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By Vipul Jain | 18 Nov, 2025
The Azores are the most beautiful part of Portugal, and there are many tourist places and natural beauty that you can experience. Its beauty is the reason why it is known as the "Hawaii of Europe" and the "Islands of Colors" by the Portuguese archipelago. There are nine major Azores islands present here, which are adorable.
Apart from its beauty, the weather of the Azores is completely unpredictable. You need to plan your itinerary very carefully for your travel. First of all, you need to complete your travel documents, such as your passport and visa. In this blog, we have provided information about the Azores travel. We have talked about the best time to visit, how to get there, things to do, and the top islands to visit.
The Azores are a year-round destination, and you can visit them at any time of the year. You should consider your budget and which activities you wanna take part in. If you want to enjoy nature and immerse yourself in scenery, then summer is the best season to travel to the Azores. There will be so many travelers around, but it is an expensive season because it is busier than other times.
The shoulder seasons are more relaxed and cheaper, as winters can be challenging weather for many. As the islands are present in the middle of the ocean, there are more chances of winter storms in the Atlantic. Also, whenever you plan your Azores travel, be prepared to experience all four seasons in a single day. There could be sunshine in the morning, and you can end up seeing lashing rain in the evening.
The temperature range in the summer is about 20°C to 26°C (68°F to 79°F), and the temperature range in the shoulder season is 15.5°C to 22°C (60°F to 71°F). In winter, the temperature range is about 12°C to 18°C (53°F to 64°F). The temperature can be different in the various spots of remote islands.
The international flights for the Azores from Canada, the US, and many other European Countries land on the Ponta Delgada airport. You can also reach the Terceira island by transatlantic flights. São Miguel is the largest island, and it is the hub to reach all the other eight islands. The easiest way to reach the Azores is via Lisbon or Porto on the mainland of Portugal. If you cannot find a non-stop flight, then it is the best way.
From the Sao Miguel airport, you can take a flight to all other islands with the internal airline SATA. You can also use the Ferry named Atlanticoline, which can take you to Graciosa, Terceira, Sao Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores, and Corvo. The air and ocean conditions can be disrupted there, so be flexible with your departure schedule.
There are so many things that you can do in the Azores Islands. You can choose activities based on your preferences and enjoy them. Here is the list of a few of them:
The Azores Islands in Portugal are one of the best places to immerse yourself in nature and natural experiences. There are many gorgeous landscapes, and all the islands there have hiking trails where you can hike for several days. The wild beauty of nature will emerge from within, the revealing lagoons that formed inside the extinct waterfalls or volcanoes, and cascade down the peaks of mountains.
You should definitely visit the highest point in Portugal if you visit the Azores Islands: Mt. Pico. The climb can be a bit challenging, but the view from up there is unforgettable. You can also visit the local Vineyards there that have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the scenic view of the oceans while sipping your wine, and might spot some dolphins or whales.
The landscape of these islands is shaped by the volcanoes. You can experience it when you see the dark-gray stone in the old buildings and black sand on the beaches. You can even feel the volcanic activity on your skin when you reach São Miguel. The water present in the iron-rich thermal springs is automatically warmed up by the heat coming from the inner depths of the islands.
In many places there, the chef cooks vegetables and meat just by placing them in the earth for several hours. There are many natural pools present in Terceira and São Jorge, which are carved in stone by the rough Atlantic and heated by volcanic rocks. In the 1950s, the underwater volcano "Vulcano dos Capelinhos" erupted in Faial, which forced half of the island's population to evacuate.
Most of the individuals travel to the Azores just to experience its beauty and to explore the outdoors. You can go on a whale-watching cruise in São Miguel and enjoy the view of giant whales. You can also visit different types of plantations in the Azores, such as cheese factories, pineapple plantations, or go to the famous Gorreana Tea Factory. It is the oldest Tea Plantation in Europe. You will be able to see plenty of vintage machinery (some of which still works) in those factories and museums.
As mentioned above, the Azores, Portugal is consists of nine beautiful islands. Each of them is different from the others and worth visiting in its own way. Moving further, let’s know the best ones to travel there:
Around half of the tourist population visits São Miguel when they come to the Azores. Well, this makes sense as it is the easiest island to reach directly by flight. Apart from this, it has the most things to do in Portugal and see. Thanks to lush and varied landscapes, and several hikes, it is one of the best Azores, Portugal islands for hiking.
In addition, it is the only island that consists of lots of hot springs and volcanic steam vents. In this, visiting the Caldeira Velha hot spring is worth traveling for. Among the other islands, it is the most developed and the only one that has multi-lane expressways. Overall, while other Azores islands may provide a more remote feeling, São Miguel is most defined by its rural areas and nature.
After Sao Miguel, Terceira is the second most popular Azores islands. It is the home of the US Air Force Base, which plays a vital role in the economy of the Azores. The island does offer several things to do in the Azores. However, it does have fewer hikes for the travelers. From the viewpoint of a general tourist, the island is slightly less interesting in comparison to other islands of the Azores, but it is worth visiting.
Firstly, because of its capital city, i.e., Angra do Heroismo. The city has gained recognition for its 17th-century fortresses and old centre. What makes this island easy to include in your travel plan is that it is available at the international airport, which makes it perfect for the archipelago.
Geologically, Pico is the youngest Azores islands, so the landscapes of it can be rockier and are said to have dark volcanic terrain. Mainly, it is popular for its unique vineyard culture. With small walls, some of the landscapes in the islands are checkered with volcanic rocks. These rocks protect the vines from harsh elements- a general feature that gets acknowledged in the island's UNESCO World Heritage Status.
Additionally, the eponymous “peak” of 2a 351m tall conical volcano is also located here, which has the tallest point in all of Portugal.
Among all the other Azores Islands, Faial is small, but you cannot miss traveling to it. Compared to other islands, it does not get much hype. However, there are some fascinating sights to see that warrant you to plan at least a one-day or two-day trip.
Additionally, it has popular volcanic landscapes, especially the site of Capelinhas, where over a year in 1958 a volcano erupted. Walking in the dusty and grey landscape here will make you feel like you are on the moon. These are simply among the most attractive landscapes in the Azores, Portugal.
Apart from this, among the sailors, the island is a legend. It is one of the places where recreational sailors crossing the Atlantic Ocean make a stop during the summer, offering the island a lively atmosphere. Also at the harbour barriers, you will find many colorful paintings left by sailors to celebrate their journeys.
Want to experience the off-beaten path? Then, São Jorge Island is the right destination to choose. Here, you can see some of the best nature on an island that does its own thing. The island is also not preoccupied with tourists and tourism very much. Considering this, compared to other islands, São Jorge is less populated; somehow, you can say more remote area.
In addition, there are fewer facilities there, shorter opening times in the restaurants, and there are not so many sights to visit. However, if you love hiking, then it is a perfect destination for you to travel to. While traveling there, do not miss hiking the Caldeira de Santo Cristo. It goes through several waterfalls, lush valleys on Sao Jorge, and through two of the fajas.
These are some of the best Azores islands you should consider visiting during your first trip. Although all of them are worth traveling to but these are the best for first-time travelers. Moving ahead, let’s know how many days' trip you should plan to visit the Azores Islands.
Although the Azores are located in a remote area, you can easily fly there. Followed by the Terceira airport, the biggest airport in the Azores Portugal, is on São Miguel. This is how from different countries you can visit Azores:
Enjoy the scenic landscapes of the Azores Islands with this helpful guide by Visament. Don't forget to secure your visa for a smooth travel experience. For easy and safe visa applications, you can visit Visament. We have a team of experts with a combined experience of 30+ years. They help the customers in completing their applications error-free so that they can be approved quickly.
The customer service of Visament is available 24/7, and our platform provides safe and secure applications for the customers. So, get your visa now and explore the Azores Islands stress-free.
Greenland is the largest island in the world, with around total area of 2.16 million sq. km. The island is located between the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean. It is vast and mostly consists of icy landmasses.
The Azores are special for two key reasons. First, it has a unique combination of natural beauty, traditions, and rich culture. Secondly, due to its historical significance, in supporting maritime exploration that permitted the exchange between the greatest civilization in the world, it gained a place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The official currency used in the Azores is the Euro (€). It is the same currency used throughout the European Union and Portugal.
The best month to visit the Azores is between May to August. During that time, the weather remains mild. In addition, it is perfect for going to the beaches and taking part in all types of outdoor activities.
The Azores islands are located in the center of the Atlantic, halfway between the USA and the Portuguese mainland. It is a group of nine islands situated near the North Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the Autonomous Area of Portugal.
São Miguel is the most visited island in the Azores. The island is also called “Green Island.” Offering a variety of attractions and hiking spots, it is the most populous and largest island in the archipelago.
The best Azores island to visit totally depends on your personal choice and interest, as all are beautiful with different qualities. However, Sao Miguel is often stated as a good choice for first-time visitors because of its variety of attractions and accessibility.
For a thorough introduction to the Azores, five days are enough to travel. However, if you truly want to explore the richness of the place, plan a two or three-week trip to hop between different Azores islands and see what is different in each one and why it is stated as the most exceptional travel destination in Portugal.
The best option to get around in the Azores would be a rented car. It will provide you with the freedom to travel at your own pace and explore the islands. You can also use a ferry between the islands, and after reaching the destination, walking is best to immerse yourself in nature.
It solely depends on how many activities you want to do. There are many landscapes and adventure options to experience. For first-time visitors, five days would be enough to go around the Azores. But if you want to experience the true sense and richness of it, then three weeks would be great to hop around the islands and explore.
The budget totally depends on the luxury experiences you choose. The approximate average daily cost would be around $200.
According to the unpredictable weather and various adventurous possibilities in the Azores, you should pack a light rain jacket, waterproof trekking boots, breathable fleece layer, etc.
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