Five Great Catholic Pilgrimage Destinations for 2027

For centuries, Catholics have traveled far from home to pray at sacred places, walk in the footsteps of Christ and the saints, seek spiritual renewal, and experience the universal Church in a tangible way.

A pilgrimage differs from an ordinary vacation. While pilgrims certainly encounter history, art, architecture, and beautiful landscapes, the journey has a deeper purpose: prayer and conversion. Mass, confession, the Rosary, Scripture, and quiet reflection often form the heart of the experience.

For Catholics in the United States considering an international pilgrimage in 2027, five destinations stand out for their spiritual importance and enduring appeal: Rome and Assisi, the Holy Land, Lourdes, Fátima, and Santiago de Compostela.

The following guide provides a brief introduction to each destination and includes a specific 2027 pilgrimage option for travelers who prefer an organized journey.

No list of Catholic pilgrimage destinations would be complete without Rome. For nearly two thousand years, pilgrims have traveled to the Eternal City to pray at the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul and to encounter the places most closely associated with the history and life of the universal Church.

At the center of a Roman pilgrimage is St. Peter's Basilica, built above the traditional burial place of St. Peter. Pilgrims may also visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, associated with the tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles, as well as the other major papal basilicas of Rome.

Rome also offers an extraordinary encounter with the Church's saints and martyrs. The Catacombs recall the courage of the earliest Christians, while churches throughout the city preserve relics and memories associated with generations of holy men and women.

Many American pilgrimage programs combine Rome with Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare. Assisi offers a striking contrast to the grandeur of Rome. Its medieval streets, peaceful hillsides, and Franciscan churches invite pilgrims to reflect on simplicity, poverty, peace, and radical trust in God.

September 3–13, 2027

11 days

St. Charles Pilgrimages offers an 11-day journey to Rome and Assisi led by Fr. Thomas Flynn, L.C. The pilgrimage includes opportunities for prayer, daily Mass, and visits to major Catholic sites in Rome and Assisi. The program is designed to combine the spiritual heritage of the Eternal City with time in the hometown of Sts. Francis and Clare.

View the 2027 Rome & Assisi pilgrimage

Best for: Catholics who want to experience the heart of the universal Church while walking in the footsteps of St. Francis and other great saints.

For many Catholics, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a journey unlike any other. The Gospels are no longer simply read from a page; pilgrims encounter the landscapes, towns, and sacred places where the events of salvation history unfolded.

A typical pilgrimage begins in Galilee, where Jesus called his disciples and carried out much of his public ministry. Pilgrims may visit Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, Cana, Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and the Sea of Galilee.

The journey often continues south through the Jordan Valley and Judea, with visits to sites associated with Christ's baptism and ministry. In Bethlehem, pilgrims pray at the Church of the Nativity and remember the mystery of the Incarnation.

The pilgrimage usually culminates in Jerusalem, where the events of Christ's Passion, death, and Resurrection are remembered. Pilgrims may walk the Via Dolorosa, pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, visit Mount Zion and the Upper Room, and celebrate Mass at or near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land can be profoundly moving, but travelers should remain aware that conditions in the region can change. Anyone considering travel should review current travel guidance and confirm arrangements carefully with the pilgrimage organizer.

February 1, 2027

12 days

Departures from Omaha and Charlotte

Tekton Ministries offers a 12-day Catholic pilgrimage through Galilee, Nazareth, the Jordan River, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. The itinerary includes the Cave of the Annunciation, renewal of baptismal vows at the Jordan River, the Grotto of the Nativity, the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

View the February 2027 Holy Land pilgrimage

Best for: Catholics who want to encounter the places of the Gospels and experience Scripture in a powerful new way.

Located in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, Lourdes has been one of the world's great Catholic pilgrimage destinations since 1858.

That year, fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous reported eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Massabielle. During one of the apparitions, the Lady identified herself with the words, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

The message associated with Lourdes is simple and enduring: prayer, penance, conversion, and trust in God.

Today, pilgrims come to pray at the Grotto, participate in Mass, walk the Way of the Cross, visit places associated with St. Bernadette, and join the Sanctuary's Eucharistic and Marian processions.

Lourdes is also widely known for its ministry to the sick and disabled. Pilgrims often encounter volunteers and medical personnel serving those who come seeking spiritual strength and healing.

For many visitors, the most memorable experience is the evening candlelight procession, when pilgrims from around the world gather to pray the Rosary.

August 22–September 3, 2027

Approximately 13 days

Marian Pilgrimages USA offers a 2027 Shrines of France pilgrimage that includes several important French Marian destinations before arriving in Lourdes. The itinerary includes time for prayer at the Sanctuary, Mass, the Blessed Sacrament Procession and Blessing of the Sick, and the Stations of the Cross before continuing through the Pyrenees into Spain.

View the 2027 Shrines of France pilgrimage

Best for: Pilgrims who want Lourdes to be part of a broader exploration of France's Marian and Catholic heritage.

Fátima is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites of the twentieth century.

In 1917, three shepherd children—Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto—reported a series of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary near the Portuguese village of Fátima.

The message associated with Fátima emphasized the importance of prayer, conversion, sacrifice, and peace. The children were especially encouraged to pray the Rosary.

The final apparition, on October 13, 1917, became associated with the event popularly known as the Miracle of the Sun.

Today, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima welcomes pilgrims from throughout the world. The heart of the shrine is the Chapel of the Apparitions, and pilgrims also visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, where Francisco, Jacinta, and Sister Lúcia are associated with the history of the shrine.

Many pilgrimage itineraries also visit Aljustrel, where the shepherd children lived, and Valinhos, associated with the August apparition.

The evening Rosary and candlelight procession remain among the most powerful experiences for visitors to Fátima.

April 17, 2027

7 days

Departure from Boston

Tekton Ministries offers a focused Marian pilgrimage through Lisbon, Fátima, Santarém, and Aljustrel. The seven-day itinerary includes the birthplace and baptismal church of St. Anthony of Padua in Lisbon, the Eucharistic miracle site in Santarém, and time in Fátima for prayer and participation in the candlelight Rosary procession.

View the April 2027 Fátima pilgrimage

Best for: Pilgrims seeking a shorter journey focused deeply on Fátima and the Catholic heritage of Portugal.

For more than a thousand years, Christians have made their way to Santiago de Compostela, the traditional burial place of St. James the Apostle.

The pilgrimage is perhaps best known through the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James. Pilgrims travel along a network of ancient routes across Spain and other parts of Europe, arriving at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Not every pilgrim must walk the entire Camino. Some organized Catholic pilgrimages combine portions of the traditional route with travel by coach or other transportation, allowing travelers of different ages and physical abilities to experience the destination and its spiritual heritage.

The Cathedral remains the focal point of the journey. Pilgrims who arrive after completing a qualifying Camino may receive the traditional Compostela certificate through the Cathedral's Pilgrim's Office.

2027 is a Compostelan Holy Year, also known as a Xacobeo Year, because the Feast of St. James on July 25 falls on a Sunday. The next Holy Year after 2027 will not occur until 2032. The Holy Year is expected to draw an especially large number of pilgrims, making early planning particularly important.

September 21–30, 2027

10 days

CTS Faith & Pilgrim offers a 2027 journey that combines Fátima, Santiago de Compostela, and Lourdes. The pilgrimage gives travelers an opportunity to experience Santiago during the Holy Year while also visiting two of the world's best-known Marian shrines. The program includes daily Mass and time for prayer and reflection at each major destination.

View the September 2027 Fátima, Santiago & Lourdes pilgrimage

Best for: Catholics who want to experience the historic significance of the 2027 Holy Year while also making a broader Marian pilgrimage.

The best pilgrimage destination depends on what a Catholic hopes to experience.

Choose Rome and Assisi for a deep encounter with the history of the Church, the Apostles, the papacy, and some of Catholicism's most beloved saints.

Choose the Holy Land to walk through the landscapes of the Gospels and pray at places associated with the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Choose Lourdes for a pilgrimage centered on prayer, healing, St. Bernadette, and the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Choose Fátima for a focused encounter with the twentieth-century Marian message of prayer, conversion, peace, and devotion to the Rosary.

Choose Santiago de Compostela for a pilgrimage shaped by the journey itself and, in 2027, the special spiritual significance of the Compostelan Holy Year.

Of course, these destinations are not mutually exclusive. Many organized pilgrimages combine Fátima with Lourdes, or Santiago de Compostela with other shrines in Spain and Portugal.

Whatever destination a Catholic chooses, pilgrimage offers a rare opportunity to step away from ordinary routines and encounter the faith in the places where the lives of Christ, the Apostles, the saints, and the Blessed Virgin Mary have left a lasting mark on the world.