Known as the Hawaii of Europe, the Azores are a collection of Portuguese islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Africa. Due to the volcanic nature of the islands, you have incredible landscapes, hiking routes, black sand beaches, and coastlines. In recent years, the Azores have exploded in popularity, with more flight routes coming in, and comparisons between the Azores and Madeira, another Atlantic Portuguese island. Having been to both, you can check out my comparison of the two destinations here.
While the islands are incredibly beautiful, what are the best things to do in the Azores? I’ve got you covered.
I went to the Azores a few years ago with friends, staying on the main island of São Miguel. This is where you’ll find the main airport and the capital city, Ponta Delgada. Unless you’re island hopping, this is where most people will visit when they come to the Azores. As a result, all these recommendations are on São Miguel Island.
The best things to do in the Azores
From incredibly scenic destinations to relaxation spots and cultural experiences, here are some of the best things to do in the Azores, in my opinion. When I was there, we did a full-day tour that hit up a lot of the major spots on the island, so that we didn’t have to hire a car. There are a ton of options, depending on what you want to see, and I’ve added suggested tour links throughout. For transparency, these are affiliate links, so if you book, I get a little kick-back at no cost to you!
Wander Ponta Delgada
First things first, you should take some time to explore the capital city, Ponta Delgada. This is where we stayed, and it’s a highly walkable city, and smaller than some towns that I’ve been to. Check out the impressive black and white architecture, relax in a plaza or two, or head down to the harbour to see the boats and grab a cocktail.
One of the coolest things in Ponta Delgada is the Portas da Cidade, which are the Gates of the City. These are striking arches that were built in the 1700s, and now sit near the equally impressive Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião church. Have a look around and embrace the quaint cobblestone vibes of this laidback city.
Visit the black sand beaches
As Sao Miguel is a volcanic island (as are the rest of the Azores islands), there are a number of black sand beaches. We took a 10-minute taxi to Praia das Milicias, which is just down the coast from Ponta Delgada, and this is definitely one of the closest beaches to the city.
However, be warned. The UV and the sun are ridiculously strong in the Azores. Due to the location off the coast of Africa, it’s incredibly strong, but the breeze and cloud cover from the Atlantic Ocean give you a false sense of security. I had the worst sunburn of my life that whole week despite putting on suncream.
Head to Sete Cidades
One of the most impressive sights in the Azores is Sete Cidades. This volcanic crater has two stunning blue-green lakes inside it, known as the Twin Lakes. Sete Cidades is the name of the volcano as a whole, but the crater itself is an incredible 5km across.
You can enjoy hikes around the Sete Cidades area, stop at the viewpoint, or chill and enjoy a picnic lunch here. Most tours will stop here as it’s undoubtedly one of the best things to do in the Azores.
See the Lagoa do Fogo
If you like visiting volcanic craters, then it’s highly likely that you’ll also be checking out the Lagoa do Fogo or Fire Lake. This crater lake is right in the centre of São Miguel Island, and is in the opposite direction from Ponta Delgada than Sete Cidades, which is out on the Western tip.
Lagoa do Fogo is a stunning green lake in the Água de Pau Massif, which is the stratavolcanic complex that also houses the bulk of the geothermal activity on the island – hence the reference to fire. If you are going to the hot springs, it’s likely that your tour or route will also give you an opportunity to visit the viewpoint of the mighty Lagoa do Fogo.
Soak in the thermal pools at Furnas
Speaking of geothermal activities, one of the best things to do in the Azores is to visit the hot springs at Furnas. There are a few different places where you can enjoy a soak. The most famous is the Parque Terra Nostra, and a popular free option is the Tia Silvina Hot Springs.
However, when we went, we opted for the Dona Beija Hot Springs, which has five different thermal pools with a more tropical and architectural vibe. They also have nighttime soaking, which is unique for Furnas. The pools vary in temperature, so you can have quick tips and acclimatise. However, make sure to bring an old swimsuit or a dark one. The sulphur stains the fabric, and you don’t want to have your gear ruined!
Visit Licores Mulher de Capote
If all this adventure has worked up a thirst, it’s time to visit Licores Mulher de Capote. This Azores staple specialises in fruit liquor and rum, and has been going since 1936. It’s the only rum producer in the Azores, but its passionfruit liquor is the true star here. You can visit the factory for tastings. Ours was around 10 in the morning, so prepare yourself!
Head to a pineapple farm
The Azorean Pineapple Plantation might sound like a rogue thing to do while you’re in the Azores, but it’s actually a pretty great open-air museum. This farm is located a short distance outside of Ponta Delgada and has tours and informational plaques.
You can also just wander around the greenhouses, taking in the smell and the tropical sights. Overall, there are 230 pineapple producers in the Azores, and pineapple wine is a popular drink here. You can buy some in the gift shop, along with a whole host of pineapple goodies.
Eat and drink as much as you can
Being a tropical island, there are plenty of amazing things to eat and drink. Of course, you have passionfruit liquor and pineapple wine, but there is also incredible seafood and cheeses. The sheep’s cheese from the Azores is well-known throughout Portugal. In fact, I’ve had it several times since in both Madeira and Porto.
To go with this light sheep’s cheese, you often get a spicy red pepper jam-style sauce. This brings the whole thing alive. It’s safe to say I bought a sizeable bottle of this pepper sauce home with me. There are plenty of great spots to eat throughout Ponta Delgada, especially down towards the waterfront and the Old Town. For seafood and delicious Portuguese wine, head to Cais da Sardinha.
Go whale watching
In the Azores, the peak of the whale watching season is March to June, and the full season is April til October. However, due to cost and timing, we didn’t end up going on a whale watching tour. Nevertheless, if you want to see these ocean giants, the Azores is one of the best places.
You can see Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, and Minke Whales, depending on the time of year and your luck. There are also bottlenose dolphins around, so you’re likely to see something great on a whale watching tour in the Azores.
How to get to the Azores?
You can get direct flights from around the UK and Europe to Ponta Delgada Airport. This is the main Azores Airport. From there, you can fly internally on smaller planes or jump on ferries to island hop. There are also now routes from the East Coast of the US to the Azores directly.
Car hire is available on the island, but it can be expensive due to demand. On Sao Miguel, the bus companies are Cristiano Limitada, Auto Viação Micaelense, and Varela, so if you don’t want to join a tour, you can get around the island.
In my experience, most of the tours were cost-effective, and quick taxi trips were fairly priced. However, it’s worth noting that there was a group of us, so the costs were shared.
Where to stay in the Azores?
If you’re coming to São Miguel, the best place to stay is in Ponta Delgada. This is by far the biggest city, and it’s where the tours and the main bus routes leave from. There’s a good range of hotels that you can consider, or if you’re on a budget, there is a huge range of hostels to check out.
We stayed in a holiday home in Ponta Delgada, as there was a group of us. You can see some of the best options for vacation rentals here, as the one we stayed in is no longer available.
