BACKGROUND: The Vasco da Gama Movement (VdGM) is a European working group for young and future Family Doctors. It aims to improve the quality of Family Medicine, by holding preconference exchange programs amongst other activities. GOALS: To report and critically analyse the experiences of the medical conference exchange program in Spain as Portuguese GP residents and highlight the main differences in primary health care between the two countries. METHODS: Descriptive report and critical analysis. Preconference exchange promoted by VdGM, lasting for one week. One resident attended the Palma de Mallorca exchange (III Balearic Meeting of European Residents and Young General Practitioners) and the other three participated in the Madrid exchange (XVIII Conference of Family and Community Medicine Residents). The programs included: attending a Spanish Family Doctor practice, visiting the hospital emergency department, attending the medical conference and giving a presentation about their National Health System. CONCLUSIONS: This experience was a great opportunity for young family doctors to overview different approaches on primary healthcare, to interact with their peers and know more about other cultural settings. The authors believe that participating in such programs has increased their social and intercultural competencies, which will lead to better communication skills and improve patient-physician relationship. The authors hope to encourage other colleagues to participate in similar programs.