Fatima and coimbra day trip from porto

Discover the pilgrimage site of Fatima and the university city of Coimbra on a day trip from Porto! The full-day tour includes a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima where several apparitions of the Virgin Mary are said to have taken place. Attend mass inside the sanctuary’s basilica, soaking up the serene atmosphere, and then spend the afternoon in Coimbra, seeing the university and Old Cathedral of Coimbra on a walking tour.

Leave your Porto hotel by air-conditioned coach and travel south to Fatima, a small city in central Portugal that has been a Christian pilgrimage site since medieval days. After traveling for roughly two hours, arrive in the town and then head inside the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima – a complex that’s just as large as its name suggests.

A national shrine, the sanctuary is built on the spot where the first of six apparitions of the Virgin Mary were said to be witnessed by three shepherd children: Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta. Their children’s tombs are within the sanctuary walls, as well as a beautiful Neoclassical church that’s dedicated to their memory. Head inside the church for mass (lasting roughly 30 minutes) and gaze in awe at the serene yet majestic surroundings while worshiping.

After the service, enjoy some free time to explore the city at leisure and enjoy lunch (own expense). Return to your coach at the pre-arranged time, and then travel to Coimbra – a historical town less than an hour away. Stretch your legs on a walking tour around the city center, seeing its prestigious university and the Old Cathedral of Coimbra – a glorious example of Romanesque architecture that’s said to be the most important Roman Catholic building in Portugal.

Enjoy some free time to explore the city, perhaps visiting the Botanical Garden or the University of Coimbra to see its famous old library. Entrance fees to all Coimbra attractions are at your own expense.

Make your way back to your coach and relax on your journey to Porto. Your tour finishes in the city center in the early evening.