Fátima Day Trip from Lisbon or Porto

Fátima at a Glance

How to Get to Fátima

From Lisbon by Bus

Rede Expressos buses leave about every hour from Sete Rios bus station, on the metro, and take about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the route. They arrive at Fátima's bus station, about 300 meters from the sanctuary.

From Lisbon by Car

Fátima is about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from Lisbon on the A1 motorway, a toll road. Large free car parks surround the sanctuary, but they fill up on weekends, on the 13th of the month and on pilgrimage days. A car also makes it easy to add Batalha, Nazaré or Óbidos on the same day.

By Train

There is no train station in Fátima itself. The nearest stations, such as Caxarias, are about 20 km away, so you need a taxi from there, which makes the bus or car easier for most visitors.

From Porto

From Porto, Fátima is about 195 km, or about 2 hours by car on the A1. Rede Expressos runs direct buses, taking about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. By train, you need a taxi for the last 20 km, so the bus or car is easier.

From the Algarve

From the Algarve, Fátima is a much longer trip, about 3 hours 40 minutes by car from Portimão, which is too far for a comfortable day trip. It works best as a stop on a road trip between the Algarve and Lisbon or Porto.

What to See at the Sanctuary of Fátima

• The Chapel of the Apparitions: the small chapel built on the spot of the apparitions, the heart of the sanctuary and the starting point of the processions.
• The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary: the white basilica with its tall tower at the end of the Prayer Area.
• The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity: a large modern church dedicated in 2007, with around 8,600 seats and a 34-meter cross inside.
• The Prayer Area: the huge open square between the two basilicas, where pilgrims gather for the big celebrations.

Dress respectfully, and keep quiet near the chapel during celebrations.

The Candlelight Procession

Since February 2025, the candlelight procession has taken place every day of the year, weather permitting. It follows the Rosary at 9:30 pm, leaving from the Chapel of the Apparitions and circling the Prayer Area. To see it, stay into the evening or spend the night, and check the time of the last bus to Lisbon.

How to Plan the Day

From Lisbon: Fátima Only, by Bus

• Morning: bus from Sete Rios to Fátima.
• Late morning: the Chapel of the Apparitions and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.
• Lunch: in town, near the sanctuary.
• Afternoon: the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, then the bus back to Lisbon.

From Lisbon: Fátima, Batalha and Nazaré, by Car or Tour

• Morning: drive to Fátima and visit the sanctuary.
• Midday: Batalha, about 20 km and 30 minutes away, for its UNESCO-listed Gothic monastery, built to give thanks for the victory at Aljubarrota in 1385.
• Afternoon: Nazaré, for the beach, the Sítio viewpoint and, in winter, the giant waves.
• Evening: back to Lisbon, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

From Porto: Fátima and Coimbra or Tomar, by Car

• Morning: drive south on the A1, about 2 hours, and visit the sanctuary.
• Lunch: in Fátima.
• Afternoon: Tomar, about 30 km away, for the Templar castle and Convent of Christ, or stop in Coimbra on the way back for the university and the Joanina Library.
• Evening: back to Porto, about 1 hour 10 minutes from Coimbra.

Other good combinations from Lisbon are Fátima with Óbidos, the walled medieval town, or Fátima with Tomar, about 30 km away, for the Templar castle and Convent of Christ.

When to Go

• May 12 and 13 and October 12 and 13: the biggest international pilgrimages, with huge crowds. Come for the atmosphere, or avoid these dates for a quiet visit.
• The 12th and 13th of each month from May to October: smaller monthly pilgrimages, still busy.
• Weekends: busier than weekdays, with less parking.
• Weekdays outside the pilgrimage dates: the calmest time to visit.

Our Trips with Fátima