Healthcare for Tourists in Portugal

Portugal has good healthcare, with a public health service, private hospitals and excellent pharmacies. Here’s what to do if you get ill or injured on holiday, what it may cost, and what insurance and documents to bring.

Quick answer: for emergencies, call 112. For non-urgent advice, call the SNS 24 health line (808 24 24 24). For minor problems, go to a pharmacy (farmácia), where pharmacists give advice. EU travellers should bring an EHIC, and UK travellers a GHIC, for state healthcare. Everyone should have travel insurance.

Why it pays to know the system

Most holiday health problems in Portugal are small: sunburn, an upset stomach, a twisted ankle on a cobbled street. Knowing who to call first saves you time and money. The public service (the SNS, Serviço Nacional de Saúde) works well, but it expects you to phone the health line before you turn up at a hospital, unless it’s a real emergency.

Emergencies

• 112: the European emergency number, for ambulance, police and fire. It’s free from any phone, and operators can usually speak English. Ambulances are run by INEM, the national emergency medical service.
• Hospital emergency departments (urgência) treat urgent cases. Patients are sorted by a colour-coded triage system, so expect long waits for less serious problems.
• What to bring: your passport or ID card, your EHIC or GHIC, and your travel insurance details.

Non-urgent care

• SNS 24 (808 24 24 24): the national health line gives advice and directs you to the right service. The UK government says you can press 9 for English. Nurses answer around the clock, and they can refer you to a health centre or a hospital.
• Why call first: if you go straight to a hospital emergency department without a referral from SNS 24, a health centre or INEM, you may pay a fee (about 14 to 18 euros in 2026, depending on the type of hospital). There’s no fee if you were referred or if you’re admitted.
• Health centres (centros de saúde) provide public GP-style care. Opening hours vary, and some run extra hours for urgent cases.
• Private clinics and hospitals: faster, with English-speaking staff, but you’ll pay and claim on your insurance. The big private groups have hospitals in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. Your EHIC or GHIC isn’t accepted there.
• Madeira and the Azores: the islands run their own regional health services. In the Azores the health line is 808 24 60 24. In Madeira, ask your hotel or call 112 in an emergency.

Pharmacies

Look for the green cross. Pharmacists are highly trained and can recommend treatments for minor illnesses, from sore throats to insect bites. Some medicines that need a prescription elsewhere are available over the counter, but antibiotics and many other drugs still need a prescription from a Portuguese doctor. Every town has a duty pharmacy (farmácia de serviço) open late or overnight. The rota is listed on pharmacy doors and on the Portuguese pharmacy association’s website. Night service can carry a small extra charge.

• Useful words: receita (prescription), dor (pain), febre (fever), alergia (allergy).
• Supermarkets sell some basic non-prescription items, such as painkillers in small packs.

Insurance and documents

• EHIC / GHIC: gives access to state healthcare on the same terms as residents, but doesn’t cover everything (such as repatriation, private care or non-urgent treatment).
• Travel insurance: essential for private care, repatriation, and activities like hiking and water sports. Check that it covers the activities you plan, such as surfing or levada walks in Madeira.
• Prescriptions: bring enough medication and a copy of your prescription. UK prescriptions aren’t valid in Portuguese pharmacies, so pack a few spare days’ supply.
• Carry-on: keep medicines in their original labelled packs and in your hand luggage.
• Visitors from outside Europe: you’ll pay for public and private care, so good insurance matters even more. See entry requirements.

Common issues

• Sun and heat: use high-factor sunscreen and drink water. Summer heatwaves can push inland temperatures past 40°C, especially in the Alentejo and the Douro.
• Sea safety: swim at beaches with lifeguards and respect the flags (red means no swimming, yellow means you can paddle but not swim). Atlantic currents are strong, even on calm days.
• Slips: the stone pavements are slippery when wet. Wear shoes with grip in hilly cities like Lisbon and Porto.
• Tap water: safe to drink across the country. See is tap water safe in Portugal?
• Hiking: carry water, tell someone your route and check the weather in the mountains. See hiking in Portugal.

Practical tips

• Save the numbers: put 112 and 808 24 24 24 in your phone before you travel.
• Keep receipts: you’ll need them to claim back costs from your insurer.
• Ask your hotel: staff usually know the nearest health centre, private clinic and duty pharmacy.

More: is Portugal safe?, entry requirements and the packing list.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.