How Many Days to Spend in the Azores

We recommend at least a week, but how much time you need depends on your trip type or how much of the archipelago you want to explore. With nine major islands divided into three groups, São Miguel and Santa Maria in the east, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Terceria and Graciosa in the center, and Flores and Corvo in the west, the Azores are home to highly diverse environments. While all of the Azores are worth seeing, we recommend that you don't miss out on São Miguel for its diversity, Pico for the iconic volcano, São Jorge for its culinary scene, and Faial for a taste of raw nature. 

For a short stay, like a stopover on an intercontinental flight or a 3-day trip from Portugal, the island of São Miguel is your best bet—you’ll have access to several hiking trails around unique volcanic lakes and other natural sights. If you have a week or more, add centrally-located Pico and Faial Islands. With two weeks or more, you can fully explore the Azores, taking your time to hike the rugged coastline of Santa Maria on the Costa Sul trail, whale watching in São Miguel, enjoying a wine and cheese tour in São Jorge, and hiking Ribeira do Ferreiro Well through the remote waterfalls of Flores.

If you are after a short stay, we recommend limiting travel to one or two islands. A popular and convenient itinerary is to fly directly to Ponta Delgada (the largest airport hub in the archipelago) on São Miguel Island and spend three days hiking around the blue-green volcanic lakes of Sete Cidades, surfing at the popular Santa Barbara beach, and relaxing in the thermal baths of Caldeira Velha or Dona Beija. The island is home to 140,000 people and is lively and culturally rich, with events happening all year round. The Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres is the largest celebration in São Miguel, and the island comes together for a week-long celebration with music, parades, and street food.

Another possibility is to fly to Pico Island to hike Mount Pico, the highest peak in Portugal (and also a dormant stratovolcano!). You can then ferry to the adjacent island of Faial for the day and enjoy the view on a panoramic circular tour of Caldeira. More experienced hikers can attempt the Faial Grand Route, a 36-kilometer trail that crosses the island from coast to coast. Spend the rest of the day sunbathing at Porto do Comprido’s natural swimming pool for the most intensely-turquoise water in Europe.

A week to 10 days is ideal to experience the Azores fully. Start by spending 3 to 4 days in São Miguel and tick off the iconic hikes: Salto do Prego, Jenela do Inferno, or Lagoa do Fogo. Keep an eye on the tide and head to Ferraria natural hot springs, a unique thermal water spring that pours directly into the ocean. For seafood lovers, Bar Caloura and O Pescador are renowned restaurants offering fresh, high-quality, affordable fish daily.

From Ponta Delgada, you can fly to all other islands in the Azores. You could spend the rest of your stay exploring the central group, flying to Terceira and ferrying between Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Graciosa, or reaching the western group to explore the wilderness of Corvo and Flores.

With 2 weeks or more, you can tour of all nine islands fully . Well-connected with domestic and international locations, São Miguel is a good starting point. From there, you can fly to Santa Maria and hike the Grande Rota—a challenging 6-hour hike on rugged terrain—or for a more relaxed vibe, spend the afternoon visiting Maia’s Vineyards and sunbathing on the white sand beach of Praia Formosa.

The order in which you prefer to visit the other islands is up to you, but we suggest flying to the central group first and spending at least 5 days discovering other islands. Don’t miss out on the legendary Peter Café Sport in Faial, the iconic meeting point for sailors crossing the Atlantic, the cultural tours in Terceira, the perfect way to discover the island’s cheese-making, embroidery, and ceramics traditions, the lava tunnels of Furna do Abel and Furna da Maria Encantada in Graciosa and the Fajã dos Cubres in São Jorge Island, a unique rock formation on the sea also accessible by car.

Moving to the western group, you can admire the breathtaking waterfalls in the north of Flores and hike the scenic route of lakes, passing by seven lakes nestled into the island’s wild nature. Get a ferry to Corvo and spend the day birdwatching to spot the rare Cory’s shearwater, the Balearic shearwater, and the Storm Petrel, or go snorkeling in the crystal clear waters.

Need help working out your Azores itinerary or booking a hassle-free holiday? Reach out to one of our travel experts for a customized holiday in the Azores. 

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When to visit the Azores