Fátima

Fátima is a city of eleven thousand inhabitants, located in the central region of Portugal. It is world-famous for being one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites.

Every year, millions of people travel to Fátima wanting to visit the place where the shepherd children claim to have seen the Virgin Mary and received her message.

Faithful at the Sanctuary of Fátima © dimbar76 – stock.adobe.com

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima is the main destination for the vast majority of visitors who come to Fátima. Within its grounds you will find, among other buildings, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Church of the Holy Trinity, and the Chapel of Saint Joseph.

Throughout the city, and especially in the surroundings of the sanctuary, you will find statues and chapels connected to the sites associated with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

Shepherds of Fátima © ATLANTISMEDIA – stock.adobe.com

Getting to Fátima from Lisbon

The best way to get there is by private car; if you are not traveling with a car, we recommend renting one in Lisbon for the day to have more flexibility with schedules and routes.

If you prefer not to drive, you can join one of the guided tours we recommend below.

Traveling by train is also an option, but keep in mind that the train station called Fátima is about a 12-minute drive from the sanctuary (10 kilometers), so you will need to take a taxi afterward.

You can find out more about this in our post on how to get to Fátima from Lisbon.

Guided Tours to Fátima from Lisbon

• Guided Bus Tour to Fátima from Lisbon

Departs in the morning from Lisbon (pickup at selected hotels in the city center) takes you to the sanctuary, where you have free time to explore the area at your own pace before heading back to central Lisbon.

• Fátima, Óbidos & Nazaré Excursion – With Transfers and Spanish-Speaking Guide

In addition to the Sanctuary of Fátima, you will visit other sites such as the Batalha Monastery, the medieval village of Óbidos and Nazaré.

• Excursion to Fátima, Nazaré & Sintra with Exterior Visit to Pena Palace (Small groups)

In addition to visiting the Sanctuary, this excursion takes in the towns of Nazaré and Sintra, with an exterior visit to the famous Pena Palace in Sintra.

Fátima © LianeM – stock.adobe.com

Pilgrimage dates

The main pilgrimages to Fátima take place on May 12th and 13th, and on August 13th, when a pilgrimage dedicated to emigrants is held, drawing large numbers of Portuguese people living abroad.

From May, throughout the summer and into October, pilgrims arrive on foot having walked routes across the entire country to reach the sanctuary.

As you might expect, if religious tourism does not appeal to you, Fátima will not be the nearby visit we would recommend. In that case, you might consider visiting Cascais, Sintra or one of the beaches near Lisbon or Setúbal.

Sleeping in Fátima

If you decide to stay, here is our list of Hotels in Fátima and keep in mind that on the busiest days of the year (see the upcoming pilgrimages) finding accommodation is difficult, so you should book well in advance.

Looking for other interesting places to visit near Lisbon? Check out our section "Around Lisbon«