The Camino de Fatima (Caminhos de Fatima in Portuguese) is a network of pilgrimage routes to the Sanctuary of Fatima, a sacred place in Portugal. Fatima is a small town in Central Portugal, 130 km north of Lisbon, and 200 km south of Porto. The Sanctuary is a popular pilgrimage place. Once a year on the 13 of May hundreds of thousands of people come to Fatima to commemorate the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. You can read more about the history of Fatima here.
The pilgrimage route to Fatima like the Camino de Santiago can be walked all year round.
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Different routes of the Camino de Fatima
Several Camino de Fatima routes lead to the Sanctuary. The two most popular routes are the Camino de Fatima from Lisbon and the route from Porto. The Camino de Fatima from Lisbon coincides with the Portuguese Camino. The first stages are the same. Later, in Santarem, the routes split. The Fatima route goes to the Sanctuary de Fatima. The Portuguese Camino goes through Tomar to Coimbra and Porto.
The route from Porto coincides with the Portuguese Camino (though walked in the opposite direction).
The route from Santiago de Compostela to Porto has increased in popularity. It’s the same Portuguese Camino route from Porto to Santiago but walked in reverse. The route is partially marked with blue arrows (the traditional route marking of the Camino de Fatima). Pilgrims usually walk it after completing one of the Camino de Santiago routes. Most people finish the walk in Porto very few continue to Fatima.
From Santiago to Porto there are two routes that you can follow: the Central Route and Coastal Route. You walk the Portuguese Camino from Porto in the opposite direction. The routes, stages, and distances are the same just in reverse.
There are routes to Fatima from Nazare and Tomar. The Nazare route is 54 km/33,5 mi, and the route from Tomar is 29 km/18 mi. We’ve not walked either so I can’t provide much information on them.
There are many amazing walking routes in Portugal besides the Camino. The Fisherman’s Trail and the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail are our favorites.
Travel insurance for the Camino. Walking like any outdoor activity involves a risk of getting an injury. It’s recommended to have travel insurance for the Camino. The Camino de Fatima is not a high-altitude hike through remote areas but is still a physically challenging experience. You walk long distances, with a heavy backpack, on all sorts of grounds, and in all kinds of weather. Having travel insurance makes the walk less stressful. You know that you will be able to get medical assistance any time you need it.
How long is the Fatima route?
The distance from Lisbon to Fatima is 157 km/97,5 mi. It takes 5-7 days to complete.
The distance from Porto to Fatima is 228 km/141 mi. One needs 10-14 days to complete the walk.
The distance from Santiago de Compostela to Fatima is 468 km/290 mi. It takes 3-4 weeks to complete.
Is the Camino well-marked?
The Camino de Fatima is traditionally marked with blue arrows. Some routes are marked better. We walked to Fatima from Lisbon and the route was marked with yellow (the Camino de Santiago) and blue arrows. I walked the Portuguese Camino from Porto several times and saw blue arrows pointing in the opposite direction. As for the route from Porto to Fatima, I saw blue arrows but I can’t say how often. Overall the route marking is not as consistent as on the Camino de Santiago so you might need GPS or online maps.
How popular is the Caminho de Fatima?
Outside the 13th of May when many people come to the Sanctuary (many walk from nearby towns, take a train, or drive) the route is not busy. It’s a perfect route if you’re looking for a solitary walk I’d compare it with walking the Via de la Plata. I saw most of the people on the route from Santiago to Porto.
Is there a credential (pilgrim’s passport)?
If you walk the Camino de Santiago you can use the same credential for collecting stamps on the Fatima route. You can get your credential at Se Cathedral in Lisbon.
It’s possible to get a special credential for the Camino de Fatima. You can get it at the headquarters of the National Culture Centre in Lisbon (Rua António Maria Cardoso 68) or request it online. It costs 2 euros.
Do I get a certificate for completing the Camino de Fatima?
No, there is no certificate like the Compostela for completing the route to Fatima. You can get a stamp on your credential.
Are there albergues on the route?
There are very few albergues on the route from Lisbon to Fatima.
The same goes for the part from Porto to Fatima. Every couple of stages there is an albergue (public or private) usually in bigger places e.g. Santarem, Fatima, Coimbra, Porto.
The part from Santiago to Porto has many albergues because it coincides with the Portuguese Camino, one of the most popular Camino routes.
When is the best time for walking?
The Camino can be walked year round but in our experience, the spring from mid-April to mid-June is the best time for walking. The exact month will depend on the route.
We walked the part from Lisbon to Fatima at the beginning of May and greatly enjoyed it. It was warm and sunny, not too hot, and the fields were covered in flowers. I wouldn’t recommend walking this route between July and mid-September. It gets hot in that part of Portugal. The same goes for the Porto to Fatima route.
To walk the northern route from Santiago to Porto mid-May to mid-October are the best months. It gets hot in August but it’s bearable especially if you choose the Coastal Route.
As for walking the Camino de Fatima between mid-October and March, it can be rainy and chilly. In January and February, it’s cold and rainy.
Luggage transfer
The Camino de Fatima is not a popular route there are very few companies that offer luggage transfer on the route. You can contact Taxi Templarios or Auto Taxis Leonor. They offer luggage transfer in the Santarem area.
As for the route from Santiago to Porto, several companies (Pilbeo, TuiTrans, Correos) offer the service on that stretch. They do transfer in the direction from Porto to Santiago but maybe it’s possible to arrange the transfer in the opposite direction. Everybody I saw walking the route to Porto carried their backpacks.
Can I combine the Camino de Fatima with the Camino de Santiago?
Yes, it’s possible to combine the two pilgrimage routes.
You can start in Lisbon, walk to Fatima, and then continue on the Portuguese Camino through Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Both trails begin in Lisbon and follow the same route for the first 96 km till Santarém. In Santarém they split; the Portuguese Camino continues through Golegã to Tomar; the Camino de Fátima goes through Amiaix de Baixo to Fátima. From Fatima, walk to Ansião, where the route merges with the Portuguese Camino, and then continue to Santiago de Compostela.
A shorter option is walking from Lisbon to Fatima and then taking a train to Porto (this way in less than 3-weeks-time you walk both routes).
You can walk the Camino de Fatima after completing any Camino de Santiago. From Santiago de Compostela walk to Porto then continue to Fatima. Recently walking the Portuguese Camino I met several people walking to Porto.
What to pack for the walk?
You can find a detailed packing list for men and women for different seasons in our Camino de Santiago packing list post.
The Camino de Fatima from Lisbon – walking stages
Lisbon, the beginning of the pilgrimage
Lisbon is a beautiful city with a lot to see. If you have time it’s worth staying in Lisbon for a couple of days.
Recommended tours and activities
Places to stay in Lisbon
The city has plenty of places to stay for different budgets from hostels to luxury hotels. During the summer months, it’s recommended to book in advance.
Stage 1. Lisbon to Vila Franca da Xira, 34 km/21 mi
It took us quite a while to get out of the city we enjoyed walking through Lisbon, we did walk through the industrial/harbor area but it wasn’t for too long and it looked fine, neither ugly nor dirty.
In the second half, you walk through the fields till reaching Santa Iria, a strange industrial/residential area luckily the path takes you through the fields on the wooden boardwalk.
Highlights
- The Old Town of Lisbon is worth staying for a couple of extra days and wandering around it.
- Parque das Nações, a modern area of Lisbon.
- Fields of flowers on the way between Sacavém and Alpriate.
- Vila Franca de Xira is a small nice town on the bank of the Tejo River.
Challenges
- Don’t miss the turn-off in Sacavém, right after the bridge the path goes left and follows the river.
- On the stretch from Sacavém to Alpriate, there is nothing, for about 10km you walk through the fields if you want to stop for lunch, rest or coffee do it in Parque das Nações, there are many nice places. Make sure you have enough water for this stretch.
- After Alverca there was a part of walking on a busy road for about 2km.
Vila Franca de Xira
A nice and quiet town on the river with a couple of hotels and restaurants.
- Municipal albergue – no
- Private albergue – no
- Hotel, hostels – yes, from 10 Euro pp.
- ATM – yes
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Supermarket – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Places to stay in Vila Franca
Stage 2. Vila Franca de Xira to Azambuja, 20 km/12,4 mi
It’s an easy walking day through fields, plains, and small towns. The first couple of kilometers are on a cycling trail along the river.
Highlights
- Caminho Pedonal Ribeirinho is a nice 4km long walking/cycling trail in Vila Franca de Xira along the Tajo River with some interesting and creative wall paintings.
- Azambuja is a pretty little town with cobblestone streets.
Challenges
- On the stretch between Vila Franca de Xira and Vila Nova da Rainha there is nothing, make sure you have enough water.
- There is a shortcut/scenic route, at the cargo train station don’t turn left to the bridge over the railway like the sign shows, instead turn right, the gravel road goes along the railway through the fields, and it’s a bit shorter. At Vila Nova de Rainha the official trail joins the alternative one and continues along the railways till Azambuja.
Azambuja
Bigger than the two previous towns with some steep narrow cobblestone streets, a nice church, and a couple of small squares.
- Municipal albergue – yes
- Private albergue – no
- Hotel – yes
- ATM – yes
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Supermarket – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Albergue Abrigo Do Peregrino, municipal
A small place with only 12 beds, wi-fi, a small kitchenette, shared bathroom, 6 Euro pp. Opens at 1 pm.
- Location – 5 out of 5
- Comfort level – 4 out of 5
More places to stay in Azambuja
Stage 3. Azambuja to Santarem, 33 km/20,5 mi
Another long walking day with small villages and fields along the route. The main recommendation if you walk this route is in summer make sure to start very early. The last part of the walk, about 10km to Santarém, is through the open fields where there is nowhere to hide from the sun. Remember to take enough water, you can refill your bottle at one of the cafés on the way.
Highlights
- Three small villages; Reguengo, Valada, and Porto de Muge.
- Fields covered in flowers (we walked in May).
Challenges
- A long stretch with nothing through the fields for about 10km from Porto de Muge to Santarém, refill your water on the way there will be water fountains in the towns. Each town has a coffee shop where you can get food, good coffee, and a cool drink.
- Santarém sits at the top of the hill, preparing for a steep uphill walk right at the end of the long day.
Santarém
It’s a relatively big town with a beautiful historical center, and many cafes, restaurants, shops, and hotels. If you have time and strength we’d recommend walking around its narrow cobblestone streets and visiting the Castle of Santarém, it’s on the Portuguese Camino but off the trail from Camino de Fatima.
- Municipal albergue – no
- Private albergue – yes
- Hotel – yes
- ATM – yes
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Supermarket – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Albergue N1 Hostel
N1 Hostel, you’ll see many signs pointing to it. It can be booked online. The place is more like a hotel than an albergue or hostel, with no kitchen to use, you can get a set dinner for 10 Euro or use a microwave and plates in the restaurants. There is a nice supermarket at the mall where you can get pre-cooked food for quite cheap.
- Location – 5 out of 5
- Comfort level – 5 out of 5.
More places to stay in Santarem
Stage 4. Santarem to Amais de Baixo, 28 km/17,3 mi
Here you have to choose between following Camino de Santiago and heading to Golegã or going through Fatima. Most pilgrims stick to the main Portuguese Route there are very few that go to Fatima, and for this reason, there is less infrastructure on the Fatima route. We decided to walk through Fatima. Camino de Fatima is marked with blue arrows, in Santarém the trail turns left at Capelo e Ivens Street and goes through Praça Sá Bandeira.
Highlights
- Several small cozy Portuguese villages/towns. Most of the day you walk between towns and villages, there you don’t have to worry about food and water.
Challenges
- The trail was waving and looping around hills and villages a lot adding a couple of extra kilometers.
Amaix de Baixo
Shops and restaurants are quite far from the trail and the hotel where you stay. We were very tired when arrived so the owner took us there so we could get some food.
- Municipal albergue – no
- Private albergue – no
- Hotel, guest house – yes
- ATM – no
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Shop – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Hotel Rural Amiribatejo, Amaix de Baixo
There were no pilgrim albergues in Amiais de Baixo. We stayed at Hotel Rural Amiribatejo, it’s a big hotel with private rooms. The rooms are quite nice and neat, more expensive compared to albergues and more comfortable, we got a nice sleep here. You’ll see the sign pointing to the hotel approaching the town. The owner was very nice and drove us to the nearest shop to buy some groceries, we were too tired to walk.
- Location – 4 out of 5, 700m away from the trail
- Comfort level – 4 out of 5.
Stage 5. Amais de Baixo to Fatima, 30 km/18,6 mi
Most of the day walking through the fields and small towns with a little bit of forest and a road walk at the end.
Challenges
- About 2 hours after the start there is a steep and quite long uphill, make sure to have enough water. Once on the top, you start going down to a town where you can stop for lunch as there will be no places to stop further before Fatima.
Fatima
It’s a strange town that was built exclusively around the sanctuary, its official status is “parish”. Before the appearance of the Virgin, there wasn’t even a village here only pasture fields. Fatima does have some sort of artificial feeling; all you see around is built for tourists and pilgrims; hotels, guest houses, restaurants, souvenir shops, huge parking spots for RVs and caravans where you can “camp” for free, etc. Very different from traditional European religious centers like Santiago de Compostela or Rome.
- Municipal albergue – yes
- Private albergue – no
- Hotel, guest house – yes
- ATM – yes
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Shop – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Albergue de Peregrinos São Bento de Labre (Casa São Bento de Labre)
The Albergue is behind the cathedral at Rua Dr. Sebastiao Street. We stayed here for two nights without any problem but some people could stay for only one. I wasn’t feeling well maybe that’s why they allowed us to stay. There are separate dormitories in separate buildings for men and women. Price – donation. The albergue has a kitchen with some cooking utensils. A supermarket is less than 5min. walk, there are a couple of cafes and restaurants nearby.
Places to stay in Fatima
Getting to the Portuguese Camino from Fatima
Stage 6. Fatima – Caxarias, 22 km/13,6 mi
It was a nice walk through the beautiful countryside and small cozy villages with many cafes. We enjoyed the walk. When we arrived in Caxarias there was no accommodation available. Locals rent rooms for pilgrims but they all were occupied. We were there two days before the annual big celebration in Fatima (13th of May). It was the only time on the Camino Portuguese when we arrived somewhere and couldn’t find a bed to sleep in.
Caxarias
- Municipal albergue – no
- Private albergue – no
- Rooms – yes
- ATM – yes
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Shop – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Stage 7. Caxarias – Ansião, 28 km/17,3 mi
In Ansião both Caminos join again, and you’re back to the main Portuguese Route with more accommodation options than on route from Fatima. Most of the time the Camino goes through pastures and small villages, with beautiful green, and tranquil scenery.
Ansião
- Municipal albergue – no
- Private albergue – no
- Hotel – yes
- ATM – yes
- Restaurant, café – yes
- Supermarket – yes
- Pharmacy – yes
Places to stay in Ansião
Again ask around in restaurants there are some rooms for pilgrims there. Our guidebook says you can stay at Bombeiros Voluntairos (volunteer firemen association) for 5 Euro we didn’t try to find out. If you prefer a more comfortable stay check Ansiturismo Alojamento. The hotel is situated on the Camino route. Staying here was a real treat after sleeping in dormitories.
Pilgrimage planning resources
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
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