A Beginner’s Guide to Visiting the Azores, Portugal
It’s a mystery why this charming archipelago off Portugal’s coast isn’t better known—the Azores feel like a cross between Hawaii and New Zealand and is a quick five-hour flight from Boston. From whale watching to crossing rugged moorlands and volcano craters, exploring these isles is like experiencing multiple distinct destinations at once. Each of the Azores’ nine islands has its own charm, with São Miguel being the largest and home to the famous Sete Cidades, or seven lakes. Read on for more things to do in the Azores.
On WT’s epic Azores hiking tour, one of our guided Portugal trips, we’ll hop from one island to another, embarking on spectacular hikes that trace crater rims, cliffsides, and ancient canadas, or pathways that link farms and villages. In between, we’ll join a marine biologist in one of the world’s largest whale sanctuaries, sample incredible catches-of-the-day, and explore Pico Island’s famed wine-growing region.
No matter your interests, preferred pace, or skill level, the Azores has an incredible adventure waiting for you. Here’s a first-timer’s guide to this dynamic year-round destination.
The Best Islands to Visit in the Azores
Each island has its own distinct character, so be sure to experience more than one. Since the Azores has nine unique islands, it can be hard to map out the right itinerary. For WT’s Hiking in the Azores itinerary, our local experts picked a range of islands so you get to check out everything from cultural sites to crater-lake vistas to a UNESCO-listed winemaking region.
Best Azores Island for Culture
São Miguel
With its vibrant capital of Ponta Delgada, fast-expanding international airport, and diverse landscapes, the Azores’ largest island is the archipelago’s gateway. You’ll find plenty of things to do in São Miguel—start in its capital city, where you can explore the pedestrianized Old Town, the gorgeous 15th century architecture, and a sprawling farmers’ market, Mercado de Graça. Then, venture to the island’s famed crater lakes at Lagoa das Sete Cidades, volcanic hot springs in Furnas, and temperate rainforest hikes all over.
Best Azores Island for Volcanoes
Faial
This stunning island is known for its rich maritime history, beautiful beaches, wildflower-covered meadows, and the summer’s blue hydrangeas. Among Faial’s highlights are the quaint town of Horta and the sprawling volcanic complex of Ponta dos Capelinhos, filled with a series of volcanoes and craters.
Best Azores Island for Aprés
Pico
Many travelers venture to this island to climb Pico, a 7,713-foot dormant volcano that’s also Portugal’s tallest mountain, a strenuous option on WT’s itinerary. But there’s plenty more to this gorgeous island, from the country’s largest lava cave (Gruta das Torres, formed 1,500 years ago) to a UNESCO-recognized winemaking tradition—black basalt vineyards offer striking backdrops to excellent wine tasting.
Best Azores Island for Hiking
São Jorge
This long and narrow island is a sight to behold: a mountainous spine of green spills down to the coastal plains, called fajas, where many of São Jorge’s villages are. Due to the steep landscape, residents historically traveled via trail, making São Jorge an incredible trekking destination. In addition to great hiking and dramatic scenery, the island is known for its popular Queijo São Jorge cheese, their main product.
The Best Time to Visit the Azores
Pick a season that caters to your interests. While the Azores look like a picture-perfect island getaway, the archipelago’s location in the middle of the Atlantic means mild temperatures, variable conditions, and a chance of rain throughout the year. It also means that the temperature doesn’t range drastically—it teeters between 52 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. And you’ll find plenty of Azores things to do no matter which season you visit during.
What Are the Azores Like in Spring?
Landscapes blanketed in wildflowers, mild temperatures (mid 50s to high 60s), and increasing ferry operations make April to May a great time to visit the Azores. The rain begins to taper off from winter, though morning showers are common. Spring is also an ideal time for whale watching, when fin, blue, and sei whales make their way from their winter breeding grounds near the equator to their summer feeding areas in the North Atlantic.
What Are the Azores Like in Summer?
The summer months of June to August are peak season in the Azores, when you’ll experience nonstop sunshine, little chance of rain, and temperatures in the 70s during the day and high 50s at night. The landscapes are still lush from the winter rains, the ferry system is in full operation, and migratory species like blue whales and fin whales join the archipelago’s year-round residents. While this season sees the most visitors, the islands rarely feel crowded.
What Are the Azores Like in Fall?
Fall is an ideal time to adventure across the islands, when air temperatures dip slightly, ranging from the low 60s to the low 70s, and the sea remains warm enough to swim in. While there’s a higher chance of rain, showers are likely intermittent. Fall in the Azores also welcomes great migratory bird watching and the Festa das Vindimas, or Grape Harvest Festival, primarily on Pico island.
What Are the Azores Like in Winter?
While the Azores sees mild winters, with temperatures in the low 50s and 60s, there’s often more rainfall and rougher ocean conditions that result in slippery trails and fewer ferries in operation. Travelers looking for a less active visit should consider winter months, when the lodging is very affordable and many attractions remain open.
The Best Hikes in the Azores
Here are the trails that capture the essence of the islands. From a cliffside, view-filled walk across São Jorge to a 10-volcano trek in Faial, the Azores offers the kind of high-octane trails that are sure to thrill even the most well-traveled of hikers. WT’s Azores hiking adventure takes you on the best routes across four islands, a few of which are highlighted below.
Miradouro da Vista do Rei, São Miguel
One of the Azores’ most iconic views is of Sete Cidades Lagoon, São Miguel’s iconic twin lakes, one very blue (Lagoa Azul) and the other distinctly green (Lagoa Verde). While there are plenty of viewpoints around the lakes’ perimeter, the best way to take it in is via this loop that features views of the lakes and the length of the island.
Length: 7.4-mile loop
Caminho dos Burros, Pico
For those who don’t want to make the grueling trek up 7,713-foot Pico Mountain, there’s the more moderate Caminho dos Burros, or path of the donkeys. This trail connecting the north and south coast of Pico offers incredible views of the iconic mountain and across the sea to the sharply defined ridgeline of São Jorge Island.
Length: 9.3 miles one-way
PR01 SJO Trail, São Jorge
Perhaps the Azores’ most famed trail, this trek stretches from the park of Serra do Topo to São Jorge’s most isolated community of Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo. Along the trail, you’ll have near-constant dramatic views of the island’s lush cliffs dropping into azure waters, plus occasional waterfalls and natural pools.
Length: 6 miles one-way
Dez Vulcões, Faial
For an otherworldly experience, head out on this dizzying hike across Dez Vulcões, or ten volcanoes, that make up the western edge of Faial. The trail circles a 1,300-foot deep caldera that looks like the start of life on a lunar landscape, skirts volcanic cones and caves, and passes through lush native forest.
Length: 10 miles one-way
Miradouro das Lagoas, Flores
From a central plateau, this trail passes several crater lakes, including the deepest in the archipelago. At the final lake, Miradouro das Lagoas, you’ll be rewarded with views of the entire lake system, and at the trail’s end near Poço do Bacalhau, a 300-foot waterfall.
Length: 10-mile loop
Moinho do Felix, São Miguel
This short but steep loop trail brings you to the scenic Gruta Waterfall—so don’t forget your bathing suit! The hike winds through farmland before heading up into a lush forest full of towering trees, blooming flower, staircase trails, and two other waterfalls (besides Gruta).
Length: 3.4-mile loop
A Brief History of the Azores Islands
The story of the Azores is the story of Portugal’s rise to the world’s first modern colonial power. The islands of Madeira, the Canaries, and the Azores represented useful resupply points between the mainland and its intended colonies.
The Portuguese conquered the uninhabited Azores in the 15th century but had trouble inhabiting it, until the Hundred Years War spurred an influx of Flemish émigrés, whose influence is still felt today, especially in the central islands.
Over the centuries, the Azores played a crucial role in maritime trade routes, strategic military operations, and the rise of the whaling industry. Today, the Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal that relies heavily on agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
3 Things to Know Before Visiting the Azores
1The weather is unpredictable.
The islands’ location in the Atlantic means weather can shift dramatically no matter what time of year you visit, so pack accordingly. Keep this in mind when planning certain hikes, as trails leading up to a summit or viewpoints can be obscured by fog. Monitor the app SpotAzores, which has live cameras of high-interest points across the islands.
2Bring some cash.
While credit cards are widely accepted in many places, smaller towns and remote areas may only take cash. The currency of the Azores is the Euro.
3Embrace the island transportation.
The ferries and puddle jumpers that transport people between islands are mostly reliable, especially during peak travel times, but are subject to delays and cancellations in the event of inclement weather. While renting a car is the best way to explore once you’re on an island, public buses exist on all islands but Corvo.
