The Azores with Kids

The Azores are a fantastic family adventure: whales and dolphins, warm volcanic pools, crater lakes, easy walks and stew cooked in the ground. They’re safe, relaxed and green. Here’s how to plan a family trip to the Azores.

Quick answer: base yourselves on São Miguel, the easiest island with families. Highlights for kids include whale and dolphin watching (choose a catamaran for comfort), soaking in the warm pools at Furnas, the Sete Cidades crater lakes, short walks to waterfalls, and the tea plantations. Rent a car and plan flexible days around the weather.

Why go with kids

The islands feel like a giant outdoor playground. Distances are short, roads are quiet and the days are full of things children remember: steam rising from the ground, whales blowing at sea and swimming in warm water outdoors. There’s little nightlife or crowds, which suits families.

The Azores are also part of Portugal and the EU, so health care, money and phone roaming work as they do on the mainland. Summers are mild rather than hot, which suits small children.

Getting there and around

• Flights: Ponta Delgada on São Miguel has direct flights from Lisbon and Porto, a little over two hours, plus some seasonal routes from elsewhere in Europe and North America.
• Car: a rental car makes life much easier with children. Most sights on São Miguel are under an hour’s drive from Ponta Delgada.
• Car seats: book them with your rental car. See getting around the Azores.
• Island hopping: short inter-island flights link São Miguel with the other islands. With young children, one or two islands is plenty.

Things to do with kids

• Whale and dolphin watching: unforgettable for children. Trips usually last about three hours. Minimum ages vary by operator, often 4 to 6, so check before you book, and choose a larger boat or catamaran for younger kids. See whale watching in the Azores.
• Hot springs: Terra Nostra and Poça da Dona Beija in Furnas. Terra Nostra’s big iron-rich pool sits inside a large garden that kids can explore. See Furnas.
• Cozido: watch the stew pots being lifted from the hot ground by Lake Furnas. The stew cooks for hours in the volcanic heat, and the pots usually come up around midday.
• Crater lakes: viewpoints at Sete Cidades and kayaking on the lake. See Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo.
• Easy walks to waterfalls and lakes. Choose short, marked trails and check conditions after rain.
• Beaches and natural pools in summer, including sheltered sea pools along the coast.
• Tea plantations on the north coast, where kids can walk between the rows and taste the tea. See Gorreana.

Hot springs with children

Terra Nostra’s main pool is large and warm, best for children who can swim or wear armbands, and the gardens around it are good for running off energy. Poça da Dona Beija is a set of smaller stone pools beside a stream, open into the evening, which is a nice way to end a cold or rainy day. The water in both is hot, so keep an eye on small children and limit how long they stay in. Check current prices and hours before you go.

Whale watching with children

Sperm whales live around the Azores all year, and dolphins are seen on most trips. Spring is the season for passing baleen whales, sometimes including blue whales. Boats leave from Ponta Delgada marina. Morning trips are often calmer.

A family day in Furnas

• Morning: drive from Ponta Delgada, then walk around the bubbling hot springs in the village.
• Midday: see the cozido pots lifted by the lake, then have cozido for lunch in town.
• Afternoon: swim in the warm pool at Terra Nostra and explore the gardens.
• On the way back: stop at a viewpoint over the south coast.

A family day in Sete Cidades

• Morning: drive about 40 minutes from Ponta Delgada to the Vista do Rei viewpoint over the twin blue and green lakes.
• Late morning: head down into the crater and hire a kayak on the lake in summer, or walk a short stretch of the lakeside path.
• Lunch: picnic by the lake or eat in the village.
• Afternoon: drive to the west coast at Mosteiros for the sea stacks and rock pools, then back to Ponta Delgada.

How long to stay

Five to seven days on São Miguel lets you see the main sights at a gentle pace and leaves room for bad-weather days. With older children, add a few days on a second island such as Terceira or Pico.

Where to stay

• Ponta Delgada: the easiest base, with restaurants, supermarkets, the marina for whale watching and short drives to everything.
• Furnas: one night here lets you use the hot springs in the evening and morning without the day crowds.
• Rural houses: holiday homes and farm stays give families more space and a garden. You’ll need a car.

Food kids will like

• Bolo lêvedo: a soft, slightly sweet flatbread, great for breakfast.
• Azores pineapple: grown in greenhouses on São Miguel and very sweet.
• Local cheese and dairy: the islands are famous for milk, butter and cheese.
• Grilled fish and simple soups in local restaurants.

Practical tips

• Weather: it can change fast. Bring layers and rain jackets, and have indoor back-up plans.
• Swimwear: iron-rich hot spring water stains, so pack old, dark swimsuits.
• Seasickness: ask your pharmacist about remedies before a boat trip.
• Book ahead in summer: family rooms and rental cars sell out in July and August.
• When to go: summer for the warmest weather and sea. See the best time to visit the Azores.
• Roads: island roads are narrow and winding, so allow extra time and plan for car-sick children.

FAQ

Is the Azores good for young children?

Yes. São Miguel has short drives, warm volcanic pools, easy walks and whale watching from catamarans. The main things to plan for are changeable weather and winding roads.

Which Azores island is best for families?

São Miguel is the easiest, with the most flights, the widest choice of places to stay and family sights such as Furnas, Sete Cidades and the tea plantations.

Can children go whale watching in the Azores?

Yes, but minimum ages vary by operator, often 4 to 6, so check before you book. A larger boat or catamaran is more comfortable for younger children.

Can kids swim in the hot springs at Furnas?

Yes. Families swim at Terra Nostra and Poça da Dona Beija, but the water is hot, so supervise children closely and keep soaks short.

More: the São Miguel itinerary, São Miguel hotels, Portugal with kids and a 10-day family itinerary.

See also: the Azores hot springs and the best beaches in the Azores.

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