Guide · Updated November 2026

How to see a doctor in Portugal as a tourist

Getting ill on holiday is stressful, especially in a country where you don't speak the language. Here are your options in Portugal, from the quickest to the most serious, and what each one costs.

First: is it an emergency?

Call 112 straight away for chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech), a serious accident, heavy bleeding or loss of consciousness. 112 is free, works from any phone and operators usually speak English.

1. Ask a pharmacist (minor problems)

Portuguese pharmacies (look for the green cross, farmácia) are a good first stop for colds, mild stomach upsets, small cuts or insect bites. Pharmacists can recommend over-the-counter medicines, and many speak some English. They cannot sell prescription-only medicines, such as antibiotics, without a prescription.

2. Call SNS 24 for advice

SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) is the Portuguese national health line. A nurse assesses your symptoms by phone and tells you where to go. It is useful when you are unsure how serious something is, although waiting times and English availability vary.

3. Public health centre or public hospital

Public health centres (centros de saúde) and public hospital emergency departments must treat everyone. If you have an EHIC (EU) or GHIC (UK), bring it with your passport: you are entitled to state care on the same terms as residents.

• Expect long waits in public emergency departments for anything that is not urgent.
• Without an EHIC or GHIC, a visit to a public emergency department typically costs around €50–112, plus any tests.
• Staff may not always speak English.

4. Private hospitals and clinics

Private hospitals in Lisbon, such as Hospital da Luz, CUF and Lusíadas, are usually faster and used to international patients. A private emergency visit often costs €150–300 or more, paid upfront, plus tests. Keep every invoice for your insurance.

5. A doctor who comes to you

For most common problems on holiday (fever, sore throat, ear pain, stomach bugs, urinary infections, rashes, minor injuries, a sick child) the easiest option is often a doctor who visits your hotel room or Airbnb. You avoid waiting rooms and getting across the city while unwell, and the consultation is in English.

• The doctor can examine you, give treatment and write an electronic prescription you can use at any pharmacy in Portugal.
• You receive a medical report and an itemised invoice for your travel insurance.
• If you need a hospital, the doctor refers you and tells you where to go.

Before you go: what to have ready

• Your passport or ID.
• Your EHIC or GHIC card, if you have one.
• Your travel insurance policy number and its 24-hour assistance phone number. Many insurers ask you to call them before, or as soon as possible after, seeing a doctor.
• A list of any medicines you take and any allergies.

Will my travel insurance pay?

Most travel policies cover medical expenses abroad, including private doctor visits, but conditions vary. Usually you pay first and claim it back with the medical report and invoice. Check your policy terms, and keep the receipts for any medicines too.

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.