Azores walking guide
Walking offers an ever-changing landscape of emerald meadows, jewel-coloured lakes, wildflower blooms and volcanic peaks.
How to get to the Azores
There aren’t any ferries to the Azores – only between islands – so unless you want to charter a sailing ship to cross the Atlantic à la Greta Thunberg (which is possible!), you must fly to get to the Azores. Regular direct flights depart from the UK, mainland Europe, USA, Canada and Cape Verde, so you can take your pick of routes. We highlight the easiest and most popular flights below.
It’s worth noting that flight times change seasonally, with direct flights more frequent in summer (June-August) than in winter, so do take these timings as guidance rather than as written in stone. If in doubt – or if you’d like to travel from a country we don’t cover – then get in contact and we’ll connect you with our Azores experts, who’ll give you the latest advice about booking flights to the Azores.
It’s worth noting that flight times change seasonally, with direct flights more frequent in summer (June-August) than in winter, so do take these timings as guidance rather than as written in stone. If in doubt – or if you’d like to travel from a country we don’t cover – then get in contact and we’ll connect you with our Azores experts, who’ll give you the latest advice about booking flights to the Azores.
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Blue whale watching in the Azores, Pico Island
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Travelling to the Azores
Look at a map of the world, and it might take you a while to pinpoint the Azores. Zoom into the Atlantic Ocean roughly 1,600km west of mainland Portugal, and there they are – a diagonal stroke of volcanic islands that, along with Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, make up the remote “fortunate islands” of Macaronesia. So how do you get to the Azores? And how do you get around once you’re there? We explain it all…
Which airport do you fly into for the Azores?
Most visitors fly into Ponta Delgada Airport (AKA João Paulo II Airport) on São Miguel island. Like most airports in the Azores, it’s a tiny single-runway affair right next to the capital city of the Azores, in the south-west of the island.
Direct flights from the following places arrive in Ponta Delgada Airport:
If you’re travelling from the Portuguese mainland, you can also fly directly to:
Direct flights from the following places arrive in Ponta Delgada Airport:
If you’re travelling from the Portuguese mainland, you can also fly directly to:
How to get to Azores from UK?
There are seasonal direct flights from London Heathrow to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel.How many hours flight from UK to the Azores?
Flying direct from London to the Azores will take you around 4.5 hours.Are there direct flights to Azores from UK?
You can fly direct to São Miguel from London Heathrow, London Stansted and Manchester in the UK.For more choice, fly via Lisbon, Faro or Porto. You can fly direct from multiple UK airports to mainland Portugal (between 2.5-3 hours), including London, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh.
From Lisbon and Porto, it’s a 2.5-hour flight to the Azores. You can take your pick of islands, too – there are direct connections to smaller islands like Pico and Faial from the Portuguese mainland. See our tips on how to get to the Azores from mainland Portugal below.
How to get from the USA to the Azores
Direct flights run from New York City to São Miguel, taking about 5.5-6 hours long. Occasionally, flights also run to Terceira Island but they’re far and few between, and change yearly.Alternatively, catch a direct flight from Boston Logan International Airport, Massachusetts, to São Miguel. Direct flights from Boston to the Azores are 4 hours 55 minutes long. There are also direct flights to Terceira in summer.
If the timings don’t suit, fly via mainland Portugal on an indirect flight that stops over at Faro, Lisbon or Porto.
How to get from Canada to the Azores
If you’re flying from Canada, Toronto and Montreal are your gateways to the Azores. Direct flights travel between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ponta Delgada on São Miguel several times a week. Flight times are 5 hours 45 minutes non-stop. There are also direct flights to Terceira in the summer.Montreal is another option – there are direct flights from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and Ponta Delgada that take about 5 hours 20 minutes.
You can also fly via mainland Portugal. We recommend spending time on the mainland if you can, but if not you can take a seven-hour flight to Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, before connecting to a direct 2.5-hour flight to Ponta Delgada.
How to get to Azores from Lisbon
Lots of direct flights zoom daily between mainland Portugal and the Azores. Lisbon has the biggest choice of islands and timings – it’s 2.5-3 hours to São Miguel, 2 hours 40 minutes to Terceira, Faial and Pico.Direct flights to the main airports (e.g. Ponta Delgada on São Miguel) run year-round. In winter, however, you might have to change in Ponta Delgada to reach less popular islands.
You can also get direct flights from Porto and Faro to the Azores, with most arriving into São Miguel.
Our top trip
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
From
£995 to £1135
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
April to September is peak whale watching season in the Azores
April to September is peak whale watching season in the Azores
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How to get around the Azores once you’re there
Considering you’ve landed on a volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic, public transport between the islands is very good, with a comprehensive network of ferries and planes, plus a decent bus service on São Miguel.
However, schedules are reliant on the sometimes unpredictable weather of the Azores. Reset your internal clock to Azores time and travel with a local guide who’ll get you around as smoothly as possible – and match you up with an excellent vineyard tour or restaurant if you have time to kill because of ferry or flight delays. Read our Azores island hopping guide for recommended routes and tips on how to travel between islands in the Azores.
However, schedules are reliant on the sometimes unpredictable weather of the Azores. Reset your internal clock to Azores time and travel with a local guide who’ll get you around as smoothly as possible – and match you up with an excellent vineyard tour or restaurant if you have time to kill because of ferry or flight delays. Read our Azores island hopping guide for recommended routes and tips on how to travel between islands in the Azores.
Responsible Travel would like to thank Azores Tourism for their sponsorship of this article.
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