Before you go: A few things to know about the Azores
- The Azores have a population of about 240,000.
- The archipelago can be reached by a flight of about two and a half hours from Lisbon.
- The official language of the Azores is Portuguese, and the currency is the euro.
- Because the Azores are part of the Schengen Area, Turkish citizens require a Schengen visa to visit.
- The islands are one hour behind mainland Portugal. Temperatures generally range from 16 to 25 degrees year-round, and winters are mild and rainy.
- The best time to visit the Azores is from May to September. In June and July, hydrangeas turn the roadsides into long corridors of flowers.
How do you get to the Azores?
To reach the Azores, you first need to fly to Lisbon or Porto. Turkish Airlines operates direct flights from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) and to Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), with flight times of about 5 hours.
After arriving in Lisbon or Porto, you can continue to the islands, such as São Miguel or Terceira, on local SATA Airlines flights. For travel between the islands, you can again use regional flights operated by SATA or ferry services. Ferry schedules vary by route. Crossings from Pico to Faial take about 35 minutes, while routes to São Jorge can take several hours.
Flying between the islands is the easiest and most efficient way to visit multiple islands during your trip. Ferries can be a more affordable option for travelers moving between nearby islands, though they are generally not recommended for short vacations. While ferries offer beautiful scenery and fresh ocean air, they move slowly and serve fewer islands.
To start planning this route from Lisbon or Porto to the Azores, you can explore flight options to Portugal and shape your itinerary accordingly.
Facts about the Azores
The Azores are one of Portugal’s two autonomous regions. The archipelago comprises nine islands grouped into three clusters. In the east are Santa Maria and São Miguel; in the center are Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial; and in the west are Flores and Corvo. All of the islands are of volcanic origin. As a result, one island may have black basalt-coated coastlines, while a neighboring island is shaped by white pumice and soft green hills.
São Miguel is the largest island in the archipelago and is known as the “Green Island.” Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, Furnas, the Gorreana tea plantations, and the island’s capital, Ponta Delgada, are all located here.
Pico is home not only to the highest point in the archipelago but also to the highest point in all of Portugal, at its 2,351-meter volcano. The island also features the Pico Island Vineyard Culture Landscape, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.
Faial earns its nickname, the “Blue Island,” from the deep blue of its hydrangeas. Its capital, Horta, has served as a port of call for sailors crossing the Atlantic for centuries.
Terceira is home to Angra do Heroísmo, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. From the 15th century onward, the city served as a key port in maritime trade between the New World and Europe. It was inscribed for its military architecture and its remarkably well-preserved urban fabric. The island is also regarded as the center of the archipelago’s bullfighting tradition.
São Jorge is often called the “cheese island” for its aged, sharp cheeses. Graciosa, Flores, and Corvo, meanwhile, are quieter islands where rural life still prevails. All three are designated as biosphere reserves under UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere Programme.”
Europe’s only tea plantations: Gorreana and Porto Formoso
The idea that the tea you drink on a quiet European afternoon could come from a fifth-generation Portuguese family is not something most people expect. Yet that has been the reality here since 1883. On the northern slopes of São Miguel, in the only region in Europe still producing tea commercially, two historic factories continue to operate. The most prominent is Chá Gorreana, the oldest continuously operating tea factory in Europe, still owned by the founding Gago da Câmara-Hintze family.
The story dates back to the 19th century, when a fungal disease devastated the island’s orange groves. As orange exports collapsed, the islands began searching for alternative crops. Tea seeds arrived from Brazil, but for a long time the Azoreans had little idea how to cultivate them properly. In 1878, the São Miguel Agricultural Development Society invited two Chinese experts from Macau, Lau-a-Pan and his translator, Lau-a-Teng, to the island. The tea culture that exists today took root on the knowledge they introduced. In the 20th century, competition from Mozambican tea, the impact of the world wars, and waves of emigration gradually forced the closure of every other factory on the islands. Gorreana remained the sole producer still standing.
Today, Gorreana produces between 33 and 40 tons of tea annually on 32 hectares of land. The island’s humid, cool climate keeps away the natural pests that affect tea plants in Asia. As a result, production remains entirely organic, with no pesticides or chemical preservatives. Some of the Marshall, Sons & Company machines still in use on the production line date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can observe the drying, rolling, and sorting processes closely. Gorreana produces both black and green teas, and the factory is open for free visits. At the end of the tour, guests are offered a complimentary cup of tea on a small terrace. The view of the hills descending from the plantations toward the sea, with steam rising from the cup, is the kind of moment that lingers long afterward.
A few kilometers to the west stands the Porto Formoso Tea Factory. Founded in the 1920s, it closed in the 1980s and reopened in 2001. It operates on a slightly smaller scale than Gorreana but still produces entirely organic black tea. Every year on the first Saturday of May, Porto Formoso revives the old harvest tradition, with more than a hundred volunteers dressed in 19th-century clothing gathering tea leaves in wicker baskets.
For travelers planning to add the islands to their next Portugal itinerary, the mainland is the starting point. Those considering spending a day or two in Lisbon can explore our article, Lisbon, the city of explorers, to wander its labyrinthine streets. Travelers passing through Porto can review our Three-day Porto piece, which also includes the Douro Valley route.
Sete Cidades: The tears of a princess
The Sete Cidades caldera on the western edge of São Miguel is one of the first landscapes that comes to mind when people think of the Azores. Inside this ancient volcanic crater, nearly 5 kilometers wide, lie twin lakes that appear in two different colors, one green and the other blue. In reality, however, they are part of the same body of water. The difference in color comes from how light is reflected and refracted on each side.
Locals attach a romantic legend to the scene. According to the story, the king blocks the forbidden love between a blue-eyed princess and a green-eyed shepherd. The two lovers meet one last time and cry together, their tears forming two lakes of different colors. The scientific explanation is far less dramatic. Variations in how light refracts through the water layers on each side make one lake appear blue and the other green, depending on the viewing angle. Even so, the legend lives on in guidebooks, on café walls, and in souvenir shops throughout the island.
The most photographed viewpoint here is Vista do Rei, meaning “King’s View.” Nearby, the abandoned ruins of the Monte Palace Hotel lend a slightly ghostly atmosphere to the crater’s edge. The Boca do Inferno viewpoint, meanwhile, tends to be less crowded. If you descend toward the village of Sete Cidades along the lakeshore, you can visit the small Church of São Nicolau and rent a rowboat at the pier.
Furnas: The pot cooked beneath the earth
Located on the eastern side of São Miguel, the village of Furnas sits within the crater of a massive volcano and remains one of the rarest places on Earth. Since its last eruption in 1630, this volcanic system has been considered dormant, though not extinct. Even in the middle of the village squares, boiling waters, sulfuric steam vents, and mineral-rich springs continue to emerge from beneath the ground. In the Caldeiras das Furnas area at the center of the village, mud pools enclosed by iron railings bubble above boiling point as the air fills with the scent of sulfur rising from the heated rocks.
The best-known tradition here is Cozido das Furnas. Around five in the morning, local restaurant owners arrive carrying large steel pots filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, taro root, and garlic, and bury them in their designated geothermal pits beside Furnas Lake. The pots cook for six to seven hours, not over direct fire but via volcanic steam rising from underground. No water or broth is added because the ingredients slowly release their own juices into one another. By lunchtime, pairs of workers pull the pots from the earth. This method is considered one of the world’s most distinctive examples of geothermal cooking traditions. For this reason, Cozido das Furnas remains one of the most distinctive dishes in Portuguese cuisine.
Furnas is more than a culinary experience. Terra Nostra Park, founded in 1775 by the American merchant Thomas Hickling, is home to one of the world’s largest camellia collections and its famous iron-rich thermal pool, known for its orange hue and 40-degree water. Just outside the village, Poça da Dona Beija offers a simpler bathing experience, with seven hot pools that remain open into the evening. Within the village, visitors can taste mineral waters from springs with different compositions, such as Glória Patri, Água Azeda, and Ferro, or watch the island’s green tea turn purple when mixed with sparkling mineral water.
A UNESCO heritage vineyard at the foot of Mount Pico
Pico Island is known for two things: the highest mountain in Portugal and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed vineyard landscape. At 2,351 meters, Mount Pico is also one of the tallest volcanoes in the Atlantic Ocean. Its last eruption occurred in 1720. Dormant since then, the mountain has been a nature reserve since 1972. An 8-kilometer trail leads to the summit, and the hike takes seven to nine hours. Anyone wishing to climb must register at Casa da Montanha and carry a GPS transmitter, as daily climbing quotas are strictly limited. Because of the mountain’s loose volcanic rock, the trail can be demanding on the ankles and knees, and in higher sections, warm steam still rises from the ground in many places. On clear days, the summit offers views of Faial, São Jorge, and Graciosa all at once.
Along Pico’s coastal plains, another spectacle unfolds. Beginning in the late 15th century, Franciscan monks planted Verdelho grapevines, which were cultivated behind hundreds of kilometers of basalt stone walls built across the lava fields to shield them from wind and salt carried by the ocean. This landscape of small, rectangular vineyard plots, known as “currais,” was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.
A legend of birds and flower lined hedges
The origins of names often distort reality slightly, and the Azores are no exception. When Portuguese explorers approached the islands in the 15th century, they saw birds of prey circling the cliffs and assumed they were “açor,” or goshawks. That is how the islands came to be called “Ilhas dos Açores,” meaning the Islands of the Goshawk. However, modern ornithological studies later revealed that goshawks had never lived on the islands. The birds the explorers observed were, in fact, a regional subspecies known as Buteo buteo rothschildi. Once the mistaken identification became established, no one considered changing the name. Even today, the goshawk motif appears on the Azorean flag.
The hydrangeas that line the rural roads of the islands in long blue ribbons are also not native to the Azores. Originally from Asia, the plant was introduced to the islands in the 19th century. The high acidity of the volcanic soil turns the flowers deep blue. Over time, island farmers began replacing the stone walls once used to separate livestock with living hedges made from these flowers. Today, especially on Faial, Flores and São Miguel, roads across the islands transform from June to August into corridors of blue, purple and pink.
On the table: Cheese, limpets, and greenhouse-grown pineapples
Grazing culture dominates the gastronomy of the Azores. In São Miguel and São Jorge, it is often said that the number of cows exceeds the number of people. Rain-soaked slopes year-round, soft grasslands, and cool weather create an almost ideal environment for dairy production. From this milk comes one of Portugal’s best-known cheeses, Queijo São Jorge. Production began with techniques introduced by Flemish settlers who arrived on the island in the mid-15th century. Since 1986, the cheese has been protected under DOP (Denominação de Origem Protegida) status. It has a firm texture and a slightly spicy, sharp flavor. The cheese is aged for at least three months; wheels matured for four to seven months are commonly served at breakfast tables, while those aged for one to two years appear in more refined dishes. Pico and Faial also have distinct cheese traditions. Vaquinha, Queijo do Pico, and Queijo do Vale continue to be produced on a smaller scale, yet with remarkable consistency over the years.
What the ocean brings to the table forms the backbone of Azorean cuisine. Lapas, shellfish that cling to coastal rocks and resemble sea limpets, are among the islands’ classic dishes, usually served over charcoal with garlic and butter. Small shellfish known as cracas arrive at the table still holding seawater in their shells and are considered one of the local cuisine’s signature delicacies. Tuna and chicharros, small fish from the horse mackerel family, are staples on restaurant menus throughout the islands. In the fishing town of Lajes on Pico or in Caloura along São Miguel’s southern coast, many seafood plates are prepared and served the same day the fish is caught.
Perhaps the islands’ most surprising agricultural story is the greenhouse-grown pineapples of São Miguel. After the orange industry collapsed in the 19th century, farmers sought alternatives and began experimenting with pineapple cultivation. Because the island’s climate could not naturally replicate tropical conditions, the pineapples were grown not outdoors but in whitewashed glass greenhouses. Young plants are prepared in “hot beds” made from a mixture of wood, soil, and sawdust, and the greenhouses are filled with dense smoke for an entire week to trigger flowering. A single pineapple takes between 18 and 24 months to mature, compared with about 13 months in tropical producers such as Costa Rica. The result is smaller fruit with higher acidity and a far more concentrated aroma. Plantação Augusto Arruda has maintained this production tradition since 1919 and welcomes visitors free of charge. Plantação de Ananás dos Açores and Ananás Santo António are also worth visiting.
For dessert, São Miguel’s bolo lêvedo stands out. Especially around Vila Franca do Campo near Furnas and in the village of Sete Cidades, this soft, round bread is eaten warm, straight from the oven, with butter spread inside. It remains an essential part of island breakfasts. Massa sovada, meanwhile, is a sweeter, lightly egg-based bread known for staying fresh for weeks.
Whale watching and the trace of Mark Twain
The Azores remained a whaling archipelago until 1987. Today, however, the islands are recognized as one of the world’s important cetacean sanctuaries. In February 2023, the World Cetacean Alliance officially designated them a “Whale Heritage Area.” The depth of the surrounding waters and the archipelago’s location at the intersection of tectonic plates make the islands a migration corridor for 28 species, with some species observable year-round and others appearing seasonally. The old lookout huts, known as “vigias,” once used during the whaling era, now guide whale-watching boats. Pico and São Miguel are the primary departure points for observation tours. In Lajes do Pico, the Whale Museum houses one of the most extensive collections documenting the former whaling industry.
One small additional note: during his long 1867 voyage aboard the Quaker City, which later became the book “Innocents Abroad,” Mark Twain stopped in Horta, the capital of Faial, as his first Atlantic destination. In the book, he openly writes that the Azores were little known to the wider world at the time. Almost no one aboard the ship knew what the Azores were or where they were. From 19th-century America, the archipelago was seen as one of those blank spaces on the map, a place whose name seemed to drift somewhere between geography and legend.
Before you set off…
Most travelers come to know Portugal through the views from São Jorge Castle in Lisbon or the Ribeira streets of Porto. The Azores bear no resemblance to those familiar images. They are quieter, calmer, and more removed from the mainland’s rush. A single cup of tea cooling on a terrace at the edge of a crater, steam rising from a pot cooked beneath the earth, grapes ripening between basalt walls, and blue hydrangeas turning roadsides into corridors each June. All of it lies 1,500 kilometers away, where three tectonic plates meet and nine pieces of green land rise from the Atlantic.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Azores, and which country do they belong to?
The Azores are an archipelago of nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 kilometers west of Lisbon. They are one of Portugal’s two autonomous regions, the other being Madeira. Since the islands lie at the meeting point of North American, Eurasian, and African lithospheric plates, they are all of volcanic origin.
How do you get to the Azores from Türkiye? Does Turkish Airlines operate direct flights?
Turkish Airlines does not currently offer direct flights to the Azores. After flying from Istanbul Airport to Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO), travelers can continue to Ponta Delgada (PDL), the capital of São Miguel, with TAP Portugal or Azores Airlines (SATA). There are multiple daily flights between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada, with a flight time of about two hours and thirty minutes. Depending on transfer times, the total journey usually takes about 10 to 12 hours.
When should you visit the Azores?
The best time to visit the Azores is typically between June and September. Although temperatures remain pleasant year-round, the islands tend to be quite rainy between October and April. For this reason, the period from June to September, when sea temperatures range from 20 to 25 degrees, is considered the ideal time to visit the archipelago.
Do you need a visa to visit the Azores?
Yes. Because the Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal, they are part of the Schengen Area. Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye need a valid Schengen visa to enter the islands. Applications are submitted to the Portuguese Consulate.
What is the best time of year for an Azores trip?
From late May to late September is generally the most favorable weather period. Temperatures usually hover around 20 to 25 degrees, and rainfall is relatively low. The hydrangeas, one of the islands’ most iconic sights, bloom from June to August. The best months for whale watching are April through June. After October, rainfall increases throughout winter, and weather-related delays between the islands become more common.
How many days should you spend in the Azores?
If you plan to stay on only one island, at least three to four days are recommended for São Miguel. For travelers adding a second island, usually Pico or Faial, a seven- to eight-day itinerary works well. Those wishing to explore three or more islands should ideally set aside 10 to 14 days. Although flights between the islands are relatively short, ferry schedules and transfer times should still be factored into planning.
Which island should you visit first in the Azores?
For a first trip, São Miguel is the most practical starting point. The archipelago’s main international airport (PDL) is here, along with many of the Azores’ best-known attractions, including Sete Cidades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo, the Gorreana tea plantations, and Ponta Delgada. On future visits, travelers can spend more time on islands such as Pico, Faial, or Terceira.
Where is the only place in Europe that still produces tea on a commercial scale, and can it be visited?
The only region in Europe that still produces tea commercially is on São Miguel Island in the Azores. The Gorreana Tea Factory, operating continuously since 1883, is Europe’s oldest tea producer and welcomes visitors free of charge. Guests can observe the historic machinery still running along the production line, and at the end of the visit, a cup of tea is served on the small terrace. A few kilometers west, the Porto Formoso Tea Factory, originally founded in the 1920s and reopened in 2001, is also open to visitors.
How does whale watching work in the Azores?
The Azores are among the world’s leading regions for cetacean observation and were designated a “Whale Heritage Area” by the World Cetacean Alliance in 2023. Pico and São Miguel are the primary departure points for whale-watching tours. A total of 28 species can be observed year-round, with the most productive months typically between April and June.
