Christian Pilgrimages 2026: Lourdes, Fátima, Santiago & European Shrines

The Impact of 7 October 2023 on Global Religious Tourism

The official figures from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics are unambiguous: after welcoming approximately 3 million visitors in 2023, Israel received only around 961,000 in 2024, a drop of more than 68% in a single year. The economic situation is catastrophic for local Christian communities: according to Bishop Shomali, auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate, « a third of the Christians of Bethlehem and Jerusalem live directly from tourism, and another third indirectly. »

In 2025, only 1.3 million people visited Israel. Israeli authorities are cautiously hoping for 2 to 3 million tourists in 2026, but the return remains uncertain for many religious travel operators. Mirroring this collapse, European shrines are recording historic attendance peaks. Our complete guide to pilgrimage in the Holy Land in 2026 details alternatives for those who still wish to go.

The City of Miracles — 3.4 Million Pilgrims in 2025

Lourdes is Europe’s leading Catholic pilgrimage site by capacity and France’s most visited site outside of Paris. The town welcomed 3.4 million pilgrims in 2025, with a noticeable increase in groups from Central and Eastern Europe redirected from the Holy Land. With 140 hotels representing more than 11,000 beds, it is France’s most hotel-dense city after Paris.

Lourdes is centred on the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, and the surrounding Sanctuary. The evening torchlight procession, which gathers tens of thousands of participants in high season, remains one of the most moving spectacles in Europe. Contrary to popular belief, Lourdes can also be experienced in a very small group or alone — moments of contemplation by the Gave de Pau, away from the crowds, offer a uniquely meditative experience.

Highlights

• Grotto of Massabielle — site of the 18 apparitions of 1858
• Lourdes Baths for the sick and pilgrims
• Torchlight procession every evening in season
• Direct train access from Bordeaux and Toulouse

The Miracle of the 1917 Apparitions

Fátima is the site of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions to the three shepherd children (Francisco, Jacinta and Lúcia) in 1917. The Fátima Sanctuary welcomed approximately 6.5 million pilgrims in 2025, its best result in years, partly thanks to the redirection of pilgrimages that could no longer travel to the Holy Land. The Cova da Iria, a vast open-air esplanade housing both the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity inaugurated in 2007, is one of the world’s greatest Marian sanctuaries.

The dates of 12 and 13 May (anniversary of the first apparition) and 12 and 13 October (anniversary of the last apparition, the « Miracle of the Sun ») draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world. The Via Sacra, a Way of the Cross between Valinhos and the sanctuary, is traditionally walked on one’s knees over 10 to 11 kilometres — an impressive act of devotion, but entirely optional. For accommodation, religious houses offer nights for €35–60, and family hotels less than 1 kilometre away from €70–100.

Highlights

• Chapel of the Apparitions — spiritual heart of the sanctuary
• Pius XII and Francisco and Jacinta Marto Museums
• Unforgettable night vigils on 12 May and 12 October
• Easy combination with Lisbon (1h30 by coach or car)

The Transformative Walk — Beyond the Spiritual

The Camino de Santiago recorded more than 530,000 pilgrims in 2025, a 15% increase on 2024, an absolute record. The Camino stands apart from other shrines by being primarily a transformative walking experience, accessible to people of all beliefs: approximately 20% of walkers are Protestant, and a large proportion describe themselves as « non-believers searching for meaning. »

The classic route (Camino Francés, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) remains the most popular, but the Coastal Camino Portugués is growing fastest: Porto’s excellent air links to European cities have made it the favourite variant for travellers from France, the Netherlands and Germany. For walkers with only a week available, the last 100 kilometres from Sarria (in Galicia) are sufficient to receive the Compostela certificate. September remains the preferred month (over 15% of all arrivals), offering the ideal balance between pleasant weather and moderate crowds.

Highlights

• Cathedral of Santiago — masterpiece of Romanesque art
• Compostela — the certificate awarded to pilgrims who walk 100 km
• Extraordinary international community on the trails
• Albergues (pilgrim hostels) from €10–20/night

2.2 Million Pilgrims a Year Since Vatican Recognition

Medjugorje is the site of alleged Marian apparitions since 1981. After decades of ambiguity, the Vatican officially authorised pilgrimages to Medjugorje in 2024, lifting the restrictions that had weighed on bishops for 40 years. This recognition gave new momentum to the site, which already welcomes 2.2 to 2.5 million visitors a year. The village of Medjugorje, nestled in the hills of Bosnia-Herzegovina, has a remarkable hospitality infrastructure for such a remote location: hundreds of family guesthouses offer full-board stays at competitive rates (€600–750 for 6 days with transfers).

The « visionaries » who testify to the apparitions continue to gather crowds each month. Apparition Hill (Podbrdo) and Cross Mountain (Križevac, 520 m) are the two main pilgrimage sites. The International Youth Festival (early August) brings together more than 50,000 young people from around the world every year.

Highlights

• Apparition Hill (Podbrdo) — site of the first visions in 1981
• Križevac Cross — spectacular panorama over Herzegovina
• All-inclusive pilgrimage programmes from €600
• Easy to combine with Mostar (30 km, UNESCO Old Bridge)

The Santa Casa and the Saint of Assisi — The Ideal Itinerary on the Holy Road

Loreto houses the Santa Casa, believed to be the house where the Virgin Mary lived the Annunciation in Nazareth. According to tradition, it was miraculously transported from the Holy Land in 1291. With 3 million visitors a year, the Basilica della Santa Casa is a major Marian sanctuary of the Catholic Church. Interest in Loreto has particularly increased since 2023 — many pilgrims see it as a symbolic way of bringing the Holy Land closer to Europe.

Assisi, just two hours away by road, is the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, founders of the Franciscans and the Poor Clares. The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, attracts 5 million visitors a year. Its Giotto frescoes, among the most important in Western art, make this place uniquely compelling. A journey combining Loreto and Assisi over 6 to 7 days is the ideal itinerary, offered by many Italian pilgrimage operators.

Highlights

• Assisi: Giotto’s Franciscan fresco cycle in the Basilica — UNESCO
• Loreto: Santa Casa miraculously transported from Nazareth
• Easy train access from Rome (2h) and Florence (2h30)
• Umbrian landscapes — one of Italy’s most beautiful regions

4 to 5 Million Pilgrims — The Great Polish Catholic Tradition

The pilgrimage to Jasna Góra in Częstochowa is the heart of Polish Catholic spirituality. The fortress-monastery of the Pauline Fathers houses the icon of the Black Madonna (Our Lady of Częstochowa), one of the most venerated religious paintings in the world. Every 15 August, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims converge on Jasna Góra on foot from all across Poland — some groups walk for 9 days from Warsaw.

Kraków is inseparable from Saint John Paul II, born in Wadowice (50 km away) and Archbishop of the city before becoming Pope. The John Paul II Museum and the Church of Divine Mercy attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually. The Divine Mercy Sanctuary at Łagiewniki, founded on the visions of Saint Faustina, is one of the most important sanctuaries in the contemporary Catholic world. An 8-day circuit combining Kraków, Wadowice, Auschwitz-Birkenau (memorial visit), and Częstochowa is offered by many specialist tour operators.

Highlights

• Jasna Góra — the Black Madonna and the medieval fortress-monastery
• Kraków — John Paul II’s home and the diocese of his life
• Divine Mercy Sanctuary at Łagiewniki
• Direct flights Paris–Kraków (LOT, Ryanair) from €60