Terceira Island, Azores: Angra do Heroismo and Festivals

Terceira is the Azores’ party island: famous for its colourful festivals, its UNESCO-listed capital Angra do Heroísmo, patchwork green fields divided by stone walls, and volcanic caves. It’s the third island to be settled (its name means “third”), and it’s small enough to drive around in a day. Here’s how to visit Terceira.

Quick answer: explore Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage town of pastel houses and grand churches, climb Monte Brasil for the views, swim in the natural pools at Biscoitos, and visit the volcanic caves (the famous Algar do Carvão has been closed for a new visitor centre, so check before you go). In summer, don’t miss the festas.

Why go

Terceira feels different from São Miguel. It’s less busy, the main town is the grandest in the archipelago, and the island has a strong local culture of festivals, brass bands and street bullfights. Inland, the high ground is a quilt of small green fields edged with stone walls and blue hydrangeas.

Angra do Heroísmo

One of the most beautiful towns in the Azores and the only UNESCO World Heritage town in the archipelago: colourful facades, ornate churches, the cathedral, palaces and gardens around a sheltered bay. It was a key stop on Atlantic shipping routes for centuries, where ships from the Americas and the East Indies called on their way back to Lisbon. Much of the centre was rebuilt carefully after a strong earthquake in 1980.

• Jardim Duque da Terceira: the town’s terraced public garden, which climbs up towards the Alto da Memória.
• Alto da Memória: a hilltop monument with views over the rooftops and bay.
• The cathedral and the streets around Rua da Sé: the best place to wander.
• Time: half a day on foot is enough for the centre.

Places to stay in Angra. See Angra do Heroismo for more.

Monte Brasil

An old volcanic crater on a peninsula next to Angra, with walking trails, a fortress and wonderful views over the town and coast. The fortress at its base is still used by the army. A loop walk around the crater rim takes about two hours at a gentle pace, and there are picnic spots at the top.

Biscoitos

Natural swimming pools in black lava rock on the north coast, with ladders and concrete paths into the sea. They’re best on calm summer days. Nearby there’s a wine museum and vineyards grown in small plots inside lava walls, which shelter the vines from the wind.

Volcanic caves

• Algar do Carvão: a rare volcanic chimney you can descend into, with a small lake at the bottom. It closed in October 2024 to build a new visitor centre, with reopening planned for 2026. Check whether it has reopened before you go.
• Gruta do Natal: a lava tube you can walk through, not far from Algar do Carvão in the centre of the island. Opening is seasonal, so check times before you go.

More to see

• Serra do Cume: a viewpoint over the patchwork fields, one of the classic views of the Azores.
• Praia da Vitória: the island’s second town, with a long sandy beach and a marina.
• Furnas do Enxofre: steaming vents and coloured earth on a short trail in the interior.

Festivals

Terceira is known for its lively festivals: the Holy Spirit festivals (Festas do Espírito Santo) in spring and summer, with colourful little chapels called impérios and free soup shared with everyone, the Sanjoaninas festival in Angra in the week around 24 June, and traditional street bullfights (touradas à corda), held in different villages from May to mid-October. In a tourada a bull runs through the street on a long rope, held by a team of men. The bull isn’t killed, but watch from behind a wall or from a balcony.

Food

• Alcatra: Terceira’s signature dish, beef slow-cooked with wine and spices in a clay pot.
• Dona Amélia: small spiced cakes with molasses, named after a Portuguese queen.
• Biscoitos wine: a fortified wine from the north coast vineyards.
• Cheese and seafood: local cow’s milk cheese, and limpets grilled with garlic and butter.

How long to spend

Two or three days is enough. Spend one day in Angra and on Monte Brasil, and another driving a loop of the island: Serra do Cume, the caves, Biscoitos and Praia da Vitória. Hire a car, as buses are limited.

Getting there

• Flights: Terceira has international and inter-island flights, landing at Lajes airport near Praia da Vitória, about half an hour by road from Angra.
• Ferries: seasonal links in summer to the central islands.

See Terceira tours. More: Azores island hopping and the Azores travel guide.

See also: Graciosa and Angra do Heroismo.

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