Berlin gets the headlines, but Germany's sexual health infrastructure extends across the country. Every major city has an Aidshilfe branch, a network of Schwerpunktärzte, and — in most cases — a Checkpoint or equivalent community testing service. This guide covers the major cities beyond Berlin.
Hamburg
Germany's second-largest city and a significant LGBTQ+ hub, particularly around the St. Georg neighbourhood.
Testing and Community
Aidshilfe Hamburg Borgweg 8, 22303 Hamburg | aidshilfe-hamburg.de HIV and STI testing, counselling, and community services. Testing sessions run regularly — book via the website or call ahead.
Checkpoint Hamburg (operated by Aidshilfe Hamburg) Regular HIV testing sessions including rapid tests. Check the website for current session times.
PrEP and Specialist Care
Find Schwerpunktärzte in Hamburg via dagnä.de. Established practices include:
- ifi-Institut für Interdisziplinäre Medizin — a major HIV/infectious disease centre at Lohmühlenstraße 5, 20099 Hamburg
- Praxis Dr. med. Schewe — experienced HIV specialist in central Hamburg
PEP Access
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg Go to the Notaufnahme and say you need PEP. The UKE infectious disease department is well-versed in handling these requests.
LGBTQ+ Community
Hamburg's gay scene is concentrated in the Lange Reihe area of St. Georg. Magnus Hirschfeld Centrum (Borgweg 8) is a long-established LGBTQ+ community hub.
Cologne (Köln)
Cologne has one of Germany's most vibrant gay scenes, centred around the Rudolfplatz and Zülpicher Viertel areas.
Testing and Community
CheckPoint Cologne Beethovenstraße 1, 50674 Köln | checkpointkoeln.de Run by Aidshilfe Köln. HIV, syphilis, and full STI panel testing. Walk-in sessions available; book online for faster service. Gay-friendly and experienced with the local community.
Aidshilfe Köln Beethovenstraße 1, 50674 Köln | aidshilfe-koeln.de Counselling, chemsex support, and referrals alongside testing services.
PrEP and Specialist Care
Cologne has several Schwerpunktpraxen — search dagnä.de for current availability. The Cologne Gay and Lesbian Centre (anyway e.V.) can provide referrals.
PEP Access
Uniklinik Köln Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Köln Major university hospital with a strong infectious disease unit. Go to the Notaufnahme for PEP.
Munich (München)
Munich has a gay scene around the Gärtnerplatzviertel and a well-organised sexual health infrastructure.
Testing and Community
Sub München Müllerstraße 14, 80469 München | sub-muenchen.de Munich's gay community health hub. Runs HIV and STI testing sessions, counselling, chemsex support, and community events. The central touchpoint for sexual health navigation in Munich.
Aidshilfe München Lindwurmstraße 71, 80337 München | aids-hilfe-muenchen.de Testing, counselling, and peer support. Regular testing sessions.
PrEP and Specialist Care
Munich Schwerpunktpraxen listed on dagnä.de. MVZ Karlsplatz and specialist practices in the Gärtnerplatzviertel area are experienced with gay and bisexual men's healthcare.
PEP Access
LMU Klinikum München – Campus Innenstadt Ziemssenstraße 5, 80336 München Klinikum Schwabing (TUM) Kölner Platz 1, 80804 München Both handle PEP. LMU Klinikum has a dedicated HIV outpatient unit and is experienced with emergency HIV prevention requests.
Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt has a significant gay scene and a well-connected sexual health network, anchored by the Sachsenhausen and Alte Sachsenhausen areas.
Testing and Community
AIDS-Hilfe Frankfurt Lange Straße 89, 60311 Frankfurt | aids-hilfe-frankfurt.de HIV testing, counselling, STI services, and peer support. Testing sessions run regularly.
PrEP and Specialist Care
Frankfurt has a strong Schwerpunktarzt network — particularly important given the city's international population. Search dagnä.de; practices near the Sachsenhausen area are familiar with gay and bisexual men's needs.
PEP Access
Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt Large teaching hospital with infectious disease capabilities. Notaufnahme handles PEP requests.
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf's gay scene is centred on the Carlsstadt area and is well-connected within the Rhine-Ruhr region.
Aidshilfe Düsseldorf Graf-Adolf-Straße 79, 40210 Düsseldorf | aidshilfe-duesseldorf.de Testing and counselling services. The neighbouring cities of Cologne and Essen also have services accessible from Düsseldorf.
PEP: Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf — Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf. Notaufnahme.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart has a smaller but active LGBTQ+ community.
AIDS-Hilfe Stuttgart Römerstraße 63, 70180 Stuttgart | aidshilfe-stuttgart.de Testing and counselling. The city's Schwerpunktarzt network is searchable on dagnä.de.
PEP: Universitätsklinikum Tübingen (larger hospital) or Katharinenhospital Stuttgart — Notaufnahme.
Smaller Cities and Rural Areas
If you're not in a major city, the same principles apply but services may be less concentrated:
- Find your local Aidshilfe at aidshilfe.de — almost every German city with a population over 50,000 has one
- Gesundheitsamt for free anonymous HIV testing — every district has one
- dagnä.de for Schwerpunktärzte — search by postcode radius
- For PEP: The nearest Uniklinik or large Kreiskrankenhaus (district hospital). When in doubt, call 112 and explain you may need PEP — they will direct you
The Aidshilfe Hotline (0800 44 66 77, free, 24/7) can direct you to the nearest services from anywhere in Germany.