Fatima

[frannie z]

Good morning fellow pilgrims. Planning to walk the Portuguese Camino [starting in Porto...] and wondering if there's a quick/easy way to visit Fatima from Porto? {not walking] how long would this deviation take? best and even quickest way to get there and back. Any hidden gems along the way that I might want to see? I'm not opposed to hiring a driver and/or....

 

[JCLima]

Good morning fellow pilgrims. Planning to walk the Portuguese Camino [starting in Porto...] and wondering if there's a quick/easy way to visit Fatima from Porto? {not walking] how long would this deviation take? best and even quickest way to get there and back. Any hidden gems along the way that I might want to see? I'm not opposed to hiring a driver and/or....

Driving takes around 2h.
The bus takes 2h/2:30h ( https://rede-expressos.pt/ or https://global.flixbus.com/ )

Gems? Well, it depends how long you have to spend on that trip. Is it a one day thing? Can you go one day and return the other?

 

[Vacajoe]

The bus is easy, frequent, and inexpensive. You definitely want to stay the night in Fatima as the candlelight procession is a definite highlight. While you are in Fatima, walk to the village itself and follow the “stations of the cross” pathway.

 

[dougfitz]

How long will you have? If you wanted to visit Aveiro and Coimbra, take the train from Porto to Aveiro, then again onto Coimbra and bus from there to Fatima. Return to Porto by bus. Both Aveiro and Coimbra have a lot to see, and you would probably want to spend at least a day in each, and then only skim the surface in each place.

Fatima, on the other hand, doesn't need a lot of time to see everything in my view. But if you want to get the religious flavour of the place, you need to be there at least a day and attend the various services and spend some time at the shrine.

 

[frannie z]

Driving takes around 2h.
The bus takes 2h/2:30h ( https://rede-expressos.pt/ or https://global.flixbus.com/ )

Gems? Well, it depends how long you have to spend on that trip. Is it a one day thing? Can you go one day and return the other?

I can spend one overnight : although ill probably take a bus from porto so wont have wheels

How long will you have? If you wanted to visit Aveiro and Coimbra, take the train from Porto to Aveiro, then again onto Coimbra and bus from there to Fatima. Return to Porto by bus. Both Aveiro and Coimbra have a lot to see, and you would probably want to spend at least a day in each, and then only skim the surface in each place.

Fatima, on the other hand, doesn't need a lot of time to see everything in my view. But if you want to get the religious flavour of the place, you need to be there at least a day and attend the various services and spend some time at the shrine.

thank you

 

[dougfitz]

I can spend one overnight : although ill probably take a bus from porto so wont have wheels

A car would almost be a hindrance in Fatima, and often no great advantage in other places you might choose to visit in Portugal and Spain. For some things that are a little further from the town or city centre, there are generally good local bus services, or get a taxi for the short distances involved.

 

[dfox]

I can spend one overnight : although ill probably take a bus from porto so wont have wheels

If the trip is part of a pilgrimage, it is desirable to allocate some quiet time in a quiet corner in the "campus" to pray, to mediate, to reflect, and to experience the spirituality of the "place". As some also posted, the nightly candle possession is beautiful experience.

If the trip is for sight-seeing, a day trip is fine.