The Azores are the lesser-known islands of Portugal and are amazing if you want to travel to a place that is still relatively empty, whether you want to relax, enjoy nature and some charming cities, or hike through the mountains. We spent 8 days in total in the area and can only recommend the islands.
Info: We are quite fast travelers, so if you want to enjoy each place more, plan more time accordingly
Accommodation and Getting around:
The first thing to decide for the Azores is which islands to visit. Each island has a different appeal, and depending on that, you should pick the ones you like. We stayed on the biggest island – Sao Miguel, the island with the highest mountain and well-known for its wine – Pico – and also Terceira, which is home to many historical sites and lava caves. From Pico, you can make day trips to Horta and also Sao Jorge. Flores is well-known for its nature – especially its flowers and waterfalls, while Santa Maria is a good spot for divers, especially if you want to see manta rays. Additionally, there are more small islands.
In the Azores, we booked our accommodation mostly on Airbnb and stayed in apartments or bed-and-breakfasts. Especially on Pico, I can recommend the “Fisher Houses” on Airbnb. When we were there, there was even a cute cat that kept us company.
To get around, we booked a car on each island to stay flexible. I can highly recommend that, since some places are not that easily reached via public transport.
Day 1 – Arrival to Sao Miguel
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz
Right on day one after arriving, we headed to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz in the South of the Island. This place is amazing – especially if the hortensias bloom, and you will have a great view across the ocean and Ilheu de Vila Franca
Praia do Areal de Santa Barbara
In the late afternoon, we decided to check out the beach “Praia do Areal de Santa Barbara” in the north, which is an amazing place to watch surfers or even surf yourself. Furthermore, there is a beach bar called Tuka Tula Beach Bar, which is great for some snacks or an aperitivo
Poca da Dona Beija
Last but not least, we went to one of the many hot springs calles Poca da Dona Beija. This bath has multiple natural pools which are a great spot to relax a bit in the evening.
Tip: Make sure to arrive not too late since they are quite famous but only have limited tickets.
Day 2 – Sete Cidades and Tea Plantation
Sete Cidades
On the second day, I can highly recommend seeing the main attraction of the island – Sete Cidades. Located in old volcanic craters, these lakes are truly beautiful, and the nature around them is outstanding. There are many short hikes next to the lakes, which also offer some great views.
Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado
Another highlight in the West of the island is the Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado, which is a nice viewpoint overlooking the ocean. This place is still lesser-known, and when I was there, we were completely alone.
Gorreana Tea Plantation
Another must-see on the island is the Gorreana Tea plantation, which is the only place where tea grows in Europe. The place consists of a museum and a café. Furthermore, you can also walk through the tea plantation itself, which was truly outstanding.
Day 3 – Norther-East Sao Miguel
Ribeira dos Caldeiroes
Another highlight of the trip is Riberia dos Caldeiros in the North of the Island. This is a small site with historical buildings and also wonderful nature. Nearby, there are also two waterfalls that are easily accessible and truly outstanding.
Drive along the coast
If you want to have more amazing viewpoints and places to see the ocean, I can highly recommend driving around the coast in the North for a while, since there are many places to stop, which are easily accessible by car.
Miradouro do Pico do Ferro
Another nice stop for a great view is the Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, which overlooks a lake in the centre of the island. This place is worth checking out since you can not only see the lake but also the church, which sits right next to it.
Day 4 – Ponta Delgada and flight to Pico
Pineapple Planation
On our last day on the island, we decided to check out the pineapple plantation. The Azores are the only place in Europe that grows pineapples, so it was amazing to see and also to taste the fruit. On the islands, they even have a special technique which makes the fruits even sweeter which is amazing – sadly they do not export any of them, so your only chance to taste them is on the islands.
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is another must-see on the island since it’s the capital and also has outstanding architecture. One of the best ways to see the city is to visit the bell tower, which has a viewpoint on top. However, be aware that the ascent is really narrow, so if you are claustrophobic, keep that in mind.
After the city, we drove directly to the airport and flew to Pico.
Day 5 – Pico and Wine Tasting
Gruta das Torres lava
One of the highlights of Pico is the lava caves they have. They are amazing to see, especially because of the amazing nature around them. We went to visit the most famous ones – even though we were the only people there. Make sure to pack some good shoes and patience since they can be a little bit hidden at first.
Lagoa do Cap.
Pico is home to the tallest mountain in Portugal – Pico. One really nice place to see the mountain is from the lake “Lagoa do Cap.” This place is really magical – and even though it was super foggy when we went there, I can still only recommend this place.
Tip: There are also tours to climb the mountain, which we did not do due to time constraints, but if you love to hike, this could also be a great activity.
Farol da Ponta da Ilha
Last but not least, Farol da Ponta da Ilha is a lighthouse surrounded by lava stones. This place is amazing for views and also for pictures, since the whole soil is completely black.
Wine Tasting at A Cooperativa
The Azores are also well-known for their unique wines – especially due to the volcanic soils on the islands. We chose to do a wine tasting at A Cooperativa to learn even more, and it was really great. We were a group of six people, and the wines we got to taste were outstanding. Furthermore, there is also the possibility of getting some cheese and crackers.
Day 6 – Horta
Take the Ferry in the morning
Since Pico is extremely close to two other islands, we decided to take the Ferry to Horta to explore the island a bit. We chose to get up at sunrise and take the earliest ferry possible, which led to us seeing one of the most beautiful sunsets. While the ferry ride, you can sit on top of the boat, which gives you an amazing view of Pico (the island and mountain), and if you are lucky, you might even spot some dolphins.
Info: We prebooked our tickets, but you can also get them on site
Miradouro de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao
The first stop was a viewpoint right in the East of the Islands. At Miradoura de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, you will have a beautiful view across the town of Horta and can also see an amazing statue.
Caldeira
One of the highlights of this island is the huge volcanic crater right in the middle. There is the possibility to walk around it; however, it can be quite foggy, so make sure to check the weather forecast before you do so. When we visited, the weather was not good, so we decided not to do so and only to check it out a little bit in order to stay safe.
Capelinhos
Horta is best known for the volcanic eruption in the late 20th century, which made the island a little bit bigger. If you are in Horta, I can only recommend seeing the visitor centre and the lighthouse. The exhibitions are really well made, and I learned so much. After visiting the museum, I can also recommend walking to the top of the mountain next to the volcanic crater since you will have an amazing view there.
Walk around the Harbour
Another important place on the island is the harbour, since many boats that travel from Europe to America or vice versa stop here to refuel. There is even a café with a lot of job postings or similar for such journeys. The harbour is therefore quite lively, and it is truly nice to see so many different boats.
Ah! Boca Santa
Last but not least, within a food court in the town, there is Ah! Boca Santa – a burger place that has one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time. Before heading back to the port for the ferry, I can recommend checking this place out.
Day 7 – Flight to Terceira
Explore Angra do Herismo
Our last stop was Terceira, with its UNESCO-certified town Angra do Heroísmo. Therefore, on the first day, we spent some time in the town to stroll through the streets and see, for example, the garden in the middle of the town.
Monte Brasil
Another highlight of the town is Monte Brasil, a small mountain in the South of the city, which is characterized by its military importance, as you can also see from the many cannons. On this hill, you will have the most outstanding view across town.
Day 8 – Exploring Terceira
Coffee Cabana
Our second and last day before going home was to explore the rest of the island. The first stop was Coffee Cabana, a café in the middle of a banana plantation. They serve amazing coffee and food and are totally worth a visit if you want to relax a bit.
Miradouro da Serra de Santa Barbara
For another great view, I can recommend Miradouro da Serra de Santa Barbara. Driving through a forest before reaching the top was extremely nice, and even though it was quite windy, this viewpoint was amazing.
Algar do Carvao
One of the well-known things about this island is the huge lava caves. One of them is Algar do Carvao, which is also one of the main sights of the island. By visiting, you will have the chance to walk through the caves on your own and admire the amazing rock formations.
Tip: The caves tend to get quite full and there are many steps, so make sure to bring appropriate footwear.
Miradouro da Serra do Cume
The last thing I can highly recommend is to drive to Miradouro da Serra do Cume, which offers an amazing view across the hilly landscape of the island. It was truly outstanding to see, and for me, the hill formations are one of a kind.