I still cant believe we did all this in one day. What a great family adventure! We travelled to Fatima, Nazare and Obidos, which were all quite beautiful in their own way. We had initially planned this day for my Mama’s birthday, which was May 13, as my mom wanted to be in Fatima for its 100th Anniversary. We ended up going on the 16th because I had planned it wrong, but had turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the 13th was absolute chaos. There were thousands of devotees coming in from all over the world (as we were told by our tour guide) and it was just impossible to get in. Yes, the 16th was perfect, because there were no more crowds and the weather was perfect.

We actually planned this European vacation because of Fatima. My mom wanted to go, and of course, we were game to travel, so we all went–my parents, Carlos and I and little Tristan (who was just turning two that time). I was in charge of booking all the plane tickets, Airbnb apartments and all the tours, which turned out was no easy task. Thankfully, I got this one right (except for the date, but all was forgiven when we heard how crazy it was on May 13).

So, how did we see all these places in one day? I went through Lisbon Pick Up Transfer (http://www.lisbonpickuptransfer.com), which was one the best decisions I made for this trip. We got them for our airport pickup and drop off, for this day in Fatima, Nazare and Obidos, and another day in Sintra (I’ll be doing another blog post for that one). We were very happy with their service–the driver was also our tour guide, and they were able to provide a van for us since we were a lot, which made the trip very comfortable. If you are heading to Lisbon, I suggest you go through them. They offer an amazing service, and their prices are not too bad. We spent 85 euros per person for a private tour (Tristan was free), so we paid a total of 340 euros or around P20,000 for four adults.

FATIMA. Okay, so I am not exactly a devotee of Our Lady of Fatima, but my mom is, which is why we went. And I was raised Catholic, so I pretty much understand what this is all about. I have to say though, it was quite interesting to hear the stories of the three children: Saint Francisco Marto, Saint Jacinta Marto and Servant of God Lucia Santos, see the home where they lived, and stand on the spot where the apparition happened (there is now a church there). There is a lot of mystery behind these apparitions of Fatima, which includes holy messages about the Church and the Pope. You can read all about it HERE.

It was nice to see the entire complex of Fatima, which was huge. Walking around, we saw devotees fervently praying and lighting candles, and some were even walking on their knees to do their pilgrimage. We were traveling with a toddler, so we were trying our best to keep him happy and interested. Bring a stroller, if you have your child with you, because you might be doing a lot of walking if you are out to explore the complex. Oh and while you’re there, make time to see the houses where the children lived, which was for me more interesting than the churches.

NAZARE. Two things I cannot forget about this picturesque seaside village: the amazingly fresh seafood and that breathtaking view of the beach. To be honest, I really wasn’t sure what to expect to see in Nazare when we chose this tour, but looking back, this stopover was worth the drive. The food definitely made it all worth it. We had the most incredible grilled sardines, fish stew and seafood rice there, and it was all very simply presented but was just so fresh and delicious. We tried to find something similar in Lisbon, but failed. I guess it’s because all the ingredients were freshly caught, so you cant get the same taste anywhere else.

Then, there was that gorgeous view of the beach. Nazare is high up, so you get an unbeatable view of the Atlantic coast. You can view the giant waves from up there (can you believe the waves reach 80 feet over there, and people actually surf it), while listening to live street performances. I loved that I saw traditional costumes being worn by the fishermen and their wives, and how the place looked so peaceful and serene. It is generally windy over there, so don’t wear a hat or you’ll be running after it like I was haha.

OBIDOS. This is a such a pretty, picturesque walled town, which was like an hour drive away from Nazare. This place has its own charm, with traditional painted houses and narrow cobbled streets, which you can explore in a few hours. I loved the streets leading from the gate (I think it is called Rua Direita) because it is lined with interesting shops that sell paintings, decorative plates and souvenirs. What was interesting was trying their Ginja de Obidos, which is a sweet cherry liquour. It is served in small chocolate cups (which you can eat after, of course) with a cherry–it is so good!

Further along the Rua Direita is Obidos Castle, which has been converted into an exclusive hotel. We didn’t get to stay there, but maybe next time! How interesting, the original castle was constructed in the 12th century but the keep and town walls were completed in the 14th century. Up there, you get a wonderful view of the countryside. What a gorgeous place–make sure to take plenty of photos when you’re there.

I hope I was able to help you plan your trip to Portugal! This day tour was definitely worth it. If you have any questions about it, please leave a comment below. <3