Türkiye Is Now Leading Medical Tourism as European Patients Find Affordable Care and Easier Recovery

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During the first seven months of 2026, despite there being no consolidated regional dataset on the matter, we have seen the growth of medical tourism across Europe. Turkey recorded 302,487 health care visits and US$761.5 million for the first quarter. Specialist treatment and recovery services are being strengthened in Czechia and Poland, while Croatia is integrating rehabilitation with year-round coastal travel. Portugal, Greece and Hungary are developing thermal, wellness and rehabilitation offers. These different approaches from various countries demonstrate the expansion of the healthcare travel market in Europe. This creates new demands for hospitals, hotels and transport and longer stay services, as well as the need for more regulation of the practice across the region.

How Seven European Countries Are Expanding Medical Tourism in 2026

European countries are developing different healthcare travel models, ranging from specialist clinical treatment to rehabilitation and thermal wellness. Türkiye leads with measurable visitor and revenue figures, while Czechia, Poland, Croatia, Portugal, Greece and Hungary are strengthening specialised services that support hospitals, hotels, transport and off-season tourism.

Overall, the table shows that European medical tourism is expanding through specialization rather than one common regional model. Türkiye dominates the available official statistics, while other countries combine healthcare, recovery and wellness with established tourism infrastructure. However, comparable 2026 patient totals remain unavailable for most destinations.

European Destinations Are Building Different Healthcare Travel Models

Czechia has developed a structured combination of certified healthcare facilities, specialist agencies, multilingual assistance and established spa towns. Official tourism information highlights fertility treatment, dentistry, eye procedures, cosmetic treatment and rehabilitation. Foreign patients can approach facilities directly or use specialised coordinators. Prague supports the urban component, while the Bohemian spa regions offer rehabilitation and recovery environments. This structure can create demand for longer hotel stays, accessible transfers, interpretation and travel arrangements for relatives accompanying the patient.

Poland competes through specialist healthcare, private medical capacity, health resorts and relatively affordable procedures. Official information identifies dentistry, orthopaedics, surgery and rehabilitation as prominent areas. Croatia follows a different approach by combining rehabilitation, thalassotherapy, thermal resources and coastal recovery. Kvarner, Opatija and Lošinj have established health-related tourism traditions. Croatia’s wider tourism strategy also seeks stronger year-round demand. Health and rehabilitation travel can contribute because visitors may arrive outside the main summer season and remain for supervised programmes or recuperation.

Türkiye Leads Europe’s Medical Tourism Expansion

Türkiye operates the largest officially documented healthcare travel market among the European destinations examined. It has developed a structured system supported by an official international patient platform, authorised healthcare facilities, licensed facilitators and dedicated regulations. Patients travel for hair restoration, cosmetic procedures, dentistry, fertility treatment, eye care, orthopaedics and complex hospital services. Istanbul’s international connectivity also makes treatment centres accessible from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Official figures show that Türkiye received 1,506,442 healthcare visitors in 2024, generating approximately US$3.02 billion. In 2025, the country recorded 1,398,580 visitors, while revenue remained close to US$3.02 billion. During the first quarter of 2026, Türkiye welcomed 302,487 healthcare visitors and generated approximately US$761.5 million. Coastal destinations can also support longer recuperation stays after treatment.

Czechia Combines Regulated Treatment With Spa Recovery

Czechia is building its healthcare travel market around certified hospitals, specialist clinics, multilingual support and established spa destinations. Official tourism information highlights accreditation and inspections across public and private healthcare facilities. International patients commonly visit for fertility treatment, dentistry, eye surgery, cosmetic procedures, preventive examinations and orthopaedics care.

Rehabilitation adds another important element to Czechia’s offering. Specialist facilities and medical spas can support neurological, cardiac and post-operative recovery. Prague provides access to urban hospitals, accommodation and cultural attractions. Historic Bohemian spa towns create a different environment for rehabilitation and recuperation. This integrated model supports demand for hotels, accessible transfers, interpreters, patient coordinators and travel arrangements for accompanying relatives.

Poland Competes Through Specialist and Affordable Healthcare

Poland is positioning itself as a comparatively affordable destination for specialist treatment. It particularly attracts interest from neighbouring European countries, Western Europe and Scandinavia. Dentistry, orthopaedics, surgery, cardiology, rehabilitation and fertility services form important parts of its healthcare offering. The country also benefits from an established network of traditional health resorts.

Official government information identifies experienced medical professionals, private healthcare capacity and competitive treatment costs as important advantages. Tourism authorities have promoted Polish medical services in international markets alongside rehabilitation and wellness facilities. Patients may require several visits for consultations, treatment and follow-up care. These longer journeys can generate additional demand for accommodation, restaurants, local transport and visitor activities, especially when relatives or carers accompany the patient.

Croatia Connects Healthcare With Coastal Recuperation

Croatia is developing health tourism through rehabilitation centres, specialised clinics, thermal springs, wellness accommodation and climate-based therapies. The coastal areas of Kvarner and Opatija have longstanding associations with respiratory care, rehabilitation and recuperation. This allows Croatia to combine healthcare services with its established coastal tourism infrastructure.

The model also supports Croatia’s efforts to attract visitors beyond the main summer season. Rehabilitation and wellness travellers can arrive during spring, autumn and winter when conventional beach demand is lower. Longer recovery programmes may help hotels and local businesses operate across more months of the year. Croatia is therefore pursuing a hybrid approach that combines specialist care, preventive wellness, thermal treatment and coastal recovery instead of depending entirely on surgical procedures.

Portugal Builds Health Travel Around Thermal Wellness

Portugal’s health and wellness market focuses strongly on thermal resorts, rehabilitation, preventive programmes and restorative stays. The country’s mild climate and developed accommodation network support visitors who require longer periods of rest. Thermal destinations offer programmes connected with relaxation, physical recovery and general wellbeing.

Portugal should primarily be described as a health and wellness tourism destination unless an officially verified clinical programme is involved. Its main travel strength lies in combining thermal resources, coastal environments and resort facilities. This approach can attract visitors outside traditional holiday periods while supporting accommodation providers, wellness centres, local transport and rural destinations with established thermal traditions.

Greece Expands Thermal and Rehabilitation Tourism

Greece is strengthening its health-related visitor economy through thermal springs, hydrotherapy, thalassotherapy, rehabilitation and wellness experiences. Official tourism information promotes destinations including Edipsos, Kaiafas, Lesvos, Pozar and Ikaria. These locations connect natural thermal resources with coastal scenery, local culture and established visitor facilities.

The country’s strongest opportunity lies in combining wellness travel with its wider coastal and cultural tourism appeal. Visitors can include thermal treatments or supervised rehabilitation within longer holidays. However, general spa experiences should not automatically be described as clinical treatment. Greece is best classified as a health and wellness tourism destination unless a specific licensed healthcare programme, hospital procedure or medically supervised service has been officially confirmed.

Hungary Connects Dentistry With Thermal-Bath Travel

Hungary has a longstanding connection with cross-border dental care, rehabilitation and thermal treatment. Budapest combines international accessibility with an extensive thermal-bathing tradition, allowing visitors to include treatment or wellness experiences within an urban break. Other destinations offer medicinal waters, spa facilities and therapeutic programmes.

Dental services represent the country’s clearest clinical travel segment, while thermal baths and wellness facilities support the broader visitor economy. Travellers may stay for consultations, procedures and follow-up appointments, creating demand for hotels and local transport. Hungary should still be presented carefully: dentistry involves regulated healthcare, while thermal bathing and general spa visits belong primarily to health and wellness tourism.

Medical Tourism Is Creating a Distinct European Travel Market

Europe’s healthcare travel market has two main dimensions. EU residents may obtain planned treatment in another member country under cross-border healthcare rules. International patients from outside the EU can also travel to European destinations for privately funded procedures. These two groups may use the same hospitals, airports and accommodation services, but their legal and financial arrangements differ. EU patients may qualify for reimbursement under specified conditions. Overseas visitors usually pay privately and must follow the immigration requirements applied to their nationality.

The market covers surgery, dentistry, fertility treatment, diagnostics, eye care, orthopaedics and rehabilitation. It also includes thermal treatment and medically supported recovery. These activities should not be treated as one identical category. Clinical travel involves regulated diagnosis or treatment delivered by qualified healthcare providers. Wellness tourism usually focuses on relaxation, prevention, thermal bathing or general wellbeing. The dividing line matters because insurance, medical oversight, advertising standards and patient protections may differ between a hospital procedure and a spa-based holiday.

Medical Tourism Changes Visas, Insurance and Patient Rights

EU cross-border healthcare rights do not mean that every treatment abroad will receive automatic reimbursement. Directive 2011/24/EU establishes the framework, but national health systems determine how it operates. Prior authorisation may be required for overnight hospital treatment, highly specialised procedures or expensive medical equipment. Reimbursement may also be limited to the amount that the patient’s home system would have paid domestically. Patients should therefore contact their national insurer and National Contact Point before booking transport, accommodation or treatment.

The European Health Insurance Card does not generally cover journeys undertaken specifically for planned treatment. It principally supports medically necessary state-provided care during a temporary visit. Travellers from outside the EU face an additional immigration process. Medical treatment does not create an automatic exemption from visa rules. Türkiye applies separate national visa and electronic visa arrangements because it is not within the Schengen Area. Patients travelling to Schengen countries must follow the common short-stay framework and any additional requirements established by the destination.

Patients should complete several checks before confirming their journey:

• Verify that the healthcare facility and relevant treatment are properly authorised.
• Obtain a written diagnosis, treatment plan and complete cost estimate.
• Confirm whether deposits, medicines, follow-up appointments and complication care are included.
• Check passport validity and nationality-specific visa requirements.
• Obtain a hospital or clinic letter describing the treatment and expected duration.
• Confirm accommodation, financial means and return-travel evidence where required.
• Review insurance exclusions for elective or planned procedures.
• Seek prior authorisation from the home health system when reimbursement is expected.
• Arrange accessible airport, hotel and healthcare transfers where necessary.
• Request prescriptions, medical records, discharge papers and an aftercare plan.

A Schengen short-stay visa normally allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Applications generally require a valid passport, compliant photograph, application form, travel medical insurance, proof of funds, accommodation and evidence of intended departure. Supporting medical documents may also be requested to explain the journey. The standard official fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged six to 12. Normal processing takes 15 days, although detailed examination can extend the period to 45 days. National procedures apply when treatment or recovery exceeds the short-stay limit.

Healthcare Travel Supports Hotels, Transport and Year-Round Tourism

Healthcare visitors may generate wider economic activity because treatment journeys can involve consultations, procedures, observation and follow-up appointments. Patients may need accommodation near medical facilities before and after treatment. Relatives or carers can create additional bookings and spend on restaurants, transport and attractions. Hotels may need step-free rooms, quieter spaces, suitable meals and flexible check-in arrangements. Transport providers may also receive demand for airport, hospital and rehabilitation transfers adapted for travellers with reduced mobility.

The effect is particularly relevant to destinations seeking activity beyond traditional holiday periods. Croatia can connect coastal rehabilitation with spring, autumn and winter travel. Portugal promotes thermal resorts, health and wellbeing experiences supported by its climate and tourism facilities. Greece features thermal destinations including Edipsos, Kaiafas, Lesvos, Pozar and Ikaria. Hungary promotes medicinal waters, thermal bathing and climatic therapies, alongside its established dental travel market. These countries should mainly be described as health, rehabilitation or wellness destinations unless official evidence confirms a specific clinical programme.

What Happens Next for Europe’s Medical Tourism Sector

European medical tourism is becoming more specific, with specialized regulations, better organized patient information, and better integrated treatment and aftercare. Meanwhile, Türkiye continues to build measurable scale, and Czechia and Poland connect their specialist healthcare with urban and spa travel. Croatia combines rehabilitation with coastal tourism, while Portugal, Greece, and Hungary develop their thermal and wellness services. Further development of existing and new services and offers is likely to continue to stimulate other sectors, such as aviation and hospitality, and create demand for medical services throughout the year. Destinations should also pay attention to the healthcare services within their local communities and improve comparable services. Transparent pricing, recognized accreditation, responsible advertising, and reliable complaints procedures and continuing care should be prioritized to sustain safe cross-border patient journeys across all of Europe’s destinations.