How many days in the Azores? 6 days on São Miguel, Pico and Faial
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, about 1,400 km west of Lisbon, and the mistake is trying to see too many. Give them six days on two groups: three on São Miguel, the largest island, for crater lakes, hot springs and tea fields, then a short flight to Pico and the 30-minute ferry to Faial, for the volcano, the lava-stone vineyards and the sailors' harbour at Horta. The weather changes by the hour; leave every plan flexible.
Short answer
Four days is enough for São Miguel alone, without rushing. Six days adds Pico and Faial, which feel completely different: one dark, volcanic and wine-growing, the other green, with a yachting harbour and a 1950s eruption site.
The 6-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Ponta Delgada and Sete Cidades
Morning. Walk the centre of Ponta Delgada, from the white-and-black Portas da Cidade (city gates) to the Igreja Matriz and the market of Mercado da Graça, with Azorean pineapples, cheeses and passion fruit.
Afternoon. Drive about 30-40 minutes west to Sete Cidades. Stop at the Vista do Rei viewpoint over the twin lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, then walk to the Boca do Inferno viewpoint (about 15 minutes from the car park) for the full crater. Drive down to the village by the lake.
Evening. Back in Ponta Delgada, eat grilled lapas (limpets) and local fish, about €20-30 per person, by the marina.
Check the webcams of the viewpoints on the regional SpotAzores service before driving up: if the crater is in cloud, you will see nothing. Try again later in the day.
Day 2: Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha and the tea plantations
Morning. Drive about 30 minutes to the viewpoint over Lagoa do Fogo, a crater lake inside a volcano, where a steep path leads down to the shore (about 30 minutes down, longer up). On the north side, swim in the warm iron-rich pools of Caldeira Velha among tree ferns (about €10-12; book a slot in summer).
Afternoon. Drive along the north coast to the Gorreana tea factory, one of the few tea plantations in Europe, in production since the 19th century; entry and tasting are free. Then continue to Ribeira Grande for its old centre.
Evening. Back in Ponta Delgada, book a whale- and dolphin-watching boat for a free morning or afternoon (about €60-75, 3 hours): dolphins are very likely all year, sperm whales are often present, and blue and fin whales pass in spring. Dinner by the marina, €20-30.
The warm water of the hot springs stains swimwear orange-brown. Bring an old swimsuit and a dark towel.
Day 3: Furnas and its volcanic stew
Morning. Drive about 45 minutes to the shore of Lagoa das Furnas to watch the pots of cozido das Furnas being lifted out of the hot ground, where restaurants leave them to cook for about 6-7 hours (pots usually come out around midday). Walk around the boiling fumaroles by the lake.
Afternoon. Eat cozido in Furnas village (about €18-25 per person), then soak in the large ochre-coloured thermal pool of the Terra Nostra Park (about €12-15), a garden of old trees, ferns and camellias. Or go to Poça da Dona Beija, smaller pools by a stream (about €8-10).
Evening. Carry on to the Nordeste viewpoints of Ponta do Sossego and Ponta da Madrugada for evening light on the eastern cliffs.
Order cozido a day ahead if your restaurant asks; some prepare a limited number of pots each morning.
Day 4: Fly to Pico: vineyards and whalers
Morning. Fly from Ponta Delgada to Pico with SATA Air Açores (about 45 minutes; around €60-120 one way). Pick up a rental car and drive to the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, a UNESCO site since 2004, where vines grow in small black-lava walled plots called currais near the sea at Criação Velha.
Afternoon. Drive about 45 minutes to Lajes do Pico and the Museu dos Baleeiros, the whalers' museum in old boat sheds (a few euros), on the island's history of open-boat whaling, which ended in the 1980s. Explore the Gruta das Torres lava tube near Madalena, about 5 km long, with guided visits (about €8-10, booking advised).
Evening. Dinner in Madalena with a glass of verdelho from the island's vineyards, €20-30 per person.
Book the inter-island flight early and keep a free day in your plan: fog sometimes closes small Azorean airports for hours.
Day 5: Climbing Mount Pico
Morning. With a clear forecast, climb Mount Pico, at 2,351 metres the highest point in Portugal. Register at the Casa da Montanha at about 1,200 metres (climbing fee about €20-30; check current rules) and start by 7:00. The marked route takes about 3-4 hours up a steep path of lava and loose rock.
Afternoon. From the crater rim, the small summit cone of Piquinho is a short scramble. The descent takes another 3 hours; you are back by mid-afternoon. A local guide (about €60-90 per person) is recommended for anyone without mountain experience.
Evening. Rest your legs in a seaside natural pool near Madalena or São Roque, then eat early.
If the mountain is in cloud, do not go up: swap this day for a whale-watching trip from Lajes or Madalena, among the best in the Azores, or for walks around the lake region in the centre of the island.
Day 6: Faial: Horta and Capelinhos
Morning. Take the ferry from Madalena to Horta on Faial (about 30 minutes; a few euros). Walk the marina, where crossing yachts paint their names and logos on the quay for luck, and have a coffee or gin at Peter Café Sport, a sailors' bar since the early 20th century.
Afternoon. Drive about 30-40 minutes west to Capelinhos, where an eruption in 1957-1958 added new land to the island and buried part of the coast in ash. The underground interpretation centre (about €10) and the half-buried lighthouse tell the story.
Evening. Take an evening ferry back to Pico, or fly home or onward from Horta airport.
Fly into São Miguel and out of Horta or Pico (or the reverse) to avoid backtracking; inter-island tickets cost about the same either way.
Only have 4 days?
With 4 days, stay on São Miguel: Days 1 to 3, plus the Nordeste coast and a whale-watching trip on the fourth. You lose Pico and Faial.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to São Jorge, a long ridge island with fajãs (coastal flats) and cliff walks, 1 hour by ferry from Pico, or to Terceira and the UNESCO-listed old town of Angra do Heroísmo.
Where to stay in Azores
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Guesthouses in central Ponta Delgada and Madalena | Walk to restaurants, ports and car rentals. | €60-100 |
| Mid-range | Ponta Delgada marina | The best base on São Miguel, central to all three day trips. | €110-190 |
| Mid-range | Furnas or Madalena do Pico | A night in the thermal valley, or by the Pico ferry. | €100-180 |
| Comfort | Spa hotels in Furnas and vineyard houses on Pico | Thermal pools at the door, or restored lava-stone houses. | €200-400 |
Getting around
Rent a car on each island; public buses exist but are infrequent outside towns. On São Miguel a small car costs about €35-70 a day; Sete Cidades is about 30-40 minutes from Ponta Delgada and Furnas about 45. Ponta Delgada has direct flights from Lisbon (about 2.5 hours) and seasonal flights from other European cities and North America. Between islands, SATA Air Açores flies small planes; Atlânticoline ferries link Pico, Faial and São Jorge all year and other islands in summer., with timetables that change by season.
What to eat in Azores
The Azores eat from their pastures and the sea. Cozido das Furnas is a stew of meats, sausage and vegetables cooked in volcanic ground. Order lapas (grilled limpets with garlic and lemon), polvo (octopus stewed in wine), local beef, queijo São Jorge (a sharp cow's cheese), bolo lêvedo (a slightly sweet flat bread from Furnas) and pineapple from the greenhouses. On Pico, drink the local verdelho or the newer wines from the lava vineyards. A main course costs €12-22; a full dinner with wine €20-35 per person.
Best time to visit
May to October is best: highs of 20-26°C, long days and calmer seas for boats and the Pico climb. April to June is the season for blue whales and the hydrangeas start to flower in June and July. Winter is mild (around 14-17°C) but wet and windy, with more flight disruption. Fog and rain are possible on any day of the year.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €35 | €75 | €150 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €40 | €75 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €70 |
| Local transport | €25 | €35 | €60 |
| Total per person, per day | about €100 | about €185 | about €355 |
Approximate 2026 prices; transport assumes a shared rental car and averages the inter-island flight across the days. Ponta Delgada and some other municipalities charge a tourist tax of about €2 per person per night.
Before you go
Common questions
Which Azores island should I visit first?
São Miguel, for most first-time visitors. It has the most flights from Europe and North America and the classic sights within an hour of Ponta Delgada: Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, Furnas and the tea plantations. With a week, add the Pico-Faial pair, joined by a 30-minute ferry, for a very different landscape.
Do I need a car in the Azores?
Yes, in practice. Buses connect towns but rarely go to the viewpoints, crater lakes and trailheads, and taxis add up fast. Book early for summer, when rental cars on the smaller islands can run out. Roads are good but narrow in villages, and fog can come in quickly on high roads.
Is it hard to climb Mount Pico?
It is a serious hike, not a technical climb. Expect about 6-8 hours return on a steep, loose path from about 1,200 to 2,351 metres. You must register at the Casa da Montanha and carry the tracking device you are given. Go only in good weather, with water, warm layers and good boots, or with a guide.
When is the best time for whale watching?
Boats go out from about April to October, and dolphins are seen on most trips. Sperm whales live around the islands all year. April to June is the best period for migrating blue, fin and sei whales. Sea conditions decide everything; good operators reschedule if the sea is rough.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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