28 Best Things to Do in the Azores, Island by Island

Which Azores Island Do You Need?

The short answer: São Miguel for a first trip of a week or less. Add Pico and Faial (they're 30 minutes apart by ferry) if you have 10 days or more.

Short on Time? Don't Miss These

• The postcard view: walk up to the Boca do Inferno viewpoint over Sete Cidades, or see it with Lagoa do Fogo on a full-day Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo tour.
• Whales: a 3-hour whale and dolphin watching trip from Ponta Delgada, with over 5,300 reviews.
• Hot water: an evening soak in Furnas, at Poça da Dona Beija.
• The big one: the summit of Mount Pico, ideally on a guided Pico Mountain climb.
• The adrenaline pick: canyoning in Ribeira dos Caldeirões, which runs all year.

What's Changed in the Azores in 2026

• Ryanair has gone. It left the Azores on 29 March 2026, so only Azores Airlines and TAP fly from the mainland. Fares rise fast in summer.
• Gruta das Torres works differently. Since 19 July 2026, Pico's lava tube runs one long tour a day at 10:15 (15 places) plus shorter afternoon tours, and online tickets are suspended.
• Prices went up. Terra Nostra is €17, Caldeira Velha €10 in timed slots, Poça da Dona Beija €12 (€16 after 6 p.m.) and the Mount Pico summit €25.
• The Furnas fumaroles charge €3. Older blogs still say €0.50 or free.
• Ponta da Ferraria is open again, since 20 May 2026, on a single-lane road with traffic lights.
• The Lagoa do Fogo shuttle ran late. In 2026 it ran only from 1 August to 30 September (€8). Outside that window, you drive up yourself.
• Vila Franca islet closes on 11 October 2026 for the season.

Things to Do on São Miguel

São Miguel is the biggest island and the one most first-timers should base themselves on, ideally in Ponta Delgada. We keep the city itself short here: our guide to things to do in Ponta Delgada covers it in full, along with more day trips around the island.

1. See Sete Cidades From Boca do Inferno

The view on every Azores postcard. And it's free.

Sete Cidades is a huge volcanic crater with two lakes inside it, one greener and one bluer, and a village on the shore. You can see it from several viewpoints, but the best is the Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, where a narrow ridge drops away on both sides to more crater lakes.

It's not a drive-up viewpoint.

Park for free by Lagoa do Canário and walk about 1.3 km each way, roughly 20 minutes, with a short climb. The last stretch gets muddy, so wear proper shoes.

Tip: cloud is the problem here, not crowds. Check a webcam before you drive the 30 minutes from Ponta Delgada, and if the crater is full of fog, go somewhere else and come back in the afternoon.

Azores fog clears as fast as it arrives.

On the way, you'll pass the Vista do Rei viewpoint and the shell of the Monte Palace Hotel, which opened in 1989, closed a year later and is still derelict. Entry is prohibited, whatever you see on Instagram.

Down in the crater, you can paddle on the lake: this double kayak rental at Sete Cidades is the easy way. Our Sete Cidades guide has the walks and viewpoints in detail.

2. Soak in the Hot Springs of Furnas

Furnas is a village in a steaming volcanic valley in the east of São Miguel, and soaking in its hot springs is the thing to do in the Azores when the weather turns.

You've got two main choices:

• Terra Nostra Park (€17): a big, warm, orange-brown pool in the middle of a huge botanical garden. Allow time for the gardens, which are worth the ticket on their own.
• Poça da Dona Beija (€12, or €16 from 6 p.m.): smaller pools in a wooded stream, open until 11 p.m. Tickets are sold online only, for sessions of up to 1½ hours, with no refunds.

Our pick: Poça da Dona Beija after dark, when the day-trippers have gone and the steam rises off the water under the lights.

Terra Nostra for the gardens, by day.

Important: the iron-rich water stains light swimwear, and it doesn't always wash out. Bring an old swimsuit. And towel rental at Dona Beija was suspended in 2026, so bring a towel too.

Want it free?

Locals use Poça da Tia Silvina, a small thermal pool in the village. Our Furnas guide covers all the pools.

3. Eat Cozido Cooked by the Volcano

At the edge of Lagoa das Furnas, the ground steams and bubbles, and restaurants bury big pots of cozido, a stew of pork, chicken, blood sausage, cabbage and root vegetables, in holes in the hot earth. The pots go in early in the morning and are lifted out around 12:00 to 12:30.

Be there at noon to watch.

Then eat it in a Furnas restaurant at lunch. Our guide to the best restaurants in the Azores has more places to eat.

Cost: the fumarole area charges €3 per person (over 12), plus parking.

No car? This full-day Furnas and tea plantations tour with lunch covers this item, item 2 and item 8, with a 4.97 rating.

4. Hike Down to Lagoa do Fogo

Lagoa do Fogo, the "lake of fire", sits in a crater high in the middle of the island, with no village and no road down to the water. From the viewpoints on the rim, it's one of the great sights of the Azores.

A steep path leads down to the shore if you want to earn it.

Access in 2026: when the summer shuttle runs, the road is closed to cars and you ride up for €8. This year it ran only from 1 August to 30 September. Outside that window, you can drive up.

Tip: go first thing. By late morning the cloud often settles in the crater, and the lake you drove up to see disappears for the rest of the day.

5. Bathe Under the Waterfall at Caldeira Velha

Caldeira Velha is a warm pool fed by a waterfall, deep in the forest above Ribeira Grande, with tree ferns all around. It's one of the best-known hot springs in the Azores, and it feels like a film set.

Cost: €10 with the pools (€3 to look around only), in timed 90-minute slots booked online. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in October, longer in summer.

Book ahead in summer.

The slots sell out.

6. Swim in the Hot Sea at Ferraria

At the island's western tip, a hot spring runs straight into a rocky cove, and you can swim where the warm water meets the Atlantic. Ponta da Ferraria is free, with no set hours.

Important: go at low tide, when the hot water isn't diluted by the sea, and hold the ropes when the swell comes in. The access road reopened on 20 May 2026 after a landslide, with one lane and traffic lights, so expect short waits.

7. Go Whale and Dolphin Watching From Ponta Delgada

The Azores' signature experience, and it runs all year.

More than 25 species of whales and dolphins have been recorded in Azores waters.

Sperm whales live here year-round, and blue, fin and sei whales pass through in spring, peaking in April and May. Summer is best for dolphins.

Boats leave Ponta Delgada's marina for half-day trips of about 3 hours, from around €70 per adult. Most operators work with land-based lookouts who spot the whales and radio the boats, which is why sightings in the Azores are so reliable.

You'll be choosing between a rigid inflatable (faster, wetter, bumpier) and a bigger catamaran (steadier, with a toilet). With kids or anyone prone to seasickness, take the catamaran.

This whale and dolphin watching trip from Ponta Delgada has over 5,300 reviews. Our Azores whale watching guide compares the operators and seasons.

8. Taste Tea at Gorreana

Gorreana has been making tea on São Miguel's north coast since 1883, and calls itself Europe's oldest tea plantation. Visits and tastings are free: you look round the old factory, then walk out into the rows of tea above the sea.

Plenty of Azores lists call it "Europe's only tea plantation". It isn't: Porto Formoso, on the same stretch of coast, grows tea too and is worth a stop.

9. Walk Ponta Delgada and Visit a Pineapple Greenhouse

Ponta Delgada is the biggest city in the Azores, and its centre is easy to walk. Start at the Portas da Cidade, the city's three-arched gates, then wander the black-and-white cobbled streets to the waterfront.

Then drive five minutes out of town to the A. Arruda pineapple plantation, where Azores pineapples grow slowly in whitewashed glass greenhouses.

They're small and sweet, and they take up to two years to grow. The visit is free, and there are free tastings in the shop.

10. Watch Sunrise at the Nordeste Viewpoints

The far north-east of São Miguel is the quietest corner of the island, and its two famous viewpoints, Ponta do Sossego and Ponta da Madrugada, are planted like gardens, with flowerbeds and native plants on the clifftops. They're free and about 1.2 km apart.

Madrugada means "dawn", and it's the place for an Azores sunrise. It's a long drive from Ponta Delgada, so it works best on the way to or from Furnas.

11. Go Canyoning in Ribeira dos Caldeirões

You abseil down waterfalls, slide down rock chutes and jump into pools, with a guide and all the gear. It's the best rainy-day plan in the Azores, since you'll be wet anyway.

And it runs all year.

The Caldeirões canyoning experience is rated 4.9 from over 800 reviews and needs no experience.

12. Hike to the Salto do Prego Waterfall

The PRC09 SMI trail starts at the bus stop in Faial da Terra, in the south-east, and loops 4.6 km (about 2 hours) through the woods to Salto do Prego, a tall waterfall with a pool at the bottom. On the way back, it passes Sanguinho, a village abandoned in the 1970s.

Important: the stone path down is steep and slippery after rain. Wear shoes with grip.

13. Snorkel Inside the Vila Franca Islet (Summer Only)

Just off Vila Franca do Campo, the Ilhéu de Vila Franca is the top of an old volcano with an almost perfectly round lagoon in the middle, sheltered from the ocean. Boats go out from the town's marina roughly every hour.

Important: the islet is only open in summer. In 2026, the season ran from 12 June to 11 October, with a cap of 400 visitors a day, and only 100 tickets a day were sold online (the rest go at the marina box office on the day). If you're visiting the Azores in summer, book the moment you know your date.

Things to Do on Pico

Pico is the second-biggest island in the Azores, and it's dominated by its volcano.

Getting there: about an hour's flight from Ponta Delgada, or a 30-minute ferry from Horta on Faial (€8.20 one way). Base yourself in Madalena for the ferry, or Lajes do Pico for whale watching. Our Pico travel guide has the rest.

14. Climb Mount Pico, Portugal's Highest Peak

The hardest day on this list, and the one you'll talk about most.

Mount Pico is 2,351 m (7,713 ft) high, the highest point in Portugal and in the Azores, and you can climb it in a day. Most people take 7 to 8 hours up and down, on a steep trail of loose volcanic rock, with a short scramble up the final cone, the Piquinho.

The rules are strict, and they're there for a reason:

• Book online before you go, then register at the Casa da Montanha, at about 1,200 m, where the trail starts.
• Every climber carries a GPS tracker, handed out at registration.
• The summit costs €25 (€15 to the crater only).
• Access hours in October are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; in summer it's open around the clock, so you can climb for sunrise.

Honest note: it's a serious mountain.

Weather turns fast near the top, and climbs are sometimes cut short by cloud. A certified guide is officially recommended, and if you've never hiked on loose volcanic rock, take one. This guided Pico Mountain climb is rated 4.9 from over 260 reviews.

15. Walk the UNESCO Vineyards of Pico

Pico's vineyards are like nowhere else in the Azores. Vines grow in thousands of tiny plots called currais, walled with black lava stone to shelter them from the salty wind. The landscape has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004.

Start at the Vineyard Culture Interpretation Centre at Lajido de Santa Luzia, which is free (open 10:00–12:30 and 1:30–6:00 p.m. in October). Then walk among the walls at Criação Velha, just south of Madalena, and finish with a tasting at the Picowines cooperative in Madalena. Look for the local Verdelho.

16. Explore the Gruta das Torres Lava Tube

Gruta das Torres is a 5,150 m tunnel left behind by flowing lava, the largest lava tube in Portugal. You walk in with a guide, a helmet and a torch, past lava "stalactites" and ropey lava on the floor.

Changed in 2026: since 19 July, there's one Extended Cave Tour a day, at 10:15 a.m. (15 places, €10), plus four shorter afternoon tours that go to the end of the boardwalk for half price. Online tickets are temporarily unavailable.

So turn up early for the morning tour.

Hours: daily 10:00–12:30 and 1:30–6:00 p.m. in October; Tuesday to Saturday only from November to March.

17. See Whales From Lajes do Pico

Lajes do Pico was a whaling town until the 1980s. Now its boats take visitors out to see the same sperm whales, and old whalers' lookouts on the hills still spot them. The Museu dos Baleeiros tells the whaling story in old boat sheds on the harbour.

If you're spending a few days on Pico, do your whale trip here: you'll see the same species as from Ponta Delgada, with the town's whaling history thrown in. This whale watching experience from Lajes do Pico has nearly 1,000 reviews and a 4.9 rating.

Things to Do on Faial

Faial is the sailing island of the Azores, small, green and centred on Horta.

Getting there: about an hour's flight from Ponta Delgada to Horta, or 30 minutes by ferry from Madalena on Pico. Our Faial and Horta travel guide covers where to stay.

18. Read the Painted Walls of Horta Marina

Horta is one of the most famous yacht stops in the Atlantic. For decades, crews crossing the ocean have painted their boat's name on the marina walls for luck. Walking the harbour and reading them is one of the free things to do in the Azores that nobody tells you about.

After that, have a gin and tonic at Peter Café Sport, the sailors' bar on the waterfront. Upstairs, the Scrimshaw Museum (€3.50, closed on Sunday) has whale teeth carved by whalers.

19. Walk the Moonscape at Capelinhos

In 1957, a volcano erupted underwater off Faial's western tip, and by the time it stopped, in October 1958, it had added new land to the island and left the lighthouse half-buried in ash. The Capelinhos landscape is still bare and grey, with the old lighthouse standing over it.

The interpretation centre, built underground beside it, is excellent.

It's worth the €10. Hours: daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October; Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in winter.

The full-day Faial tour with a local guide covers Capelinhos and the Caldeira, with a 4.98 rating.

20. Hike the Rim of the Caldeira do Faial

At the centre of Faial is a near-perfect crater about 2 km across, its floor covered in green. You can drive up to the viewpoint, but the walk around the rim, trail PRC04 FAI, is the way to see it: 6.8 km, about 2½ hours, and graded easy.

Go on a clear day.

It's high, and like everywhere in the Azores, it clouds over.

Back in Horta, the short Entre Montes loop (3.4 km) climbs Monte da Guia above Porto Pim, the town's sheltered beach.

Things to Do on São Jorge

São Jorge is the long, thin ridge in the middle of the central Azores.

Getting there: by ferry from Pico or Faial, or a short flight. Stay in Velas or Calheta.

21. Hike Down to Fajã do Santo Cristo

São Jorge is a long ridge with dozens of fajãs, flat strips of land at the foot of the cliffs, many reachable only on foot. The most famous is the Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, with a lagoon known for its clams, found nowhere else in the Azores.

It's one of the great walks in the Azores.

The PR1 SJO trail starts near the Serra do Topo and drops down through the fajã to Fajã dos Cubres: 9.5 km one way, about 2½ hours, graded medium. You'll need a taxi or a second car at the end.

Afterwards, try the island's famous sharp cheese: the Uniqueijo cooperative near Velas runs factory visits. Or let someone else handle the logistics: this São Jorge island and fajãs guided tour has a 4.8 rating.

Things to Do on Terceira

Terceira is the Azores' festival island, and its capital is the prettiest town in the archipelago.

Getting there: about 40 minutes by plane from Ponta Delgada, with dozens of flights a week. Our Terceira travel guide has more.

22. Climb Down Into Algar do Carvão

Algar do Carvão is one of the few places in the world where you can walk down inside a volcano's vent. A stairway leads down past moss-covered walls into a huge cavern with silica stalactites and, in wet months, a clear lake at the bottom.

Cost: €10, cash or card on site (no booking, and no AmEx). Hours in October: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only, 2:30 to 5 p.m. It's open daily in summer.

Nearby Gruta do Natal, a lava tube, costs €9 and keeps the same autumn days. Despite what some Azores blogs say, there's no combined ticket in 2026.

Short on time? This Algar do Carvão lava caves tour has a 4.8 rating from nearly 400 reviews.

23. Wander Angra do Heroísmo and Climb Monte Brasil

Angra do Heroísmo has pastel streets and grand churches, and its centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. It was rebuilt after a big earthquake in 1980.

Walk the old town, then climb Monte Brasil, the volcanic headland next to the harbour. The PRC04 TER loop is 7.4 km (about 2½ hours) and passes the 16th-century São João Baptista fortress. Our Angra do Heroísmo travel guide covers the town in detail.

24. Swim in the Biscoitos Lava Pools

On Terceira's north coast, the black lava pools at Biscoitos are the island's best place to swim, with changing rooms and a snack bar in summer and a lifeguard in July and August.

On the way, stop at the Serra do Cume viewpoint, 545 m up, for the famous view of green fields divided by stone walls. It's free.

Visiting between May and mid-October? You may run into a tourada à corda, Terceira's street bullfight with a bull on a long rope, held more than 200 times a year. It's a big local tradition.

It isn't for everyone.

Things to Do on Flores and Corvo

Getting there: about 1½ hours by plane from Ponta Delgada. Flores is the westernmost island, and Corvo is a boat ride north. See our Flores travel guide.

25. Walk to Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro

Flores is the Azores' island of waterfalls, and this is the one to see. From the road, a 10- to 15-minute walk leads to a pool at the foot of a cliff, with more than 20 thin waterfalls running down it.

Nearby, stop at the Rocha dos Bordões, giant basalt columns by the road, and Poço do Bacalhau, a waterfall of about 90 m near Fajã Grande. For a night here, Aldeia da Cuada is a group of restored stone village houses near the falls.

26. Take a Boat Trip to Corvo

Corvo is the smallest island in the Azores, with fewer than 500 people and one village. Most visitors come for the Caldeirão, a crater at the top of the island with lakes on its floor: take a taxi up from the harbour, then walk the rim.

The public ferry from Santa Cruz das Flores takes 40 to 55 minutes and is often cancelled in winter. In summer, the easier option is a boat trip to Corvo with island sightseeing, rated 4.85 from over 700 reviews.

Things to Do on Santa Maria and Graciosa

27. Find Real Sand on Santa Maria

Santa Maria is the warmest and driest island in the Azores, and the one with proper golden sand. Praia Formosa has lifeguards and a beach bar in summer, and hosts the Maré de Agosto music festival in late August. Then drive down the steep road to the Baía de São Lourenço, where vineyards climb the bay in black stone terraces.

Getting there: a short flight from Ponta Delgada.

28. Descend Into Graciosa's Furna do Enxofre

On quiet, low Graciosa, a spiral stairway of 183 steps leads down inside the island's caldera to the Furna do Enxofre, a vast cave with a lake and steaming sulphur vents. It's a strange, beautiful place.

Few visitors to the Azores ever see it.

Cost: €5. Hours: daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October; Tuesday to Saturday in winter.

How Many Days in the Azores?

Seven days for a first visit to the Azores.

That's five or six full days on São Miguel plus a spare day for weather, which you'll probably use. Add Pico and Faial and you need 10 to 14 days, because every island hop costs about half a day. Don't try to see more than two or three Azores islands in a week. Our Azores itinerary has day-by-day plans.

Getting Around the Azores

Rent a car.

On São Miguel, Pico, Terceira and Flores, the viewpoints, lakes and trailheads are spread out, and buses are rare. Uber and Bolt run on São Miguel (Bolt also on Terceira), but with few cars. DiscoverCars compares the rental companies at each airport; book an automatic early for summer. Our guide to driving in Portugal covers licences and road rules.

Between the Azores islands, you'll fly with SATA Air Açores. The €60 inter-island fare you'll read about is for Azores residents only. Atlânticoline ferries link Pico, Faial and São Jorge, and Flores with Corvo, but nothing sails to São Miguel. Our Azores island hopping guide has the routes.

For your arrival at Ponta Delgada, a Welcome Pickups driver can meet you in arrivals; the airport is about 10 minutes from the centre.

Best Time to Visit the Azores

June to September, for the warmest, driest and most settled Azores weather. That's also when the Vila Franca islet, the Lagoa do Fogo shuttle and most summer boat trips run.

May and early October are quieter and cheaper. But in October, some sights cut back: the Vila Franca islet closes on 11 October, and Terceira's caves open only four afternoons a week. Winter is mild but wet, with rougher seas. Whatever the month, pack layers and a rain jacket.

Azores weather changes fast.

Where to Stay in the Azores

On São Miguel, stay in Ponta Delgada for a first visit, with a night in Furnas if you can.

On the other Azores islands, stay near the ferry or the airport. Our guide to where to stay in the Azores compares every island, and our list of the best hotels in the Azores has more options.

• Budget, Ponta Delgada: Out of the Blue, a highly rated hostel with private rooms.
• Mid-range, Ponta Delgada: Senhora da Rosa, a 4-star with a rooftop pool and spa on the edge of the city.
• Splurge, Ponta Delgada: Octant Ponta Delgada, on the waterfront.
• Furnas: Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, right beside the park and its thermal pool.
• Pico: Pocinhobay, a small design B&B by the sea near Madalena.
• Faial: Azul Singular, upscale tents with sea views above Horta.
• Terceira: Terceira Mar Hotel, with an infinity pool on the sea in Angra.

What Azores Sights Cost in 2026

Plan Your Azores Trip

1. Choose your islands first, then book flights, including the inter-island hops.
2. Book your hotel early, especially for July and August. See our picks above.
3. Rent a car through DiscoverCars, ideally an automatic.
4. Book timed tickets for Caldeira Velha, Poça da Dona Beija and Mount Pico, and the whale watching trip in summer.
5. Get an eSIM such as Yesim so maps work on the mountain roads.
6. Don't skip travel insurance: fog cancels inter-island flights and boat trips. EKTA is one option, and our Portugal travel insurance guide explains what to look for.

Still deciding what to do in the Azores versus Madeira? Read our Madeira vs Azores comparison. And for flights, costs and safety, start with our Azores travel guide.