Azores Travel Guide: Which Island and What to Do

The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic: crater lakes, steaming hot springs, whales offshore and green fields criss-crossed by blue hydrangeas. They’re a world away from the Algarve, and one of the most memorable trips you can take in Portugal.

Quick answer: first visit? Go to São Miguel for 4–5 days. It has the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, the hot springs of Furnas, and the most flights. Hire a car, pack for four seasons in a day, and add a second island like Pico, Faial or Terceira if you have time.

Getting there

Direct flights to Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) leave daily from Lisbon (about 2h30) and Porto, with TAP, Azores Airlines and Ryanair, plus seasonal flights from other European and North American cities. Terceira and Pico/Faial also have flights from the mainland. Between the islands, use SATA inter-island flights or, in summer, ferries in the central group.

Which island?

Island	Best for
São Miguel	First-timers: crater lakes, hot springs, tea plantations
Pico	Climbing Portugal’s highest mountain, vineyards, whales
Faial	Horta marina, Capelinhos volcano
Terceira	Historic Angra do Heroísmo, festivals
São Jorge	Dramatic coastal walks, cheese
Flores	Waterfalls, remote and wild

São Miguel highlights

• Sete Cidades: the famous twin blue and green lakes in a giant crater, about 40 minutes from Ponta Delgada. Go to the Vista do Rei viewpoint, and walk the crater rim if it’s clear.
• Furnas: a village in an active volcanic valley, with bubbling hot springs, the warm pools of Terra Nostra garden, and cozido, a stew slow-cooked underground by volcanic heat.
• Lagoa do Fogo: a wild crater lake high in the mountains.
• Tea plantations: Gorreana, one of Europe’s few tea estates.
• Whale and dolphin watching from Ponta Delgada. The Azores are one of the best places in the world for it.
• Hot-spring swims at Poça da Dona Beija or Caldeira Velha.

When to go

The weather is mild all year (rarely very hot or very cold) but famously changeable. Sun, mist and rain can all arrive in one afternoon. May to October is the best time for hiking, swimming and boat trips, and the hydrangeas bloom in early summer. Winter is quieter, greener and wetter.

Practical tips

• Hire a car. Buses are limited and the best viewpoints are spread out. Book early in summer, as island fleets sell out. See our car rental guide.
• Check the webcams before driving up to Sete Cidades or Lagoa do Fogo. If it’s in cloud, come back later.
• Tourist tax: municipalities on São Miguel charge €2 per person per night (for up to three nights).
• Pack layers, a waterproof jacket, walking shoes and swimwear for the hot springs (an old, dark one, as the iron-rich water stains).
• Book whale-watching with a responsible operator that follows the viewing rules.

Where to stay

• Ponta Delgada: the most convenient base, with restaurants, the marina and day trips in every direction. See places to stay in Ponta Delgada.
• Furnas or the north coast for a night or two of peace. Browse São Miguel stays.

Browse stays on all the Azores islands. Prefer guaranteed sunshine? Compare with our Madeira guide.

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