Make air travel reservations well in advance of your trip. The closest major airport to Fatima is in Lisbon, Portugal's capital. The Lisbon airport is approximately 75 miles south of Fatima. Some of the large airlines that fly into Lisbon include Air France, British Airways, Continental Airlines, KLM and US Airways. TAP Portugal is one of the national airlines that provides service from Lisbon to major cities in Europe, North and South America.
Arrange for ground transportation between Lisbon and Fatima. Trains run between Lisbon and Caxarias, which is about 6 miles from Fatima. Buses run between Caxarias and Fatima a few times per day. If you choose to take a bus from Lisbon to Fatima, be aware that bus schedules often list Fatima as Cova da Iria, according to Frommer's Guide. Cova da Iria, which is less than a mile from the town, is the actual site of the visions.
Book a hotel room. The Fatima tourism website lists 159 accommodations in the area ranging from four-star hotels to bare-bones pensions, which are rooms rented out from private homes. Some hotel rooms do not have private bathrooms, so check the website carefully if this is a requirement for you. Make reservations early if you are traveling during the vision pilgrimages, as hotel rooms can fill up quickly.
Visit the holy sites. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima is where the pilgrims gather. Its central square can hold more than 300,000 people. During the festival days, a statue of the Madonna is carried through the crowd and people wave white handkerchiefs as it passes.
Enjoy the area. The region surrounding Fatima has a wide range of activities, including cave tours, aquatic parks, museums and nightlife. There are 35 museums listed on the Fatima tourism website including the Museu de Cera Fatima, which is dedicated to artifacts related to the visions and to the history of the pilgrimages. The Lausperene Chapel, located near the central square, contains a segment of the Berlin Wall.
