How to Get to Fatima from Lisbon

In 1917, little Francisco, Lucia and Jacinta claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary, who had revealed to them 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.

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 in Lisbon and want to make a getaway, there are many options. I have analyzed them all to show you how to organize your visit.

The most complete option

Fatima Day Trip from Lisbon

Discover the incredible Sanctuary of Fatima

Guided tour of approximately 5 hours, including transfer to Fatima where you could attend mass in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity.

From $66 at Hellotickets

In the excursion to Fatima you will visit one of the most popular shrines in Europe with an expert guide who will tell you all the details of the history so you can make the most of the tour through the different basilicas of the place, such as the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of Apparitions or the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, known for being the fourth largest Catholic temple in the world by capacity.

In addition, you will visit the house of the three little shepherds, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, in the town of Aljustrel, where you will find a scene from another time with antique objects, kitchen utensils, furniture, family photographs, etc. The tour, of approximately 5 hours, is planned for groups of eight people and includes round trip transfer from the center of Lisbon.

Recommended if... you are spending several days in Lisbon and want to learn about the history of the Sanctuary.

We start with the most comfortable and, from the point of view of the visitor, 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 and other cities worth visiting.

In general, there are many tours that will bring you closer to Fatima, what mainly differentiates them are the cities they include, that is, if they are focused only on Fatima or include other cities.

Here are the different options:

• Excursion to Fatima from Lisbon, from $66.
• Excursion to Fatima, Nazaré, Óbidos and Batalha from Lisbon, from $88.
• Excursion to Fatima, Nazaré and Óbidos from Lisbon, from $91.
• Private tour to Fatima, Nazaré, Óbidos and Alcobasa from Lisbon, from $173.

Comparative table

It is not the cheapest option, but certainly the most comfortable. With a private transfer you will be able to 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 the number of 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.
• Prices of the transfer by car: from 150 €.
• Prices 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. Anyway, I advise you to consider this option if you are enough people, since by comparison to other means of transport and depending on the number of people (4 or more), the cost can be similar. And given the similarity of cost, the priority is comfort, where private transport wins.

The bus is another viable option, especially for its prices. To take a bus to Fatima 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.
• Add 5 minutes walk from the stop to the Sanctuary of Fatima.
• Frequency every two hours.
• First departure around 06:00 hours and last departure around 18:30 hours.
• Prices from 20 €.

It is an option within your reach, but you should take one thing into account before considering it. 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 specify below.

If this option interests you, then you just have to go to the Oriente or Santa Apolonia station and take the train with final destination to Braga. The following information should also be taken into account:

• Journey time: approximately 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 €.
• Duration of the cab ride 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. More information about trains and schedules can be found on the website of the public company that manages the trains in Portugal.

An alternative that always comes in handy if you want to go 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. I show you everything you need to know to compare what interests you the most:

• Travel time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Prices from 80 €.

If you are traveling with 4 people, maybe you can get to compensate this option. Everything is to make a balance between its advantages and whether they are worth the possible extra cost of the cab compared to other means of transport.

Car rental is always an available mode of transportation. Especially in a tourist city like Lisbon. You will not lack, therefore, the options. These are some of the agencies you can find in Lisbon:

• Hertz.
• Europcar.
• Avis.
• Sixt Rent a Car.

If you decide for this option of transport, I show you, next, what you have to take into account:

• Types of vehicles available: 4-seater cars, luxury cars, SUVs and vans.
• Duration of the trip: 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.

As you have seen, Fatima is one of the plans to consider after knowing all the things to see and do in Lisbon and 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 economic transport can be, in short, the most advantageous.