Destination
Portugal
Portugal is the land of Fátima, where Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children in 1917 and asked for prayer and penance. Nearby Santarém keeps one of the Church's best-known Eucharistic miracles, and Lisbon honors its native son, St. Anthony.
- Marian Apparition
- Eucharistic Miracle
How long to stay
Suggested lengths of stay
2 days
Spend both days in Fátima. Pray at the Chapel of the Apparitions and the tombs of the three shepherd children, and join the Rosary and candlelight procession at night. In the morning, walk the Way of the Cross to the Valinhos and the children's homes in Aljustrel.
4 days
Begin in Lisbon at the Church of St. Anthony, built where tradition says he was born. Visit the Eucharistic Miracle of Santarém on the way north, then give Fátima two full days.
1 week
After Fátima, visit the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça and the seaside shrine at Nazaré. Continue to Coimbra, where Sister Lúcia lived as a Carmelite. With extra time, head north to Bom Jesus in Braga.
In Portugal
Major sacred sites
Worth combining
Day trips from Portugal
- Batalha Monastery A grand Gothic monastery dedicated to Our Lady of Victory. about 30 min drive
- Nazaré and Alcobaça Nazaré's old Marian shrine above the sea, and the great Cistercian abbey nearby. about 45 min drive
- Coimbra The Carmel of St. Teresa, where Sister Lúcia lived, and a small memorial of her life. about 55 min drive
Getting around
Local travel
- From Lisbon Airport, the Red Line metro reaches Saldanha in about 20 minutes. For downtown, change to the Green Line at Alameda.
- Buses from Lisbon to Fátima take about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, from Sete Rios or Oriente. The Fátima bus station is about 300 m from the Sanctuary. The nearest train station is about 19 km from town, so the bus is usually easier.
- Driving from Lisbon to Fátima takes about 1 hour 15 minutes on the A1 toll road.
- Trains from Lisbon Oriente reach Santarém in 30 minutes to an hour. Santarém is about 45 minutes by car from Fátima.
- The Rosary is prayed at 9:30 pm at the Chapel of the Apparitions, followed by a candlelight procession. The May 12–13 and October 12–13 anniversary pilgrimages draw very large crowds, so book rooms early.
Go deeper
Saints, routes and group trips
Saints