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, mainly with TAP and Azores Airlines, plus seasonal flights from other European and North American cities. Ryanair stopped flying to the Azores at the end of March 2026, so check which airlines serve your route before you plan around a budget fare. 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. There has been no passenger ferry between São Miguel and Santa Maria since about 2021, so you fly there too.

The ferry between Horta (Faial) and Madalena (Pico) is short and runs all year, which makes those two islands an easy pair. Wider ferry routes to São Jorge and the other central islands are mainly a summer service, and the sea can cancel sailings. The Azores are one hour behind mainland Portugal, so change your watch when you land. See Azores island hopping.

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

The other three islands are Santa Maria (the sunniest, with the only pale-sand beaches), Graciosa (quiet and low-lying) and tiny Corvo. A good first trip is five days on São Miguel, or a week split between São Miguel and Pico and Faial. See Santa Maria, Graciosa and Corvo.

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.
• Nordeste: the wild north-east corner, with viewpoints, waterfalls and the gardens of Ponta do Sossego. See Nordeste.

Popular hot springs limit numbers. Caldeira Velha sells timed tickets online (about €10 with bathing, €3 to walk only), visits last up to about 90 minutes, and summer slots sell out, so book ahead. Terra Nostra and Poça da Dona Beija charge an entry fee, and they’re quietest first thing in the morning or in the evening. Gorreana usually lets you walk through the tea fields and taste for free. See Gorreana and Lagoa do Fogo.

Five days on São Miguel

• Day 1: Ponta Delgada’s old centre and marina, and an afternoon whale-watching trip.
• Day 2: Sete Cidades and the west coast, with a stop at the Ponta da Ferraria hot sea pool if the sea is calm.
• Day 3: Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha and the north coast to Gorreana.
• Day 4: Furnas, its lake, the cozido lunch and Terra Nostra.
• Day 5: Nordeste, or keep this as a spare day for when the weather lets you see the crater lakes.

Our São Miguel itinerary has more detail.

Food to try

• Cozido das Furnas: meat and vegetables cooked for hours in pots buried in the hot ground by the Furnas lake. Order it for lunch in Furnas.
• Lapas: grilled limpets with garlic and butter.
• Queijo de São Jorge: a strong, tangy cow’s milk cheese from São Jorge.
• Pineapples: grown in glasshouses on São Miguel and sold in Ponta Delgada’s market.
• Bolos lêvedos: slightly sweet muffins from Furnas, good toasted.
• Alcatra: beef slow-cooked in a clay pot, a speciality of Terceira.
• Pico wine: white wine from vines grown inside black lava stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. See Pico’s vineyards.

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.

Summer highs are usually in the low to mid 20s°C and winter days in the mid teens. Whales can be seen all year, with resident sperm whales, and spring is the best chance of passing blue whales. July and August are the busiest months, with higher car hire and hotel prices, so June and September are a good balance. See the best time to visit the Azores.

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.
• Climbing Pico: at 2,351m, Mount Pico is Portugal’s highest mountain. Climbers must register at the mountain house before setting out and pay a fee, and the climb is a long, steep day. Check the weather and current rules first.
• Driving: island roads are good but narrow and winding, and cows sometimes wander across in the countryside. Allow more time than the map suggests.

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.

On Pico and Faial, Horta and Madalena make good bases near the ferry. On Terceira, stay in Angra do Heroísmo, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See where to stay in the Azores.

Are the Azores worth visiting?

Yes, for nature, hiking, whales and hot springs. Be prepared for unpredictable weather (sun, fog and rain in a single day), the need for a hire car, and limited beach time. Start with São Miguel for 5 days, and add Pico and Faial if you have more time.

Why the Azores are worth it

• Crater lakes: Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo. See Sete Cidades.
• Hot springs: Furnas and Caldeira Velha. See Furnas.
• Whale watching: among the best in the world. See whale watching.
• Hiking: including Mount Pico. See climbing Mount Pico.
• Few crowds: even in summer, it rarely feels busy.

The downsides

• Weather: changeable, so plans need flexibility. See the best time to visit.
• Getting around: a car is essential. See getting around the Azores.
• Beaches: mostly black sand and rock pools, with cool water.
• Fewer cheap flights: with Ryanair gone, fares from the mainland can be higher, especially in summer, so book early.

Compared with Madeira

See Madeira vs the Azores.

FAQ

Which Azores island is best for a first visit?

São Miguel. It has the most flights, the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, and the hot springs of Furnas, so four or five days there make an easy first trip.

Does Ryanair still fly to the Azores?

No. Ryanair dropped all its Azores routes from 29 March 2026. TAP and SATA (Azores Airlines) fly from Lisbon and Porto, so compare both and book early for summer.

Is there a tourist tax in the Azores?

Yes, on São Miguel. Since 2025, the island’s municipalities have charged €2 per person per night, for up to three nights (Nordeste started a little later in 2025). Your accommodation collects it.

Can you combine the Azores with Madeira?

Yes. SATA flies direct between Ponta Delgada and Funchal, so you don’t have to go back via Lisbon. Check the current timetable when you plan, and allow a spare day for weather.

From our sister blog: 20 unmissable things to do on São Miguel on Sunset Travellers.

See also: the best time to visit, Ponta Delgada, Pico, Faial, Terceira, São Jorge, Flores, the Azores hot springs, what to eat in the Azores and the best beaches in the Azores.

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