Review: Lisbon, Fatima, Batalha, Nazaré, Óbidos Small Group Tour

Portugal, with its story filled past and pretty landscapes, holds a special pull for vacationers. So, when looking at ways to see a good chunk of it without the fuss of driving yourself everywhere, that ‘From Lisbon Fatima Batalha Nazare Obidos Small Group Tour’ stood out to me. It seemed like just the thing to hit several great spots in a short amount of time. Here’s my take on the whole experience.

What’s the Deal with This Tour, Anyway?

Alright, so the basic idea is a day out, leaving from Lisbon, to see Fatima, Batalha, Nazaré, and Óbidos – four places with very different vibes. Fatima is super significant to some Catholics, Batalha has a crazy impressive monastery, Nazaré is that seaside town with monster waves, and Óbidos is just ridiculously good looking, inside old walls and all. It’s that trip which sounds ideal, for people keen to get a real taste of what Portugal has to show, history, faith, nature, and postcard ready streets all rolled into one, almost. They advertise it as a small group thing, meaning a more personal vibe, less of that feeling like you’re just herded around with loads of other folks.

Getting Going in Lisbon

That thing which got me worried ahead of time for any tour is how easy it is to find the meeting spot in a strange city. That bit went swimmingly enough, that. The meeting place was easy enough to spot, and there was the tour guide, holding a sign as promised. Points for starting smoothly, more or less. The group wasn’t enormous, perhaps as they stated, somewhere around 8 people. Always a bonus, that is that. Introductions all round and a quick check that everyone was present and correct, then off we went, in a reasonably comfy van.

First stop: Fátima, That Place of Pilgrimage

Fatima, you see, is the place where some Catholic children claimed the Virgin Mary showed up quite a few times, a good while back. It’s become a pretty big spot for pilgrimages, and that kind of atmosphere is very much in the air. I’m not especially Catholic myself, yet I felt something walking around that huge open space by the basilica. So many people, so much faith; it’s something to see, no matter what you believe, is that right? That guide walked us around, filled us in on the story and all the bits and pieces of that place. It was interesting to get some historical backdrop to it all, which, is always better than just wandering around, I suppose. I had that hour to have a little look myself, too; light some candles and grab a coffee, almost. A worthwhile spot, whether you’re into the spiritual aspect, too or not, in some respects.

Batalha: A Spot that Has a Story

Next up, that Monastery of Batalha, also known as the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory, that rather wonderful chunk of late gothic architecture which got built to commemorate the Portuguese beating the Castilians in some huge dustup back in 1385, the Battle of Aljubarrota. Wow. You could spend all afternoon gazing up at all the stonework; all the carvings, that look awesome, don’t they? So much history, just radiating from the walls. I had a bit of a wander inside too, and the stained glass had all sorts of lights coming through, pretty. This tour has this very, very relaxed vibe so I didn’t feel super rushed.

Nazaré: Of Big Waves and Seaside Views

Right, so Nazaré. Very famed now for those seriously giant waves that daredevils surf. The season for mega swells wasn’t quite there at that moment, still it’s just the setting that’s spectacular. That clifftop view, so awesome, to look out over the sea? That small seaside village, which feels almost unreal? Just what you’d imagine a Portuguese fishing spot would look like. That guide was telling all of us the old story of how a local bloke got saved from certain death by some miracle; adds a nice touch, things like that. That time here was good, to grab some grub with a view, too. That grilled fish was totally great, arguably.

Óbidos: The Cutest Little Town

Last stop: Óbidos. And yeah, what they say is all true, this place is like straight from some storybook. All white walls, crazy paving streets, pots with blossoms just there, by doors; I mean, honestly. Apparently that thing which used to be this royal gift to queens of Portugal, and that vibe just seems to suit the place perfectly, could be. That Ginja in chocolate cups? Quite a treat to taste that! That exploring here wasn’t guided in quite the same way, which I thought that was great as you could discover everything yourself and check out every corner. A perfect ending to that long day, nearly.

What About That Guide, then?

You know, so the guide is, of course, fairly key to a day like this. The fella we had seemed great, honestly. He knew his stuff, had that easy way of explaining things, and just seemed okay and relaxed, too. He dealt with questions really well and, also, just looked like he wanted people to enjoy Portugal. And not only that he also looked after things brilliantly like when folks needed that quick stop or whatever, obviously. You get the feeling some guides just go through the motions, well he really did make a difference, as a matter of fact.

The Van and That Kind of Thing

Okay, I get it, that might seem silly mentioning that, yet spending that much of the day in that van, you do need that thing to be sound. It was quite new, seemed fairly clean, the air-con was excellent – because, it can get properly steamy out there. No USB ports to charge your gadgets which may make folks upset and moan now, I guess, but by all means the journey parts of that day were pleasant, yet.

Did This Thing Offer Decent Bang for the Bucks?

Right, so you have to look at that to determine whether all this is sound, okay? Portugal does come across as not too expensive compared to bits of Europe, however those tours really can add up. I’m saying for that price this hit the nail regarding taking tons of things in without attempting all the crazy-making travel logistics stuff, nearly. When you tried doing that bit on your own, working the petrol money, maybe those tolls, entry tickets, all that – this tour seems worth it, actually. Include that element of taking tons of the aggro out of everything, I mean it’s that better relaxed option, for real.

Things I Thought Could be that Bit Better

No trip is that 100% perfect, isn’t it? The group found there were moments where a bit longer somewhere would of improved that a bit. Possibly thirty minutes further in Nazaré possibly, in order to see the waves with more opportunity when on a bigger day for surfing, or just to experience the town more in a leisurely fashion, virtually. So a tad more personal input on some of the experiences might of gave added a nice something, also.

To Wrap Things Up: Would I Tell Everyone To Go?

Yeah, so, at the end of the day, yeah. You appreciate Portuguese culture and story this tour is ideal. The ‘From Lisbon Fatima Batalha Nazare Obidos Small Group Tour’ appears okay when hoping for an organized and educational experience across several of Portugal’s attractive locations in that brief bit. It is ideal and relaxed due to small group that has its own style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tour that Good When Traveling Alone?

Yes, absolutely. So it’s normally easier getting integrated when it’s a small group, especially when coming alone. In cases where this is a worry on several group things don’t concern as some people will integrate with others easily that is that, nearly.

This Thing Starts Super Early; Is This Necessary?

Yes it does get started somewhat before midday when attempting to see places, obviously. All that ground being tackled – getting early can ensure everything’s managed right, literally.

Regarding How Busy Certain Sites Are; Will that Time of the Season Have An impact on How Much To Get Seen?

Of course; obviously Portugal can prove crazy at particular moments. Check to consider taking bits that are popular right now outside peaks like, almost. When possible taking winter excursions mean sites possess minimum masses that means they are a tad personal on particular sites, for instance.

Am I To Look forward to that Chance that Posses Access to That Restroom with Frequency During Any Journey?

Most tours, obviously will possess frequent periods of respite which allows restrooms’ chance as standard practice. Let it appear quite to all trip team or supervisor quickly to make accommodations as quickly or soon.

Would These Sites Offer Wheelchair Users Full Access Always and Generally and Mostly Every Single One and Always and Commonly??

Always when taking wheelchair’s considerations of tours’ company specifically with detail always or usually. Because aged location has architectural consideration with varying stages on certain visit points potentially.