How to Get to Fatima from Lisbon
How to Get to Fatima from Lisbon
If on your visit to Lisbon you feel like visiting one of the most religious (and at the same time mysterious) places in Portugal, here I show you all the options at your disposal.
Cathedral in Lisbon | ©Diogo Cacito
In 1917, the little Francisco, Lucia and Jacinta claimed to have seen the Virgin, who had revealed some secrets to them, as well as a message destined for mankind. Since then, Fatima has become one of the places of reference for many believers (and not so believers) in Portugal.
In fact, over the years, this small town just over 120 km from Lisbon has become a symbol of the Portuguese country. And one of the most known and visited centers of Marian adoration in the world.
If you are visiting Lisbon and you fancy a trip to see Fatima and its many attractions around this apparition, you are in luck. There are many options for getting from Lisbon to Fatima. I have analyzed them all one by one to show you how to organize your visit and what to expect from them.
1. Get to Fatima from Lisbon and get to know it all with an organized tour
We start with the most comfortable and, from the visitor’s point of view, the most complete option. Basically because if you opt for organized tours you can enjoy a guided tour in which you can discover in detail the facts surrounding this mysterious apparition. There are many tours that will bring you closer to Fatima. Their formats can be divided into two basic ones: half-day and full-day tours. Let me show you what each one consists of.
Half day tours to see the must-see
The most recommended option if you want to know Fatima in its essentials, either because of the time of your full visit to Lisbon or because you are interested in the place but not with the fervor that characterizes the most devout of this place.
Only two things you should know. The first one is to check if the tour includes a visit to Aljustrel, the place where you can visit the little house where the little ones to whom the Virgin appeared were born. It is located 2 km from Fatima and, if the tour includes it, the displacement is done in the same vehicle provided by the organizing company.
The second thing that is good to know is that there are tours that include attending mass in Fatima. A very interesting option for the most devout. If it is not the religious element that interests you the most, I advise you to check if the tour includes the mass. In case you do not feel like it, you can always opt for another tour that does not include it in its offer of activities.
Below I show you the services offered by most of the half-day tours, as well as their duration and prices:
- Travel by bus or minibus
- Duration of the trip: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Duration of the visit: between 5 and 6 hours
- Prices from 60 €.
Full day excursions for total immersion
A good option especially if what brings you to Fatima is the religious feeling. A full day tour is the best way to immerse yourself in Fatima and get to know all its details. Although this type of tour is not necessarily oriented to believers. In fact, you can enjoy them just as much since they usually include activities that include visits to charming towns in the vicinity, as well as a meal in one of these picturesque places.
These types of tours include pick-up from your hotel or from Lisbon’s landmarks such as Plaza de España, Saldanha, Marqués de Pombal and Restauradores. Many of these places are part of the list of what to see and do in Lisbon. If your tour includes hotel pick-up, I advise you to confirm that your accommodation is included in the list. It may happen that the tour you are most interested in includes that option, but not from your hotel but from a closer one.
The following are the most common options in most of the available tours:
- Transfers in vehicles such as bus or minibus.
- Travel time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Prices from 70 €.
- Duration of the activity between 10 and 11 hours
Tours that include a visit to Fátima and other locations such as Oporto
The alternative that I recommend if you find Fatima interesting, but not enough to dedicate a lot of time to it. This type of tour will take you to the Marian sanctuary but complementing it with visits to other places of interest. The most common is Oporto. By the way, if you are particularly interested in this Portuguese city, I advise you to consult all the information on how to get from Lisbon to Oporto.
But what exactly do they offer? Below I show you the services they usually include, their approximate prices and the average duration:
- Typical vehicles: bus or minibus
- Journey time Lisbon-Fatima: about 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Journey time Fátima-Porto: approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Duration between 10 and 11 hours
- Prices available from 100 €.
2. Private transfers: perfect for group trips
It is not the cheapest option, but it is certainly the most comfortable. With a private transport you can travel to Fatima directly and without intermediate stops. In addition, you can be picked up at your hotel. There are several alternatives of private transportation. You can choose between different vehicles depending on how many people you are:
- Car: from 1 to 4 people
- Luxury Van: from 1 to 8 people
- Minibus: from 1 to 14 people
Now I show you other information that will also be of interest for you to evaluate the convenience or not to hire this type of transfers:
- Duration of the trip: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Price of the transfer by car: from 150 €.
- Price of the transfer in Luxury Van: from 200 €.
- Prices for the transfer by minibus: from 350 €.
If you are interested in a return transfer, it is possible, although the price, in these cases, increases to almost double. In any case, I advise you to consider this option if you are many people.
Why do I insist that you value it carefully? By comparison to other means of transport. Depending on the number of you (4 or more) the cost can be similar. And given the similarity of cost, the priority is comfort, where private transport wins.
For example, if the option is to take the bus, consider that this transport will cost you around 20 €. If there are only 5 of you, going and coming back will cost you around 200 €. It is worth considering a private transfer in these cases. For a little more money you will save other trips to the bus station, as well as waiting and queues.
3. Head to Fatima from Lisbon by bus
The bus is another viable option, especially for its prices. To take a bus to Fátima you will have to go to the Sete Rios station. To get there you can take the blue line of the Metro. Once at the station you can take the bus. The company that will take you to Fátima is Rede Expressos.
This is, basically, what characterizes this type of transfer:
- Journey time: approximately 1 hour and a half.
- Total 5 minutes walk from the stop to the Sanctuary of Fatima
- Frequency every two hours
- First departure at around 06:00 am and last departure at around 18:30 pm
- Prices from 20 €.
4. The train, an option with its pros and cons
It is an option within your reach, but before considering it, you should take one thing into account. The trains do not go directly to Fatima, but leave you in the village of Chao de Maças, located 20 kilometers from Fatima. Therefore, you will have to take a cab whose cost I will specify below.
If you are interested in this option, then you just have to go to Oriente or Santa Apolonia station and take the train to Braga. The following information will also be useful to keep in mind:
- Journey time: about 1 hour (on the fastest trains)
- Prices from 25 €.
- Cost of additional transport by cab from Chao de Maças to Fátima: from 20 € and 30 €.
- Cab journey time between Chao de Maças and Fátima: around 20-30 minutes
As you can see, this is the least favorable option in terms of time and cost. Because, to the cost of the cab you have to add, naturally, the cost of the train. At this point it depends on what you are looking for. For example, there are faster trains from 20 € that will take you in just 1 hour. But pay attention! The cheaper regional trains have tickets available from 10 € but the journey can take up to 3 hours and a half.
I leave you more information about trains and schedules on the website of the public company that manages the trains in Portugal.
5. Get to Fatima comfortably by cab
An alternative that always comes in handy if you want to opt for comfort and a journey without stops, no queues and no waiting. Of course, it is probably not the most economical mode, although its advantages are worthwhile. In addition, I insist again that there are transports that apparently seem more expensive but, in reality, may not be so much. Especially if we remember that a bus ride has prices from 20 €. I show you everything you need to know to compare what interests you the most:
If you are traveling with 4 people, maybe you can get to compensate this option. Everything is a balance between its advantages and whether they are worth the possible extra cost of the cab compared to other means of transport.
6. Car rental: the option to go at your own pace
Car rental is always an available mode of transportation. Especially in a tourist city like Lisbon. You will not lack, therefore, options. These are some of the agencies that you can find in Lisbon:
If you decide for this transportation option, I show you below what you have to take into account:
- Types of vehicles available: 4-seater cars, luxury cars, SUVs and vans.
- Travel time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Prices from 20 €/day
To get to Fátima you will have to take the A1 in the direction Lisbon-Porto and then take the detour to Fátima. Of course, you have to take into account the tolls. The total price of tolls to get to Fatima is from 8 €. If you opt for the rental car, I advise you to also take advantage of the freedom it gives you to visit other places like Sintra. Here is more information about what to see and do in Sintra.
To recap: which way to go to Fatima from Lisbon suits me best?
As you can see, there are many ways to get to Fatima from Lisbon. Below I offer you a comparative table in which you can see at a glance which of them may be more convenient for you. Above all I advise you to value the option based on the number of people you are going to be. This variable can make the difference and can make that a less economical transport can be, ultimately, the most advantageous.