The Best Time to Visit the Azores

The Azores have a mild climate all year, but the weather is famously changeable: sunshine, cloud and rain can all happen in one afternoon. The best time to visit depends on what you want to do, from whale watching and hiking to hydrangeas, hot springs and island hopping. This guide covers every season, including what summer and winter are really like.

Quick answer: June to September is the best time for most visitors, with the warmest, most settled weather (around 22 to 26°C), calmer seas, more ferries between the islands and hydrangeas in bloom. April to May is great for whale watching, including migrating baleen whales, with fewer crowds. Winter is mild (around 14 to 18°C) but wet and windy, with fewer flights and ferries. It’s fine for hot springs and cheap prices.

The Azores at a glance

Season	Weather	Best for
Spring (Mar–May)	17–20°C, green and changeable	Whale watching, quiet trails
Summer (Jun–Sep)	22–26°C, most settled	Hydrangeas, swimming, island hopping, Mount Pico
Autumn (Oct–Nov)	Warm early, wetter later	Fewer crowds, mild hiking
Winter (Dec–Feb)	14–18°C, wet and windy	Hot springs, low prices

Spring (March to May)

Mild, green and changeable, with fewer visitors. It’s a brilliant time for whale watching, as big whales pass on their migration. See whale watching in the Azores.

Summer (June to September)

Summer is the most popular season: the weather is at its warmest and most settled, the hydrangeas line the roads, the sea is calmest for boat trips, and the islands host lively festivals. Fog and showers still happen, so pack a layer.

• Weather: around 22 to 26°C, with the sea warmest in August and September.
• Hydrangeas: at their best in June and July.
• Swimming: natural pools and beaches. Santa Maria has the warmest sea. See Santa Maria.
• Island hopping: seasonal ferries link more islands. See Azores island hopping.
• Mount Pico: the most stable weather for the climb. See climbing Mount Pico.
• Festivals: the Holy Spirit festivals and the Sanjoaninas in Angra in June. See Angra do Heroísmo.
• Lagoa do Fogo: the road closes to private cars in summer and a shuttle runs instead. See Lagoa do Fogo.
• Book early: hire cars and rooms run out, especially on the smaller islands.

Autumn (October to November)

Still warm early on, with fewer crowds, but more rain and wind as the season goes on.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is mild, green and very quiet. Temperatures rarely drop below the low teens at sea level, the hot springs feel even better, and flights and hotels cost less. It’s also changeable, rainy and windy, with rough seas, more cancelled ferries and fewer inter-island flights.

• Weather: around 14 to 18°C by day, with showers, storms and sunny spells in between. The sea is around 16 to 17°C.
• Hot springs: Terra Nostra, Poça da Dona Beija and Caldeira Velha. See Furnas.
• Crater lakes on clear days. See Sete Cidades.
• Hiking: green, empty trails, though some may be muddy or closed.
• Whale watching: sperm whales are resident, but trips depend on the sea.
• Focus on São Miguel: it has the most to do in bad weather. See the São Miguel itinerary.
• Build in buffer days: storms can disrupt flights between the islands.

Best time for...

• Whale watching: year-round, with spring especially good.
• Hiking: late spring to early autumn.
• Hot springs: any time, especially on cooler days.
• Island hopping: June to September, when ferries run most often. See getting around the Azores.
• Budget: November to March, outside the holidays.

Tips

• Layers and a rain jacket, even in summer.
• Check the webcams before driving up to crater lakes.
• Keep plans flexible: fog can delay flights and rough seas can cancel ferries.

More: are the Azores worth visiting?, where to stay in the Azores and Madeira vs the Azores.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.