Lagos, Algarve, Portugal to Fatima, Portugal

A day trip from Lagos to Fatima makes a very long day.

There is no easy train connection as Fatima station is 20km from Fatima with infrequent bus connections. 

There is effectively only two ways to currently make the trip:

By Road:

Viamichelin.pt gives a distance of 381km one way with a transit time of 4hrs 15minutes, so +- 800km return trip by toll motorway.

Based on February 2015 prices, the estimated cost by car would be:

Tolls: One way 31.35 €
Fuel (based on prevailing prices): 43.62 €

By Bus:

By public transport, one would have to use the long distance EVA TRANSPORTES/REDE EXPRESSOS bus service via Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station.

See the Rede Expressos website: http://www.rede-expressos.pt/

A day return trip only really works on weekdays. If one catches the 05:45 EVA departure (Monday to Friday) from Lagos Bus Station, one arrives in Fatima at 11:30. There is a 60 minute layover in Lisbon.

One can then get the 18:30 departure back from Fatima, arriving Lagos at 00:15. Again there is a layover in Lisbon.

These are both daily services and times are correct as of February 2015.

As far as the writer is aware, there are currently no organised day-trips from Lagos to Fatima.

One can contact the information services at the Sanctuary for more information about the Sanctuary: www.santuario-fatima.pt/portal/index.php



By Aracuano (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Porto to Lisbon via Coimbra, Fatima and Tomar

Porto to Coimbra, Fatima and Tomar are easy if one is travelling by car.

I love both, but to get to Tomar by train, means getting a train to Entroncamento and then changing to a local "up-train" to Tomar!

However the only easy way to get to Fatima by public transport from any point is by Long-Distance Coach.

Although it is only 38km from Tomar to Fatima, there are only 4 daily bus services between the two on weekdays and 2 daily services on week-ends.

I have published extracts from the timetable on scribd here:

http://bit.ly/187R4Qf

and

http://bit.ly/1c99UlV

So one could get the train/bus from Porto to Coimbra, then a Rede Expressos bus to Fatima, a Rodotejo bus from Fatima to Tomar and then a train from Tomar to Lisbon.

For train info see: http://www.cp.pt

In Coimbra, have a look at this page for some of my ramblings and tips on the town:

http://bit.ly/1aQsMcu

In Tomar, I can recommend the Hotel dos Templarios.

Stayed there in August this year and it is very nice.

See: http://bit.ly/1bdsVGa

Wizzair - More new routes to Israel from Poland, Romania and Lithuania

Globes Business News (Israel) today reported that Wizzair is to start new routes from Ben Gurion to Vilnius, Katowice and Cluj-Napoca on October/November 2013.

See: http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000860948

I'm still disappointed that WizzAir corporate communications manager Daniel de Carvalho does not appear not been able to encourage the airline to explore routes from Poland to his home country of Portugal. 

I am certain that there could be a market for low-cost flights year round to Porto to service, among others, Polish pilgrims wishing to visit the Catholic shrine at Fatima and, as well, summer routes for holiday makers travelling to Faro in the Algarve from at least Polish and Hungarian airports, where there are no direct scheduled routes at present.

Portugal - Sintra to Fatima

Sintra to Fatima is about 160km as indicated above.

For full info on public transport links between Lisbon and Fatima, see:http://bit.ly/VrhsON

The best option would probably be to get a train from Sintra to Lisbon Sete Rios train station. There are four to five an hour, See ww.cp.pt.

At Sete Rios, wander over to the Lisbon Sete Rios bus station next door and get a bus for Fatima.

For example, there is a 7h55 train from Sintra arriving at Lisbon Sete Rios at 8h33.

There is a 09:15 Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios Bus Station, arriving Fatima Bus Station at 10:45.

The return trip is as easy with frequent services throughout the day..

Travelling from Fatima to Salamanca, Spain

The best bet would be to take a bus from Fatima to Coimbra and then the daily train from Coimbra to Salamanca!

There is a daily rede-expressos.pt coach service leaving Fatima at 21:00 arriving Coimbra at 21:55

There is a 23:37 daily departure from Coimba-B Station arriving Salamanca at 04:36.

You would need to take a taxi the 1km from the bus station to Coimbra-B station

You should also buy tickets in advance. Online, these can be acquired via the spanish train operator renfe.es

Autobus entre Fatima et Porto

Il y a plusiers liens d'autobus quotiden entre Fatima et Porto. Cherchez sur la site du Rede-Expressos. http://www.rede-expressos.pt/. Prix: € 17.00 Durée: deux heures.

Barlaventoexpert's definitive guide on how to get from Lisbon to Fatima!!!!!

Rail 

website: http://www.cp.pt

Caxarias, the station serving Fatima is +-20km from the town of Fatima and the Sanctuary. There is a station called Fatima but there are less frequencies and connections serving it.

Giving the distance from Fatima, this option is not recommended as local bus services on this route are not frequent (max. 7 per day).

Timetable for buses to Caxarias: (courtesy of Cubsur (Many Thanks) - http://algarvebus.info )

http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/gethorario/930/1/1603/176

Five buses on weekdays, none at all on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

Long Distance Coach

In my opinion, this is the best way by public transport to visit Fatima from Lisbon.

There are three bus companies offering services on this route:

a) Rede Expresso - http://www.rede-expressos.pt/

There are regular departures from Lisbon Sete Rios bus station (Metro: Jardim Zoologico) throughout the day from 07:00 to 20:00 to Fatima. Transit time is 90min.

One way adult ticket price at time of writing in January 2013 - € 11:50

b) Citi Express - http://www.citiexpress.eu

Citi-Express also offers bus services 2-4 times a day from Lisbon Sete Rios bus station (Metro: Jardim Zoologico). Departures on this company's lines Nº. 4/5 leave at 08:00 and 16:30 Monday's to Saturday and at 16:30 on Sundays and arrive at Fatima 1hr 40mins later. Line 7 offers an additional service leaving Sete Rios daily at 15:15 arriving 16:50 in Fatima.

These services also route via Lisbon - Gare Oriente Bus Station (Metro / Train  - Gare Oriente) to pick up passengers about 15 minutes later.

Tickets are available at Booking Counter N º. 8 on the Mezzanine floor of the bus station.

Timetables here:  http://goo.gl/8ZuB4

One way adult ticket price at time of writing in January 2013 - € N/A

c) Auto-Viação do Tamega - http://www.avtamega.pt/

This bus company offers three daily departures from Lisbon - Gare Oriente Bus Station (Metro / Train Station - Gare Oriente).

Departures are at:

08:30 Mondays to Saturdays
13:30 Saturday to Thursday
18:00 Sundays

Timetable here: http://www.avtamega.pt/lisboa-fatima.html

One way adult ticket price at time of writing in January 2013 - € 11:60 (according to website.)

Bus Tours:

There are various companies that do bus tours to Fatima.

e.g.:

http://www.dianatours.pt/pt/index.php?doc=sightseeing-tours/saidas-lisboa/fatima

Car:

Fatima is approximately an 1hr 15min direct drive from Lisbon via the A1 toll motorway depending on traffic conditions.

Mass:

See this link for an August 2012 discussion on languages and mass.

http://goo.gl/XfvvD

Pilgrims Service at the Sanctuary:

email: sepe@fatima.pt

Alvaiazere to Lisbon

I've spoke with the Câmara Muncipal in Alvaiázere

Local buses services to the town are operated by Rodoviario do Tejo -

See: http://www.rodotejo.pt/

There are only a couple of other services that might help.

The main one is the weekday service from Alvaiázere to Caxarias Estação (Station). the closest station to Fatima.

There are frequent (almost hourly) trains from Caxarias Estação to Lisbon. http://www.cp.pt

It appears that at week-ends there are no regional public transport services serving Alvaiázere.

Alvaiázere to Caxarias Estação (Weekdays only) - Transit Time about 40 minutes.

Departs:

07:05

07:35

11:30

13:40

There is also a weekday service to Tomar.

Alvaiázere to Tomar - Transit Time about 50 minutes.

Departs

07:00

07:20

As you have already appear to have found out Rede Expressos ( http.//rede-expressos.pt ) operate a weekday service from Alvaiázere to Lisbon.

Dept: 06:05

Arr: 08:30

Finally, there is a RodoTejo Rápida service that passes through Valbom, 2,5 km from Alvaiázere, at 17:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays arriving at Lisbon Campo Grande at 19:15.

(Pdf timetable here -

rodotejo.pt/horarios/…1416 )

There are also departures on this route on weekdays at 06:30 and at 14:15.

Day trip from Lisbon to either Cascais or Fatima?

Fatima is doable in one day.

It is not impossible that the weather in Feb will be reasonable but it will not be warm. Remember that Lisbon/Cascais faces the open Atlantic. There are a couple of small beaches at Cascais but for easy access you should consider Carcavelos and Estoril Beaches.

For an idea of average temperatures in February, see:

There are, at least, two direct routes by public transport to Fatima, both by bus:

a) Rede Expressos - http://www.rede-expressos.pt/

From Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station, (Metro Jardim Zoologico) a Rede Expressos bus to Fatima. There are regular departures through out the day between 07:00 and 20:00. Transit time is 90min.

b) Citi-Express - http://www.citiexpress.eu

Citi-Express also operate from Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station, (Metro Jardim Zoologico) and Lisbon Gare Oriente (Metro Gare Oriente) to Fatima 2 to 4 times daily. Services on this company's lines 4,5 and 7 depart from the Bus Station at Gare Oriente. Tickets are available from bus ticket office 8.

Timetables here: http://goo.gl/8ZuB4

It is not recommended taking trains to Fatima as the station at Caxarias is several kilometres from the sanctuary and local buses are not frequent (max. 7 per day).

There are also day tours to Fatima. See, for example:

www.dianatours.pt/pt/index.php…

Is there potential for a TAP-Air Portugal - LOT(Poland) tie-up?

A very recent report on a WSJ blog and polish business blog says that the Polish Government is seeking to shrink the national airline company LOT and eventually privatize it.

Given the success that Portuguese Retail Group Jeronimo Martins has had in penetrating the Polish Retail market with its Biedronka chain and given that the Portuguese Govt. has just rejected the only offer in the bidding for Portugal's national airline, is there potential for some clever business here? Amazingly, a few days ago, after the rejection of the TAP bid, I was actually ruminating along the lines of an Air France/KLM or Iberia/BA (IAG) type tie-up between TAP-Air Portugal and LOT.

TAP Air Portugal's route network targets Europe, the Eastern Seaboard of the USA, South America and certain African destinations. The LOT route network targets Eastern Europe, Russia, South Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean Basin and China, (Beijing).  

Sounds an interesting mix!

However, in terms of fleet compatibility, there is a problem. LOT operates a mainly Boeing fleet with some Embraers. TAP Air Portugal fleet, meanwhile, is now almost exclusively only Airbus, albeit also with some Embraers! So the potential for short/medium-term savings on fleet rationalisation is limited.

Both Airlines are, however, members of the Star Alliance Grouping. Furthermore, they are both airlines fully owned within the EU, allowing for full mergers and not bound by the 49% restriction on external-EU ownership of EU airlines.

I also think such a joint-venture could be an interesting boost to both Portuguese and Polish tourism. It would give Poland better access to the Portuguese and, more importantly, Brazilian Tourism market as well as opening up the Portuguese traditional tourism market (Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, Madeira) to the Polish market. There would also be potential for development of religious tourism given that both countries host important Roman Catholic Shrines. (Portugal - Fatima, Poland - several)

The above reservations notwithstanding it appears to me that there may be some scope for exploring a possible very successful joint-venture between these two well established historic middle-ranking European airlines with route networks that could be extremely complementary.

Lisbonne à Fatima

Malheureusement, the gare de Fatima se retrouve +-8km de la ville de Fatima et la Sanctuaire.

C'est pas conseiller prendre des trains à Fatima, car la gare est située à Caxarias à quelques kilomètres du sanctuaire et les services d'autobus locaux sur cette route ne sont pas fréquents (max. 7 par jour).

La meilleure manière de visiter la ville de Lisbonne est en bus ou en voiture

Il existe deux services d'autobus directs entre Lisbonne et Fatima:
a) Rede Expressos- http://www.rede-expressos.pt/
Il ya des départs réguliers de Gare Routière Lisbonne - Sete Rios (métro: Jardim Zoologico) à Fatima. Il ya des départs réguliers pendant la journée entre 07:00-20h00. Le durée du transit est 90min.
b) Citi-Express - http://www.citiexpress.eu
Citi-Express offre aussi des services de bus 2 à 4 fois par jour entre Gare Routier Lisbonne - Gare Oriente (Metro/Gare Grandes Lignes - Gare Oriente) et Fatima.
Les lignes 4,5,7 de cette société partent de la gare routière.
Les billets sont disponibles au guichet bus Nº. 8.
Horaires: ici http://goo.gl/8ZuB4
Concernant se rendre à Nazaré et Batalha, il faut noter que les services réguliers d'autobus entre ces villes et Fatima sont limitées.
Il peut être préférable de faire un tour comme ceux offerts par la société mentionnée ci-dessous.
http://www.dianatours.pt/pt/index.php?doc=sightseeing-tours/saidas-lisboa/fatima

Bon Chance!

Dubai/Lisbon to Fatima

Since July 2012, Emirates have been operating daily flights from Dubai to Lisbon.

EK 191
Dept DBX: 09:45
Arr. LIS:  14:30

On arrival in Lisbon, there are two direct route by public transport to Fatima, both by bus:

a) Rede Expressos - http://www.rede-expressos.pt/

Take the Aerobus Line 2 from Lisbon Airport to Sete Rios Bus Station. The stop is just outside the Arrivals Hall behind the Lisbon Tourism Booth. The service runs every 30 minutes from 07:30 to 22.00

From Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station a Rede Expressos bus to Fatima. There are regular departures through out the day between 07:00 and 20:00. Transit time is 90min.

b) Citi-Express - http://www.citiexpress.eu

Citi-Express  also operate from Lisbon Gare Oriente to Fatima 2 to 4 times daily. Services on this company's lines 4,5 and 7 depart from the Bus Station at Gare Oriente. Tickets are available from bus ticket office 8.

Timetables here: http://goo.gl/8ZuB4

To get to Gare Oriente, on exiting the T1 Arrival Hall at Lisbon Airport, turn left proceed down the ramp, and bear right at the bottom. On the left there are glass doors leading to the entrance to the Metro Station!

Buy a ticket and proceed two stops to Gare Oriente. The Bus station is on the ground floor.

It is not recommended taking trains to Fatima as the station at Caxarias is several kilometres from the sanctuary and local buses are not frequent (max. 7 per day).
  

Transfert de l'aeroport a Fatima

Transfert de l'aeroport a Fatima Il n'a pas un lien direct à partir de l'aéroport jusqu'au Fatima. Il faurait prendre un bus urban "Aerobus" de l'aeroport jusqu'a la gare de bus "Sete Rios" ou on pourrait prendre l'autobus pour Fatima.

travel - Lagos and Fatima.

There are no direct public transport links between Lagos and Fatima.

By train it is not that easy as you have to transit Lisbon and disembark at Caxarias, 10km (6 miles) outside Fátima. There are only a few buses a day between Caxarias and the Sanctuary.

The best bet is by long distance coach.

I have published the current (Sept 2010) timetable for bus services between Lagos and Fatima via Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station offered by Rede Expressos here:

http://scr.bi/94Pjqg

The word "Diariamente" means daily. The first two services of the day do not operate daily. I would suggest that to do the return trip in a day would be uncomfortable. You probably want to plan on staying over in Fatima at least one night.

The full site for the bus company is here:

http://www.rede-expressos.pt

Travel from Fatima to Madeira by land

I find your question rather interesting.

Given that Madeira is an island in the Atlantic Ocean lying 1,000 km west from the Portuguese Mainland, it is impossible to get there by land. (Unless you walk on water!)

There is only one ferry per week on Sundays taking 24 hours from the Portuguese Mainland to Madeira. This departs from the Port of Portimão in the Southern Algarve region of Portugal.

The company is:
http://www.naviera-armas.com

My own recommendation is that you consider an Easyjet.com flight from Lisbon Airport to Madeira.

Fatima - Mass Schedule

St. Luke 11:9

See: http://bit.ly/9EhGzX

Exits stage left quickly, muttering "Hail Mary's", closely followed by an enraged papal bull and watching closely for imminent lightning strikes from the management upstairs!!!

::)))

Lisbon - Day Trips and Seville

Firstly, be aware that there is no direct train service between Lisbon and Seville. One has to travel to Madrid and then to Seville.

Indeed the train service between Lisbon and Madrid is, at present, restricted to one overnight train per day.

Have a look at the following article on my blog about this!

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/trainbus-sevillespain-to-lisbonportugal.html

To be honest, if you want to do Seville from Lisbon, I do recommend the bus. The cost is only circa only € 35,00 one way.

Current Timetable:

LISBON Sete.Rios SEVILLE 09:00 17:45 61,00 Thursday to Sunday.
LISBON Sete Rios SEVILLE 20:45 05:15 61,00 Daily

You refer Evora. This is at a dogs leg from the other towns you have mentioned. It might be better left for a subsequent trip.

You are going to be hard pressed to do Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Obidos and Fatima in six days.

You need to allow at least 2 full days for Lisbon, a day from Sintra, Cascais and a day each for Obidos and Fatima.

To do all the latter two using buses is preferable as the stations are a ways from the town.

If you search my blogs under the town names, you should find more snippets and info which will help you.

Please email me about any specific queries that subsequently arise.

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

Driving time between Tomar and Coimbra

According to Via Michelin, the driving time between Tomar and Coimbra is in the order of 1hr30 to 1hr50 depending on the route. As regards touring the Nazare, Fatima, Tomar area in two days, this is difficult to assess as I do not know your tastes.

Bearing in mind that there are also famous centres such as Batalha, and Alcobaça in the area, you may be a bit pushed.

Bus to Fatima from Lisbon

Please????????

You will need to get from Lisbon Airport to Lisbon Sete Rios Coach Station from where the buses depart.
This means either a cab or the Aerobus service.

See this link on my blog for more info:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/lisbon-airport-buses-to-centre.html

This means you probably will not get to the bus station until at least 17:30.

Rede Expressos do not yet have the timetable online for May, but based on the current timetable there are departures at 18:30, 19:15, 19:30 and 20:00.

Transit times are between 1,5 and 2,5 hours depending on the service.

Suggest that you check the times closer to the date on there website:

http://www.rede-expressos.pt/

Lisbon Airport to Fatima

If you used are to driving an automatic shift Stateside, remember to specify an automatic when you book your hire care for Lisbon Airport.

Most cars this side of the pond are manual shift.

Some of the items on this page of my blog may be of interest:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Fatima

Here is the gazeteer from Google Maps for the Route:

Driving directions to Fátima, Ourém, Portugal
120 km – about 1 hour 8 mins

Portela Airport Portugal

1. Head northeast 0.3 km
2. Turn left toward Av. de Berlim 0.1 km
3. Slight right at Av. de Berlim Go through 1 roundabout 0.4 km
4. Turn left at Av. Cidade do Porto (signs for Sul/A12/A1) 0.1 km
5. Take the ramp onto E01 2.9 km
6. Continue on A1 Partial toll road 113 km
7. Take exit 8 toward Ourém/Fátima/Batalha Toll road 0.4 km
8. Continue straight Toll road 0.8 km
9. Take the ramp to Ourém 0.2 km
10. Merge onto N360/Av. Papa João XXIII 1.6 km
11. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Estr. de Minde/N360 0.4 km

Fátima,Ourém, Portugal

The link to the map is as follows:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Lisbon+Airport,Lisbon,+Portugal&daddr=Fatima,+Portugal&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=37.15781,-8.734502&sspn=0.25392,0.589828&g=Bensafrim,+Lagos,+Portugal&ie=UTF8&ll=39.113014,-9.20929&spn=0.988818,2.359314&z=9