When to visit Fátima

One should bear the religious celebrations in Fátima in mind when planning a trip here.
If one wants to experience these at their height and share them with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, there are especially two important dates to consider: those of the first and of the final apparition, the thirteenth of respectively May and October. The previous day the town is already crammed with pilgrims with every type of transport imaginable, including donkey and ox carts, and bicycles, and even some on their knees. On the morning of the thirteenth itself the statue of Our Lady of Fátima is carried through the central square in front of the Basilica, with more than half a million passionate pilgrims partaking in the celebration. At night there is another candlelight procession, by candlelight.

The other dates of the apparitions, i.e. on 13 June, July and September and 19 August, also sees visitors, but significantly fewer than in May and October. These might be ideal dates if you want to witness the religious passion without the large numbers. On 10 June there is another interesting, but smaller “Pilgrimage of the Little Children”.

During the rest of the year Fátima is quiet and peaceful, with only a few hundred pilgrims visiting. This allows you to visit all the important sights at your leisure and have a more personal experience.

You should also bear the Portuguese public holidays in mind when visiting. Most shops are closed on 1 January, Carnival, in February, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Freedom Day on 25 April, Labour Day on 1 May, Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter Sunday) and National Day on 10 June are all public holidays.

Many pilgrims arrange their stay to combine the assumption of Mary on 15 of August with the celebration of Mary’s apparition here on 19 August. Republic day is celebrated on 5 October and All Saints’ Day on 1 November. The public holidays Restoration of Independence Day and Immaculate Conception Day are celebrated on 1 and 8 December respectively.

Christmas is very special in Portugal and especially in Fátima, allowing one to experience this day in a fashion more appropriate to its origin. Most shops are closed on the Eve and the Day. New Year’s Eve sees some celebrations, but more subdued than in many places.

International visitors to Fátima can fly to either Lisbon or Porto Airport, respectively 120 and 200 km away. By car from these airports it takes respectively just over an hour and just under an hour to get to Fátima on a safe highway. Click here to find out more about rental cars and here for more about convenient transfers to Fátima.

It is easier and quicker to travel to Fátima by bus than by train (the closest train station is Caxarias, more than 10 km away). There are buses approximately every hour between Lisbon’s Sete Rios central bus station and Fátima from early in the morning until early evening. The bus journey takes about 90 minutes.

For more information on the climate, please visit the Fátima Weather page