The Azores
Nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, known for crater lakes, hot springs and whale watching. Go for green trails and wildlife.
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The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,400 kilometers west of Lisbon. They form an autonomous region of Portugal. Volcanic activity shaped the land. On São Miguel, the largest island, crater lakes fill old volcanic basins. At Furnas, on the same island, hot springs warm the ground, and local cooks slow-cook a stew in it.
Visitors come for hiking, wildlife and quiet scenery more than for beach holidays. Whale and dolphin watching trips leave from several ports, and sperm whales are among the species seen. Late spring through early autumn is the best time for hiking, and the weather stays mild the rest of the year. Plan at least a week to cover more than one island. Trips between islands go by flight or ferry, and each extra island adds travel time.
The Azores in five
- Choose one island or two, not fiveBetween islands you travel by boat or regional flight, and each hop eats a day. São Miguel fills a week by itself, so add a second island only if you have nine or ten days.
- Rent a car on every islandThe tourism board points to car hire for exploring, since sights and trailheads are spread along the coast and the volcanic interior. Book ahead for summer.Trains and cars in Portugal
- Book whale watching early in your stayThe tourism board lists operators on several islands and says more than 20 types of cetaceans can be seen. Book early so bad weather has a spare day behind it.
- Carry water and a charged phone on trailsThe Azores trail rules say stream and lagoon water is not safe to drink, and phone coverage can fail on trails. Tell someone your route, follow the waymarks and call 112 in an emergency.
- Leave a long layover on the way to the islandsYour first Schengen airport does the border check and EES registration, so a tight connection through Lisbon to the islands is a risk. Leave a generous layover rather than one that fits only if every queue is short.EES explained
Need to know
- Airport
- Ponta Delgada (PDL) on São Miguel is the main gateway; other islands have airports
- Getting there
- About 2 hours from Lisbon and Porto; under 6 hours from the USA, per the tourism board Read more
- Getting around
- Rental car on each island; boats and regional flights between islands
- Best base
- São Miguel for a first trip; add Pico or Faial
- Time needed
- 7 days for one island; 10 days for two or three
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain17 rainy daysHigh17°Low15°Mild, rainJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Mild, showersFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Mild, changeableMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, changeable
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh17°Low15°Mild, greenAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low16°Warm, flowersMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, flowers
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low18°Warm, clearerJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clearer
- JulyPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Warm, whale seasonJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, whale season
- AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Warm, peakAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, peak
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low21°Warm, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh21°Low19°Mild, showersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 163 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low17°Mild, wetNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh17°Low16°Mild, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Ponta Delgada, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Azores
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
20
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 27%
The Azores
07:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°17°27%Monday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 27%.
- Tue20°16°6%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Wed20°15°49%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Thu20°17°63%Thursday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Fri20°15°73%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sat17°13°88%Saturday: Rain. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Sun19°16°88%Sunday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 88%.
Updated 05:01 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Sete Cidadesby car on São MiguelTwin crater lakes and a rim viewpoint, best on a clear morning.
- Furnas valleyby car on São MiguelHot springs, geothermal pools and a lake in a green valley.
- Pico and Faial hopby ferry across the channelTwo islands in one trip, with a mountain on one side and a marina on the other.
Before you go to The Azores
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Rules for The Azores, checked
- Azores trails: stream and lagoon water is not safe to drink, mobile coverage may fail, and 112 is the emergency number.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around The Azores
Portugal's other Atlantic island group
Read the guideLisbon travel guideThe mainland gateway for flights
Read the guideTrains and cars in PortugalCar hire and getting around
Read the guideEES explainedThe border step on a first Schengen entry
Read the guideeSIM for PortugalData for maps and trail apps
Read the guideInsurance for PortugalCover for hikes and cancelled flights
Read the guideAll of PortugalCities, coast, islands and entry rules
Read the guideThe Azores FAQ
How many days do you need in the Azores?
Seven days cover one island well, and ten days let you add a second by flight or boat. Trying to see three islands in a week means spending much of it in transit.
Which Azores island should you visit first?
São Miguel suits most first trips, with the most flights, car hire and sights, including lakes and hot springs. Add Pico or Faial for a second island with a different character.
When is the best time to visit the Azores?
May to September is warmest and clearest, and July and August are busiest. Spring and early autumn are quieter, but weather is changeable at any time of year.
Do you need a car in the Azores?
Yes, on most islands. Sights, trailheads and viewpoints are spread out, and public transport is limited. Book a car early in summer.
Is it safe to hike alone in the Azores?
Trails are marked and managed, but the rules advise telling someone your route and carrying water and a charged phone, since coverage can fail. Check the weather first, because mist can fall fast.