Guide · Updated November 2026

Hospital, clinic or home visit? What it costs to see a doctor in Lisbon

When you feel unwell in Lisbon, the right place depends on how serious it is. This is a practical comparison of your options, with typical costs for visitors.

Quick comparison

• Public hospital emergency department: for real emergencies. Must treat everyone. With an EHIC or GHIC you are treated on the same terms as residents; without one, expect around €50–112 plus tests. Waits can be very long for non-urgent cases.
• Private hospital emergency department: faster, used to international patients. Often €150–300 or more upfront, plus tests and medicines.
• Private clinic: good for specialist appointments and tests, if you can get there and they have a free slot.
• Doctor at your hotel or Airbnb: for common problems that need a doctor but not a hospital. €150 for the visit, including a medical report and invoice for your insurance. No travelling while unwell, no waiting room.
• Video consultation: €80, from anywhere in Portugal. Useful for simple problems, advice or a prescription when appropriate.

When to go straight to hospital

Call 112 or go to an emergency department for chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, a serious injury, heavy bleeding, a suspected broken bone, severe abdominal pain or a high fever with confusion or a stiff neck.

When a doctor at your hotel makes sense

• Fever, flu, sore throat or ear pain.
• Stomach bugs and food poisoning.
• Urinary infections, rashes and allergies.
• Sprains and minor injuries.
• A sick child who is otherwise alert and drinking.
• You need a prescription or a medical certificate.

If the doctor finds something that needs a hospital, they will refer you and tell you where to go, so you arrive with a report instead of starting from zero.

Hidden costs to keep in mind

• Getting there and back: taxis or ride-hailing across Lisbon, sometimes twice in one day.
• Tests and medicines: in hospitals, blood tests, X-rays and medicines are usually charged on top of the consultation.
• Lost holiday time: half a day in a waiting room is half a day of your trip.

Insurance tip

Whichever option you choose, keep every invoice and report. Most travel insurers reimburse medical costs abroad, and many ask you to call their assistance line first, so check your policy before you go if you can.

This guide is published by DoctorsPortugal (Lighthouse Health Concierge, Unipessoal Lda.), a doctor home-visit service in Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra. The information here is general and does not replace medical advice. In an emergency, call 112.