In a nutshell
- In this article, we cover the 22 best things to do in the Azores — across all nine islands.
- Our three absolute top picks are the volcanic lake Lagoa do Fogo, the thermal spring Poça da Dona Beija, and the natural swimming pools at Ponta do Admoiro.
- For every attraction, you’ll get our honest, personal recommendations so you can make the most of your trip.
- The waters around the Azores are home to whales and dolphins — we really recommend booking a whale watching tour while you’re there.
Azores — where exactly are they?
The Azores are a group of 9 islands located about 1,370 kilometers west of the European mainland. Administratively, they belong to Portugal, and Portuguese is spoken here.
The islands are among our favorite off-the-beaten-path destinations.
The main island is São Miguel; the better-known islands include Pico, Faial, and Terceira, while the smaller ones are Flores, São Jorge, Graciosa, Santa Maria, and Corvo.
We’ll walk you through the best things to do in the Azores across all the islands — though you’ll quickly notice that most of the highlights are on the main island of São Miguel.
All Azores islands on one map
To give you a better overview, here are all 9 Azores islands on a map.
Viewpoints and hikes in the Azores
Viewpoints, or Miradouros as they’re called in the Azores, are always a highlight and can usually be combined with a short but rewarding hike.
Caldeira das Sete Cidades
Island: São Miguel
The Caldeira das Sete Cidades (Seven Cities) is a vast crater landscape with several lakes and a village of the same name.
The two most famous lakes are Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul. Far more romantic than the scientific explanation for the lakes’ colors is the legend of a forbidden love between a princess and a shepherd: the blue comes from the tears of the blue-eyed princess, and the green from the prince’s green eyes.
There are quite a few viewpoints around the Caldeira, such as the Miradouro da Vista do Rei. From here you enjoy a truly royal view.
You can snag a particularly stunning vantage point from the roof of the ruins of the Monte Palace Hotel. Back in 1989, it was an exclusive 5-star hotel — until it went bankrupt after just one year. Access isn’t entirely permitted, and you should have a taste for the charm of crumbling buildings.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Day trip to Sete Cidades with Blue and Green Lake
Serra do Cume
Island: Terceira
This viewpoint looks out over a deep green pastoral landscape that’s often described as a patchwork quilt — the individual pasture plots are separated by walls of black volcanic stone, and the effect is seriously striking.
Beyond the valley you can also see the ocean and Praia da Victória.
The viewpoint sits on the rim of a large crater and features a proper observation platform that extends out over the crater edge. If you’re afraid of heights, this probably won’t become your favorite spot.
Our hotel tip: ALLuar Lodge – We love the ocean views and the delicious breakfast basket with local products.
Montanha do Pico
Island: Pico
At 2,351 meters, Pico is the highest mountain in all of Portugal and, as you’ve probably guessed, the namesake of the island of Pico.
The hike is quite demanding — at eight hours of walking time round trip, it’s no casual stroll. But you’ll be rewarded with a seriously incredible panorama across the entire island. At the top, a massive volcanic crater with a diameter of 500 meters awaits you.
Fair warning though: it can get pretty breezy on Pico, so make sure to bring a warm jacket.
Our hotel tip: Pico Studios – A comfortable apartment where you can immediately feel how much love the host puts into it.
Lakes and hot springs in the Azores
The Azores are known for their stunning colors: from the lush green of the meadows to colorful exotic flowers, and above all the deep blue of the lakes. Here are five beautiful bodies of water you really shouldn’t miss.
Lagoa do Fogo
Island: São Miguel
When an attraction already has a name as cool as Lake of Fire, you naturally expect something spectacular.
And you won’t be disappointed: a lake whose deep blue is only outdone by the piercing green surrounding it. Lagoa do Fogo formed inside an extinct volcanic crater, and you’ll find plenty of great viewpoints around it overlooking the scenery.
The only problem with this picturesque vista is that it often disappears behind a thick wall of fog. Our tip: as soon as the sun comes out, lace up your shoes and head up to the crater!
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
São Miguel and Lagoa do Fogo hiking tour
Poco da Alagoinha
Island: Flores
A lake with many names — we’ve simply gone with the most common one here. Whatever you choose to call it, this lake on Flores is pretty much what we imagine the Garden of Eden to look like.
A hidden lake that glitters paradisiacally in the sun, surrounded by gently rushing waterfalls that tumble wildly down rugged, green-covered rock cliffs. Wow — if that doesn’t sound simply wonderful.
But Poço da Alagoinha is special for two more reasons. First, it’s not a crater lake like most lakes in the Azores. Second, a wide variety of animal species live here. In our opinion, this is an absolute must-see when you’re thinking about things to do in the Azores.
Our hotel tip: Villas do Mar – Great location with sunset views — when booking, look for an ocean view room. Perfect for families.
Poca da Dona Beija
Island: São Miguel
This one isn’t a lake but a thermal spring — essentially a natural pool fed by groundwater that’s considerably warmer than a regular lake. You can usually recognize them not only by the cool wisps of steam, but unfortunately also by the sulfuric smell.
This thermal spring is located near Furnas on São Miguel, and there are a total of five pools here — four of them with a temperature of 39°C (102°F) and the last one at 28°C (82°F).
A special highlight of these thermal springs is the bright orange river that winds alongside them. The high iron content gives the water its striking color.
Heads up: It’s best to bring dark-colored clothing and towels, as the iron-rich water tends to leave residue on light colors that won’t wash out.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Furnas thermal baths in the evening
Sete Lagoas
Island: Flores
Back to the lakes — this attraction is an entire lake district called Sete Lagoas, meaning seven lakes.
Each lake is unique and named after its individual characteristics. There’s the deep one (Lagoa Funda), the white one (Lagoa Branca), the dry one (Lagoa Seca), the long one (Lagoa Comprida), the shallow one (Lagoa Rasa), the hilly one (Lagoa Lomba), and the black lake (Lagoa Negra).
The lake district is perfect for a little road trip with stops along the way for hiking. There’s often some fog here too, but luckily the landscape looks almost even more impressive in it.
Our hotel tip: Villas do Mar – Great location with sunset views — when booking, look for an ocean view room. Perfect for families.
Natural Pools Ponta do Admoiro
Island: Pico
You won’t find typical beaches lined with rows of lounge chairs and umbrellas in the Azores. In our opinion, that’s a plus — but it doesn’t mean you have to skip swimming.
Just a four-minute drive from the town of São João, Ponta do Admoiro offers several natural swimming pools. The occasional wave does splash over the edge, but you can swim safely here while taking in the breathtaking scenery.
We’d call that Infinity Pool 2.0! The beautiful “poolside” of lava rock also warms up in the sun — perfect for leaning against, drying off, and relaxing.
Our hotel tip: Pico Studios – A comfortable apartment where you can immediately feel how much love the host puts into it.
Beaches in the Azores
The Azores are a real paradise for hiking and all kinds of water sports. But even if you’re simply in the mood for a beach day, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our three favorite beaches in the Azores.
Faja de Lopo Vaz
Island: Flores
Not in the mood for a beach packed towel-to-towel? That definitely won’t happen here!
Faja de Lopo Vaz is a black sand and stone beach that sits in splendid isolation amid steeply dropping, wildly overgrown cliffs. You can only reach the beach via a short hike from Lajes das Flores, but don’t worry — it’s very manageable even if you’re not super fit.
Along the way to the cove, bananas and other tropical fruits grow beside the path. You’ll also spot the occasional small cottage where locals still live, depending on the season.
Our hotel tip: Villas do Mar – Great location with sunset views — when booking, look for an ocean view room. Perfect for families.
Praia Formosa
Island: Santa Maria
Praia Formosa roughly translates to beautiful beach, and that’s exactly what you get here.
This beach on Santa Maria is probably one of the few truly classic swimming beaches in the Azores. Here you can lie on white sand and take a dip in the calm, shallow bay when it gets too hot.
You can reach the beach by car and there’s parking available, though it can get busy on weekends. Praia Formosa is therefore also a great choice if you’re on vacation with kids.
By the way, Praia Formosa is also excellent for surfers.
Our hotel tip: Alo Baía São Lourenço – A great apartment for families; one of the few sandy beaches in the Azores is just a one-minute walk away.
Mosteiros
Island: São Miguel
Mosteiros is both a charming fishing village and a beach on the island of São Miguel. You might as well check out both while you’re there.
With its black, fine sand, the beach would already be something special. But it also offers natural pools and several hot springs. Also impressive are the jagged rock formations that jut straight up out of the sea just off the coast.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Caves in the Azores
Since the Azores are volcanic islands, it only makes sense that there are some seriously cool caves here too. They offer exciting experiences for explorers of all ages.
Gruta do Carvão
Island: São Miguel
In this grotto on São Miguel, you walk through underground tunnels with a local guide — tunnels once carved out by flowing lava.
The small pools of water inside create wonderful light effects and make for great photo opportunities. From the ceiling hang various stalactites, some smooth and others with a whitish shimmer.
A trip into the cave is also a great solution for rainy days, which do come around every now and then in the Azores.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Algar do Carvão
Island: Terceira
While at Gruta do Carvão you walk through tunnels, this cave takes you steeply downward: you descend up to 100 meters deep into the interior of a volcanic cave that formed over 3,200 years ago.
At the bottom, a small lagoon with crystal-clear water awaits you — a striking contrast against the deep black basalt rock walls. From the ceiling, sharp stalactites hang down here as well.
The cave is truly unique, and it’s no surprise that it has been declared a natural monument.
Our hotel tip: ALLuar Lodge – We love the ocean views and the delicious breakfast basket with local products.
Tour through the Algar do Carvão volcanic cave
Furna do Enxofre
Island: Graciosa
Furna do Enxofre on Graciosa impresses above all with its gigantic dimensions: it is 194 meters long and 40 meters deep.
To get inside, you need to descend a spiral staircase with 183 steps. The effort is totally worth it, though, because at the bottom you’re greeted by the cave’s centerpiece: a perfectly dome-shaped ceiling.
The cave also contains a very large cold-water lake and a steaming, bubbling mud pot — the latter tends to be the biggest hit with kids!
Our hotel tip: Boa Nova Hostel – A hostel with private rooms, perfect if you want to save some money and meet fellow travelers.
Gruta das Torres
Island: Pico
Gruta das Torres is famous not just in the Azores — it’s actually one of the longest lava caves in all of Europe. What you can’t see in the darkness underground is all the more impressive: the tunnel system stretches more than 5 kilometers long!
The tunnel system is also a little unsettling, since it’s often compared to “Swiss cheese” for good reason. In some spots, the cave ceiling is only a few meters thick, and heavy tractors are no longer allowed to drive on the land above.
You can only visit as part of a short guided tour — but it’s absolutely worth it, as you’ll learn all kinds of fascinating facts about how these lava tubes formed.
Our hotel tip: Pico Studios – A comfortable apartment where you can immediately feel how much love the host puts into it.
Gardens and plantations in the Azores
The Azores are incredibly diverse — they’re a great destination even if you’re not just chasing the ocean. There’s so much greenery here, from plantations and botanical gardens to wide open pastures.
Chá Gorreana
Island: São Miguel
When most people think of tea plantations, their minds drift to far-off Asia. But that’s not necessary, because tea is actually produced in Europe too — specifically, the only two tea producers in Europe are both on São Miguel.
One of them is Chá Gorreana. Year-round, you can admire the seemingly endless rows of plants that drape themselves like a giant carpet across the hillside. In December, the tea plants even bloom.
Once you’ve seen just how labor-intensive tea production is, you’ll appreciate every cup a little more. And of course, you simply must try a cup while you’re there.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Tour to the tea plantation and a volcano
Terra Nostra Park
Island: São Miguel
Terra Nostra is a botanical garden spanning 12.5 hectares in the Furnas Valley. The unique location creates high humidity in the air, allowing many exotic plants to grow here that you’d rarely see elsewhere.
At the heart of the park you’ll find a large thermal pool: at a pleasantly warm water temperature of 38°C (100°F), you can truly unwind. Don’t let the murky color of the water put you off.
As with the Poça da Dona Beija, we recommend bringing dark towels and swimwear.
Afterward, you should definitely try a bowl of Cozido. It’s a stew with sausage and vegetables that slow-cooks for many hours in the volcanic earth — a local specialty and honestly one of the most memorable meals you’ll have in the Azores.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Ananases A Arruda
Island: São Miguel
Whether as a dessert or a cocktail garnish — pineapple is simply a staple of Azorean cuisine. So it doesn’t surprise us that the Azores are the only place in the world where pineapples are grown in greenhouses, which also ensures they’re available year-round.
The Augusto Arruda pineapple plantation isn’t the absolute top pick among Azores attractions, but if you can squeeze in a visit, it’s worth the detour.
You can watch the small, very sweet pineapples grow, and sample some delicious pineapple juice in the gift shop. If you’re still looking for a souvenir, pick up a bottle of pineapple liqueur. Mmm!
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Criação Velha
Island: Pico
Wine has been produced on Pico since the island was first settled. The excellent Verdelho wine was once famous across much of the world, until an introduced pest infestation dealt a heavy blow to winemaking in the Azores.
One of the best-known wine-growing regions in the Azores is near the village of Criação Velha and has even been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Why? Because the wine here is grown in a very special way.
The vines are divided into an endless number of tiny plots, separated by walls of volcanic stone (Currais). Seen from above, it looks more like a giant labyrinth. The walls protect the vines from the salty sea winds, while the volcanic ash provides wonderfully nutrient-rich soil for the grapes.
Our hotel tip: Pico Studios – A comfortable apartment where you can immediately feel how much love the host puts into it.
Activities in the Azores
In this last section, we’ve rounded up a few more experiences that don’t quite fit into a single category — a colorful mix of things to do in the Azores that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
Whale Watching
Exotic blue flowers, wild-romantic waterfalls, legend-steeped lakes, bubbling volcanoes — and whales and dolphins on top of all that? It sounds almost too good to be true. But it is!
In fact, around 28 different species of whales visit the Azores every year — roughly a third of all species worldwide. Some whales and dolphins can be spotted year-round, while for others you’ll want to check in advance when they pass through.
A whale watching tour is practically one of the best activities on an Azores trip. And don’t worry — the chances of not seeing any animals on a tour are close to zero.
Ponta Delgada
Island: São Miguel
With all the beautiful nature the Azores have to offer, we still want to include a city in our list of Azores highlights. Ponta Delgada is not only the capital of São Miguel, but of all the Azores islands.
The city started out as just a small fishing village, and you can still feel that special charm today in many corners. Yet Ponta Delgada has grown into a quite cosmopolitan little city, with great shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants.
There’s also no shortage of beautiful churches here — you really can’t miss them on a stroll through the city. Make sure to also see the city gates Portas da Cidade and the small park José do Canto.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo
Island: São Miguel
Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo is essentially an island within an island — a small chunk of land that sits 1 kilometer off the coast of São Miguel.
The islet formed from a volcanic crater, and at its center today sits a circular natural pool with a diameter of 150 meters and crystal-clear, turquoise water. Since there’s only a small connection to the open sea, you’re almost completely shielded from waves and currents.
The rocky walls around the crater are covered with unique, endemic plants. The islet also gained worldwide fame when the Cliff Diving World Series was held here.
Our hotel tip: A Villa by the Sea B&B – We love the large windows with ocean views and the great location for exploring the whole island.
