This route to Fátima is also part of the Way of St James, so pilgrims will find blue arrows pointing towards Fátima and yellow arrows pointing in the opposite direction, towards Santiago de Compostela.
More information about the route and accommodation:
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
On foot, by car, by train or by plane,
the important thing is to go
the important thing is to go
Roads to Fátima
On foot, by car, by train or by plane,
the important thing is to go
the important thing is to go
The roads of Fátima
Pilgrims have been travelling to Fátima since 1917, the time of the apparitions of Our Lady to the little shepherds. At the beginning of the century, walking to Fátima was a veritable adventure of Faith. It meant walking without any support car, with your life on your back, along unmarked roads. Then the tarred roads came and pilgrims started walking to Fátima followed by logistic support cars, giving up the experience of walking along country roads, which were quieter and safer routes.
Then, in 1998, the National Culture Centre [link to http://www.cnc.pt/artigos/28] began the arduous work of identifying and signposting new routes for walking to Fátima, avoiding roads and favouring dirt tracks and small rural roads without much traffic. The work was carried out with the assistance of the Association of Friends of the Roads to Fátima, founded in 2008. There are four new routes, which intersect with the Way of St James and allow pilgrims and walkers to once again be able to appreciate the route and have moments of reflection, contemplation and peace.
Then, in 1998, the National Culture Centre [link to http://www.cnc.pt/artigos/28] began the arduous work of identifying and signposting new routes for walking to Fátima, avoiding roads and favouring dirt tracks and small rural roads without much traffic. The work was carried out with the assistance of the Association of Friends of the Roads to Fátima, founded in 2008. There are four new routes, which intersect with the Way of St James and allow pilgrims and walkers to once again be able to appreciate the route and have moments of reflection, contemplation and peace.
The roads of Fátima
Pilgrims have been travelling to Fátima since 1917, the time of the apparitions of Our Lady to the little shepherds. At the beginning of the century, walking to Fátima was a veritable adventure of Faith. It meant walking without any support car, with your life on your back, along unmarked roads. Then the tarred roads came and pilgrims started walking to Fátima followed by logistic support cars, giving up the experience of walking along country roads, which were quieter and safer routes.
Then, in 1998, the National Culture Centre [link to http://www.cnc.pt/artigos/28] began the arduous work of identifying and signposting new routes for walking to Fátima, avoiding roads and favouring dirt tracks and small rural roads without much traffic. The work was carried out with the assistance of the Association of Friends of the Roads to Fátima, founded in 2008. There are four new routes, which intersect with the Way of St James and allow pilgrims and walkers to once again be able to appreciate the route and have moments of reflection, contemplation and peace.
Then, in 1998, the National Culture Centre [link to http://www.cnc.pt/artigos/28] began the arduous work of identifying and signposting new routes for walking to Fátima, avoiding roads and favouring dirt tracks and small rural roads without much traffic. The work was carried out with the assistance of the Association of Friends of the Roads to Fátima, founded in 2008. There are four new routes, which intersect with the Way of St James and allow pilgrims and walkers to once again be able to appreciate the route and have moments of reflection, contemplation and peace.
Walking routes
North Route
Nazaré Route
This route can be travelled in both directions. From Fátima to Nazaré, it is the Finisterre Route, as many pilgrims, after reaching Fátima, want to continue on to their end of the earth (finisterre), Nazaré, in order to carry out an ancient ritual “where the land ends and the sea begins”, and watch the sun sink into the sea, as also happens in Santiago.
More information about the route and accommodation:
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
More information about the route and accommodation:
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
Sea Route
This route begins in Estoril and Cascais. It is both the way to Fátima and the way to Santiago, as anyone who wants can leave from Fátima and carry on to Santiago on the North Route.
More information about the route and accommodation::
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
More information about the route and accommodation::
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
Tagus Route
This route begins in Lisbon, at Parque das Nações, and is marked by a milestone placed a few metres south of the large sagging roof of the Portugal Pavilion, known as “Siza's Sail”. There you will find the logo of the Roads to Fátima and the first of the blue arrows which can be found along the route, pointing towards Fátima.
The Association of Friends of the Roads to Fátima identified and signposted two branches: the Merceana branch, which meets the Tagus Route in Vila Nova da Rainha and the Arranhol branch, which meets it near Vala do Carregado.
More information about the route and accommodation:
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
The Association of Friends of the Roads to Fátima identified and signposted two branches: the Merceana branch, which meets the Tagus Route in Vila Nova da Rainha and the Arranhol branch, which meets it near Vala do Carregado.
More information about the route and accommodation:
National Culture Centre
Association of Friends
of the Roads to Fátima
Walking routes
How to get there
By car:
From Porto, take the A1 motorway as far as the exit for Fátima. It's a 200-km journey.
From Lisbon, you also take the A1 motorway, in the opposite direction, as far as the Fátima exit. It's a 130-km journey.
If you're coming from the Algarve, take the A2 motorway to Lisbon and then continue on the A1. It's a 362-km journey.
The journey from the motorway exit to the town is no more than 5 minutes.
From Lisbon, you also take the A1 motorway, in the opposite direction, as far as the Fátima exit. It's a 130-km journey.
If you're coming from the Algarve, take the A2 motorway to Lisbon and then continue on the A1. It's a 362-km journey.
The journey from the motorway exit to the town is no more than 5 minutes.
By bus:
The Fátima bus station is just a 10-minute walk from the Shrine. The main company operating is Rede Nacional de Expressos. If you're in Lisbon, go to the Sete Rios terminal (take the Metro to the Jardim Zoológico station and the terminal is nearby). If you're in Porto, go to Rua Alexandre Herculano, near Praça da Batalha.
Several buses a day leave not only from Lisbon and Porto, but also from many other cities around the country.
Several buses a day leave not only from Lisbon and Porto, but also from many other cities around the country.
By train:
If you're in Porto, go to the Porto – Campanhã station and take a regional or intercity train to the Fátima/Chão de Maçãs station. In Lisbon, go to the Santa Apolónia or Oriente station and take a regional or intercity train to the Fátima/Chão de Maçãs station. There are daily trains at different times from the two cities. For further information, go to www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt.
The Fátima railway station is in Chão de Maçãs, 23 km from the Shrine. So, if you choose to go to Fátima by train, you'll have to take a taxi to the Shrine, or, alternatively, you could make the journey on foot.
The Fátima railway station is in Chão de Maçãs, 23 km from the Shrine. So, if you choose to go to Fátima by train, you'll have to take a taxi to the Shrine, or, alternatively, you could make the journey on foot.
By plane:
Portugal has three main airports, with several connections to Europe and to the World: Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, in Porto, and Faro Airport, in the Algarve. All the information about flights and times is available on the corresponding sites.
From each airport, you can then choose to go to Fátima by car, bus or train.
From each airport, you can then choose to go to Fátima by car, bus or train.
How to get there
TV Fátima
Watch masses in the Fátima Parish Church or meet
Our Lady in the Little Chapel of the Apparitions.
Watch liveOur Lady in the Little Chapel of the Apparitions.
TV Fátima
Watch masses in the Fátima Parish Church or meet
Our Lady in the Little Chapel of the Apparitions.
Watch hereOur Lady in the Little Chapel of the Apparitions.
Tips for pilgrims
and walkers
and walkers
Physical and mental preparation
If you decide to walk to Fátima, you should prepare yourself physically for the journey. Before leaving, go on daily walks and gradually increase the distance covered and the intensity of your training. When the time to leave is drawing closer, go on your walks with a backpack on your back to find out how resistant your body is.
Mental preparation is just as important as physical preparation. Plan your journey in stages, adapted to your physical ability, so that along the way you can appreciate the scenery and come into contact with Nature and with God.
Mental preparation is just as important as physical preparation. Plan your journey in stages, adapted to your physical ability, so that along the way you can appreciate the scenery and come into contact with Nature and with God.
What to take
Make sure the shoes you wear for the walk are comfortable and adapted to your feet. Don't wear new shoes. Hiking boots or trainers are the best options. Wearing these shoes and seamless cotton socks is half the battle towards enjoying your journey.
Backpacks are another fundamental accessory for pilgrims and walkers. They should be comfortable, adaptable to your body and should never weigh more than 10 kg.
Finally, you can take your Pilgrim's Passport, which must be authenticated by the Association of Friends of the Way of St James. Along the way, it is used to prove you are on a pilgrimage.
Backpacks are another fundamental accessory for pilgrims and walkers. They should be comfortable, adaptable to your body and should never weigh more than 10 kg.
Finally, you can take your Pilgrim's Passport, which must be authenticated by the Association of Friends of the Way of St James. Along the way, it is used to prove you are on a pilgrimage.
Food and rest
Food plays a vital role in any successful walk. Choose food with a low fat content and that will give you the energy you will need, in other words, food that is rich in carbohydrates, such as pasta, cereals and nuts.
In addition to food, you must be especially careful to remain hydrated. Ideally, you should drink at least two litres of water a day. This can be filled out with isotonic drinks and small snacks with high sugar and carbohydrate content, such as energy bars.
If you combine food with sufficient rest – eight hours sleep per day is fundamental – as well as short stops along the way, you'll make your journey to Fátima without any trouble.
In addition to food, you must be especially careful to remain hydrated. Ideally, you should drink at least two litres of water a day. This can be filled out with isotonic drinks and small snacks with high sugar and carbohydrate content, such as energy bars.
If you combine food with sufficient rest – eight hours sleep per day is fundamental – as well as short stops along the way, you'll make your journey to Fátima without any trouble.
First aid
Your feet are probably the part of your body that will suffer most during the walk. To ensure that injuries or other ills don't stop you from reaching Fátima, you must take good care of them. So, make sure you take hypodermic needles, plasters, elastic and adhesive bandages, a small pair of scissors and disinfectant.
If you're making your pilgrimage during warm weather, don't forget to use sunscreen to protect your face and body and avoid sunburn.
If you're making your pilgrimage during warm weather, don't forget to use sunscreen to protect your face and body and avoid sunburn.
Tips for pilgrims
and walkers
and walkers
Where to stay in Fátima
There is a variety of accommodation options available both in Fátima and in Ourém, from small guesthouses to four-star hotels and even historical hotels (pousadas). If you know what day you'll be arriving in Fátima, then the best thing is to book your accommodation beforehand. This is virtually mandatory at the times when more people visit Fátima Shrine (13 May, 13 August and 13 October).
View pageWhere to stay in Fátima
There is a variety of accommodation options available both in Fátima and in Ourém, from small guesthouses to four-star hotels and even historical hotels (pousadas). If you know what day you'll be arriving in Fátima, then the best thing is to book your accommodation beforehand. This is virtually mandatory at the times when more people visit Fátima Shrine (13 May, 13 August and 13 October).
View pageGet to know Fátima, the town and the region
The town of Fátima and the surrounding region have a number of reasons
for you to extend your stay. Find out what they are.
Get to know the town and the regionfor you to extend your stay. Find out what they are.
Get to know Fátima, the town and the region
The town of Fátima and the surrounding region have a number of reasons
for you to extend your stay. Find out what they are.
Get to know the town and the regionfor you to extend your stay. Find out what they are.
Way of St James
Intersecting with the North Route to Fátima (from Fátima to Santiago is 465 km), the Way of St James is made up of the routes travelled to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrimages began in the 9th century, in honour of the relics of the apostle, Saint James the Greater. Nowadays, pilgrimages are made for religious, as well as spiritual reasons.
Learn about this route
Way of St James
Intersecting with the North Route to Fátima (from Fátima to Santiago is 465 km), the Way of St James is made up of the routes travelled to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrimages began in the 9th century, in honour of the relics of the apostle, Saint James the Greater. Nowadays, pilgrimages are made for religious, as well as spiritual reasons.
Learn about this route