The Mira de Aire Caves were discovered in the late 1940s and opened to the public in the 1970s. Elas fazem parte das 7 Maravilhas Naturais de Portugal e estão localizadas no Parque Natural da Serra de Aires e Candeeiros, portanto pertinho de Fátima. As Grutas de Mira de Aire são as maiores de Portugal!
In today’s article, I’m going to give you some tips to make the most of this experience!
If you are curious about visiting caves, this is an excellent choice, especially for those traveling with children.
Access is very easy via Portugal’s main road, the A1 – which is the same one used to get to Fátima.
How long does the visit to the Mira de Aire Caves last?
The visit to the Mira de Aire Caves lasts around 1 hour, with the film shown, the complete route and the climb to the surface. However, as the visit is guided, it is sometimes necessary to wait 15 to 20 minutes to enter.
What is the visit to the Mira de Aire Caves like?

The visit to the Mira de Aire Caves is always guided.
It starts in a small auditorium where a video is shown explaining the formation of these caves. Afterwards, we are taken to the place where the explorers first entered, upon discovering it.
The descent is made via 683 steps distributed among the various “rooms” and many platforms, each with its own peculiarity.
Inside the Caves we passed some cliffs, lakes with coins and limestone “teeth” formed more than 20 thousand years ago!
At the end of the visit, we reached a depth of 130 meters. But don’t worry: the return to the surface is via a large elevator.

In total, the Mira de Aire Caves are 11 kilometers long. However, only 600 meters are visitable.
The other spaces are dedicated to studies and the conservation of national products. Temperature and humidity help in wine production, for example.

As a curiosity, on August 11, 2014, the opening for public visitation celebrated its 40th anniversary. More than 6 million people have been there.
Mira de Aire Caves: ticket prices
Another positive point is the price of the Mira de Aire Caves. Ticket costs €7 per person. Children under 11 pay €4.20 and children under 5 have free entry.
Considering it is a guided tour, it is good value for money. The experience is quite interesting for people of all ages.
Where are the Mira de Aire Caves?
The Mira de Aire Caves are located in the district of Leiria, in the central region of Portugal. It is easily accessible via the country’s main highway, the A1 – the same one used to get to Fátima, for example.

I recommend that you combine this visit with an itinerary that includes the Sanctuary of Fátima (just 17km away), the Batalha Monastery or Convent of Christ and Tomar Castle. They are all very close, very beautiful and have enormous value for Portuguese culture.
This is an ideal tour for those traveling through Portugal by car. Oh, and the Caves have their own free parking. 🙂
GPS coordinates: N39 32.423′-longitude / w 008º 42.260′ – latitude / altitude 305m
Accessibility
This tour of the Caves is not suitable for people with reduced mobility, unfortunately.
The caves have a naturally damp floor, are dark and have a multitude of stairs that must be walked during the visit, therefore making a safe visit unfeasible for those with any mobility restrictions.

Where to eat
When we were there, we chose to have lunch at the Grutas de Mira de Aire restaurant, which is on the top floor of the ticket office.
It was a good choice.
The menu has several options, a fair price and the service was first rate. We ordered a Bitoque (beef steak, rice and fries) and a vegetarian lasagna. With the drink, it cost around 10 euros per person.
While you wait for your dish, it’s worth taking a look at the photos that decorate the restaurant. These are historical documents that portray the discovery of these caves.
Another option is to have lunch at Adega do Luís – another restaurant that we loved visiting and which is easy to reach by car from here.
Tips for enjoying your visit to the caves
✔ The temperature inside the Mira de Aire Caves is 17 degrees. Therefore, wear comfortable clothes and don’t leave your coat in the car, even if your visit is during the summer.

✔ The caves are humid and sometimes the floor gets quite wet. So, wear sneakers to ensure your safety.
✔ Comfortable footwear will also be important to cover the 600 meters of descent along its 683 steps.
✔ The caves are dark. So taking photos becomes a real challenge. I advise you to use your camera’s “night” mode, with and without flash. This is the best way to keep memories of the place.


✔ At the end of the tour you will be approximately 1km from the entry point. Therefore, keep an eye out for a blue line painted on the ground, streets and sidewalks to find the entrance and parking lot again. Unfortunately, at this point, the signage is quite precarious.

✔ If you go with children on a very hot day, you can still enjoy the water park that is part of the cave complex (there is a special price for visiting the caves + swimming pools).
Mira de Aire Caves
Open every day – including holidays
Cave opening hours: October to March, from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; April to May, from 9:30 am to 6 pm; June and September, from 9:30 am to 7 pm; July and August, from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (attention: check the website for measures and possible special times for the Mira de Aire Caves during Covid-19)
Prices: €7 for visitors aged 12 and over/€4.20 for children aged between 5 and 11/free for children under 5
Address: Av. Dr. Luciano Justo Ramos
Phone: +351 244 440 322
Mail: geral@grutasmiradaire.com