Fátima from Lisbon: the pilgrimage days, the shrine and getting there

The Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, about an hour and a half north of Lisbon by coach, is one of the best-known Catholic shrines in the world. Most days it is calm, with the rosary prayed at the Chapel of the Apparitions through the day. On the great pilgrimage days, the 12th and 13th of each month from May to October, the town fills with pilgrims. Here is when to go, what happens each day and how to get there and back.

When to go: the pilgrimage calendar

According to the shrine's account, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children, Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta, six times in 1917. Five of those apparitions, in May, June, July, September and October, happened on the site of today's Chapel of the Apparitions; the August one happened at Valinhos, nearby.

The shrine marks them with International Anniversary Pilgrimages on the 12th and 13th of each month from May to October. These are the busiest days of the year, and the shrine warns that its own programme takes priority over private groups. If you want a quiet visit, avoid them; if you want to see the processions, plan for crowds and book a room early.

• October 2026: the pilgrimage begins on Monday 12 October with the international rosary at 21:30 at the Chapel of the Apparitions, followed by the candlelight procession and a celebration at the altar of the Prayer Area. 13 October is also the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady of Fátima.
• After October: a monthly pilgrimage on 13 December, then the great pilgrimages start again on 12 and 13 May.

A normal day at the shrine

On Friday 16 October 2026, for example, the shrine's schedule listed:

• The rosary at the Chapel of the Apparitions at 10:00, 12:00, 16:00, 18:30 and 21:30. The 21:30 rosary is followed by the candlelight procession through the Prayer Area.
• Mass through the day in the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity and the Chapel of the Death of Jesus. Most are in Portuguese, but that day also had Mass in Polish at 7:00, Italian at 8:00 and Spanish at 19:15, all at the Chapel of the Apparitions.
• The Hour of Reparation at the Chapel of the Apparitions at 14:00.

The times change from day to day, so check the shrine's schedule for your date. On a day trip, staying for the 21:30 rosary and the candlelight procession means a late coach back: check the last departure before you plan your evening.

What to see

• The Chapel of the Apparitions, which the shrine calls its heart. It stands where Our Lady is said to have appeared, and the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima stands on the spot where the small holm oak once grew.
• The two basilicas: the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, at the top of the Prayer Area, and the modern Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, at the other end.
• Valinhos, the Loca do Cabeço and Aljustrel, outside the shrine: the places linked to the apparitions of the Angel and to the August apparition, and the village where the children lived, along the Way of the Cross path.
• The shrine's museum: its two permanent exhibitions, Fatima Light and Peace and the House-Museum of Aljustrel, are currently closed. Temporary exhibitions are still shown.

The shrine asks visitors to respect the silence and cleanliness of the prayer areas, and to look after their belongings.

Getting there from Lisbon

• By coach: express coaches run from the Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon (next to Jardim Zoológico Metro station) to Fátima's bus station, in about 1 hour 30 minutes. Book with Rede Expressos. From Fátima's bus station, the Chapel of the Apparitions is about 900 m away, an 11-minute walk.
• By train: the station called Fátima is at Chão de Maçãs, about 28 km from the shrine by road, so you would still need a taxi or a bus at the other end.

Batalha, Alcobaça and Tomar

Three great monasteries lie within reach of Fátima: Batalha, Alcobaça and the Convent of Christ in Tomar. They are hard to combine with Fátima in a day without a car or a tour. All three are free with the Lisboa Card.