Overview
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, offers an unforgettable opportunity for pre-med students looking to shadow doctors abroad in Portugal. Situated along the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River, Lisbon is a thriving global city known for its historic charm and cultural richness.
As the oldest city in Western Europe, Lisbon predates even Rome and showcases a deep historical legacy through its stunning architecture, scenic neighborhoods, and centuries-old monuments. From the cobbled streets of Alfama to the grandeur of Belém, every corner of Lisbon tells a story—and offers a breathtaking backdrop for your medical journey.
Students participating in summer shadowing programs for pre-med students in Lisbon gain exposure to European healthcare practices while exploring one of the most dynamic cities in Europe. When you shadow a doctor in Lisbon, you’ll witness real-world clinical settings and engage with healthcare professionals who are shaping the future of medicine in Portugal.
Beyond the hospital, Lisbon offers endless cultural experiences—from traditional Fado music and vibrant street art to fresh Atlantic cuisine and historic landmarks. Lisbon combines medical learning with cultural immersion like no other destination.
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
7:37am
Official Languages:
Portuguese
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
Lisbon is a city that you want to discover little by little, seeing what appears in each neighborhood. For instance, Baixa is home to the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery, both declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. You’ll also find the original Museum of Cars and the modern Belém Cultural Center.
Oh, and you cannot forget to taste the delicious cream cakes!
The evening is the ideal time to visit Chiado and Bairro Alto. In the new part of the city, you can visit some noteworthy museums such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum or the National Tile Museum.
Along the coastal road of Lisbon, you can easily reach beaches and summer resorts that combine villas and hotels from the early twentieth century with marinas, terraces, and excellent golf courses. Continuing along the coast you will find world-famous surf spots, and also palaces scattered throughout the cultural landscape of Sintra, a World Heritage Site.
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2026
Dates
Price
Availability
May 23, 2026 - June 5, 2026 2 weeks
$6,499
Open
June 6, 2026 - June 19, 2026 2 weeks
$6,499
Open
June 20, 2026 - July 3, 2026 2 weeks
$6,499
Open
July 4, 2026 - July 17, 2026 2 weeks
$6,499
Open
July 18, 2026 - July 31, 2026 2 weeks
$6,499
Open
You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.
Participants may transfer to another program or receive a refund up until a predefined amount of time before the start date.
What’s Included
Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing, housing, some meals, transportation, travel health insurance, and more. Airfare is not included but can be very affordable.
What’s Included
On Program Components
Pre/Post Program Components
Hospital Overview
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central
Founded in the fifteenth century, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central is located in Lisbon, where there are currently six different locations. Open since 2007, the Centro Hospitalar provides treatment in a wide range of specialties and, as of 2013, CHLC had 7,322 employees, serving about 100 buildings, for a total of 1,352 beds.
Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte
Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte is a public general hospital located in the beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal. The Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte is located in the university district and is easily accessible via the city’s metro rail system. With a wide range of departments available, this teaching hospital is afforded a wealth of resources by the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon and engages in extensive medical research.
Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO) is divided into 3 different hospitals: Hospital de Egas Moniz, Hospital de San Francisco Xavier, and Hospital de Santa Cruz. Egas Moniz hospital has around 380 beds and was initially founded in 1902 to serve the Portuguese military. The Hospital de San Francisco Xavier is a general hospital; it was founded in the 1970s as a result of overcrowding and poor conditions within other hospitals, and currently has over 300 beds. Hospital de Santa Cruz was founded in 1908 but underwent major reform between 1970 and 1990. Since then, it has continued to expand and now includes over 230 beds and over 900 employees. The mission of CHLO as a whole offers education, research, and training opportunities to health professionals and the surrounding community.
The Balconies of Lisbon
You’ll discover very quickly that Lisbon’s tight, winding streets are also home to an abundance of flower-covered balconies overlooking the cobblestones below. You’ll probably want to stop and take pictures of about 1,000 of them – but we’re told by our Portuguese staff that this is a notoriously American thing to do. Hey, no shame!
Excursions
Our excursions are designed to offer a deeper look into your host culture, for both the educational benefit and the enjoyment of exploring a new place with others who share your interests in travel and medicine. Excursions range from historical tours to culinary and cultural explorations.
Your Site Manager will inform you of the excursions they have planned during your program orientation. If you make travel plans outside of your city for a weekend and it conflicts with the events your Site Manager has planned, notify your Site Manager several days in advance so that they can plan accordingly.
Clinical Experience that Stands Out to Schools
Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Uniquely, “360 Shadowing” gives you the best version of the 1st, frees you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivates/shows the 3rd to medical school admissions.
Funding Your Future
The cost of Atlantis isn’t too dissimilar from the cost of many study abroad programs that you may find. And we’re here to help: from our extensive fundraising guide to flexible payment plans and financing options, we make the process simple and easy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.
Bring a Friend
Consider bringing a friend to the same program you’re applying to. Although the vast majority of Atlantis alumni have gone on programs without knowing someone in their cohort, bringing a friend allows your experience to be shared in a unique way, while still allowing you one of the benefits of Atlantis: meeting new pre-health friends from across the country. Consider sharing this idea with your friends.
