Fátima & Coimbra Full Day Private Tour from Porto

Sanctuary grounds walk and explore two centuries of Portuguese faith and learning in one day

A full-day private tour from Porto visits Fátima's Sanctuary, the Casa Museu de Aljustrel birthplace of the three shepherd children, and Coimbra's historic university, with hotel pickup, a professional guide in your chosen language, and a complete Portuguese lunch included. The tour runs 10 hours with an expert driver-guide on a private basis, so the pace and stops stay under your control.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Fátima and Coimbra from Porto

• Pickup from accommodation in Porto
• Drive to Fátima pilgrimage site
• Explore historic Fátima settlement
• Visit Cova da Iria apparition site
• See Chapel of Apparitions
• Tour Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary
• Visit House-Museum of Aljustrel
• Enjoy Portuguese lunch with drinks
• Travel to Coimbra city
• Explore University of Coimbra area
• Panoramic tour of Coimbra landmarks
• Return to Porto

The Experience

Your guide collects you from your Porto accommodation and drives south to Fátima, the site of the 1917 apparitions of Our Lady to three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. The Sanctuary sits at Cova da Iria, the rural property where five of the six apparitions took place, now a major pilgrimage center recognized globally by the Catholic Church. You'll walk the grounds and enter the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, completed in 1953, where the two youngest shepherds, Francisco and Jacinta, were canonized by Pope Francis and are now buried in the transept. The basilica's 14 lateral altars and stained glass windows by João de Sousa Araújo depict the mysteries of the Rosary and scenes from the apparitions.

Next, the tour takes you to Aljustrel, a small village about 2 kilometers from the Sanctuary, where the three shepherds were born. The single-storey cottages they inhabited—Lucia's house built in 1885 and Francisco and Jacinta's built in 1888—remain open to visitors. The Casa Museu de Aljustrel, located next to Lucia's house, displays the everyday objects of early 20th-century mountain life: agricultural tools, cooking utensils, clothes and furniture that show how the shepherd children lived before the apparitions changed their lives and the course of the site itself.

After lunch—a complete Portuguese meal with drinks, vegetarian and gluten-free options available on request—the afternoon moves to Coimbra, situated along the river Mondego. Your guide walks you through the city center and explains its landmarks, including the historic University, the oldest in Portugal and among the oldest in Europe, which earned Coimbra the name "the city of students." The university's famous courtyard, tower and library stand as architectural anchors; entrance fees to the university buildings are separate. A panoramic tour highlights Coimbra's Romanesque treasures before the drive back to Porto.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Porto.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• air-conditioned private vehicle.
• complete Portuguese lunch with drinks.
• vegetarian and gluten-free meal options available on request.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Living Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour when you want to move at your own pace through Fátima's sacred sites and Coimbra's university without coordinating with other travelers or building the day yourself—your guide handles the route, timing and explanations, so you focus on what you came to see.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

112 verified traveler reviews

5 ★105

4 ★6

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly happened at Fátima in 1917 that made it a pilgrimage site?

Three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—reported apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, a rural property owned by Lucia's parents. Five of the six apparitions took place at the holm-oak tree on that site. The events were officially recognized by the Catholic Church in 1930, and the Sanctuary was built to commemorate them. Francisco and Jacinta were canonized by Pope Francis in 2017.

Can I go inside the university buildings in Coimbra, or just see them from outside?

The tour includes a panoramic visit to Coimbra's university with its famous courtyard, tower and library visible from the outside. Entrance fees to the university buildings themselves are not included in the tour price, so you can choose whether to pay for entry if you want to go inside.

Is the lunch included in the price, and can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes, a complete Portuguese lunch with drinks is included. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available if you request them before the tour starts, so let your guide know your preferences when you book.

How long is the drive from Porto to Fátima, and how much time do we spend at each stop?

The full tour runs 10 hours from pickup to drop-off. The drive to Fátima takes the morning, followed by time at the Sanctuary and the Casa Museu de Aljustrel. After lunch, you visit Coimbra in the afternoon before returning to Porto.

What language will my guide speak?

Your guide is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French. Let the operator know your preference when you book.

Is hotel pickup included, and what if my accommodation is outside the city center?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price. Your guide will collect you from your Porto accommodation at the start and return you at the end of the day.