Fatima lies about 350km North of Albufeira. If you have a car you can do a long day trip as follows:
-Exit Albufeira on the EN 125 direction Guia.
-Turn right onto the IC1
-After 1km turn right onto the A22 motorway in the direction of Faro and Espanha.
-After 6km head onto the E01 / A2 / IP1 motorway toll road in the direction of Lisbon
-After 2 hours follow the signs for the A13 Santarém
-On arriving in the Santarem Area, head onto E01 / E80 / A1 / IP1 Motorway.
-Continue until you see the off-ramp for Fatima.
-Exit for Fatima.
By train, the trip is not easy!
You would need to get a train from Albufeira Station, actually situated at Ferreiras, 8km from Albufeira to Lisbon Gare Oriente.
You would then need to get a train from Lisbon Gare Oriente to Caxarias (About 1 hours 15 minutes.) and then a bus from there to Fatima at: 7.00, 8.45, 10.45, 13.45, 15.05, 17.05 e 19.10
For trains from the Algarve to Lisbon you can download the timetable in pdf format via my blog here:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com
Scroll down on the right until you come to the panel entitled:
>> Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links
select: Portuguese Railways - Summer 2007 - Lisbon - Algarve Faro/Lagos Timetable
For the timetable Lisbon to Caxarias
select: Porto - Lisbon - Porto Train Timetable
Note that although there is a station marked Fatima it is not close to the Sanctuary. (Caxarias is the station to use.)
Rede Expressos, a national coach company, operate services from Albufeira Bus station to Lisbon Sete Rios Coach Station. From there, there are services to Fatima.
Unfortunately their online timetables are not easily viewed as the website is old. You can see their timetable here:
http://www.rede-expressos.pt
There are several departures daily, depending on time of year and season with a transit time of about 5 - 7 hours hours with a change in Lisbon.
It is best to check at Albufeira Bus Station prior to travelling.
