Overview
Viana do Castelo is a mid-sized city on the northwest coast of Portugal. It is a beautiful port city that is rich with history, as it was an important entry point for Portuguese explorers as early as the 13th century.
It is considered the jewel of the Green Coast of Portugal, thanks to its medieval architecture, winding streets, and narrow lanes in the historic old quarter, and it features a neo-byzantine church, Santa Luzia, perched on a hilltop looking down on the town.
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
12:31pm
Official Languages:
Portuguese
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
In the surroundings of the city, you can take a ride on the coastal or river bike path, or on one of the many marked trails. With beaches of fine golden sand, Viana do Castelo is also popular for surfing, windsurfing or kitesurfing, and bodyboarding. You can also go jet skiing, sailing, rowing, or canoeing on the Lima River.
Viana do Castelo is a perfect place from which to organize a weekend visit to nearby Porto, the famous UNESCO World Heritage City. Nature lovers can also visit the Peneda-Gerês National Park, which features a beautiful landscape and rushing waterfalls, and is the only such park in the country.
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2025
Dates
Price
Availability
May 10, 2025 - May 16, 2025 1 week
$2,999
Open
June 28, 2025 - July 11, 2025 2 weeks
$3,999
Open
July 12, 2025 - August 1, 2025 3 weeks
$4,999
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
Classic Pastries
Bolas de Berlim are a Portuguese twist on the Berline – a classic German pastry. The most popular place to find them is at a local café called Zé Natário. They’re 100% worth the wait in line!
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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.
