We visited Fatima recently and wish to share some practical advice.
How to get to Fatima
The closest international airport is Lisbon. Fatima is about 75 miles north of Lisbon, and most easily reached by car or by bus. We do not recommend the train.
Train to Fatima
We went by train because that usually seems like the best way of traveling in Europe. However, once we were there, we told our story to a Fatima local. She told us “No, do not go by train, they are not telling the truth when they say that station is in Fatima.” The Fatima train station is still 14 miles away on a twisty, motion-sickness-inducing ride by taxi. When we got off at the Fatima station and looked around, nothing was there. No taxi stand, no bus stop, no drivers waiting with signs. Just a bar across the road, where no one spoke English, and several guys were drinking at 11:00 in the morning. After waiting a bit, we asked at the bar if there was a taxi service available and the reply was “10 minutes”.
About 10 minutes later, a taxi did show. It wasn’t clear if the driver came on his own, or if the bartender called, but we were happy to see him. We shared the ride with a couple of Polish ladies, with our driver who seemed to be trying out for the F1 racing car circuit.
Bus to Fatima
We wished that we took the bus instead of the train. The bus ride from Lisbon is about 90 minutes and costs about 20 Euros for the round trip. The best part is the bus station is a short 5-minute walk to Fatima’s Basilica of the Holy Trinity.
Leaving Fatima, we took the bus to Porto. The Rede Express bus was very comfortable, and the staff was friendly. One thing that was new to us, the seats are assigned with your ticket. Like on a plane, you choose your seat when booking and sit in the assigned seat.
You can purchase bus tickets online or at the station.
Where to Stay at Fatima
Accommodations in Fatima were a pleasant surprise. There are many hotels near the Sanctuary, within walking distance, and with reasonable rates. Here is a map showing the hotels within a 3-5 minute walk to the Sanctuary that have rooms for less than $80.
We stayed at the Hotel Estrela De Fatima and we loved it. The receptionist spoke English and was very helpful with logistics and sites to see. The restaurant was buffet-style, with many international choices. We weren’t in the mood for a buffet, so found a nearby hotel with a great restaurant. Laura wrote about our meal in another post. The hotel with the great restaurant is the Mercure Fatima and is also very close to the Sanctuary. We asked for an English menu and they did one better, gave us an English-speaking waiter. The food and service were so strong for lunch, that we went back for dinner. We definitely recommend that restaurant when visiting Fatima.
Candle-lit Procession
One small tip, if you want to participate in the candle-lit procession, you should purchase candles ahead of time, in the many gift shops around, with a cup to contain the wax drippings. We had candles but did not come prepared with the cups. The procession starts at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. It’s a beautiful and clean chapel. They only allow candles with the cup to keep the wax from spoiling the floors. Buy candles with cups and avoid our mistake. The candle-lit procession is a highlight of visiting Fatima.
How Much Time Do You Need?
We arrived at about 11:00 am on a Tuesday and left the next morning. We were able to see and participate in most of the sites and events. That being said, we could have stayed another half day to see all of the sites. The ideal time would be about 36 hours, arrive mid-day, stay two nights, then depart the following morning. That should be plenty of time to participate in a Rosary, mass, candle-lit procession, and see the village.
What to Expect to See at Fatima
Our Lady appeared to the 3 children in a farmer’s field. When you visit Fatima, you will be visiting the very field where the apparitions happened. The field has been replaced with tiles, and 2 large basilicas flank on either side. Laura’s report gives more detail about Fatima, but here are a few highlights.
Little Chapel of the Apparitions
The Little Chapel of the Apparitions is located at the site where Mary appeared to the children. The statue of Mary in this chapel is the very spot where she appeared. The schedule shows the events happening at the chapel.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima is one of the highlights of the site. The Basilica contains the tombs of St. Jacinta and St. Lucia. It’s a beautiful work of art. We were especially impressed by the Stations of the Cross on the exterior.
Basilica of the Holy Trinity
This is a modern church, opened in 2017, and built to accommodate thousands of people. Its a very modern style and a pretty shocking departure from the traditional churches you get used to seeing in Europe.
Do you need to speak Portuguese at Fatima?
We did not speak Portuguese and had no problems. Everyone we interacted with either spoke English or was prepared with menus to point to. Of course, we learned the niceties of “thank you” (“obrigado”), “good morning” (“bom dia”), and “good afternoon/evening” (“bom tarde”).
We attended mass in Portuguese and had to guess where we were. We just did our responses in English, no one seemed to mind. One fun event was the evening Rosary, which was recited in different languages for each decade. It wasn’t too difficult to follow along and respond in English for our parts.