10 Best Things to Do
The Azores spread across nine Atlantic islands, each with a different reason to linger. São Miguel brings crater lakes, tea fields and the hot springs of Furnas; Pico pairs its volcanic mountain with stone-walled vineyards. Terceira has the historic streets of Angra do Heroísmo, while Flores draws walkers to waterfalls and green cliffs. Choose a few islands that suit your interests, then allow time for the flights, ferries and weather that shape travel between them.
Explore Sete Cidades
Sete Cidades, São Miguel, Portugal
Sete Cidades is one of São Miguel’s defining landscapes, with lakes enclosed by the green slopes of a volcanic crater. Allow time to experience the water’s edge as well as the higher viewpoints, where cloud can change the view completely. The environmental centre beside the lake is a useful place to ask about local geology and walking routes. Check conditions before setting out, and keep the day flexible enough to return if the weather clears.
Crater-lake scenery
Discover the Furnas Valley
Furnas, São Miguel, Portugal
Furnas makes the volcanic origins of São Miguel tangible through steaming springs, a crater lake and the distinctive sulphurous air around its geothermal areas. Combine time in the village with a lakeside walk, then visit the gardens or arrange thermal bathing separately. The contrasts are the attraction: cultivated greenery sits close to active ground. Follow marked paths around the springs, and check the admission arrangements for individual gardens and pools before planning the order of your day.
Volcanic landscapes and gardens
Walk Pico’s vineyard landscape
Criação Velha and Lajido de Santa Luzia, Pico, Portugal
Pico’s vineyards are unlike a conventional wine-country landscape. Low walls of dark volcanic stone divide the vines into small plots, sheltering them from wind and sea spray. Walking through the recognised cultural landscape reveals how much labour went into making this coast productive. Combine the scenery with a separately booked winery tasting or a visit to the wine museum, allowing time to understand the island’s growing traditions rather than treating the walls as a quick photo stop.
Wine heritage
Climb Mount Pico
Mount Pico, Pico, Portugal
Mount Pico rises to 2,351 metres, making it Portugal’s highest point and a commanding presence across the central islands. The ascent is a serious outing, with tiring volcanic terrain and views that depend on the weather. Arrange a qualified guide, discuss your fitness honestly and check current access requirements with Casa da Montanha before committing. Proper hiking footwear and suitable clothing matter, and a clear summit should be treated as a possibility rather than a promise.
A demanding mountain day
Go whale and dolphin watching
Departures from São Miguel, Pico and Faial, Portugal
The waters around the Azores support both resident and migrating cetaceans, making a boat trip a rewarding way to see a different side of the islands. Choose an operator that explains wildlife behaviour and viewing rules before departure, and compare the boat type as well as the starting port. Leave flexibility in your itinerary for weather cancellations. Species and sightings vary, so approach the trip as time observing the ocean rather than a guaranteed encounter with a particular whale.
Atlantic wildlife
Visit Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro
Near Fajãzinha, Flores, Portugal
At Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro, waterfalls drop from a steep green cliff towards a quiet lagoon. The approach on foot is part of the experience, passing through vegetation before the view opens up. Wear shoes with grip and take care on wet stones, allowing enough time to enjoy the setting without hurrying back. Check the current access route locally, especially after heavy rain, rather than assuming the longer surrounding hiking trails are all open.
Waterfalls and green cliffs
Walk historic Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Portugal
Angra do Heroísmo rewards an unhurried walk through streets shaped by its long role as an Atlantic port. Churches, substantial civic buildings and the waterfront help explain why the centre has World Heritage status, while the surrounding fortifications show the importance of protecting the harbour. Explore on foot, then choose individual monuments or museums according to their current opening arrangements. A local guide can add context to buildings that are easy to pass without understanding their history.
Architecture and maritime history
Visit Capelinhos volcano and interpretation centre
Capelo, Faial, Portugal
Capelinhos presents a stark contrast to the green landscapes associated with the Azores. The eruption of 1957–58 created the terrain around the old lighthouse, and the interpretation centre explains what happened through displays housed largely underground. Visit the exhibition before exploring the surroundings to give the scenery more meaning. Check lighthouse access when buying admission, and bring a layer for the exposed coast rather than judging conditions only by the weather in Horta.
Understanding a recent eruption
Walk to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo
Northern coast, São Jorge, Portugal
São Jorge’s northern cliffs descend to small coastal platforms known as fajãs. At Santo Cristo, the lagoon and settlement make a striking destination for a walk, with an approach available from Fajã dos Cubres as well as longer routes from above. Choose a route that matches your fitness and check current trail conditions before leaving. Arrange return transport if needed, and allow time for the landscape rather than turning the outing into a race against a connection.
Coastal walking
Visit Gorreana’s tea fields
Maia, São Miguel, Portugal
Gorreana combines a working tea factory with fields that climb above São Miguel’s northern coast. Follow the marked circular route through the plantation and surrounding countryside, then return to learn about processing the leaves and taste the tea. The official walk is relatively short, but includes dirt paths and changes in level, so sensible footwear is useful. Check the factory’s current visiting arrangements if seeing the production spaces is central to your visit.
Tea and an easy countryside walk