You say Fatima and immediately you think … to the miracle.
The small Portuguese town, despite its small size, is one of the most famous and popular places in the Catholic world. And it could not be otherwise.
Where a tiny village rose about a century ago, today it is one of the most important sanctuaries, a place of pilgrimage linked to the cult of the Virgin.
In addition to the sanctuary area, a few kilometers away, you can visit some noteworthy places nearby. Natural parks, beautiful caves and Vila Nova de Ourém, with the historic center and the splendid castle, a world heritage site.
HOW TO GET TO FATIMA
The town does not have its own airport, nor a rail link. The nearest station is about 30 km. Lisbon is an excellent base, coming from the main European destinations.
AIRPLANE + BUS
The international airport of Lisbon, is well connected with the main cities and capitals of Europe, and extra-European cities. With public transportation, it is possible to reach the center quite easily.
From Lisboa Sete Rios train station, one of the main city hubs, daily connections to Fatima are guaranteed.
The service is managed by the lusitanian Rede Expressos.
Buses are quite frequent. They take about 90 minutes for the entire journey.
The ticket price may vary depending on the date and the reservation period. Generally, the ticket costs 10.60€, but sometimes you can get advantageous rates by booking in advance, or by taking advantage of special offers; in this case, the cost starts from just 6.00€. Info and tickets on the official website.
CAR
At the Lisbon airport you can rent a car directly, and reach Fatima, about 120 km away. Much of the stretch, it is possible to follow it on the highway.
Porto, to the north of the city, is about from 200 kilometers.
In little more than 5 hours, however, you could cover the distance that separates the Portuguese city from Seville, in the South of Spain. From Madrid, however, the distance is about 530 kilometers.