Add dates

Things to do in Lourdes

Our most recommended things to do in Lourdes

Lourdes: Spiritual and Historical Guided Tour

1. Lourdes: Spiritual and Historical Guided Tour

Follow a professional guide on a walking tour of Lourdes, a must-see destination in France. The cave of the apparitions, the fountains, the candles, and the special atmosphere of the sanctuary will make this experience unforgettable. You will get all the information about the masses, the confessions, the processions, and the "gesture of water", to give a spiritual meaning to your stay in Lourdes. Through the architecture of the three basilicas, you will know more about the history of the visions, in 1858, and be amazed by the size of the underground basilica dedicated to Saint Pius X where 25.000 people can attend a mass. In addition to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, you will visit the birthplace of Saint Bernadette and the "Cachot", the former prison where she lived during the events.

Lourdes: the sanctuary of Our Lady

2. Lourdes: the sanctuary of Our Lady

Get a 2 hour tour with a professional guide and focus on the sanctuary. Learn more about what happened to Bernadette Soubirous at the grotto, in 1858, drink the water and listen the story of the healed people. Visit the three basilicas and discover their architectural styles You will probably be amazed by the Basilica of Saint Pius X with a capacity of 25,000 people and its modern stained glass windows. Save time for praying, going to the confessions and experience the « gesture of water » thanks to the explanations of your guide.

From San Sebastian: Lourdes Private Full-Day Tour

3. From San Sebastian: Lourdes Private Full-Day Tour

Departing from Donostia-San Sebastian, you'll visit the Sanctuary of Lourdes in France. You'll have time for the principal mass in the basilica, time to pray, go to see the cave, get some water, walk around the sanctuary and visit Bernadette's house. It will be an exclusive and complete private guided tour and you will be the only people on the tour. Thr driving time is roughly 2 hours in each drection and you'll have around 4.5 hours to spend exploring Lourdes. Departure times can be arranged and adjusted as you wish due to this being a private tour.

From San Sebastián: Sanctuary of Lourdes Private Day Trip

4. From San Sebastián: Sanctuary of Lourdes Private Day Trip

Do not miss the opportunity of being in one of the holiest place in the world since the apparitions in 1858 of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous and feel the spiritual experience of being embraced by the love of the Lady of Lourdes. Learn about the signs of Lourdes: the rock, the light, the water, the crowds, the sick people, . . . You will learn about the life and story of Bernadette Soubirous and the apparitions around the town of Lourdes. We also will visit the whole sanctuary itself and a few more places. This tour is very especial to me because my mom and brother were volunteering for about 20 years helping sick people from San Sebastian visit the place, and they passed me their experiences.

From San Sebastian: Sanctuary of Lourdes

5. From San Sebastian: Sanctuary of Lourdes

You’ll have to get up early, as a comfortable two-hour trip on the motorway awaits us. We’ll take advantage of the time to introduce you to the history of the region and local traditions. Miracle in 1858 Lourdes is a charming medieval town whose history changed radically when, in the summer of 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared several times to a girl named Bernadette Soubirous, in a grotto near the River Ouse. The city became an international destination, making it the second most-visited Catholic sanctuary in the world, and the city in France with the greatest number of hotel beds besides Paris. Land of basilicas In Lourdes we’ll visit the most emblematic sites such as the Crypt (the original sanctuary, decorated with numerous votive offerings from the visiting faithful), the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (with its beautiful stained glass windows depicting the story of the apparitions), the Basilica of Our The Lady of the Rosary (a Romanesque-Byzantine design full of luminous works of art, gold and Venetian mosaics) and the underground basilica of Saint Pius X, in a Brutalist style and spacious enough to host more than 25,000 people. Sacred water Of course, we will also visit the Grotto of Massabielle, where Bernadette exeprienced the apparitions that went around the world and turned the water of Lourdes into a desired object of faith with pilgrims who, annually, come from the five continents. F.Y.I. The visit with Ikusnahi lasts for 4 hours, during which it is possible to visit the complex, or attend prayers and masses. Although the sanctuary is open all year round, it’s best to know the schedule of celebrations, which we at Ikusnahi will take care of.

Frequently asked questions about Lourdes

What top attractions are a must-see in Lourdes?

The must-see attractions in Lourdes are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Lourdes

Want to discover all there is to do in Lourdes? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Lourdes

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 82 reviews

We traveled to Lourdes via Get your Guide and hit the jackpot with Iker as our tour guide!!! We booked everything on line and it all worked so smoothly as far as scheduling and payment !!! The biggest bonus was when Iker picked us up for Lourdes …. He was not only beyond knowledgeable on Lourdes and all things Basque…. But He was just a delight to tour with!!! Beyond great day and great guide !!!

It was a great day. Daniel, our guide, tailored the day to help us see exactly what we wanted, his knowledge of Lourdes was helpful in understanding the importance of this shrine. He was friendly and fun too

It was a peaceful, beautiful tour, with a charming story told by Iker, a spectacular guide, who led us in a safe and fun way.

Very professional and exceptional attention to the needs of elderly pax

Great Experience, excellent service and attention received.