problems, signs of a stroke or a serious accident, call 112 for an ambulance. Hospital emergency departments are for emergencies; for other urgent problems out of hours, call 116117 first.

Mental health support

  • Psychotherapy: you can book an initial psychotherapy consultation without a referral through the appointment service (116117 or 116117-termine.de).
  • Hamburg crisis line (Hamburgisches Krisentelefon): 040 428 11 3000 for adults living in Hamburg in an acute mental health crisis and for worried relatives. It covers the times other services are closed: Monday to Thursday 17:00-23:30, Friday 17:00 to Saturday 7:30, Saturday 10:00 to Sunday 7:30, Sundays and holidays 10:00-23:30 (2026). You can stay anonymous.
  • TelefonSeelsorge: free, anonymous support day and night on 0800 111 0 111, 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123, also by chat and email.
  • In immediate danger, call 112.

Pharmacies and prescriptions

Hamburg had 349 pharmacies in December 2025. Prescription medicines are only dispensed with a doctor's prescription. Outside normal opening hours, pharmacies take turns to provide an emergency service; see the guide to pharmacies and prescriptions.

Watch out

In a life-threatening emergency call 112, not 116117.

Opening hours of emergency practices change; check with 116117 before you go.

For most specialists, the appointment service needs a referral with a placement code from your doctor.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting until you are ill to look for a family doctor.
  • Going to a hospital emergency department with problems a doctor on 116117 could handle.
  • Forgetting your health insurance card at the appointment.

Tips

  • Save 112, 116117 and the Hamburg crisis line in your phone now.
  • Ask colleagues or neighbours for recommendations; practices that take new patients fill up quickly.
  • If you work at or near a hospital such as the UKE, the emergency practice there may be the closest out-of-hours option.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Can I go straight to a specialist?

Often yes, with statutory insurance, but you may wait longer. If you want the appointment service to find you a specialist appointment, you usually need a referral with a placement code from your family doctor.

What does 116117 cost?

The call and the on-call services are part of statutory health care. 116117 is answered around the clock.

My child is ill at the weekend. Where do I go?

Call 116117 for advice, or go to a paediatric emergency service such as the Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus or the Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift during their hours. In an emergency call 112.

In your plan

  • Find a family doctor before you need one
  • Know where to find mental health support
  • Have a dental check-up and keep your bonus booklet
  • Join a German health insurer
  • Save the emergency and on-call numbers

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 5 Feb 2027.

  1. Kassenärztliche Vereinigung HamburgOfficial source
    Arztruf Hamburg (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026

    116117 around the clock, services, adult and paediatric emergency practices with addresses and hours (page dated 12 March 2024), 112 for life-threatening emergencies.

  2. Kassenärztliche Vereinigung HamburgOfficial source
    Terminservicestelle (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026

    116117 Monday to Friday 7-18, 116117-termine.de, four-week window, referral rules.

  3. Kassenärztliche Vereinigung HamburgOfficial source
    KV Hamburg - Startseite and Arzt- und Psychotherapeutensuche (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026
  4. Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV)Official source
    116117 Arztsuche (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026
  5. Statistikamt NordOfficial source
    Hamburger Stadtteil-Profile: Berichtsjahr 2025 (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026

    Office-based doctors 5,430 and GPs 1,332 (January 2026), dentists 1,778 and pharmacies 349 (December 2025).

  6. Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg - Bezirksamt AltonaOfficial source
    Krisentelefon: Hilfe bei akuten psychischen Krisen (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026
  7. TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland
    TelefonSeelsorge (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 8 Oct 2026

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