3-Day Pilgrimage Itinerary to Lourdes, France with Kids

Planning a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with kids and need some help with planning, accommodation, and itinerary?

If yes, I’ve got you covered because as a Catholic family who loves to visit Catholic pilgrimage destinations, we made a 3-day pilgrimage to Lourdes, France (we try to go every year) with our kids aged 5 and 3 (in Holy Week 2023) and another one on end of August-September 2024.

Detailed 3-Day Pilgrimage Itinerary to Lourdes, France with Kids

This 3-day itinerary will guide you through the key sites and activities to make your visit meaningful, enjoyable, and family-friendly.

This pilgrimage itinerary to one of the most famous Marian shrines in the world is based on my family’s pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with our boys aged 5 and 3. We did the trip for 3 days during the Holy Week 2023, from April 4-6 (Tuesday-Thursday).

If you want to learn more about the apparition story of Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette, just click the link for a brief overview, as well as the FAQs for visiting Lourdes with kids.

If you are a non-Catholic family visiting Lourdes, check out my detailed post about the best things to do in Lourdes with kids that include non-religious attractions and activities.

Just a note that the daily itineraries are not jam-packed because my family loves to travel the slow way. I’ll list the other places to see in Lourdes, France that are not included in the itinerary in the later part.

Here are the things that we did on our pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with our kids, according to time order:

Day 1: Arrival and Evening Visit to the Sanctuary

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Hotel Check-in at Hotel Eliseo

We are blessed to live in Spain and only a 5-hour drive to Lourdes, France. But because we were traveling with kids, we made several stops, so it was about a 7-8-hour drive for us. We arrived around 6:30 pm.

Hotel Eliseo was our accommodation of choice because it’s just a short walk to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes (only a 1-3 minute walk depending on your pace. The check-in process was smooth, and we loved our room because it has a second floor with 2 single beds and a bathroom —perfect for a family.

Check out my separate post about family-friendly accommodations close to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes for more hotel options.

A short room tour of our family room in Hotel Eliseo – Lourdes, France.

↪️ Check rates and availability at Hotel Eliseo

TIP: Book your accommodation early, especially during the busy season.

Snacks/Early Dinner

After settling in and arranging our luggage, we decided to have some snacks, which was also considered an early dinner since it was around 7-7:30 pm at one of the many bars/restaurants close to the entrance of the sanctuary.

If you prefer, you can also pack food and enjoy a meal in your hotel room. Just keep in mind that most local restaurants close by 8 pm.

The receptionist informed us this and it was strange for us since we are used to late dinners in Spain.

Visit To The Massabielle Grotto

After dinner, we headed to the Sanctuary for a quiet visit to the Grotto of Massabielle. We said a short prayer and talked to the kids about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparition to St. Bernadette.

A group of people, including children, gather at the Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France. A tall candle stand glows brightly beside the rocky cave wall, with a statue of the Virgin Mary visible in a niche above. Benches and visitors praying or observing add to the tranquil, sacred atmosphere. — Photo of the grotto I took during our evening visit.

Lighting Candles at the Chapels of Light

We then crossed the bridge to the Chapels of Light to light candles for our intentions. It was a peaceful and reflective end to our first day.

A view of the Chapels of Light at dusk where we lighted candles for our intentions - one of the activities we did on our 3-day family pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. Rows of glowing candles flicker behind glass enclosures, reflecting the soft light onto the curved modern architecture of the chapels. The serene setting is bathed in a warm orange glow, contrasting with the evening sky. — A part of the Chapels of Lights where we lighted some candles for our intentions.

↪️ Book a Private Guided Tours of Lourdes

We heeded back to our hotel and we ate some more of the food that we packed from home.

Day 2: Exploring Lourdes and Its Religious Sites

Going to Confession

One of the things that we love doing when we visit Catholic sites is to go to confession. We try to avail the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least 3-4 times a year, but the more the better. And the 2 times that we make sure to go are before/during Holy Week and Christmas.

And because we went during the Holy Week, confession was really on top of our “to-do” list.

The Chapel of Reconciliation in Lourdes, France, features a Gothic-style stone facade with arched windows and a red-trimmed entrance. A white statue of Saint Jean-Marie Vianney kneeling in prayer stands prominently in front, surrounded by a neatly landscaped area with a palm tree and bushes. The clear blue sky enhances the serene and historic atmosphere. — The Chapel of Reconciliation, also known as Confession Chapel.

The confession building is on the right side of the Sanctuary and is impossible to miss because there are English, Italian, and French words written for the word confession. There’s a confession everyday from 9.30 am – 11.00 am & 3.30 pm – 6.00 pm.

Volunteers will greet you at the door and will ask you which language you prefer for confession, and they’ll point you to the right area. We were directed to the “Spanish” waiting area.

My husband went in first and I was in the waiting area with the kids practicing what to say (I am not a native Spanish speaker and confession makes me nervous everytime, yet it makes me soo relieved afterward). A man approached me to ask if I was in a hurry because if not, he would like to go next since he had limited time in Lourdes, I said he could definitely go first and it gave me more time to practice.

Attending Holy Mass

We always try our best to attend Holy Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation, no matter where we are.

Right after the confession, we headed to the Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion for the 11 am Spanish Mass. And we were delighted because we met Fr. Nico and Daru in the circle in front of the Basilica.

Fr. Nico and Daru are Indonesians we met in the lobby of Hotel Eliseo during check-in. We arrived at the same time as their group and after check-in, we were talking a bit in the lobby, Fr. Nico asked our names and when it was our time to ask him, he said he is a priest.

I was surprised because usually, I can identify priests by the clothes they wear (the white color on the neck part), but he was wearing civilian clothes.

A family of five poses in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, with its towering basilica and arched stone structures in the background. The parents and children, including one in a stroller, are bundled up in jackets under a clear blue sky. The expansive plaza surrounding the sanctuary is mostly empty, highlighting the grand architecture. — with Fr. Nico from Indonesia.

Anyways, we had a short, yet meaningful conversation. They are very friendly and said that if we ever come to Indonesia, we are very welcome to contact them. and we said the same if they ever come to Barcelona for a visit.

I ask them to write their numbers and e-mails on a piece of paper. And as promised, I sent them messages a few days after we came back from Lourdes. And they gladly delighted and now we are communicating.

There are several Mass schedules everyday in different locations within the Sanctuary:

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (upper basilica)
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary
The Basilica of St. Pius X (underground basilica)

Make sure to ask at the information center for the schedule or visit the website: https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/

Having Lunch

Before we left for confession, my husband asked the receptionist for a restaurant serving authentic French cuisine because he wanted us to have a fancy lunch. The receptionist gave him a map explaining the location and said that we had to be there before or at 12 noon since restaurants have an early closing time after lunch.

So, after Mass, we went to the recommended restaurant, and to our surprise, it was a pizza place and it was no longer in operation! Hmmm, looks like the receptionist is not that updated on the latest happenings!

We kept on walking and found a pretty full restaurant (it’s always a good sign for us because it means the food is delicious), so, we went in, and luckily there was still an available table for us.

Visiting the Paternal House of St. Bernadette

After lunch, we decided to walk slowly back to the hotel. But on our way, we saw on the street the buried stone-like indications toward the childhood house of St. Bernadette (Maison Paternelle de Sainte-Bernadette), so, we decided to go there again (we already went on our previous visit when our firstborn was still 10 months old).

A family poses inside the St. Bernadette Paternal House in Lourdes, France. A statue of the Virgin Mary in a rocky grotto replica is the focal point, with a kneeling figure of St. Bernadette nearby. The mother kneels smiling with two young boys in front, while the father stands beside them, surrounded by a lush green wall with red flowers. — The lady receptionist at St. Bernadette’es paternal house offered to take a family photo of us.

The visit was quick, like a maximum of 3 minutes or more depending on the number of tourists ahead of your group. There was only a mother-daughter tandem ahead of us, so, the tour was a quick one.

The exterior of the Maison Paternelle de Sainte Bernadette in Lourdes, France, features a rustic stone facade with wooden shutters on its windows. A white sign with brown lettering indicates the historical significance of the building as St. Bernadette's paternal house. Sunlight highlights the texture of the stone walls and the charming architectural details.

↪️ Book a Private Guided Tours of Lourdes

Buying Souvenirs

There’s a souvenir shop right after you get out of St. Bernadette’s house, it actually looks like an extension of the house. We looked around for some souvenirs and decided to buy a book about St. Bernadette in Spanish.

We continued walking and checking into more souvenir shops and bought some souvenirs for family and friends: veils, rosary beads, rosaries for the cars, and a cross for the kids’ room.

TIP: Also check-out the souvenir shops of different hotels because after buying our souvenirs at the souvenir shops in the vicinity of the sanctuary , I found out that the prices of the same items I bought were cheaper at the souvenir shop of Hotel Eliseo.

Rest in Our Hotel Room

Right after buying all the souvenirs, we decided to head back to the hotel to get some rest, that way we also relaxed while the kids watched some videos.

My husband always brings his laptop and a cable to connect to the TV, so, he can have his much-needed relaxation by connecting his laptop to the TV and allowing the kids to watch some videos (Dani y Evan, Cocomelon, Leo the truck, or Bob the train, depending on their choice).

Dinner

Around 7:30 pm, we got out of our hotel room to have dinner. We checked the bars/restaurants close to our hotel and the entrance of the sanctuary, including the Filipino restaurant we saw earlier, and we decided to go for pizza at the Pizzeria nearby.

A family sits at a table in a pizzeria in Lourdes, France, with two young boys focused on their meals and an adult reviewing the menu. The table is set with colorful menus, folded red napkins in glasses, and cutlery. A stroller and backpack are visible in the background, suggesting a family-friendly dining experience. — My boys looking at the menu of the pizza house.

My husband and I decided earlier that we were going to attend the light procession at 9 pm, but after dinner, we decided not to anymore, since it was already late for the kids and he was already very tired.

Day 3: Final Visit to the Sanctuary and Departure

Check-out from Hotel Eliseo

Since the check-out time at Hotel Eliseo is at noon, we decided to do it first before heading once again to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes for the water bath. This way, we don’t have to hurry to go back to the hotel.

The receptionist was so nice to us and she allowed our car to stay in their private parking area even after check-out.

We put all our things in the car and headed to the Sanctuary for the water bath.

↪️ Check rates and availability at Hotel Eliseo

Water Bath/Water Gesture

This is our first activity since we didn’t have much time to do it the day before.

I have already experienced the water bath (where pilgrims take a dip into the healing waters of Lourdes) during my very first pilgrimage to the Sanctuary in 2014 when I was still single. It was indeed a very meaningful experience for me, and I want my husband and kids to experience it, as well.

However, actual bathing was stopped during the pandemic for safety and social distancing purposes. It is replaced by an alternative: water gesture.

The water gesture still happened in the same building, as usual. We went around 10 am and there was only a short queue. Wearing a mask is obligatory, but we didn’t bring any.

Thankfully, the volunteer who assisted us gave us masks (they have masks at the entrance for those who don’t have one, you just have to give a donation in the donation box).

The volunteer asked us which language we prefer and ushered us to the Spanish waiting area. There was one group ahead of us. When our turn came, we were ushered into one of the “bath rooms” by two Spanish-speaking women. One woman explained to us that there’s no actual dipping into the water, she explained to us the process.

First, she led us into prayer and gave us time to say our intentions in silence. After several minutes, she gets closer to us with the other woman who acted as her assistant.

She asked us to put our hands together, then, she poured water and instructed us to drink from it. and after that, she poured water the second time and instructed us to wash/wet our faces with it.

Then it’s the kids’ turn. They were given disposable cups to drink from, and water was also poured into their hands to wash/wet their faces. After that, we talked briefly with the women, said thank you, and left.

As we walked away, I noticed the smiles on my kids’ faces. They too had enjoyed their experience and were grateful for the opportunity to participate in this special ritual as an alternative to water bathing. It was still meaningful, and a moment that we would always cherish and remember.

↪️ Book a Lourdes: Spiritual and Historical Guided Tour

Quick Visit to the Massabielle Grotto

Right after the water bath, we stopped in the Massabielle Grotto once again to say a short prayer, especially for our safe trip back home.

A close-up of the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes at the Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France. The white statue, with a blue sash, stands in a rocky alcove surrounded by green ivy. Below the statue, the inscription reads "Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou," translating to "I am the Immaculate Conception." — The statue of the Immaculate Concepcion at the Massabielle Grotto.

A family visits the Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France, with a tall candle stand in front of the rocky alcove housing the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. A man stands beside a stroller, while two children in winter jackets play nearby. Other visitors are visible in the background, adding to the peaceful pilgrimage atmosphere. — Trying to take a photo of my boys at the grotto before driving back to Spain.

Going Home

We heeded back to Hotel Eliseo’s garage after our quick visit to the grotto and we finally drove home around 11-11:30 am.

We stopped in Vall d’Aran (already part of Spain where we went camping in 2019) for lunch before driving the final leg of our journey back home. We arrived safely around 5:30-6 pm.

how much did we spend on our 3-day pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with kids

Overall, we spent around 700-800€ for our 3-day pilgrimage to Lourdes with our kids which includes all expenses: accommodation, food, souvenirs, donations, gas for the car, and miscellaneous expenses.

But this cost can surely be lowered if your family opts for cheaper accommodation, bring more food from home, and be conscious of the unnecessary expenses.

It’s important to note that France is more expensive compared to Spain. A cup of coffee costs 3,20€ in Lourdes, while we can have it for 1,20€ in Spain and the same thing goes for food. The prices are way higher compared to Spain.

Plan your pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with kids now

A 3-day pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with kids is a meaningful journey that blends faith, family, and unforgettable experiences. By carefully planning your itinerary, you can make the most of your visit, whether it’s participating in sacred rituals, exploring historic sites, or spending quiet moments of prayer and reflection.

Lourdes, France is definitely a destination that leaves a lasting impact, offering opportunities for spiritual growth and cherished family memories. I hope this guide helps you plan a smooth and enjoyable pilgrimage to this beautiful and sacred place.

If you want to know the best time to visit Lourdes, France with your family, just click the link for a detailed answer.

A father stands smiling with a baby in his arms and another child playfully peeking out between his legs at the Sanctuary of Lourdes in France. Behind them, a tall statue of the Virgin Mary on a stone pedestal stands prominently, surrounded by greenery and lampposts. The overcast sky adds a calm, reflective atmosphere to the scene. — Our quick visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in 2020 during the pandemic.

Do you want to take your family on a Lourdes pilgrimage, or if you’ve been to Lourdes already, which shrines do you want to go to next? Fatima, Medjugorje, Rome, Guadalupe, Sagrada Familia? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Who knows – your story might inspire another family’s journey!

CATHOLIC FAMILY TRAVEL RESOURCES

Looking to book your next family adventure? Feel free to use these resources that are tried and tested by my family.

If you book your next family, solo, or couple trip anywhere via the link below or with any of the hotel/travel links on the website, you’ll get the best deal available and I will get a small commission (without any extra cost to you– the prices direct to the websites and via the links here are the same) which will help me in maintaining this site.

Book your accommodation: You can find the best prices on hotels with these two providers: Booking.com (my favorite) if you are located in Europe, and TripAdvisor if you are anywhere else. If you prefer apartment rentals, find the cheapest prices with VRBO.

Book your entrances: Book your tickets to museums and other attractions and avoid the long queue with Tiqets.com.

Book your excursions: Save time and enjoy a hassle-free excursion by hiring professional guides thru GetYourGuide and Viator.

Book your car: Get the best car rental deals by booking at least one month in advance with DiscoverCars.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.