Cityscape of Zagreb, Croatia (an Atlantis site).
Cityscape of Zagreb, Croatia (an Atlantis site).
Students jumping in the air in front of a historical site.
Atlantis students in front of a historical site on a program excursion (Zagreb, Croatia).

Croatia

Zagreb

$4,999

Overview

While the early history of the region is uncertain, it is known that the settlement of Zagreb was officially underway by the end of the 11th century. In the twentieth century, Croatia had its share of foreign conflict, but it finally emerged as a sovereign country with its War of Independence in the 1990s. Today, Zagreb is a thriving capital city and an important hub for international commerce.

Wandering the city is visually rewarding – you’ll see everything from red roofs and cobblestones, to art deco buildings, to mural created by talented street artists. Be sure not to miss the cathedrals, palaces, world-class museums and open air markets.

Destination Information

The City

The downtown area of Zagreb is compact and very walkable. Check out the Archeological Museum, Dolac Market, the observation deck, the recently restored Zagreb Cathedral, and Ban Jelačić Square! Should you desire to venture further, the bus and tram systems are excellent.

Dates & Availability

  • Summer Break 2025

Dates

Price

Availability

May 10, 2025 - May 30, 2025 3 weeks

$4,999

Full

May 31, 2025 - June 20, 2025 3 weeks

$4,999

Full

June 21, 2025 - July 11, 2025 3 weeks

$4,999

Close to Full

July 12, 2025 - August 1, 2025 3 weeks

$4,999

Close to Full

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.

Hospital Overview

Klinička Bolnica Sveti Duh

Klinička Bolnica Sveti Duh, in English, “Holy Spirit Clinical Hospital,” is a mid-sized urban hospital (500 adult beds and 70 newborn beds) with a variety of departments and clinics. Founded in 1804, it is the oldest currently operating hospital in all of Croatia and has undergone multiple renovations over the course of its history. Sveti Duh Hospital operates in 3 different locations in the city. It is also a teaching site for the Medical Faculty of the University of Zagreb, and is involved in teaching and research.

The Sisters of Mercy Hospital

The Sisters of Mercy Hospital began in 1846, although it was not until 1894 that the establishment came to rest in its current buildings. At that point, it was managed by the Sisters of Mercy (hence the name) who ran it until it was taken over by the government in 1948. Today, it is a publicly run 863-bed institution and is involved in teaching and research through the Institute for Clinical Medical Research. Conveniently close to the city center, it is accessible via public transportation. Unlike hospitals in the United States (in which you enter one building and access all departments internally), in Zagreb the departments are often in different buildings. You’ll also be sure to make note of the hospital’s older system of record keeping.

Alumni Favorite

Stunning Waterfalls

Zagreb might be a landlocked city unlike its more well-known counterparts on the Mediterranean, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own jaw-dropping water features and natural parks for you to explore. The lakes and waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park are the backdrops to many students’ photos, and maybe even the highlight of their trip. Be sure to bring a waterproof jacket to protect yourself from the spray of the waterfall… and don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Students in front of a waterfall on a program excursion.
Atlantis students in front of a waterfall on a program excursion (Zagreb, Croatia).

Atlantis has given me the opportunity to experience and obtain knowledge that I would not be able to gain in a regular classroom setting. The program also helped to remind me of my medical ambitions, regain confidence in myself, and focus on my pre-med journey.

Students in front of a church on a program excursion.
Atlantis students in front of a church on a program excursion (Zagreb, Croatia).
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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.

Atlantis students on a program excursion.
Atlantis students on a program excursion (Genoa, Italy).

Language Skills Not Required

Most participants do not speak the local language at their Atlantis program. English levels vary within the hospital, but no knowledge of the language is required for Atlantis to be valuable. There is enough English spoken in the hospital for participants to benefit from the programs, as you can read in our testimonials. 

Many patients in your future career will not speak your language and will come from a different cultural background, so the Atlantis experience prepares you for that intercultural perspective. Any slight language barrier you may encounter at Atlantis also helps you develop “resilience and adaptability,” an AAMC core competency.

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.

Two students walking out of a hospital wing.
Atlantis students in a hospital wing (Lisbon, Portugal).

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.

An Atlantis student smiling while shadowing abroad.
An Atlantis student on an excursion experiencing culture while shadowing abroad (Athens, Greece).

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.

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students walking and smiling.
Atlantis students exploring together on a program excursion (Athens, Greece).

Med School Interview:
Atlantis Alum vs. Typical Pre-med

Compare a possible medical school interview of an Atlantis alum with that of a typical applicant by looking at responses to common questions.