Free walking tours in Fátima and what to see

Must-sees

Fátima is one of the great Marian shrines of the world. Everything revolves around the sanctuary grounds, a huge esplanade with the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at one end, where the three shepherd children are buried, and the modern Basilica of the Holy Trinity at the other. In between, the Chapel of the Apparitions marks the spot where, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared in 1917.

Outside the sanctuary it is worth walking to the village of Aljustrel, where the shepherd children's houses are preserved, and to Valinhos, along a path with Stations of the Cross. In the town there are several museums devoted to the apparitions and the life of Christ.

Free tours and guided visits

There is a free walking tour of the Fátima sanctuary that explains the story of the apparitions, the different spaces of the grounds and the celebrations. It is useful for understanding a place that, without context, can be overwhelming.

Among the paid visits there are tours of Fátima, routes through Aljustrel, Valinhos and Ourém, and trips combining Fátima with Batalha, Nazaré, Alcobaça and Óbidos. Tickets to the Vida de Cristo museum are also sold.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the sanctuary and Aljustrel. Those who come for religious reasons usually stay longer to attend the candlelight procession, held at night. Fátima is also a good base for the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça, Tomar and the coast at Nazaré, all less than an hour away. On the dates of the big pilgrimages, in May and October, it fills up completely.

Where to stay

Most hotels are around the sanctuary, within walking distance of all the celebrations. They are simple and plentiful, designed for pilgrims and groups. Outside the big dates there is plenty of room. If you want more calm, the outskirts and the villages of the Serra de Aire offer rural houses, better with a car.