Overview
Located at the Douro River estuary, Porto (Oporto), Portugal is the country’s second-largest city with a history that stretches back to early Celtic settlements in the Iberian Peninsula. The UNESCO-listed Ribeira district lines the river with colorful architecture, lively cafés, and street performers, while the Douro flows toward the Atlantic and opens to a seaside promenade known for stunning sunset views. For students interested in medical shadowing abroad, Oporto offers a welcoming setting to shadow doctors in Portugal while experiencing one of Europe’s most authentic cities.
When you’re not shadowing doctors in Oporto, the city invites you to explore its panoramic views in the Crystal Palace Gardens and iconic landmarks like Clérigos Tower or the the tiled São Bento Train Station. Oporto’s rich food scene blends traditional Portuguese flavors with modern and international cuisine, and its cultural life shines through museums such as the Serralves Museum and a vibrant riverfront atmosphere. This balance of history, culture, and lifestyle makes Oporto a standout destination for students seeking to shadow doctors in Portugal and enjoy an unforgettable pre-med program abroad.
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
1:59pm
Official Languages:
Portuguese
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
Beyond the riverfront, Oporto offers endless ways to explore the city. Wander through historic neighborhoods to discover tiled churches and hidden viewpoints, tour nearby wine cellars along the Douro, or spend an afternoon relaxing in green spaces like the Crystal Palace Gardens.
The city’s thriving food scene ranges from casual local spots to innovative modern restaurants, while cultural highlights like the Clérigos Tower, São Bento Train Station, and contemporary exhibits at the Serralves Museum add depth to everyday life.
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2026
Dates
Price
Availability
June 13, 2026 - July 3, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
July 4, 2026 - July 24, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.
Add a 3-credit online course to your Atlantis program (university dependent). Learn more.
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 Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho
The Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho E.P.E. originated as the Sanatório D. Manuel II in 1947, built to combat tuberculosis epidemics in Portugal. It evolved into a major northern Portugal hospital complex. Currently, it manages four units providing comprehensive care: acute emergencies, medico-surgical specialties, maternal-infant services, outpatient surgery, and rehabilitation.
The key units include Hospital Eduardo Santos Silva, which hosts most medico-surgical specialties and a polyvalent ER handling over 500 patients daily; Hospital Comendador Manuel Moreira de Barros), a facility dedicated to orthopedics, gynecology-obstetrics, pediatrics, neonatology, pediatric surgery, and assisted reproduction; and Hospital Nossa Senhora da Ajuda focusing on outpatient surgery, continuous care, external consultations, imaging, and clinical pathology.
Ribeira Riverfront
The Ribeira riverfront is a lively stretch along the Douro where locals and visitors gather to eat, stroll, and enjoy the city’s energy. Colorful buildings rise above the water, street musicians fill the air, and cafés spill onto the promenade, making it an ideal place to unwind. From here, you can watch traditional rabelo boats drift by or catch the sun setting as the river flows toward the Atlantic.
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.
