Black Forest
Three kids, foreign country, and you need pharmacy. We've been in that exact spot in Black Forest.
Good to Know
The Black Forest is rural, and that changes the pharmacy equation. Every town of any size has an Apotheke (pharmacy), marked with a red A sign, but if you're staying in a small village or hiking between towns, the nearest one might be a drive away. Freiburg is the main city on the edge of the Black Forest and has plenty. Smaller towns like Triberg, Titisee, and Gengenbach each have at least one.
We stocked up in Freiburg before heading deeper into the forest. Tick repellent is essential here since the Black Forest has tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) risk, and ticks are active from spring through autumn. Zeckenschutz (tick repellent) is available at every Apotheke. Children's paracetamol goes by the brand Benuron or Paracetamol ratiopharm Saft (syrup). For after-hours emergencies, the Notdienst (emergency duty) system means one Apotheke in the area stays open at night on a rotation. The website www.aponet.de/notdienst shows which one is on duty by postcode. German Apotheken are strict about what requires a prescription, so don't expect to get antibiotics without seeing a doctor first.
English varies. Pharmacists in tourist areas like Freiburg, Baden-Baden, and Titisee speak reasonable English. In smaller villages, German is all you'll get. Write down the medication name or active ingredient.
German pharmacies (Apotheke) stock children's paracetamol (Nurofen for Kids, Ben-u-ron) and can advise on dosing. Baby formula and diapers are cheaper at DM or Rossmann drugstores than at the pharmacy. For specialized infant needs, stock up in Freiburg before heading into the villages.
Not glamorous travel advice, but the kind that actually matters with kids.
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This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Information may be outdated or inaccurate. Always call ahead to confirm. See our full disclaimer.
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Sources: CDC Travel Health: Germany · ABDA - Federal Union of German Pharmacists · Robert Koch Institute - TBE Risk Areas