Greece's gay and bisexual men's sexual health infrastructure has two tiers: community Checkpoints (excellent, gay-affirming, free) and the public hospital system (capable but variable for stigma). For routine testing, Checkpoint every time. For symptoms requiring treatment, the public system.
Ath Checkpoint — The Primary Hub
Ath Checkpoint Monastiraki area, Athens | athcheckpoint.gr (Check current address on their website — they have relocated previously)
Ath Checkpoint is the primary community sexual health resource for gay and bisexual men in Athens. Run by a network of LGBTQ+-affirmative organisations, it offers:
- Rapid HIV test (result in 20 minutes) — free
- Rapid syphilis test — free
- Hepatitis B and C screening
- Gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing
- Counselling and referral
- Anonymous — no name required if you prefer
- Staff who are experienced with gay and bisexual men's health and treat you accordingly
You can book via their website or walk in during available hours — check athcheckpoint.gr for current schedule.
Thess Checkpoint — Northern Greece
Thess Checkpoint Thessaloniki | thesscheckpoint.gr
The equivalent of Ath Checkpoint for northern Greece and Thessaloniki. Same services, same ethos. If you're in Thessaloniki, Thess Checkpoint is your first call for rapid testing and referral.
Andreas Syggros Hospital — Full Clinical Testing
Andreas Syggros Hospital (Νοσοκομείο Ανδρέας Συγγρός) Ionos Dragoumi 5, 161 21 Kallithea (Athens) nosokomeio-syggros.gr | Phone: 210 720 0100
Andreas Syggros is Greece's main dermatological and venereal disease hospital. It has the most comprehensive STI treatment capacity in Athens. For full three-site testing (throat, rectal, urethral swabs), confirmed treatment, and PrEP prescriptions, Syggros is the key public hospital.
The outpatient clinic (Εξωτερικά Ιατρεία) can provide:
- Full STI panel including gonorrhoea and chlamydia cultures
- Syphilis serology
- HIV testing
- Referral to infectious disease specialist for PrEP
The limitation: Syggros is the main public hospital for STIs in Athens, so it can be busy. The environment is more conservative than a Checkpoint. Some staff are excellent; others less so. Ath Checkpoint can recommend specific names if you ask.
The Three-Site Testing Gap
Standard testing misses a lot. As a gay or bisexual man who's sexually active, explicitly request three-site testing:
"Θέλω να κάνω εξετάσεις τριών σημείων — λαιμό, ορθό και ουρήθρα." (Phonetic: "Thelo na kano exetaseis trion simeion — laimo, ortho kai ourithra.") ("I want three-site testing — throat, rectum, and urethra.")
Laiko Hospital — Alternative for Athens
Laiko General Hospital (Λαϊκό Γενικό Νοσοκομείο) Agiou Thoma 17, 115 27 Athens Phone: 213 208 0000
Laiko has an infectious disease unit and is an alternative for STI treatment and PEP in Athens (particularly for PEP out-of-hours if Syggros is difficult to reach).
AMKA and Testing Costs
For Greek residents with an AMKA (social security number) and EOPYY insurance coverage, testing at public hospitals is free or minimal cost. Without AMKA (tourists, recent arrivals), public hospital testing may require private payment.
Ath Checkpoint and Thess Checkpoint are free for everyone — no AMKA required.
How Often to Test
| Sexual activity | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|
| Regular new partners | Every 3 months |
| On PrEP | Every 3 months (mandatory for programme) |
| Specific exposure | 4–6 weeks for HIV; 1–2 weeks for bacterial STIs |
| Steady partner only | Every 6–12 months |